WorldQuest Networks Virtual Calling Cards
Overview

When your I-140(Petition for Immigrant Worker) is approved, you can either file Adjustment of Status(I-485) within US, or undergo "Consular Processing", which involves processing for permanent residency through the State Department. In consular processing, the interview for an immigrant visa takes place at a U.S. embassy or consulate located (with some exceptions) in the foreign person's country of nationality.

If an alien is already present in the United States, seeking to adjust his status is generally the preferred method since the Adjustment of Status applicant whose case is denied may challenge such denial through the administrative and/or judicial appellate processes. Denial of a visa a U.S. Consular post, however, is essentially a non-reviewable, non appealable order; there are limited exceptions that may permit review. In addition, Visa processing at a consular post abroad also involves the additional time and expense of traveling overseas and may further prolong the separation between family members. The Adjustment of Status applicant may reside in the United States, obtain employment authorization, and a travel document until his case is processed, reviewed, and completed by the U.S. INS.

Recent delays in I-485 processing have encouraged lots of candidates to apply for consular processing abroad, as it is faster and easier. Please review both the options very carefully before going for one or the other, as individual circumstances may vary.

There are 3 ways to do consular processing for employment based immigration. First and the simplest/fastest is to indicate while filing I-140 application that the person would do the consular processing near to his/her permanent address in his/her home country. If you specify in I-140 that you are already in US and would do adjustment of status, and later change the mind to do consular processing, you have to file form I-824(Print 2 sided on short edge) with INS which sends the information about your I-140 approval to National Visa Center in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. That office then makes an electronic copy of the petition and forwards it to the consular post. NVC will also create a case number and send Packet 3 (described below) to the candidate. Filing of I-824 can delay the processing considerably. The third option (which is not available to everyone, described below) is to do Attorney Certified I-140 (AC I-140) which can save lot of time.

Person who is already legally in US can remain in US until the time of interview and medical examination at a consular post. Even if the person is outside US at the time of applying, he/she can come to US if he/she has valid non-immigrant visa. Persons who go for consular processing would need to go to their home country for usually about 1 week to 10 days for the medical examination and interview.

Consular processing can be done even if you are using EAD, as long as you didn't file I-485 just for the sake of getting EAD and then promptly apply for CP. That way you abuse both the systems and invite otherwise avoidable problems.

When this page was initially written, it had most of the references for doing consular processing from Mumbai, INDIA. But most of the things written can also be applicable to other consular posts from INDIA and from other countries. Later many details from other consulates have been added and I strongly suggest that every one should read the whole document as there may be things which may be useful to you but are mentioned in another post's details.

Attorney Certified I-140 (AC I-140)

Some consulates like Mumbai in India and Hong Kong in China accept Attorney Certified I-140 (AC140 or ac140 or ac 140 or ac i 140 or ac i-140) packet instead of having the need to file I-824. This can save lot of time in consular processing. It has to be sent by lawyer. Mumbai accepts AC I140 application on grounds of hardship. As for hardship, it means being forced to wait five to eight years in the same job, without hope of a promotion or change of employer if you select adjustment of status.

Amsterdam, The Netherlands accepts AC I140.
Ankara, Turkey does not accept AC I140.
Chennai, India does not accept AC I140.
Guangzhou, China accepts AC I140.
Hong Kong, China accepts AC I140.
Kathmandu, Nepal does not accept AC I140.
New Delhi, India accepts AC I140.
London, UK accepts AC I140.
Moscow, Russia does not accept AC I140.
Mumbai, India accepts AC I140.
Singapore does not accept AC I140.
Sydney, Australia accepts AC I140.
Taiwan, ROC accepts AC I140.

Worldwide US consulates.
Consulate addresses, jurisdictions, timings, web sites for consulates in India.

List of documents for AC I-140.

  • Attorney certified copies of the complete I-140 petition filing

  • Original I-140 approval notice (I-797, Notice of Action)

  • Addendums to I-140 (if any)

  • Cover letter

    • Listing all documents in the package

    • Indicate Consular Processing intent

    • If lawyer has e-mail address, include that. Otherwise, include your own e-mail address. Many consulates reply by e-mail and communication would be faster.

    AC I140 Sample cover letter

  • Proof that you qualify for the consulate you are applying. This can be established by following means:

    • Your experience letters and university certificates included in your I-140 application ( this will prove that you stayed in any of the above states for major part of your pre-US life).

    • Address page of your passport.

    • The US visa page of your passport showing the name of the consulate that issued the US NIV.

    • Part IV of your I-140 application should indicating the consulate of your choice.

    • School mark sheets, college mark sheets/transcripts, degree certificate.

    • Driving license issued from your native country.

    • Voters card.

    • Ration card with primary applicant's name in it.

    • Your income tax returns before coming to US.

    • Many of above mentioned documents for your parents proving that your parents' still permanently belong to that consulate jurisdiction.

  • OF-169 signed by primary applicant with case # empty.
    Print 2 sided on long edge.
    OF-169 is not needed for dependents.

  • OF-230 Part1 for primary applicant and each dependent who will immigrate with the primary applicant.
    Print 2 sided on long edge.

  • Copy of email/fax received from US consulate in Mumbai regarding their policy on AC-I140.
    Their policy can also be found at their web site.

OF-169 and OF-230 Part 1 are part of Packet 3 which consulates sends after receiving AC I-140. But it is usually better to send them along with AC I-140 itself to save time.

There is no fee for sending AC I-140 and for sending Packet 3.

Some persons might have filed I-485 before going for consular processing and might be wondering if the lawyer has already sent the original I-140 approval notice while filing I-485, then how to send the original I-140 approval? In the first place, the lawyer is supposed to file only the copy of I-140 approval notice (I-797) while filing I-485. Even if he/she sent original I-797, they need not worry.

INS sends 2 copies of I-797 (I-140 approval notice). For all practical purposes, both are "original" since they are printed on security paper. The second copy is called the "Courtesy copy" and is generally meant to be for the petitioner or your company.

If you are doing AC-I140, you can send either of these I-797, and you should be OK. As for carrying the other when you head to the interview, it is never asked for by the consulate. But, you could carry it in any case.

Consular Processing in Ciudad Juarez

United States consulate in Ciudad Juarez has started accepting immigrant visa (green card) applications from the citizen of any country, not just of Mexico, even if that alien has never stayed in Mexico. They will accpet the application if the alien's priority date is current and following documents are submitted to the consular section in Ciudad Juarez:

  1. Original Notice of action (Form I-797) for the approval of I-140.
  2. Copy of all the documents submitted along with filing of I-140 application. It is not necessary for them to be attorney certified.
  3. Copy of I-824 Receipt Notice (It is irrelevant which consulate has been asked to be notified in I-824. It can be Mumbai, Chennai, Guangzhou, London or whatever.)

Please note that in order to be able to consular processing in Ciudad Juarez, your I-485 must be pending with INS. Your medical examination will be done in Mexico at the approved doctors for Ciudad Juarez. If your case is going through NVC for normal CP, you can't go to Mexico. If your I-824 has already been approved for particular consulate, say Chennai India, you can't go to Mexico just to shorten your trip. In that later case, you should go to Chennai.

Foreign Affairs Manual for AC140.

Section 9 of Foreign Affair Manuals, 42.63, procedure note 4.4 states following about AC140:

9 FAM 42.63 PN4.4 Sending Petitions by FAX
a. Since all statewide approved petitions are now channeled through NVC, the Department believes that telephone, telegraphic or FAX messages from NVC are a reliable means of notifying posts of petition approval in emergent circumstances.

b. While there is no regulatory authorization for IV processing based on FAX bio-data sheets alone, visas can be issued on the basis of a telegraphic notification or the Form I-797 notice of action. However, an IV can also be issued whenever the adjudicating consular officer has firm grounds for believing a petition has been approved. This assurance can take the form of a memorandum of record or Form FS-552 from the consul to the INS stating the circumstances of the particular case; i.e., why no petition is included in the packet for INS inspection, and any available secondary evidence such as a copy of an IVACS print-out, telcon memo, for a copy of the NVC bio-data sheet.

c. While the Department does not recommend routine immigrant visa issuance without all appropriate documents, it also recognizes that there are occasions when common sense and equity necessitate issuance without the petition, and at times without telegraphic notification or the Form I-797.

Pay close attention to item (c). AC140 means certified all I140 documents, plus the *original* I797 approval notice, in place of the telegraphic notification or the Form I797 (the approval notice).

Packet 3

Packet 3 consists of

  • OF-169 Instructions for Immigrant Visa Applicants

  • OF-230 Part I OF-230 Application for Immigrant Visa and Alien Registration Part I Biographic Data

  • DSL-1083 DSL-1083 Immigrant Visa Supplemental Information Sheet (Police Certificates)

  • Vaccination Requirements

  • I-864 Affidavit of Support. This form will be sent ONLY FOR Family Based Immigration and NOT for Employment Based Immigration. For married applicants(employment based), Form I-134 (Affidavit of Support) should be submitted at the time of interview.

