Discussion:
Greetings to here forum readers, I wanted to put our experience here since it helped us so much when we were preparing for my parents’ visitor visa appointment to read the forum for advice from others.
First of all, I will say that we followed the instructions on this website to send documents to VFS for the Mumbai Consulate ahead of time, which documents to send, etc.
However, there was a problem because my parents’ names appeared differently in the passport and DS-156 than they did on most other supporting documents, and we had not indicated this when sending in the DS-156. So after realizing the discrepancy, we sent an amended version, along with a notarized affidavit with attached notarized photographs which served the purpose of verifying the name differences.
The lesson to be learned from this is that you need to make sure to add any additional names in No. 8 (Other Surnames Used) and No. 9 (Other First and Middle Names Used) of form DS-156 (NONIMMIGRANT VISA APPLICATION) if this is the case for the applicant(s) or they might be rejected based on conflicting information.
Also, applicants should not have any cuts on their fingers when they go for the appointment, as they might have to return another day when the cuts have healed (for fingerprinting)...so take care of those fingers
The day of their Interview appointment:
My parents waited in line outside the US consulate for about 2 and a half hours until they could enter, unfortunately in the rain without any covered shelter while waiting
(if you have an appointment during the monsoon season or even otherwise, make sure to bring an umbrella in case of rain or bright rays from the sun)!
Upon arriving to the entrance, papers checked along with their appointment letter, security screening, etc. The officer gave their papers back and told them to take all the documents with them to the waiting area until they were called.
It was my father’s observation during their waiting period that most of the people were being granted Visas, however, it seemed that one of the officers at one counter was giving more visa denials than the others (their bad luck for being interviewed by him, I suppose). But overall, out of about 500 people present that day for their appointments, my father estimated that about 90% of the various kinds of visas were granted.
Once my parents were called, they were greeted by a polite female American officer and a Hindi translator:
Officer: How many children do you have?
Father: 3, one son in US, and 2 unmarried daughters in India who are both my liability
Officer: Where is your son in US residing?
Father: City, State
Officer: What is he doing?
Father: He is working as a software engineer
Officer: What company does he work for?
Father: "Company Name..."
Officer: Where do you work?
Father: "Name of government office where he works"
Officer: Ever been outside the country?
Father: Yes, "Name of three asian countries he has been to"
Officer: Your wife, has she gone outside of India?
Father: No, never
Officer: What your wife is doing?
Father: She is a housewife
Officer: How long you would like to go to US?
Father: For a month
Officer: Who will take care of your expenses?
Father: My son will take care.
Officer: Ok I’m granting you the visa
She didn’t want to see ANY of the documents, not even the Affidavit of Support (I-134). My prediction for this is that my father appeared confident and gave short and concise answers without any nervousness (we had practiced with a mock interview and I sent them possible questions with the appropriate answers well before their appointment), so the officer might not have felt the need to see anything.
They were told their passports would be couriered back to them with the Visa, although they didn’t specify the amount of time that they were granted for. We assume that it is a 10-year multiple entry since they didn’t say that it was to be issued for only a month.
So thanks again for all those who have contributed to the forum and to this website for its excellent guidance. Good luck to those applying in the future…
Answer:
Congrats!!!
Answer:
Congratulations!
We are glad that this web site was useful.
I would appreciate if you could hang around here and help others from your experience so far, just the others might have helped you. It would be nice to see you answering some of the queries.
Answer:
Hey kps1990,
Congratulations to you and your parents on getting the visa. Even i am trying to bring my parents to USA. Can you please give me the list of docs which we need to show and also the sample questions with which you helped them. I really appreicate your help in this concern.
Answer:
Look at
Answer:
Originally Posted by cminusa Hey kps1990,
Congratulations to you and your parents on getting the visa. Even i am trying to bring my parents to USA. Can you please give me the list of docs which we need to show and also the sample questions with which you helped them. I really appreicate your help in this concern.
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Checklist I used before sending Sponsor Documents:
** Form I-134 (x 2 for mom and dad)

