On the day of the interview, the applicant must bring all of the documents specified in Instructions Package for Immigrant Visa Applicants (applicable only for Group 2. Group 1 already would have sent them to NVC) and Appointment Package for Immigrant Visa Applicants and appear at the consulate at the time specified.

You may have to wait beyond your scheduled appointment time as many applicants are scheduled at the same time.

If there is only one 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.

Review all your paperwork before the interview. Review the questions and answers on all the forms and documents that you and your sponsor have submitted so far. Review the dates of your visits to different places, the financial figures, and your immigration history. If there have been any changes or if you have noticed any errors since filing out the forms previously, be prepared to explain the changes and provide documents confirming the new information, as appropriate.

Dress neatly, professionally, and even conservatively. Don't wear T-shirts or jewelry with slogans or symbols that might make the officer wonder about your lifestyle or moral. However, don't overdo like wearing a tie covered with American flags or keep making comments about how great USA is, how you would be a member of great society.

Interview at the consulate is usually a simple process. Answer truthfully and consistently throughout and you will maximize your chances of success. There is no fingerprinting at the consulate for the immigrant visa purpose. You will be fingerprinted at the port of entry.

At the beginning of the interview with the American officer, if you have any non-immigrant visas in the passport, they are all "cancelled without prejudice". Once you clear the interview, there is no stamp in the passport for it. The immigrant visa is just like H1B approval or I-140 approval notice (one sheet of paper) 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. (Of course, you get back your original documents such as birth certificate, marriage certificates etc.) 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. The envelopes are sealed and stamped, you are advised NOT to open them at any cost. At that point you cease to have any status whatsoever, until you actually enter a US port of entry.

No assurance can be given in advance that a visa will be issued. A consular officer can make a decision only after your visa application and all documents are reviewed, and you have been personally interviewed. You are advised not to make any travel arrangements, and not to dispose of your property or give up your job until the visa has been issued. If your visa application is refused, you will be given a refusal sheet that will indicate the basis for your refusal. If applicable, it will tell you what actions you could take to overcome the refusal.

Applications are rarely denied on the spot. If there are problems that can be corrected or if you are inadmissible but are eligible to apply for a waiver, you will be asked to provide additional materials. Politely ask that the officer to put any requests for more materials in writing, stating exactly what is needed and why.

Immigrant visas are valid for 6 months from date of issuance. Applicants may immigrate to US or as soon as it is convenient to them, maximum within 6 months. A visa may not be transferred from one person to another, or used by any person other than the one to whom issued.

Employment based immigration, applicants coming from US
You may be asked 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. 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. 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.

American officer may ask questions 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. Also you have to sign a letter saying you will work for the same employer after you get back.

Marriage based immigration
You may be asked questions such as how you and your spouse met, when you decided to get married, and other facts regarding your visits or correspondence. You also may be asked how many people attended the ceremony and how you have visited or corresponded with each other in recent years. If you don't know the answer or don't remember something, say so rather than guess the answer.

Don't talk unnecessarily or make any jokes such as "mail order bribe" or paying money for a bride or anything like that.

If there are any questions about the validity of your marriage, the consular officer may send the file back to the US for investigation.

Once you receive the appointment package, you should assemble the documents outlined in the instructions and visit the nearest VFS application center to pay your service charge and have the VFS staff review your documents for completeness.

All applicants scheduled for an interview must submit the documents as mentioned in the appointment package along with a clear photocopy of all pages of his current and expired passports and a clear photocopy of his appointment letter to VFS, no earlier than 15 working days and no less than 10 working days prior to the interview. Failure to submit documents 10 days prior to the interview date may result in loss of interview date.

You may visit the visa application center with the mandatory documents (original & valid passport, appointment letter from the consulate, demand draft or cash for the VFS' service charge) on any working day to pay the VFS' service charge. VFS will issue you a fee receipt based on your appointment letter and affix a barcode on your passport. The consulate strongly recommends that you bring with you all the documents specified in your appointment package in order to take advantage of the services of the VFS staff in organizing your documents and checking them for completeness.

VFS Service Charge: Each visa applicant must pay a service charge fee of Rs 365/- per head which is inclusive of Service Tax @ 12% and Education Cess Tax @ 0.24%. This fee is payable in cash or by demand draft favoring “HDFC Bank a/c VFS.” Demand drafts issued by cooperative banks are not accepted.If the fees are being paid by demand draft, one may submit a single draft for all applicants listed in the appointment letter.

In addition to all other documents, remember to take the VFS service charge receipt to the interview.

The Immigrant Visa Unit processes visas from 8 AM until 5 PM Monday through Friday. New IV applicants are seen by appointment only. If you have been asked to return in person, you must come at 8:30 AM with your passport(s) and any other documents requested from you. The Embassy is closed to the public on both U.S. and Indian holidays, and does not see visa applicants on the last Friday of every month.