When an applicant's priority date is close to becoming current, National Visa Center(NVC) will mail a packet of forms and information (Packet 3) to the beneficiary (applicant). If requested to do so they will send this Packet 3 to the applicant's lawyer or to the petitioner instead of the beneficiary.

If you are not going through NVC(by mentioning consular processing in I-140 or by filing I-824) but going through AC I-140, packet 3 is usually submitted with AC I-140 which speeds up the process. Also, you may wait for Packet III from the consulate and then send it back to them.

When the consulate accepts AC I-140, they send you packet 3. if you have mentioned email address in AC I140, consulate would normally send the confirmation that AC I140 has been accepted and also give the case number. This confirms that they have opened a file for you, and this is usually how you know that AC I-140 is accepted. Their forms may slightly differ from the downloaded ones you sent with AC I-140 package. You may either fill them out and send back to consulate or you can bring them to the interview for AC I-140. For I-140 Consular Processing or by I-824, you must send Packet 3.

By sending Packet 3, you really inform them that you have had all the documents for Consular Processing and you are ready for the interview so they can schedule it as soon as they can. Also, you provide biographic data so that they can do different checks.

There is no fee for sending Packet 3.

Packet 3 from Consulate

Packet 3 from consulate has additional documents which are

  • Cover letter (Case information etc.)
    Sample cover letter

  • Form OF 230 Part I sent by consulate has additional questions which the online form does not have. They are: color of hair and eyes, height and complexion, if neither parent is alive provide name and address of next of kin, list of political or social organizations affiliated with communist totalitarian terrorist or nazi organizations which you are now or have been a member of or affiliated with since your 16th birthday.

  • General information about affidavit of support.

  • Supplement to Form OF-169. It explains about the documents which need to be taken to the consulate for the interview. Explained below.

SUPPLEMENT TO OPTIONAL FORM 169.

Passport

Your passport must be valid at least six months from the date of the issuance of the immigrant visa. Your name and date of birth as given in your passport and your birth certificate must be identical. A married female applicant must have her passport in the married name, unless she wishes to retain and continue to use her maiden name after marriage. In such cases, the visa will be issued in her maiden name.

Record of Birth

(a) obtain birth certificate from local municipal or village authorities (gram panchayat or mamlatdar) showing (i) your name (ii) the names of both parents (iii) your date of birth and (iv) your place of birth. If any of these details is missing in your birth certificate, or if there is any discrepancy in it regarding your date of birth or name, you must present, in addition to your birth certificate, a birth affidavit described in (c) below.

(b) if your birth was not recorded, you must obtain a letter of non-availability or birth records from the local municipal or village authorities. Together with this you must submit to us your School Leaving/Matriculation/Baptismal certificate. You will also have to submit a birth affidavit as described in (c) below.

(c) A birth affidavit on Rs. 5/- stamp paper must be sworn before a First Class Magistrate by either of your parents giving the names of both parents, child's name, place of birth and date of birth. If both parents are deceased or physically incapable, an elderly close relative who has known you personally, and preferably who was present at the time of your birth may execute the affidavit.

Police Certificates

If you are going to India for CP, police Certificates are NOT needed for stay in India or US. DSL-1083 document is obsolete. Even though it does not mention India in the list of countries from where police certificates are not required, they are not required from India. If you have lived at any place outside India for more than six months you should inquire at the Consulate General about obtaining police certificate from these places. Police Certificates should be no more than one year old at the time of visa application.

Please note that if you have stayed in India but you are not doing CP in India but in places like Montreal, Canada; you require police certificates from India. You can get a police clearance very quickly from your local Indian consulate. They do it on the basis of a passport check.

Information about police certificate from Singapore can be found at here.
Information about police certificate from Hong Kong can be found at here.
Information about police certificates from UK can be found here. It takes less than 4 weeks to get the police certificate from UK.

Information about police certificate from Australia can be found here.
Address: Public Enquiry Service
Victoria Police
P.O. Box 415
Melbourne VIC 3005
Australia
Phone:(61 3) 9247 5907

Police certificates from Canada
Information about police certificate from Canada can be found here.
They are also called RCMP certificate as police certificates from Canada are obtained from RCMP(Royal Canadian Mounted Police). Police certificates are required for consular processing for those currently living in Canada for 6 months or longer or for those not currently living in Canada, but who did live in Canada for more than 1 year.

If you look up the blue pages (government offices) of your phone book, you will see RCMP phone # under "Canada" section. In Toronto the number is 416-363-9072

There are two types of police certificates, one is name check based and other is finger print based. Only name check based police certificates are required for US immigration. Finger print based police certificates are for Canadian immigration.

Other than a valid reason they do not generally do it, just like that. So you have to tell them you need to do it for "US Immigration".

The police station issuing the clearance will red stamp an approval and on the bottom of the form you will see a note; "details cannot be confirmed as relating to the subject of inquiry without fingerprint comparison". Do not be alarmed by this because finger prints are NOT required. If, during your consulate interview the consular officer finds your police clearance has a "hit" or name check problem you may be instructed to be finger printed. In this case the US consular post will furnish Form FD-258 to be used for finger printing. This is the only form they will authorize for finger printing. Not any RCMP fingerprint form. Anyone who has initiated on their own to secure RCMP finger prints is wasting their time. The consular officer has to witness the issuance of finger printing for authenticity. The RCMP fingerprint form is used for Canadian immigration or criminal processing.

Evidence of Support

If you have a sponsor in the United States, you should submit a notarized affidavit of support from him together with bank and salary certificate. Additionally, you must also submit your sponsor's latest income tax forms 1040 and W-2(This is for family based immigrant applications. For employment based applications, you need a employment letter. And to support the spouse, you need to file Form I-134, Affidavit of support.) If you have own personal funds in the United States or abroad you should submit a certificate from your banker in the United States, giving details of your account, such as when the account was opened, deposits and balance. Financial documents should be no more than one year old.

The Packet also contains a general Q&A on Affidavit of Support. It has a section on Tax Return and reads as follows:

Tax Returns

Q: Are three years of tax return always required, except when the sponsor was not obligated to file?

A: Yes. The sponsor must submit tax returns for each of the 3 years immediately prior to visa interview in which he or she was obligated to file, even when the US citizen or legal permanent resident sponsor works abroad.(This is for family based applicants only.)

Even though tax returns are not specifically asked in OF 169 they may be required to show that you can support your spouse.

Mother's Maiden Name

Unlike the general instructions, the Mumbai Consulate instruction is silent about this and hence the we can assume that mother's maiden name is not require on the birth certificate or on the affidavit. The affidavit can be from either of the parents.
As prescreening officers are Indian, they are aware of the local customs regarding name changes after marriage etc.

Packet 3 from London, UK consulate can be found here.

Islamabad, Pakistan

Package 3.5, is a set of forms (OF230 part I, II, I-864, I-864A, Relative information sheet, photograph guidelines, and list or required documents (same as those listed on OF-169 form).

Moreover, in 3.5 they ask for police certificate as well as medical exam along with photos to be sent. If what they ask for is complete, they will issue you package V which has the appointment date.

Packet 4

After consulate opens your file, your interview is scheduled(at present about 45-60 days). At that time they send you Packet 4, if the priority date is current. It consists of

  • Interview Appointment Letter

  • OF-230 Application for Immigrant Visa and Alien Registration Part II Sworn Statement
    This is the application for Immigrant Visa.
    Print this 2 sided on short sided.

  • Instructions on medical exam.

  • IRS 9003 Additional questions for the applicant for permanent residence. This is an IRS form and not INS. Each applicant including dependents should fill this form. You have to write your SSN (or ITIN) and four questions regarding income tax. No signature is required on this form. Print on yellow color paper, as original form is in yellow color. Print it single sided.
Packet IV together with supporting documents listed on OF-169 form are to be brought to the interview. OF-230 part II is signed before a consular officer at the time of interview.
Before leaving US for Interview

Before leaving US for the interview, please have following documents ready for the interview. Remember, more the better. If you have doubt whether particular document may be required or not, just carry it. But don't open your bag unless asked for a specific document.

