Kumar

My Fiance had her interview at the US Embassy in New Delhi on November
3rd.
She and I (the Petitioner) went to the Embassy at the appointed time.

When her name was called, we both went to the window, but the Consular
Officer asked me to go back to the seating area saying that only my
Fiance needs to be interviewed and there is no business for me at the
window.

Shocked, I went back to the seating area.

After about 25 minutes, my Fiance was "let go".

She was asked the following questions by the Consular Officer
(I am only posting the questions that I think are really inappropriate
- she was asked the usual stuff - all documentation, proof of having
met, photos, e-mails, blah, blah, blah):

1) Your Fiancee (I was married earlier) is divorced - so what is the
guarantee that your marriage to him will work out now? Why do you want
to marry him?

I THINK THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS - What CRAP is this? And how is it relevant
to the visa?

2)You met over the internet - these marriages don't work out.

AGAIN, WHAT THE.....!!!!!

3) What religion is your Fiance?
(We both are Hindu)

AGAIN, What has religion got to do with this????????

4) Why do you want to get married in the US and not in India?


I was totally SHOCKED to know these things from my Fiance who was in
tears.
We both felt humiliated, cheated and violated.

After subjecting her to such inane questions, which by the way I think
(questions # 1 and 3) are illegal to ask, she was denied the K1 visa.

A letter was given to her asking to produce the following:
1) More e-mail printouts (eventhough we already provided quite a few
e-mails)
2) Explanation letter as to why we want to get married in the US and
not in India.

We promptly gave printouts and the letter the very same day afternoon.
When we went back to the Embassy to submit the printouts and letter, we
were directed to a different window and there, they took my Fiance's
passport and gave her a receipt. We were then asked to pay Rs.441 for
courier fees. The guy who collected her passport , printouts and the
letter said it will take 7 to 10 days to get the visa.

NOW,
it is November 12 and still, we did not get the visa.

I don't understand what will happen -
Is the Visa denied?

Will we have to file again?

No one at the Embassy really helps.

I am so angry that I want to report the Consular Officer to the State
Department, but unfortunately (and perhaps intentionally), they don't
display nor give out the Consular Officer's name.

Please advice as to what I should do.

Folinskyinla

Hi:

Attitude check time. The ConOff's interview was fairly mild as these things go and you have an extremely thin skin. I've been doing this for some time and I KNOW what the inteview by the ConOff from Hell is truly like and this one did not even come close to being such an interview.

arijit

Kumar,

Those are all very frequently asked questions at K1 interviews in India. Perhaps if you had done your research beforehand.....

meauxna

You didn't read many India interview experiences beforehand, did you?

These questions are mild, and normal for India Consulates.

My advice for you? Remember what your goal is: to get the visa and get out of there. Go along with their intimidation tactics, but don't fall for them.

Kumar

Thanks to each and everyone for posting replies.

But my questions still remain unanswered:

1) Is the visa denied ?

2) If it is denied, then why did the Embassy keep my Fiance's passport
and make us pay the courier service fee?

3) What should I be doing now, since it has been close to 10 days since
the interview / payment of courier fees (the person who collected her
passport was NOT the Consular
Officer - he did not even read the additional documents I provided - he
simply took the passport and we were told it takes 7-10 days to get the
passport back).

4) Does it mean that payment of courier fees is NO guarantee that the
visa will be granted? If so, why does the Embassy keep her passport and
make us pay the courier fees? (The fees is not the bone of contention
here, I am confused as to what is going on with our visa process).

Thanks in advance.
Kumar


meauxna wrote:

