Drop Box : Consulate called for Perwsonal Interview

[adusumillip]

Hello,

Has anybody gone through this experience:

"Applied through Drop Box but consulate sends a reply back calling you for a personal interview".

Please post details such as:

1. Reason - why they called personally
2. Was your passport stamped before they sent it back to you asking you to attend personally. What does the stamp say?
3. Did they give you a particular date/Time to attend personally?
4. Did you get visa on attending personally?

[dabbarao]

Same with us

Hi

Even my parents (Age 65+) got their papers back but they were asked to schedule an appt to showup at Madras consulate. They may be going in May second week (next earliest appt available).

There is a sheet asking the applicant to bring any missing or suppoirting document before you go to Consulate, there are bunch of check boxes int hat. My parents' sheet is empty, they didnt ask for any documents. Looks like all they want is see my parents face, sounds silly.

Thanks.

[adusumillip]

Dabbarao

Thanks for the prompt reply.

Did they stamp your parents passports?

So, they asked your parents to make an appt, they didn't give your parents any dates or time to come for the interview is it?

Did you say BOTH your parents are 65+ ?

Have your parents been to US before or is this their first time applying for visa?

[dabbarao]

..

Stamp on the passport, I am not aware, I will check and will let you know. For appt, they told to contact TT services and schedule an appt. Yes both are 65+ and this is the first time they went for a visa, they never went to any other contry earlier.

Later...

[adusumillip]

Re: ..

dabbarao,

Thanks for replying.

From what I have been seeing, first timers applying through dropbox are usually beeing called for a personal appearance.

Please let me know about the stamp in passport when you find out. Thanks!

[vv]

also same here...

my parents are also sort of in the same suituation.
they applied thro drop box and have been asked to attend personal interview.they got the reply 412G,
asking them to attend personal interview, without any
specific reason or instructions.


They have already been to the US twice and have returned before their visa expired..without any extension.

i have a question...is this considered a refusal ?
what should they put in DS156, q.31. 'HAVE YOU BEEN EVER REFUSED A VISA ?

[immihelp]

Re: also same here...

They should answer truthfully.

As they have been rejected, answer for that question would be 'Yes'

[vv]

re

The form had no other instructions, such as missing document etc...
They were just asked to attend personal interview..

this is quote from consular website

"Applicants are ineligible under section 221(g) because the applicant failed to bring some information or document, or some further procedure or review by us or another U.S. government agency must be completed"

so i guess, in my parents case, they want to review further...

is this still considered refusal?

[vv]

re

the reply from consulate had 221G seal, and not 214 ...
is this still considered as refusal?

[dabbarao]

passport stamp

There is no stamp in the passport but a small writing
2 april 2004 db9 .

[dabbarao]

DS156

Hi VV,

Where do you see this DS156 you were referring to, Please let me know.

Thanks.

[vv]

re

I was referring to the form DS 156 , which your parents
are required to submit.

is there any 221G seal on the paper your parents got back?

[adusumillip]

vv

What are your parents ages?

Personally I don't think that could be called a refusal.

[vv]

Re

dad -59, mom-54

i sent an email to consulate to clarify this..
i got the reply as it is considered as refusal..so, we need to fill in ds 156 q.31. how you ever been refused a visa..
Ans: YES.

What are your parents planning to fill in that question?

If we don't fill 'YES', it might lead to further problem..
I read in this forum, a parent had been in a similar suituation , and the thought 221 g is not a refusal,
and hence did not fill YES for the question...
the consular officer asked why they did not mention that
they had been refused before and eventually rejected their application.

[adusumillip]

dabbarao and vv

What about the DD's that your parents must have put in the drop box? Did they get them back too?

Or will they have to pay all the fees again(take separate DD's)?