  • Appointment letter for immigrant visa interview.
  • OF 230 Part II for each applicant. It is part of Packet 4.
  • Filled Packet 3 forms that consulate mailed you, if you haven't already sent them.
  • Passport with at least 6 months remaining. Bring all old passport which have US visas.
  • Birth certificates/affidavits. Original + 2 copies. No need to get the copies notarized. They will take a look at the original and copy. They will take a copy and give you back the original. If no birth certificate, get non-availability certificate, 2 affidavits and also carry the school leaving certificate(You know how valuable school leaving certificate is in INDIA and how it is used.)
    Sample Birth Affidavit
  • Marriage certificate/affidavit, if married. Original + 2 copies. No need to get the copies notarized. They will take a look at the original and copy. They will take a copy and give you back the original.
  • Degree certificates/transcripts.
  • Any work experience letters used for labor certificate.
  • Originals of all the documents used in I-140 (reccommondation letters, articles etc.)
  • Notarized employment letter. 2 copies.
  • Company brochures, annual reports.
  • Company financial statements.
  • Bank and other assets statements like stocks etc.
  • W-2s, personal tax returns for last 3 years.
  • Sailing Permit
  • Recent pay stubs.
  • Take any proofs of vaccinations you/dependents have.
  • Form I-134 Affidavit of Support for the dependents.
    Notarize it in US. Sign it in front of Notary. Notarized in India NOT accepted.
  • Also, if your spouse is employed, it is better to carry an employer letter for him/her too.
  • IRS 9003 Additional questions for the applicant for permanent residence. This is an IRS form and not INS. Each applicant including dependents should fill this form. You have to write you SSN (or ITIN) and four questions regarding income tax. No signature is required on this form. Print on yellow color paper, as original form is in yellow color. It is a part of Packet 4.
  • All previous H1s, F1s, EADs, APs, I-485 receipt etc.
  • Apartment lease papers.
  • Social Security cards of each family member who have social security number. For others, ITIN number cards.
  • Police certificates, if required for you.
  • If you have any US born (US Citizen) children, you should carry proof of their citizenship.(Birth certificate, passport etc.) The consular officer really wants to make sure that your children are really US citizen, you are not making any mistakes regarding their status, and hence they are not deprived from getting green cards, if they need it.
  • Marriage photographs, marriage invitation card.
Employment Letter

You need to get an employment letter to show at the interview. Take one copy for yourself and one copy for each of your dependents. Some consulates don't accept I-134 for supporting your dependents. Employment letter should

  • Reaffirm that the job offered in the approved preference petition is still open and available to you as soon as you immigrate.

  • Confirm the current salary, not the labor certificate salary.

  • Give a description of the job offered to the alien and explanation of skills which qualify the alien for the position.

  • Indicate start date, job title

This letter must be notarized in US with a notary public.

Sample employment letter.
Sailing Permit

If you are either a resident or a nonresident alien departing the United States, you will usually have to show your compliance with the U.S. income tax laws. You do this by obtaining a tax clearance document, commonly called a "Sailing Permit" or "Departure Permit," from the IRS. (For INS purpose any one who does not have green card are non resident alien, but for IRS purpose even non green card holders who have stayed in US for 182 days are considered resident alien. For information about resident or non-resident alien for IRS purpose, refer to Publication 519, U.S. Tax Guide for Aliens).

It is legally possible for the government to prevent someone from leaving if they don't have sailing permit. This permit is rarely asked for at the consular post, but it advised that every immigrant applicant should carry this before going for the interview.

If you do not have taxable income, or you are a resident alien who is leaving only temporarily, use fillable(type in) Form 2063 to apply for a sailing permit. If you are a resident alien leaving the United States with no definite plans to return for the year, you will have to complete Form 1040-C, U.S. Departing Alien Income Tax Return, in order to get a sailing permit. Nonresident aliens who have any taxable income will also have to complete Form 1040-C to receive a sailing permit. You must pay all tax shown as due on the Form 1040-C unless you furnish a bond or an employer letter guaranteeing payment, or the IRS is satisfied that your leaving will not jeopardize collection of the tax. Any tax you pay counts as a payment on your final return that you file after the end of your tax year.

Apply for the sailing permit no earlier than 30 days before you plan to leave. You should apply at least two weeks in advance of your departure. To get your sailing permit, visit your nearest walk-in IRS office. If you are married to an alien who is leaving the country with you, both of you must go to the IRS office.

You must bring with you all the following records and information for the current year, that apply:

  • A valid passport and your alien registration card or visa,

  • Copies of the last two years' income tax returns with proof of payment of any balance due,

  • A statement from each current employer showing the wages paid and tax withheld from January 1 of the current year to the date of departure. For this statement you can use a payroll deduction slip for your last paycheck if it shows this information.

  • If you are self-employed, a profit and loss statement for the current year to the date of departure.

  • Documents showing any gain or loss from the sale of personal property, including capital assets and merchandise.

  • Proof of tax payments for the past year and this year.

  • Documents concerning scholarships or fellowships.

  • Documents indicating that you qualify for special tax treaty benefits.

  • Substantiation of deductions for business expenses and itemized deductions.

  • Documentation for dependents claimed.

  • Airline return tickets.

If you have these documents and pay any tax due you should receive your sailing permit immediately.

Before Interview

Photographs

Photographs are required for the primary applicant and dependents. 3 Green card (ADIT style) photographs (NOT passport photographs) are required for the immigrant visa. 3 regular (front facing, any background) passport size photos are required for the medical examination.

Greencard photo should have 3/4 of your face and right ear visible, with 1 inch of head portion visible. For ladies in US consulate (green card) photos no ear-rings should be worn. Many people are asked even to remove the glasses. If you normally wear glasses, you should wear them at the time of the photograph, unless specifically asked to remove. The person must not be wearing any hat or turban unless it is mandatory in religion like Sardarji etc.

Photo studio takes at least a day or two for green card photos.

Detailed Instructions with Sample Photographs

Go to someone who has some experience. If the photographer knows what has to be done, he himself will tell you the specifications instead of you explaining it to him.

Mumbai, India

Passport photographs can be taken from US as they are not finicky about the background etc, but it is advisable to take green card photographs from the photo studio called "My Own Studio" located near the consulate in Mumbai. (Left side of consulate if you stand by keeping your face in front of consulate). In fact, there are 2 photo studios in the area with the same name "My Own Studio". One is on Bhulabhai Desai Road and one on adjacent August Kranti Marg. The one AK Marg provides express service if you pay him more money. That may be quite useful for medical photographs if you just reach Mumbai day or two in advance. You may get GC photos in normal service as you would not need them until the time of interview.

Chennai, India

For immigration photographs in Chennai, you may go to premier studios opposite stella maris college. They have been doing this for a long time. They can give you instant photographs in less than 1 hour.

Montreal, Canada

There are several places in the downtown area that do passport/visa photos, all listed in the phone book.
Demand Drafts

Application fee for immigrant visa is $260 and visa issuance fee is $65. They are payable in local currency(Indian Rupees). They should be paid by Demand Draft payable at Mumbai and should be in the name of "American Consulate General, Mumbai". Please preserve the counter foil of the demand draft to prove that they were actually taken from the bank and not from road guys. Please write your name and address(Indian Address) at the back of demand draft.

There should be separate drafts for $260 and $65. If applying with dependents, there should be separate 2 demand drafts for each applicant.

At the time of writing this, the exchange rate for US Dollar vs. Indian Rupees was Rs. 44. The exchange rate for the month is fixed. When it changes, it normally advertised in the local newspaper. Check with the consulate for the latest rates. For demand drafts for Rs.11440 and Rs. 2860 are to be made at present.

Mumbai, India

The banks near to the Mumbai consulate are

  • ANZ Grindlays Bank
    Bhulabhai Desai Road
  • Times Bank
    August Kranti Marg
  • Canara Bank
    August Kranti Marg, opposite Hotel Shalimar
  • Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation(HSBC) Peddar Road
  • Indian Overseas Bank
    Right across from the consulate. They have trained staff just to make drafts. You can even get the currency exchanged there as long as you are using that currency to pay for the drafts. They even have stamps which they just put directly on the DDs, which avoids any confusion on typo on the DDs. Even the security guard knows the whole process.

All of the above banks also have ATMs. But some of those bank ATMs don't accept checking cards/debit cards, only credit cards. Also when you go there, normally you would carry US dollars in the form of travelers checks. ANZ Grindlays and HSBC can convert it into Rupees for you. Even Hotel Shalimar has USD-Rupee conversion facility and its rates are better than bank rates. You can also do foreign exchange at CrossRoads shopping mall (Piramyd) located at Haji Ali, not far from consulate.


Guangzhou, China

You can pay it by US$ or RMB, although they specified in packet 4 that you must pay in RMB :-) You may want to pay in USD because the exchange rate is not good at all. You have to pay it in cash at the consulate.

Medical Examination

Every person who wants to immigrate to US has to go through medical examination.

Breach Candy Hospital, Lilavati Hospital and Hinduja Hospital are the only facilities approved to conduct medical examinations for immigrant visa cases processed in Mumbai. The medical examination process takes three days. Applicants must schedule appointments directly with the hospital.

Breach Candy Hospital, Mumbai

The medical examinations are handled at the Breach Candy Hospital's Annex Building. The address is:

Breach Candy Hospital
USA Visa Annex Bldg.
60 Bhulabhai Desai Rd.
Mumbai 400 026 India

Visa applicants needing a medical examination can call the hospital between 1:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. daily for an appointment. The direct phone number for medical appointments is (91)(22) 367-3373. Applicants can also call through the hospital switchboard at 363-3651, 368-5406, or 369-6194 (9 lines), ext. 304.

Make sure you take the reference number that they give you while taking the appointment. If possible, also give them your local telephone number, so that they can call you in case required.

It is advisable that if you are accompanied by your wife, you should reserve 5 days for medical instead of normal 3 days as any female related complications may arise and it may take extra time to get the report.

At the time of the scheduled medical examination, the hospital will require that everyone present a valid passport, the original visa appointment letter, and three (3) recent identical color passport-sized photographs.