    > > My Fiance had her interview at the US Embassy in New Delhi on November
    > > 3rd.
    > > She and I (the Petitioner) went to the Embassy at the appointed time.
    > >
    > > When her name was called, we both went to the window, but the Consular
    > > Officer asked me to go back to the seating area saying that only my
    > > Fiance needs to be interviewed and there is no business for me at the
    > > window.
    > >
    > > Shocked, I went back to the seating area.
    > >
    > > After about 25 minutes, my Fiance was "let go".
    > >
    > > She was asked the following questions by the Consular Officer
    > > (I am only posting the questions that I think are really inappropriate
    > > - she was asked the usual stuff - all documentation, proof of having
    > > met, photos, e-mails, blah, blah, blah):
    > >
    > > 1) Your Fiancee (I was married earlier) is divorced - so what is the
    > > guarantee that your marriage to him will work out now? Why do you
    > > want
    > > to marry him?
    > >
    > > I THINK THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS - What CRAP is this? And how is it relevant
    > > to the visa?
    > >
    > > 2)You met over the internet - these marriages don't work out.
    > >
    > > AGAIN, WHAT THE.....!!!!!
    > >
    > > 3) What religion is your Fiance?
    > > (We both are Hindu)
    > >
    > > AGAIN, What has religion got to do with this????????
    > >
    > > 4) Why do you want to get married in the US and not in India?
    > >
    > >
    > > I was totally SHOCKED to know these things from my Fiance who was in
    > > tears.
    > > We both felt humiliated, cheated and violated.
    > >
    > > After subjecting her to such inane questions, which by the way I think
    > > (questions # 1 and 3) are illegal to ask, she was denied the K1 visa.
    > >
    > > A letter was given to her asking to produce the following:
    > > 1) More e-mail printouts (eventhough we already provided quite a few
    > > e-mails)
    > > 2) Explanation letter as to why we want to get married in the US and
    > > not in India.
    > >
    > > We promptly gave printouts and the letter the very same day afternoon.
    > > When we went back to the Embassy to submit the printouts and letter,
    > > we
    > > were directed to a different window and there, they took my Fiance's
    > > passport and gave her a receipt. We were then asked to pay Rs.441 for
    > > courier fees. The guy who collected her passport , printouts and the
    > > letter said it will take 7 to 10 days to get the visa.
    > >
    > > NOW,
    > > it is November 12 and still, we did not get the visa.
    > >
    > > I don't understand what will happen -
    > > Is the Visa denied?
    > >
    > > Will we have to file again?
    > >
    > > No one at the Embassy really helps.
    > >
    > > I am so angry that I want to report the Consular Officer to the State
    > > Department, but unfortunately (and perhaps intentionally), they don't
    > > display nor give out the Consular Officer's name.
    > >
    > > Please advice as to what I should do.
    > You didn't read many India interview experiences beforehand, did you?
    > These questions are mild, and normal for India Consulates.
    > My advice for you? Remember what your goal is: to get the visa and
    > get out of there. Go along with their intimidation tactics, but don't
    > fall for them.
    >
    > --
    > Posted via http://britishexpats.com

Noorah101

Unless you were given a denial, the visa is not denied yet.

That makes sense. This would lead me to believe the visa is not denied.

I wouldn't be doing anything but sitting and waiting for the visa to show up sometime. Just because they estimate 7 to 10 days, does not mean it can't take several weeks.

I think that's a safe assumption. Nothing is guaranteed until the visa is in her hands.

I would say since you got this far, chances are good the visa will be issued. However, there's no guarantee. They might have kept the passport and fee, with the expectation that the visa will be issued.

Best Wishes,
Rene

Folinskyinla

1 & 2 -- When it is "denied" they tell you. [the quotes are there because past state department practice was to treat your case as a statistical "denial", but one which could be overcome. In a practical sense you don't have a denial yet in the sense of "No. Next person please!"] You are in the sense of either "we are thinking about it" or "lets us do the paperwork." The reason they kept the passport is that they can put the approved visa in it IF they approve the case. The courier fee is to return the PP to you no matter what.

Personally, I find that encouraging.

3. Those times are ESTIMATES and not cast in stone. That said, you are in the situation behind the phrase "A watched pot never boils" -- which isn't true, but it sure seem that way. Since it is perfectly reasonable for you to be impatient, I won't tell you to be patient.

4. The default mode of the visa system is denial and nothing is ever final until its final. Until you have the visa actually in hand, it isn't final. And they have the power to invalidate the visa and not tell you about it [and the crap hits the fan at the airport -- google "Se Jong Noh" for both decisions and you might see what I mean -- the similarity of Noh's attorney's name to my screenname is NOT a coincidence]. And even if the visa is good, the people at the port of entry can refuse admission.

Bottom line: until she is sworn in as a US citizen, the case is always subject to reexamination [although the standard of review changes.]

It will proably work out fine. Good luck.

meauxna

Kumar, if you're doing any searching on the topic, this type of delay is often called Administrative Review/AR.
From posts I've read, I would say it is not atypical for Delhi. That, and they have a LOT of cases going through there every day.
Like MrF said, there isn't a lot you can do right at this moment