Do not arrive more than 15 minutes before the interview appointment time. So, no point in going there too early. Sometimes you have to stand in the same line as non-immigrant visa applicants in spite of showing the appointment letter. Once you are in, there is no appointment time. You are called randomly. Most interview take place before lunch.

Once you enter the consulate, you give them your appointment letter. Then you sit in front of windows 10/11/12 until your name is called for an interview. Please keep the documents ready.

If you need to make a photo copy of any document, it will cost you $1 (Rs 48/- as of Nov 9, 2006) and you will have to stand in line to pay the cashier.

There are 2 interviews. First by Indian person and second by American person.

First the Indian officer may ask for any required documents. Indian officer does not have any authority to reject, so he/she accepts all documents with dissent. Indian officer may sometimes insist that the applicant should have the forms sent by the consulate, even though they are older than ones online. 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, the 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 like you are 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 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.

The American consular interviews for few minutes. After that, you enter the interview box, raise your hands and take oath saying everything is correct and there is no fraud etc. The officer will tell you to sign DS 230 II. Then you are asked to pay the visa issuance fee, if not already paid to NVC, at counter 1 or 2.

If no ineligibilities or technical problems arise, immigrant visas are generally approved on the day of the interview and issued later the same day. Your passport will be sent by courier to you at the address that you specify to VFS. Alternately you may collect your passport across the counter (Rush Service) from the Mumbai application center on the day of your interview between 5:00 PM and 6:00 PM. You will need to show the original VFS' service charge receipt and the interview appointment letter. To find out whether your passport has been received from the visa section, Track passport online or SMS "US Visa [passport number]" to 7333.

You should go to the consulate 8 AM. Show the appointment letter and get in from the same gate where non-immigrant visa seekers would get in. By 8:30 AM you are in the seating area. Application fees are paid to the cashier first thing in the morning; if they have not already been prepaid to NVC. Applicants are then seated until they are called for an interview. Most interviews take place before lunch. You are called by your official name not a token number. After sometime, you will have go to 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 make you feel like your in hell and you may have to go through some more trouble. You will be asked to pay the application fees (if not already paid to NVC) at the counter and go back and sit. A contract lady sells 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 arrives and says "raise your hands" and pledge that "all info are correct etc". He is gone in 30 seconds and everyone is 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 issuance fee. If no ineligibilities or technical problems arise, immigrant visas are generally approved on the day of the application. Visas are then sent to the applicant by Blue Dart Courier Service. You hand in the fee receipt and get a brown sealed envelope per each IV given along with the passports.

If you are refused previously (because of missing document etc), you don't need an appointment. Just go to the consulate at 8 AM on Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri.

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 will have to stand in line for submitting interview call letters, making payments, taking oath.

Consulate staff is very courteous. They do not find unnecessary issues. However, try to take all possible documents to avoid any surprises.

Application fees are paid to the cashier first thing in the morning if they have not already been prepaid to NVC. Applicants are then seated until they are called for an interview. Most interviews take place before lunch. If no ineligibilities or technical problems arise, immigrant visas are generally approved on the day of the application and returned to the applicant by courier.

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.

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.

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 easy 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 wants 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

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 your 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 you are 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.

You should report to the embassy sometime earlier than your appointment time. Upon arrival, you should show the appointment letter. To actually get into the embassy compound, you will have to give them a piece of identity and then they give you a tag to wear while in the embassy. They also check your bags at that time and ask you to leave all electronic items behind. Once you actually get into the building, you will 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, DS-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 submitted and immigrant visa on top that.

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

As you enter the embassy you face the security guards. Show them the interview letter and they will put your bags through the X-Ray machine. 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 hand 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 while 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.

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 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 sign DS 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 3 PM the same day. You would be returned your original birth certificates, marriage certificate, pay stubs 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.

The consulate is located at
American Consulate General
Immigrant Visa Unit
Siesmayerstrasse 21
60323 Frankfurt, Germany
Phone #: 069-7535-0 (01149-69-7537-0 from outside of Germany), 2 PM - 4 PM

It is located next to the "Palmengarten", a major Arboraeum in Frankfurt. If somebody gets lost, there are signs giving the direction to the Palmengarten all over the city.

In the consulate, first the visa fee of $325 is paid. The consulate accepts Visa and Mastercard. The person at the visa check in then takes the DS230 Part 2, and checks that the photos are ok. There is a quick-photo machine located in the lobby, so it is possible to get photos there. Sometime later, they call your name over the PA, and check the documents. All documents except Police Certificates can be provided as copies. At that time, the picture is signed. They also provide an option of picking up the visa or having it mailed. Mailing is done via registered mail, and it is priced at DM 7, which has to be provided in stamps. They said it takes 7 days to mail the visa. The visa usually is ready for pickup in two days, since they have to wait for the results of the medical. Finally, your name is called again over the PA for the interview. Many times, they do not want to see any tax returns or sailing permit, but no guarantee here.