Due to the volume of patients examined for immigrant visas, Breach Candy takes three days to complete its processing. The hospital's operating hours and fees for immigrant visa medical examinations are:

Day 1

08:00 - 10:30

Blood Test

X-rays

Rs. 745

Rs. 220

Day 2

09:30 - 13:30

14:00 - 16:00

Physical Exam

Immunization

Rs. 195

Rs. 50/vaccine (physician's fee)

Vaccines: Rs. 30 – 150

Day 3

16:00 - 16:30

Reports Received

n/a

Experience at Breach Candy hospital for most of the applicants is usually nice. Staff is nice and professional.

Breach Candy Hospital(BCH) is closed on Saturday and Sunday. It opens at 8.00 AM sharp. It is advisable to go at about 6.30 AM so that when it opens at 8.00 AM, it would be faster to get your work done. You should keep the appointment letter for interview and reference number(given while scheduling the medical appointment) ready. Once it opens, you go in and get the registration form in which top paper is pink. Go out side and fill it up and then stand in the line again. Once called, go in and pay Rs. 1160 for blood test, X-Ray and doctor's exam. Remove all the carbon papers from the form and throw in the dustbin. They take the first pink copy and you are issued a number. Now again you wait outside. When your number is called your blood will taken for Pathological exams. Now again you wait outside. Next is the X-ray. One or more X-rays of chest (from back side, you face away from x ray machine) are taken. You have to remove all your top clothes. (Don't worry there will be lady x-ray operator for ladies.) You wait outside for 10 Minutes. If your X-ray is OK, you are free for the day. There is NO skin test for TB unlike the common practice for I-485 medical examination in US. Before leaving they will tell you the time when to come next day for doctor's appointment. They will also write the name of the doctor at the back of cash receipt. Preserve those receipts. Mostly ladies's appointment is in the annex building and gents' appointment is in the main building. But all vaccinations are in the main building.

Many times things don't happen on time. Doctor's appointment is in the morning. Lady doctor for ladies and male doctor for males. They ask you to remove all your clothes. For gents, you just remain in underwear which will be asked to remove later while checking the private parts. Ladies have to remove all the clothes and they are given hospital cloth gown to wear. They ask questions like who is sponsoring you, how much educated you are, whether you had TB, any operations, broken bones etc in past. They knock on knees and elbows to check nervous system. Also check blood pressure etc. They ask you to put your hand on the your mouth and tell you to cough 3-4 times and they check something on the stomach. The vaccinations are given in the afternoon starting at 2.00 PM. (First gents then ladies.) Many times they do it along with the doctors appointment itself. Take copies of proof of vaccinations. Even if they don't ask for it please remind them and give it to them. That way you won't have to take unnecessary vaccinations. You may even be waived all vaccinations if you have records of all vaccinations. It is assembly line. He/She has huge set of disposable syringes filled with vaccines ready. Just bare your arms one shot in one arm and second shot in the next arm and you are out. Usually there is no pain or fever because of vaccination. Most people in the age range 20-40 get DPT-tetanus bombo and MMR. Older Folks get less number of shots and for some really aged nothing is required. It is at the discretion of the Doctor. His/her decision is final.

Vaccination List

Reports are given either at second business day or third business day at 4.00 pm. If everything is normal, you will get on second day itself instead of having to wait till third day. But you can't count on that. You must have 3 days in your schedule for medical. One person can go for the whole family. Bring the cash receipts and passports. Please preserve all the cash payment receipts without which you cannot get the report. They give you your x-rays sealed in a huge blue envelope and medical report in simple white sealed envelope. This white envelope is taken by the screening officer in the consulate, so at any stage you can't see the contents but you can always ask in Breach Candy if the reports are OK. They usually tell you. Blue envelope is to be given to INS officer at the port of entry. Many times INS officer at the port of entry does not want that blue envelope and ask you to keep it with you.

And don't forget to buy plastic bag in which X-ray nicely fits. It is available at the STD-PCO booth for Rs. 10 located just at the door of Breach Candy Hospital. You really want to buy that bag to carry your X-rays in flight to US.

Lilavati Hospital, Mumbai

For applicants at Mumbai consulate, recently Lilavati Hospital has been added in addition to Breach Candy Hospital where medical examination for immigrant visa can be done.

The medical examinations are handled at the hospital's Out-Patient Department (OPD) on the ground floor. The address is:

Lilavati Hospital
A-791 Bandra Reclamation
Bandra (W)
Mumbai 400 050 India

Visa applicants can call the hospital between 13:00 and 16:00 hrs, Monday through Friday, for an appointment. The direct phone number for medical appointments is (91)(22) 645-5918. Applicants can also call through the hospital switchboard at (91)(22) 645-5891 or 643-8281, ext. 2074.

Lilavati normally takes three days to process applicants as follows:

Day One: Registration and Medical Examinations (08:00 - 10:30 hrs)
Day Two: Physical Examination and Immunizations (11:00 - 13:00 hrs)
Day Three: Reports Distributed (15:00 - 16:30 hrs)

Lilavati's typical fees are:

Blood Test: Rs. 745
X-rays: Rs. 220
Physical Exam: Rs. 195


P. D. Hinduja National Hospital, Mumbai

Hinduja medical examinations are handled at the hospital's Out-Patient Department (Hinduja Clinic) on the ground floor. After making the necessary payments there, the patient is asked to go to the first floor and contact the faculty office, which will give further instructions.
The address for the hospital is:

P. D. Hinduja National Hospital
Veer Savarkar Marg
Mahim, Mumbai 400 016

Hinduja Hospital normally schedules patients between 07:30 and 08:30 hrs, Monday through Saturday, but is willing to accept patients outside these times in extraordinary circumstances. All reports will be available to the patient the same evening.

Immigrant visa applicants interested in using Hinduja Hospital should call the hospital directly at any of the following phone numbers: (91)(22) 444-7076 or 444-7376 (up to 17:30 hrs.), or 445-2422 (10:00 - 12:00, and 13:30 - 14:30 hrs.).

Hinduja's typical fees are:

  • 15 years of age and older: Rs. 1,400 (includes complete medical consultation, chest X-ray, ELISA HIV test, VDRL for Syphilis, and Dt. and MMR vaccination)

  • Below 15 years of age: Rs. 800 (includes complete medical consultation, chest X-ray, and Dt., Polio, MMR vaccination)

Additional charges (if required)

  • HIV (Western Blot): Rs. 2,610
  • Sputum Smear: Rs. 100

  • Consultation with Psychiatrist: Rs. 400

  • Varicella Vaccine: Rs. 1,425

  • Pneumococcal Vaccine: Rs. 772

  • Hib Vaccine: Rs. 530

  • Hepatitis B: Rs. 169

Quick Summary/Tips for Hinduja:

  • Immigrant visa medical tests are done Monday-Friday, between 7:30 and 8:30am, in the out-patient department (OPD) of the hospital. This is in a (pale yellow-colored) building, across the road from the main hospital building, on Veer Savarkar Road in Mahim.

  • The hospital staff is very courteous and friendly and the whole process is reasonably quick and painless.

  • Since Hinduja is the only hospital that gives test results back the same day, it is extremely popular with IV applicants, and consequently, appointments are hard to get. Sometimes they are completely booked for upto a month. So call them as soon as you come to know about your appointment.

  • Appointments are made by phone only. The phone numbers are on the medical test instructions sent with Packet 4.

  • Sometimes, especially if you have an inside contact in the hospital, or know someone who does, you can get a special 7:00am appointment. But of course the time doesn't matter... you eventually go in with the rest of the gang at 7:30am.

  • Again, because of the same-day service, a lot of people don't leave too much of a gap between the medical and the IV interview. Don't do this, leave a buffer of at least 3-4 days, since the same-day rule holds true only if the normal tests come out OK. If additional tests are required for you/your spouse, it may eat into another 2-3 days (especially some of the tests required for women, like the sputum smear)

What is needed:

You need to take your appointment letter, your passport, one color passport-size photograph and the test fees (Rs 1400 for the basic test, more for additional tests if required) with you to the hospital. Also, if you have any of your immunization/vaccination records, take them along. You don't have to go on an empty stomach. Take a light breakfast.

The Process:

Here's how the whole process goes, assuming you've gotten an appointment:

  1. Try to reach the hospital by 7:00am.

  2. Go to the OPD building, across the street from the main hospital.

  3. Fill out and sign a registration form at the desk in the center of the reception area, as soon as you enter the building. One form needs to be filled out for each person to be tested.

  4. There are four reception windows around the room. Take the reg. form, your appointment letter and the fees to any one of those.

  5. Tell them you're there for the American visa medical tests. They have a pretty streamlined process for handling IV applicants.

  6. After you pay the fees, the receptionist will give you four copies of the receipt and a registration card, and tell you where to go next (generally to the second floor).

  7. Hang on to the receipts (you'll need them later), and go to the second floor (or wherever they tell you to go).

  8. Each floor of the building has a central seating area, and wings all along the walls that take you to various places. You go and sit in the seating area (with other IV applicants) until your name is called.

