Cross qns and thorough documentation check at the consulates

[divyasri]

Here is my mom's interview synopsis in detail. I am told that these days the consulates are going through all the documentation and paper work in detail since the summer rush season wherein the consulates face more application traffic is almost over now. They have time to grill all the paperwork and also the applicants, taking their time. My mother also said that two couples before her were refused a visa stating that they did not carry a letter of invitation from their folks here and that the consulate cannot depend on a word of mouth and go against their law issuing a visa without all the proper paperwork. My mother also said that an old man who said he knows english was asked as to why he did not fill up his own application in his own hands in that case...and also was asked to read what was in the application in his Date of Birth column. The old man could read nothing from the paper I gather. My mom thinks that perhaps he only learnt to sign in english..in which case he shud have been honest in saying so.

In any case....here is my mom's interview in detail:

Here is the Interview synopsis: (Interview was in Telugu)
Mom: Namasthe!
Guy: Namusthe!
Mom: Sir I need 2 min permission to talk to you before we start the interview.
Guy: Okay..
Mom: I have come here three times before and have been refused a visa for
no valid reason. Plz go thru all the paperwork and ask me as many qns
as you want, but this time do not refuse me a visa for no reason. I will
get more documentation if you need and in such case please give me
an hour permission. Plz make note that at this age we cannot travel to
and fro so many times and it is an overnight journey as well.
Guy: Okay..
Guy : Why is ur husband not with u ?
Mom: He came twice before this along with me but was refused a visa and he
is still in govt service and cannot take leave so many times.
Guy: Whr does he work?
Mom: HMT
Guy: Ur daughter must've taken u and kept with her long back. Why didn't
you go anytime before? (Indirect qn on the intention to stay here)
Mom: My daughter asked me many a time to travel to US but I cudn't
because of my household duties. Also what is keeping me with her? We
donot stay at daughters' place like that.
( I believed the interviewer and the translator laughed at it and that the translator told the english guy that it was a typical Indian thing not to live at a daughter's palce after her wedding)
Guy: Does your SIL work for any other company other than IBM?
Mom : Not to my knowledge sir! But you will have all the details in those
papers right? Please go thru them. Also...he is not with IBM...he is with
Microsoft. ( Cross qn)
( I believe they laughed again)
Guy: How many months will you stay in US?
Mom: 2-3 months max.
Guy: How many months of leave did your husband take when he came in for
the trip when he came in for the last interview?? (Cross qn)
Mom: How can he take leave when he has no Visa in the first place. He just
took one day's leave to come down to Madras for the Interview.
(Smiles from them I gather)
Guy: Will you stay back with them if your daughter asks you to?
Mom: I cannot stay more than 3 mnths whether my daughter asks or you ask
me to. I have my family here and lot of responsibilities as well. I will be
happy only at my house in India, with my family.
(My mom said that they laughed for almost a minute at this)
Guy: What exactly do you think you will see in US in three months?
Mom: Whatever my daughter plans.
Guy: You cannot stay more than 6 months in US. Do you know that?
Mom: I think I already said that I cannot stay more than 3 months.
I cannot spare 6 months for a trip, away from my family.

Then my mom said..tht the guy was rolling his pen all over his head and chin n cheeks for about 5 min....and then said...'okay you got a visa...pay ur fees at the other counter, and Njoy ur trip and make sure you see all you can while you are there'.

She got a five year multiple entry.

[vanaja]

Thanks for the detailed version of the interview.

Did yor mom took any family photos with her?

Vanaja.

[immihelp]

Congratulations!

[divyasri]

Nope! She did not take any family photos. I did however ask her to take along the page in the ration card that shows all the names of the children usually. Tht is more certain a proof than family photo I guess.

[divyasri]

Thnk u Immi

[divyasri]

Pulling up the thread for couple of people who wanted to know how the interview went.

[aktati]

that's very helpful to know the details of the interview and I really appreciate your mother being so bold to the officer in answering all the questions.. nice homework done by her. How did you prepare her and do you have any quessionaire on this?

Congrats...
Arun

[hai_anand]

Divya...thanks for sharing your mom's experience.
Did she appear for the interview in Chennai?? Thanks

[divyasri]

Yes. This was at the Chennai Consulate.

[divyasri]

aKTATI:

Preparing ...well....telling her so many times only made her think that the interview would be so very difficult. I think a 3 time rejection without a reason plus the fact that she could never be here for her grand daughter's birth, kind of made my mom really practical & bold.

In all her interviews before..I am sure her body language showed her desperation to be here as soon as possible and help me out.

One big key is knowing what is there in the papers you are carrying along. Minor details need not be memorised...but things like where the sponsor lives or works and so on are important. They always appreciate & accept statements like 'we donot ask for son-in-laws' salary...' and so on....instead of lying or giving them other misleading/wrong answers.