** Get I-134 Notarized from bank

** Statement from Employer verifying employment and salary

** Letter to my bank requesting 1. Date our account was opened, 2. Amount of deposits for the year, 3. Current Balance, 4. Balance last year

** Last 6 months of bank statements (showing balance of $5,000 per applicant is preferable)

** Introduction Letter to US Consulate in Mumbai indicating that we will be taking care of expenses

** Letter to mom and dad inviting them to US (indicate accommodations, and where we will be going, etc)

** Translation of invitation letter (if both parents do not understand English)

** Employment earning statements (most recent 3 or 4)

** Past 3 years of income tax returns (written explanation of why no return prior to 2005)

** Original birth certificate—English translation is not necessary

** All pages of my passport

** Copy of Greencard

** Write out answers to all the possible questions the consulate officer might ask

** Detailed itinerary to of things to do when mom and dad are in US

** Copy of Deed to our property in US

** Include family photos showing relations in India
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Questions that I sent to my parents (and also wrote the answers for them):
Q: Why do you want to travel to the USA?
Q: Why do you want to visit at this time (December/January)?
Q: How long will you stay in the US?
Q: Why do you want to visit for such a long time in US? Can't you finish your trip
in a shorter time?
Q: Where will you stay in the US?
Q: How much expense do you expect from this trip?
Q: Who is sponsoring you?
Q: Is your son/daughter married?
Q: Do your son/daughter have any children?
Q: Is your daughter/daughter-in-law currently pregnant?
Q: What is your daughter-in-law's birth date?
Q: What is your son’s birth date?
Q: What will you do at their home when your daughter and son-in-law go out to
work?
Q: What does your daughter do?
Q: What does your son-in-law do?
Q: Where does your son and daughter-in-law stay in the US?
Q: Can I have the contact details of your son?
Q: How long has it been since the last time you met your son?
Q: When does your son/daughter plan to visit India next time?
Q: Do you have relatives in the US? Who are they?
Q: How long has your son been in the US?
Q: What is the legal status (What visa) of your son?
Q: Did your son study in the US? When/Where/What?
Q: How much does your son earn per year?
Q: Where does your son work?
Q: Have you booked airline tickets?
Q: Have you been to US before?
Q: Did you ever do international travel before?
Q: Will your wife/husband accompany on your trip?
Q: When do you plan to travel?
Q: Have you purchased visitor medical insurance?
Q: Do you have a credit card?
Q: What do you do in India?
Q: Who will take care your business when you are visiting US?
Q: Could you please show me your visiting card (business card)?
Q: Can I see your leave approval?
Q: What is your annual income?
Q: 'Your income is not enough to support your travel to USA. How will you pay
for it?
Q: Will you work in the US?
Q: Will you come back to India after your visit?
Q: How can you assure me that you will come back?
Q: What property do you have in India?
Q: Who will take care of your property when you are away from home?
Q: How many children do you have?
Q: What relatives do you have in India?
Good Luck!
Answer:
kps1990, Could you please let ue know what documents are to be dropped 5 days before ( original/photocopy) your interview at the Mumbai consulate. And please also let us know the
address ( I believe its opposite the Mahalaxmi Temple).
Thanks
BK
Answer:
Originally Posted by bkhote kps1990, Could you please let ue know what documents are to be dropped 5 days before ( original/photocopy) your interview at the Mumbai consulate. And please also let us know the
address ( I believe its opposite the Mahalaxmi Temple).
Thanks
BK
This Thread should clear things up for you...I had found it when searching about which docs to send.

Try searching the VFS website for their address.
Good luck...
Answer:
Hey kps...,
Thanks a million for all the valuable info. You have done a lot of research or gathered a lotta info.
Cheers!!
Answer:
KPS1990,
I looked at the link you mentioned and also here's link....
I realize that both mention checklist....
What is checklist???
Since your parents have already gone - you would know what they had as the checklist- i am sorry but it is confusing....