  9. The first thing on the agenda is the vaccination. If you have any records, take them with you. When your name is called, go in with you passport, photo, the receipts you just received and vaccination records, if any.

  10. The doctor will look at your passport, create your file with your photo and all, keep three of the receipts (if I remember correctly) and ask you for vaccination records. I think he/she will jab you with MMR regardless of what you show him/her, unless you were vaccinated recently (within the past five years or so).

  11. Once the vaccination is done, you go back out and park yourself in the seating area again.

  12. Next thing is the blood test. When your name is called, go back in and part with some of your blood for the test.

  13. Once all folks are done dispensing their blood, the next item is the chest X-ray. This is somewhat time-consuming. The X-rays are done over in the main hospital building across the road. The whole gang is asked to follow a designated hospital attendant along a tortuous, long-winding path that takes you all the way through the OPD building, through a long corridor that connects the OPD building to the main hospital and then transcends a few floors in the main building to the X-ray chamber. Only tip here is, don't lose sight of the hospital bloke, or any of your co-IV-people, because heaven help you if you get lost. That hospital has a more complex geography than the insides of the Pyramids.

  14. Once you reach your destination, you're required to sit in a hallway until your name is called. This tends to be a fairly long wait, so take a good book along. Generally the ladies go first.

  15. The X-ray itself is a quick process. You go in, take your shirt off (the guys do, at least... dunno the routine for girls), stand in front of a large screen in a rather comical stance, take a deep breath (or a deep "breathe", as the guy said) and hold it for a couple of seconds. A clicking sound is heard, and you're done. Drape yourself up again and go out.

  16. Once everyone is done, retrace your path with the same hospital gentleman back to the OPD building.

  17. By the time you get to this stage, it should be about 9:30am. You're done with the first instalment. You'll be asked to come back to the same place at any time between 1:30pm and 3pm (each one is given a specific time to return... I had 2:30pm), for your physical, and report collection. She'll also tell you whom to go see when you come back (Sangeeta or Vaishali, if I remember correctly).

  18. Go back home and get a nice lunch.

  19. Come back to the same place at the time given to you. You are required to go directly to the designated person (Sangeeta or Vaishali). They're expecting you. Don't wait in the seating area unless you come early.

  20. There is another painful wait here.. the time they give you, 2pm or 2:30pm or whatever, doesn't mean much. You just go wait in a little room till you're called.

  21. When your name is called, go into the doctor's office. The doctor will ask you to lie down on the patient bed (fully clothed, no stripping as in Breach Candy). He puts your chest Xray up and inspects it. He'll then come over and do a quick physical checkup - basic stuff. If he's satisfied, you're done. He'll ask you to sign on a form (which is the cover page of your medical reports). The reports are sealed, so if you want to know how the reports turned out and if everything is OK with you, now's your chance. The doctor is a nice, kindly gentleman, he'll tell you.

  22. Final step. You go out again and wait a few minutes in the small room. When your reports are ready, they'll call you and hand them over (in a large paper bag - large because of the disproportionately oversized chest Xray which the consulate folks never look at anyway). The reports are sealed - keep them that way. They're supposed to be opened by the consulate people during the prescreen.

That's it. You're done. And it should not be later that 4:30pm by then. If, however, it turns out that you need additional tests (which is entirely possible - it happened to the couple before me), then you have to go back down to the reception area and schedule those tests. Also, that means more money and more time. So, CARRY SUFFICIENT CASH, and more importantly, KEEP A BUFFER between medical tests and consulate interview - atleast 3-4 days, preferably a week (because some tests, especially womens' tests, can take upto three days).


Hotel Shobha (take a left at east building gate and left again near the petrol bunk, walk 10 minutes) is also a nice place in Mahim for breakfast and lunch on the day of your medical. Again this is veg and Udupi guy's.

Chennai, India

All IV applicants must be examined by
Surima medical center,
Dr. Sripathi Rao/Dr. Motilal,
No. 23, Barnaby Road,
Kilpauk,
Chennai (Madras) 600 010.
Phone: +91-44-641-2747/2968
Monday-Saturday: 8.00 am-11.30 am, 3.00 pm-5.30 pm

If people schedule appointments in a random manner some people may not get appointments at the right time as those dates may be flooded with people who have interviews at a much later date. They can accommodate only a few a day. So they schedule only 3 days before so that you get your reports the evening before interview. They are keeping all non locals in view as they are expected to be in Chennai a couple of days before interview. All the medicals are performed in one day. You should take all the records of immunization you have. Fees ranges from Rs. 3000-Rs.5000 per person(vaccines+medical) depending upon the vaccines he/she needs. Medical itself takes 2-3 hours. You get the medical results in 2 days. If the results are OK, you will get the medical report as a open report. If something is wrong you will know - the report will be sealed .

Please keep the conversations to the minimum, polite, dignified but firm. The doctor and the staff were curt to the point of being ready to give you trouble as soon as you said anything at all, doesn't matter if you were friendly or not. He sees patients for USA in the mornings and UK, NZ, AUS in the evenings.

The doctor at Chennai:
  • He does not listen to you
  • Asks you to strip before you can say 'Hi'
  • Balks and gets "offended" when asked for a paper gown. He does not offer one.
  • Performs crude physical. Does not take height and weight measurements
  • Jabs needle for extracting blood. Before you can fold your hand and let the bleeding stop, he takes your BP - on the same arm.
  • Four more jabs for Immunization are performed. The Corporation hospital folk are more patient.
  • You are asked to dress and leave.
  • No female doctor or nurse exists to perform the physical.
  • Charges much more than other posts in India.
Please note that some people claim that they had nice experience of staff. They were courteous but not the doctor. Some say both the doctors and staff are nice. So this is quite subjective. And also individual experience may vary. So please use judgment and read the information given here accordingly.

New Delhi, India

There are 5 doctors in New Delhi where the applicants for immigrant visa can go. The embassy sends the list of those doctors. One of them is in Bhikaji Kama place. The can do blood test, x-ray and immunization on the same day. You have to collect the papers after two days.

Hong Kong, China

There are various doctors in Hong Kong where the applicants for immigrant visa can go for the medical check up. You need to make an appointment for the exam. Medical exam and immunizations are done in one day. The report is usually given after 2 days, though it may vary depending upon the doctor you go to. Please check with the individual doctor.

Guangzhou, China

You can take the exam at several hospitals, however only "The first hospital of Guangzhou medical university" can complete the exam in one day. Other places may take more time. At this university, you have to go for medical exam in the morning and you get the report on same day afternoon. The cost of medical exam is about RMB 400 which includes the vaccination shot fee. You don't need appointment for the exam.

Montreal, Canada

Medical takes about an hour to have x-rays, blood test, tetanus shot, blood pressure and exam. They also do a drug screen (via urine sample), something that is not mentioned in the letter. The exam is your basic eyes, ears, throat thing. You have to touch your toes, show that you have good balance, and the doctor also checks your peripheral vision. You have to pick up the results after 2 days in the afternoon.

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

You should go to the doctor at the specified time of appointment. The procedure is quite straightforward and the doctor is a nice person. You have to get cursory physical examination done and you not have to strip, as in other countries. Your blood sample is taken HIV I & II testing as well as VDRL (Syphilis). They also take your chest x-ray. You are given MMR(or MMR booster) shot and another shot for varicella. All done in about 20 minutes.

Dhaka, Bangladesh

The medical exam can be done at Dr Wahab’s chamber in Baridhara ( he is one of the three recommended physicians). They are pretty professional. They take appointments but one can also go on a walk-in basis. Good time to go is between 3 and 4 pm. There is usually very little waiting there. The following would be done: - Blood test
- Urine samples taken
- Measles and Tetanus shots are given (you can also take the Rubella shot, but that’s not mandatory)
- Chest X-ray
- Finally Dr Wahab performs the generic stethoscope routine
Total cost is Tk 4000 (for both husband and wife). The results are given the following day in a sealed envelope. They also tell verbally that everything is OK.

London, UK

Packet IV contains a lot of information, the Part II form, map to the doctor's office for the medical, fees for inoculations, etc, and a medical questionnaire (have you ever been admitted to hospital? have you ever had a test for Syphilis). Answering YES to any of these question's isn't a big deal - it's just so when the doctor talks to you he has a clue.

They don't let you in until 8am sharp. They are very friendly. You have to give your passports, inoculation records and questionnaire to the secretary. They seem to process people in alphabetical order, so don't turn up extra early, or push to the front to get in. After a while the secretary calls you up and you pay the fee (85 pounds each). They absolutely 100% do take credit cards.

After some time, you would be called for your blood tests (children under 16 don't have a blood test). The girl draws the blood and asks that you verify that the name on the tube is yours. Then back to the waiting room.

Again after some time, you would be called for the X-Ray. You have to strip down to your waist, and then pose like a chicken while the X-Ray is taken. Then you put your clothes back on and go and talk to the doctor.

The doctor is very friendly too (like everyone there) and just goes over your inoculation records, tests blood pressure and breathing and tells you what shots you need. Then you go and wait for your shots.

You pay for the shots right there (can be paid by credit card also). You get inoculation certificates for our own records, and you are given your X-Rays. In short, every thing is over in 1 day and actually within couple of hours.

There are a few little booths to change in for the chest x-ray, you have to strip down to the waist however they do give women a gown to put on! After the x-ray you're instructed to put your bra back on and then the gown on top of that for when you go and see the doctor. The doctor listens to your chest as you breathe in and out, looks into your eyes and throat and that's about all.

As most UK people didn't have the mumps vaccine so they usually had to give the MMR jab (mumps-measles-rubella) to applicants. Basically if you didn't have written proof of any vaccine they needed you had to re-have it. Both tetanus and diphtheria shots have to be less that 10yrs old so even if your tetanus is update you may have to have a diphtheria shot separately.

The blood test is usually rough. You may get a bruise. You may get "localized reaction" to the MMR shot and it may be itchy 4inch diameter raised patch, but not too bad. It may also be the size of a quarter.

In and around consulate

Mumbai

The area is of the Mumbai consulate is called Warden Road/Kemps Corner. It is about Rs. 250-300 from the domestic airport in yellow top taxi. Now a days there are air conditioned taxis in Mumbai. They are blue in color and are called cool cab. You will find them in places like airports and huge shopping centers and tourist places. Otherwise you have to normally call them and ask for one the way we do here in US. Those cool cab guys have got mobile phones. Prepaid cool cab from international airport to kemps corner is Rs. 300 at the night time (That's the time you will land in Mumbai). The nearest hotel name is also Kemps corner. They charge about Rs. 1500 per day. Rs. 260 per extra bed. It is not quite nice hotel.

Hotel Kemps Corner
131 August Kranti Marg
Mumbai 400 036
Phone: 91-22-363 4646/66/66
363 4732
363 0675
3631995-6
Fax: 363 4732

Another hotel is Hotel Shalimar which is two buildings next to Kemps Corner. It is 3-star hotel. Shalimar hotel charges Rs. 3000 for single room, Rs. 4300 for double room, Rs. 5000 for suite, and Rs. 500 for each extra person. Also add 20% tax on top all these rates.

Hotel Shalimar
August Kranti Marg
Mumbai 400 036
Phone: 363 1311
Fax: 363 1317
They have mini bar(has liquor, cold drinks, chips, mineral water, chocolate etc.) which is charged on per usage basis. Also has safe deposit vault, currency exchange at reception, internet service, bakery, restaurant etc.

There is one more hotel called Hotel Royal Castle on the same road after half a kilometer away from Shalimar. The rates are Rs. 900, Rs. 1200 and Rs. 1500. Actually Rs. 900 room in this hotel is better than Rs. 1500 room in the Hotel Kemps Corner.
They have 4% Luxury Tax on top of these rates.
Hotel Royal Castle
76 August Kranti Marg(Gowalia Tank)
Mumbai - 400 036. Phone: 388 3888(4 Lines)
Fax: 385 4340

Rs1500 room is really nice. This room is recommended to anybody who has a kid. Reason being it is much more spacious than any other room in the hotel and gives lot of space for the kids to move around. There are three other types for 1200/900/600. The 1200 is little smaller and the the 900/600 are unlivable. They are very small compared to what we got used to in US. The hotel staff is very courteous. TIPS of 10/20 Rs in a day keeps them pretty happy. There are two staff who are almost there all the time Pandey-ji and Bablu. Both of them are very helpful and soft spoken. Day time usually Mr Tiwari is there along with the owner Mr Deepak. Deepak has visited US and talks well and guides you. Mr Tiwari has a smile on his face all the time.

Do not expect that the hotel will be in a nice place and will have porch etc. This hotel is on busy street (40 feet wide) and has lots and lots of traffic with jams now and then. This hotel is on the first floor. Inside the hotel it is clean but the streets are dirtier. By the way any other hotel and streets other than a 3/4/5 star hotels are similar.

There are two restaurants. Hotel Shiv sagar towards Kemps Corner(2 minutes) is decent and lot of crowd at night. Another one east down hill towards the grant road station is Hotel Krishna on the circle. Both of them are Pure veg managed by Karnataka Udupi guys. Their sambhar and chutney with idly vada is very delicious.

It is advisable to take taxi if you are traveling to VT/Churchgate (bus nu 122). It will cost you between 30-40 bucks. If you are traveling north then train is faster and better. Do not travel in train between 8-10 am towards vt/church gate and 5-7.30 pm towards borivali/andheri/kalyan as these are peak hours for commuters.

Hotel Suresha very near airport is good. Phone 8232323/8321198/8328989 fax 8371075. About Rs1300 per day. Disadvantage is that it is not close to consulate. Advantage is that close to airport, they come and pick up from airport.

If money is not a concern, then you could go and stay in one of the big hotels in Bombay like the Taj, Oberoi, which are in south Bombay, not far from the consulate. Centaur Hotel near airport is again a big hotel. Once there, you may look for a place near consulate.

Your may want to try MTDC Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation which can suggest some better places.

All Hotels in Mumbai have check out time at 12:00 noon so any partial day is also charged full. There are many Xerox places and food joints. There are 3-4 Internet Joints which charge around Rs. 50-Rs.60 per hour. The near to Hotel Shalimar and Hotel Kemps Corner is Bharat Driving School after the fly over. It is on the same road. They charge Rs. 45/hour on weekdays and Rs. 38 on weekends.

If you face the US consulate on the left hand side as soon as the consulate ends there is BMC parking lot. In that Parking Lot along the footpath, Raj Tours and Travels have simple tent and chairs. It is here where you first show your appointment letter. They will seat you and then take you on the bus to US consulate where you form another queue to right of entrance(queue for immigrant visa). Here you do not wait for long as almost every one enters the US consulate barring delays in security check at the entrance. Ladies are allowed purses. No bags, briefcases allowed inside the consulate. Just take big plastic carry bag to put everything into. For security reasons, the following items are prohibited in the waiting room: cameras, tape recorders or players, calculators, any device with batteries(flashlights, radios, etc.), cigarettes, lighters, matches, large bags, luggage, weapons, or pocket knives. Applicant must not bring these items to Consulate for their interview. Just outside the consulate near Raj Pavilion, there are some food joints, in the evening there is a bus selling fresh orange juice. Also there is public rest room which is quite clean compared to other public restrooms in India. They charge Rs. 1 per visit but it is well worth it. If you just walk little distance from that public toilet, there is a nice beach garden where you can take a nice walk in the evening to relax from all the exhaustion out of this process.

Chennai

The US Consulate at Chennai is at the intersection of Mount Road/Anna Salai and Dr. Radhakrishnan Road(Salai)/Cathedral Road.
There are may hotels/motels in consulate area, about 5-10 minutes walk. The taxes are about 25-35%. Also the rates are just to give an idea.

  1. Hotel Ganapat,103, Nungambakkam High Road, (Rs.550-750) + taxes
  2. Hotel Maris, 9, Cathedral Road, (Rs 425-625) + taxes
  3. New Woodlands Pvt Ltd, 72-75, Dr. Radhakrishnan Road, (Rs. 250-1000) + taxes
  4. Nilgiris Nest, 58, Dr. Radhakrishnan Salai, Chennai-600004 (Rs. 925 - 1350) + taxes
  5. Hotel President, 16, Dr. Radhakrishnan Road (Rs. 1025-1275) + taxes.

Kilpalk is about 10-12 kms away from the consulate and the most popular way is the public transportation. But with no knowledge of regional language, you may want to opt for an auto-rickshaw. It could cost you about Rs. 60-70 each way from the consulate to kilpalk.

Interview

Mumbai and General

On the day of the interview, the applicant must bring all of the documents specified in Packets III and IV and appear at the consulate at the time specified.

Immigration Visa(IVs) are processed Monday to Friday (except last working day of the month) by appointment, but IV reconsiderations are considered Monday-Friday (except last working day of the month) @ 7:45 AM. So if any of you run into any problem on the first day for which the solution is available in India (incomplete documents, incomplete medical records), one can just show up any day at 7:45 AM.

They don't allow you in even 15 minutes before the interview time. So no point in going there too early. Sometimes you have stand in the same line as non-immigrant visa applicants in spite of showing the appointment letter. Once you are in, there is no such as appointment time. You are called in randomly. Once you enter US consulate, you give the appointment letter and pay $260 DD (Rs. 11440 at present) at counter 1 or 2. At this counter, you don't have to wait in the line which is for non-immigrant visa applicants. You give them your appointment letter. Then you sit in front of windows 10/11/12. Your name will be called. Please keep the documents ready (One set to hand over to them) and Original set in the same order. One suggested order may be passport, OF230 part 1 and II, IRS 9003 form, photographs, birth certificates, marriage certificates, last 3 years tax returns, I-134 and related financial information (bank statements, pay stubs), all visa approval notices, all experience letters, all degree certificates etc.

If you ask them to make a xerox copy, it will cost you $1 (Rs 44/- as of this writing) and you will have to stand in line to pay the cashier.

If there is only on case number for primary applicant and for the spouse, all will be called together. For everything like standing in the queue / prescreening / final interview, you and your family is together. The primary applicant's file will be prepared first, then they move on to the spouses file and then children(if any). If your children are born in USA they just ask if the child has US passport, they do not even look at it.

There is no finger printing any more at the consulate for the immigrant visa purpose. You will be finger printed at the port of entry.

Interview at the consulate is usually a simple process. Answer truthfully and consistently throughout and you will maximize your chances of success. There are 2 interviews. First by Indian person and second American person. The Indian's interview is usually rough, while American is usually cool and very polite.

First the Indian officer may ask for any documents listed above in "Interview Documents". Indian officer does not have any authority to reject, so he/she accepts all documents with dissent. He/She may ask you questions like your father's name, your job title, job description, about your previous entries whether they were H1 or F1 etc, time duration etc for the entries. Indian officer may insist that the applicant should have the forms sent by the consulate, even though they are older than ones online. If he/she asks for I-485 approval(for those of you who have filed it before going to CP), say that you don't need to be here if you have I-485 approval. The Indian officer might have problems with every little things like photographs. You have to sign one photograph in front of the screening officer and the same photograph with US consulate seal is stuck to your immigration visa. Take fine point pen with you as the normal ball pen doesn't work properly while signing on the photograph. Don't argue with Indian officer. Key is not to argue anything with him/her, listen everything, without getting provoked. If you argue with him/her or if he/she feels that you know a lot, he/she will make you feel in hell and try to provoke you enough. Indian officer asks for all the documents, he/she can think of. If you cannot produce, he/she will start talking rough. As he/she has only right to collect all necessary document, he/she cannot reject the visa, he/she can put a a comment that documents are incomplete and American will analyze the situation. This officer may ask you questions like father's name, mother's name, name of the company, job title etc. Also you have to sign a letter saying you will work for the same employer after you get back.

After that American consular interviews for few minutes. As you soon as you enter the interview box, you have to raise your hands and take oath saying everything is correct and there is no fraud etc.The questions may be like name of company, job title, job duties, date of first arrival in US, you different legal statuses in US, time difference between I-485 and CP etc. The officer will tell you to sign OF 230 II and a letter saying that you will return to US and work for the same employer. They cancel you non-immigrant visas in the beginning of the interview. Then you care asked to pay the visa part of fee ($65 which is Rs. 2860 at present) at counter 1 or 2.

You will be asked to collect the immigrant visa and the passport at 3.00 PM. Immigrant visa applicants are given back their documents(Passport and immigrant visa) before the non-immigrant applicants. Sometimes they make you wait until 4-4.30 pm in hot sun. Only one person need to go with the receipts and that person could also be your relative, friend etc if you are tired to go. There is no stamp put in the passport at this time. The immigrant visa is just like H1B approval or I-140 approval notice but it is more colorful and with more security features.

Most of the documents are taken by them and except passport nothing is returned to you. All the documents are put in sealed(US consulate seal) in regular envelope with left corner cut. So you can see 1 inch right angle triangle of each document from this window. Check your VISA carefully. Check date of birth, parent's name, case number and marital status carefully.

Chennai, India

You should go to the consulate 8.00 am. There is no need to wait in the line with non-immigrant visa seekers. You show the appointment letter and get in from the same gate from where non-immigrant visa seekers would get in. By 8.30 you are in the seating area. You get to be called by your official name not a token number. After some time, you have to go a separate IV counter and your papers are collected by an indian officer. As always, you should be polite, courteous to them. And you should not argue unnecessarily with them. Otherwise they may feel like in hell and you may have to go through some more trouble. If have some complications like company name change, merger or anything out of ordinary, make sure you raise all points of doubts yourself, as he/she may not aware of all your case details. You will be asked to pay about Rs. 8000 as application fees at the cash counter and go back and sit. A contract lady sold soft drinks and biscuits at exorbitant rates, Rs. 15/ Rs.25 etc right inside the waiting room.

Later, all IV applicants are asked by the indian staff to step outside and stand on the steps of the consulate (like a group photo). American officer walks out of nowhere, no greeting, looks surly, just says "raise your hands" and pledge that "all info are correct etc". He is gone in 30 seconds and all of you are asked to go back inside and wait further. This is the only time you may see an american official that day.

Later you are called out by name to line up at the IV counter again, this time another indian guy shows up and says all is ok, please pay the visa fee -about Rs. 5000 and come back in the evening between 4-5 to collect the visas. Only one person per application (in cases where you go along with dependents) would be allowed in at 4:00 PM to collect your visa. So your spouse/children have to be baked in the hot sun for about an hour, if you bring them with you at that time.

You cannot enter the consulate premises after 5.00pm at any rate, so if you go in at 4.00pm to collect our passport , DO NOT come out. Even if you think it will take some time before you could get your visa, do not come out, other wise you may have to waster one more day. Even if you are ready to come next day because you stepped out, the consulate may not happy with you as it is more work for them.

Your names are called and you hand in the fee receipt and get a brown sealed envelope per each IV given along with the passports. The H1 is "cancelled without prejudice". There is nothing on the passport other than the cancellation. The whole thing is in the envelopes. At that point you cease to have any status whatsoever, until you actually enter a US port of entry. The envelopes are sealed and stamped, you are advised NOT to open them at any cost.

New Delhi, India

Even though applicants are given appointment time for immigrant interview, the timings do not matter there. Either everyone may be given appointment at same time, or even if they are at different times, they don't process applicants according to the given time. You have to send in line for submitting interview call letters, making payments, taking oath.
Consulate staff is very courteous. They do not find un-necessary issues. However, try to take all possible documents to avoid surprise.


Sydney, Australia

You should go there at the time of your appointment. Once they let you in, the officer checks for all the paperwork and you are asked to pay the visa application fee. Then you are asked to sit down and wait until called again. Now the consular officer looks through all the paperwork. Then you are asked to go and pay the visa issuance fee. And then again you sit and wait.Everything you submitted is sealed in an envelope and on top of that, the immigrant visa is stuck. You are asked to check all the details on the immigrant visa. And then you are free to go.

The view of Sydney harbor is magnificent from the US consulate, which is on 30+ floor.


Hong Kong, China

If you don't receive your interview appointment letter and Packet 4 in time of for the interview, you can send someone to the consulate with the authorization letter to pick them up for you.

You should go to the consulate at your appointment time and stand in the line to show the appointment letter. First you are called by an local Hong Kong officer who checks for all the documents. He/She may also ask some questions related to your application. He/she may ask questions like name of your spouse, school/work history in USA, date of marriage etc. Then you are asked to pay the immigrant visa application fee and then wait. Then an American officer would interview you. He/She would cancel your "H1 without prejudice", ask you to take the oath about the truthfulness of the application and at the end ask you to pay the visa issuance fee. Then again you are asked to collect your packet containing all the documents you gave them and your immigrant visa on top of that. Sometimes you may be asked to come on some other day to collect your packet/visa. But if you are in emergency to come back soon, you may request them to do it on the same day.

Guangzhou, China

The process is very similar to the process at other posts: pass the security check, pay the fees, pass the documents to the consulate local staff, wait for my interview and finally talk to the visa officer. Interview with the consular officer is very short.You may be asked very few questions like "What did you study in college?", "Which company you're working for?", "What kind of project you're working on?", etc. You would also be asked for latest non-criminal Notary from China police authority. (It is valid for only 1 year. It is pretty ease to get a new one, only takes about 20 days and RMB200. Even if you did not go to China after you got it and it is more than 1 year since you go it, you should get the latest one. The local officers may not know all the immigration laws and hence just follow the procedure.) It is also a good idea to bring some document about your company, in case the consulate want to know something about your company.

Phone and fax for US consulate in Guangzhou China are
Phone: 86-20-8188-8911
Fax: 86-20-8186-2341

Montreal, Canada

You should line up in front of the consulate at least about 1 hour before the appointment. After passing through the security check, you would be sent downstairs with little numbered tags indicating our order. You may have to stay in that holding room for half an hour to one hour or more - no bathroom. All those who have anxious bladders - you might want to avoid coffee or water prior to the interview.

Then you are taken upstairs in a secure elevator to the 19th floor. There are 25 or so booths scattered around the consulate, some for paying, some for interviews, some for preliminary processes.

You would be asked for your birth certificate, marriage certificate, police certificate, affidavit of support etc. He/She would also ask you to give him/her your photographs and ask you to sign the edge of one. Then you would be told to pay $260, which is visa application fee, bring back the receipt, go sit down and wait for your name to be called.

Then you would be called to a little interview room with a divider and pass-through tray. The consular officer would ask you to take a oath and tell you that if you lie, you won't get visa. The consular officer may ask you questions regarding your work history(for employment based) or marriage, children etc. (for family based). He/she would go over the documents and ask you if he/she has any questions. Then you would be asked to go and pay $65, which is visa issuance fee.

Then are you told to wait again. When called again, you would be given a sealed envelope with all the documents you submitted inside it and immigrant visa on top of that. You would also be asked to examine the top sheet carefully as mistakes can not be easily corrected once you leave. You are also instructed not to open the envelope, but rather hand it to the immigration official, and that they would complete the process.

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

You should report to the embassy some time earlier than your appointment time. Upon arrival, you should show the appointment letter. To actually get into the embassy compound, you have to give them a piece of identity and then they give you a tag to wear while in the embassy. They also check you bags at that time and ask you to leave all electronic items behind. Once you actually get into the building, you have to go through another check with a metal detector.

You would be asked to produce all the required documents, i.e., birth cert + copy, OF-230Part2, medical report, offer letter, letter from employer, IRS9003, current and all previous passports with US visas and photographs. You are then told to pay the visa application fee which is $260 and then asked to wait or come back at later time of the day.

As in other posts, the interview with the American officer is very short and he/she would ask you to take an oath regarding truthfulness of the application. He/she would check that everything is in order, cancel your current non-immigrant visa and ask you to pay visa issuance fee, $65. He/She would remind you that you need to work for the same employer who sponsored you and you have 6 months to go back to US. Then you are asked to wait to collect the envelope(which has all the documents you submitted0 and immigrant visa on top that.

London, UK

Information on the consular section of US embassy in UK would be useful for the candidates applying there. It can be found here.

Packet 3 from US embassy in UK can be found here

As you enter the embassy you face the security guards. You show them the interview letter and they put your bags through the X-Ray machine. You step through the metal detector on the left and that was it. The immigrant visa office is up the stairs to the right. The stairs are behind the security guards, so as you walk through the metal detector, make a right U-Turn and the steps are right there.

The staff at the immigration counter would take your interview letter and tell you to sit down. Keep the documents and copies in the order listed in Packet 3. No other documents are usually requested (but then also, you should take everything related - never hurts to be prepared). After that, you would be asked to pay the standard application fee. You may be asked for a phone number where you could be reached in the next 24 hours (presumably should something go wrong). You may give your hotel phone number or any other phone number. Then you would be asked to sit down again until called by the consular official. You have to raise your right hands and swear that you would tell the truth. They may ask you a couple of questions: "How long have you worked at your current company?"
"How did you get the job?"
"What do you do?"
After that, you would be asked to go away and come back later, no later than noon (presumably whilst they waited for the medical results). When you are back, you would be asked to pay the issuance fee. Your original documents would be returned to you and you would be given two US Immigrant Visas. The visas are sealed brown envelopes with all the documentation for your case. On the front is taped a colorful document with your photograph, name, address, etc. and visa number. Primary applicant's envelope would normally be quite thick while dependants' would be normally thinner.

Dhaka, Bangladesh

You should not go much earlier than the interview time. Once in, local Bangladeshi officer would collect your documents. You would be asked to come after 10-15 minutes t to pay the visa fee. You can pay either in dollars or in Taka. Then you would be asked to wait for interview. The interview would be by American officer and he/she would normally be quite polite. You would be asked to the OF 230 part 2. You may be asked a few casual questions like:
- Where you work
- Your current position
- Current salary
- Whether you entered the US first as a student
- How long you had been married
- Whether you had kids

Then you would be asked to collect the passports at 3pm the same day. You would be returned your original birth certificates, marriage certificate, paystubs and W-2’s. After that you would be asked to go and pay the visa issuance fee.

In the afternoon they will return the rest of the originals (sailing permit, etc) along with your passports and the immigrant visas. The H-1B is canceled with a seal saying: “Canceled without prejudice’. You would also be given the IRS 9003 form along with a sealed envelope to be surrendered at the port of entry.

Immigrant Visa Refusal

The alien must demonstrate that the activities he plans to engage in while in the United states are consistent with the activities allowed by the type of visa for which he is applying. If the immigrant visa is denied because of missing documents etc, you would be allowed to enter to US again. If it is denied under the grounds of exclusion such as fraud, criminal convictions, alien smuggling, prior stay in the United States in unlawful status of more than 180 days followed by a departure, dangerous contagious illness that presents a threat to public health, illness like AIDS that makes it likely that they may become a public change in the future, terrorist, drug trafficker etc, you won't be allowed to enter US again. That would also happen in the adjustment of status. It is just that as Adjustment of Status(AOS) takes longer time, you can stay in US for longer time until you are removed from US because of AOS denial.

If a person has one of the specified illnesses, and the are no longer contagious, there should be no problem. The visa officer will want to see proof that the applicant will continue receiving treatment, but this is a problem that can be solved. If the person has an illness that makes it likely that they will be unable to work in the future, then the officer will probably want an affidavit of support from a relative.

Whatever reason that gets your IV denied (other than incomplete documents) will almost certainly be a ground for denial of any other non-immigrant visas.

The fact that you have applied for an IV is undoubtedly the ultimate form of "immigration intent". Therefore the consulate can reject your non-immigration visa application based on this fact.

Enter US as Immigrant

You don't need to fill I-94 form in the flight. Just the customs form. You enter US with your immigrant visa, passport, the sealed blue envelope given by the hospital at the time of the medical examination and the sealed envelope given by the consulate. At the port of entry, you will taken to a special room and your passport will be stamped with I-551 stamp which is a temporary green card, valid for one year. It indicates the date and port of entry for admission as a lawful permanent resident of the United States. You will get the actual plastic green card (which looks just like driver's license in US) will come in mail within few months. At port-of-entry, you will also be finger printed(only right hand index finger) which just takes couple of minutes. When asked to sign, remember to sign in black pen. If you are say EB3, your passport will be stamped with E31, your spouse E34 and your children E35. Similar numbers for other categories. Temporary green card is as good as permanent green card except that it expires in one year. If you had already applied for I-485, it does not matter whether they put the A# number from I-485 or from immigrant visa on your I-551 stamp. In actual plastic green card, the A# number will be from immigrant visa.

Port of Entry experiences:
Detroit, MI
At the airport the INS official took our finger prints and asked two questions:
- Current position
- If I had been working at my company before
He then said that the plastic cards would be mailed to my company address so as to ensure that I'm still working there. He also added that I have to work at my company for at least a year.

Newark, NJ:
Filled only the customs form since GC has been approved. Stood in line for Permanent Residents/US Citizens at EWR. Gave the packet to the officer. He verified some details and called for index finger prints. Gave us our passports with temp GC stamped. Valid for 1 year. I asked if I could travel outside the country on the temp GC stamp and he said yes I can. Card should arrive in 6-8 months the officer said.

Seattle, WA:
The next day we entered the US at Seattle. The lady who walks the queue, checking people's forms directed us to an officer who deals with longer/special processing. He opened our envelopes and went through the paperwork. Whilst he was doing this some US Citizens needed attention and he stopped to deal with them. This happened a couple of times. No big deal. He then took our fingerprint and signature and stamped our passports for 1 year. He asked us to check the address on our Visas as this is where the green cards will be sent. He told us that the new-style green cards may take a while to get to us: 2 - 5 months. We didn't have to fill out a I-551 application form ourselves. He was quite friendly - told us that the X-Rays were a souvenir for us to keep. And that was that.

San Francisco, CA:
A peaceful, painless experience. No delays, no special rooms. Just fill out the customs form, and keep the immigrant visa packet ready. At SFO there is a separate aisle at immigration marked "New Immigrants". Go through there - normally there are very few people in this line (I only had one Oriental gentleman ahead of me), so there is almost no waiting time. First, an assistant of sorts asks you for the visa packet. The she takes your fingerprint (left index finger) on a designated form and asks you to sign that form. She then passes on that form and the packet to the immigration officer whose counter is a short distance down the line. Go upto him - he normally doesn't ask you any questions (atleast he didn't ask to the writer of this paragraph)... he'll open the packet, pull out all the documents in there and briefly go over them. Then he'll staple the form with your fingerprints to the package and keep it with him, and stamp the I-550 in your passport. That's it, you're done... in less than 10 minutes. Home free.

Post Entry

Welcome to United States as permanent resident. Your plastic green card would arrive in your mail by normal US mail within 2-3 months. It would come from the INS service center. On the envelope, INS writes that do not forward. So if you change your address between the time you enter as immigrant and you would hopefully get the plastic card, you should promptly file Change of Address Form ( Form AR-11 ) to INS and follow up with them to make sure that they have your current mailing address.

Before getting immigrant visa, if you had been working in US, you would normally have non-immigrant visa such as H1B, L1 etc (some of you might even be working on EAD if you are on H4, L2 etc.), those non-immigrant visas would have got cancelled at the time of consular interview. So they are no longer valid to work. So you should ask your employer to give you I-9 form (Employment Eligibility Verification Form) and you should fill it. You should give them the copy of your I-551 stamp in your passport. Now you can legally work with your employer based on your green card.

When the person is on non-immigrant visa, he/she would have either social security card with "Valid to Work with INS Authorization only", or "Not Valid to Work" or no social security card at all. You should go to nearest Social Security Administration office and get a new Social Security Card. You can fill up the fillable form SS-5 and print before you go there. You will get new Social Security Card with those restrictions removed. You will retain the same old Social Security Number, though.

Back to Green Card Page