Tang

    > > Thanks to each and everyone for posting replies.
    > > But my questions still remain unanswered:
    > > 1) Is the visa denied ?
    > > 2) If it is denied, then why did the Embassy keep my Fiance's
    > > passport
    > > and make us pay the courier service fee?
    > > 3) What should I be doing now, since it has been close to 10 days
    > > since
    > > the interview / payment of courier fees (the person who collected
    > > her
    > > passport was NOT the Consular
    > > Officer - he did not even read the additional documents I
    > > provided
    > > - he
    > > simply took the passport and we were told it takes 7-10 days to
    > > get
    > > the
    > > passport back).
    > > 4) Does it mean that payment of courier fees is NO guarantee that
    > > the
    > > visa will be granted? If so, why does the Embassy keep her
    > > passport
    > > and
    > > make us pay the courier fees? (The fees is not the bone of
    > > contention
    > > here, I am confused as to what is going on with our visa
    > > process).
    > > Thanks in advance.
    > > Kumar
    > > meauxna wrote:
    > > > > My Fiance had her interview at the US Embassy in New Delhi on
    > > > > November
    > > > > 3rd.
    > > > > She and I (the Petitioner) went to the Embassy at the appointed
    > > > > time.
    > > > >
    > > > > When her name was called, we both went to the window, but the
    > > > > Consular
    > > > > Officer asked me to go back to the seating area saying that only
    > > > > my
    > > > > Fiance needs to be interviewed and there is no business for me
    > > > > at
    > > > > the
    > > > > window.
    > > > >
    > > > > Shocked, I went back to the seating area.
    > > > >
    > > > > After about 25 minutes, my Fiance was "let go".
    > > > >
    > > > > She was asked the following questions by the Consular Officer
    > > > > (I am only posting the questions that I think are really
    > > > > inappropriate
    > > > > - she was asked the usual stuff - all documentation, proof of
    > > > > having
    > > > > met, photos, e-mails, blah, blah, blah):
    > > > >
    > > > > 1) Your Fiancee (I was married earlier) is divorced - so what is
    > > > > the
    > > > > guarantee that your marriage to him will work out now? Why do
    > > > > you
    > > > > want
    > > > > to marry him?
    > > > >
    > > > > I THINK THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS - What CRAP is this? And how is it
    > > > > relevant
    > > > > to the visa?
    > > > >
    > > > > 2)You met over the internet - these marriages don't work out.
    > > > >
    > > > > AGAIN, WHAT THE.....!!!!!
    > > > >
    > > > >3) What religion is your Fiance?
    > > > > (We both are Hindu)
    > > > >
    > > > > AGAIN, What has religion got to do with this????????
    > > > >
    > > > > 4) Why do you want to get married in the US and not in India?
    > > > >
    > > > >
    > > > > I was totally SHOCKED to know these things from my Fiance who
    > > > > was
    > > > > in
    > > > > tears.
    > > > > We both felt humiliated, cheated and violated.
    > > > >
    > > > > After subjecting her to such inane questions, which by the way I
    > > > > think
    > > > > (questions # 1 and 3) are illegal to ask, she was denied the K1
    > > > > visa.
    > > > >
    > > > > A letter was given to her asking to produce the following:
    > > > > 1) More e-mail printouts (eventhough we already provided quite a
    > > > > few
    > > > > e-mails)
    > > > > 2) Explanation letter as to why we want to get married in the US
    > > > > and
    > > > > not in India.
    > > > >
    > > > > We promptly gave printouts and the letter the very same day
    > > > > afternoon.
    > > > > When we went back to the Embassy to submit the printouts and
    > > > > letter,
    > > > > we
    > > > > were directed to a different window and there, they took my
    > > > > Fiance's
    > > > > passport and gave her a receipt. We were then asked to pay
    > > > > Rs.441
    > > > > for
    > > > > courier fees. The guy who collected her passport , printouts and
    > > > > the
    > > > > letter said it will take 7 to 10 days to get the visa.
    > > > >
    > > > > NOW,
    > > > > it is November 12 and still, we did not get the visa.
    > > > >
    > > > > I don't understand what will happen -
    > > > > Is the Visa denied?
    > > > >
    > > > > Will we have to file again?
    > > > >
    > > > > No one at the Embassy really helps.
    > > > >
    > > > > I am so angry that I want to report the Consular Officer to the
    > > > > State
    > > > > Department, but unfortunately (and perhaps intentionally), they
    > > > > don't
    > > > > display nor give out the Consular Officer's name.
    > > > >
    > > > > Please advice as to what I should do.
    > > > You didn't read many India interview experiences beforehand, did
    > > > you?
    > > > These questions are mild, and normal for India Consulates.
    > > > My advice for you? Remember what your goal is: to get the visa and
    > > > get out of there. Go along with their intimidation tactics, but
    > > > don't
    > > > fall for them.
    > > >
    > > > --
    > > >
    > 1 & 2 -- When it is "denied" they tell you. [the quotes are there
    > because past state department practice was to treat your case as a
    > statistical "denial", but one which could be overcome. In a practical
    > sense you don't have a denial yet in the sense of "No. Next person
    > please!"] You are in the sense of either "we are thinking about it"
    > or
    > "lets us do the paperwork." The reason they kept the passport is that
    > they can put the approved visa in it IF they approve the case. The
    > courier fee is to return the PP to you no matter what.
    > Personally, I find that encouraging.
    > 3. Those times are ESTIMATES and not cast in stone. That said, you
    > are in the situation behind the phrase "A watched pot never boils"
    > -- which isn't true, but it sure seem that way. :) Since it is
    > perfectly reasonable for you to be impatient, I won't tell you to
    > be patient.
    > 4. The default mode of the visa system is denial and nothing is ever
    > final until its final. Until you have the visa actually in hand,
    > it
    > isn't final. And they have the power to invalidate the visa and
    > not
    > tell you about it [and the crap hits the fan at the airport --
    > google "Se Jong Noh" for both decisions and you might see what I
    > mean -- the similarity of Noh's attorney's name to my screenname
    > is
    > NOT a coincidence]. And even if the visa is good, the people at
    > the
    > port of entry can refuse admission.
    > Bottom line: until she is sworn in as a US citizen, the case is
    > always
    > subject to reexamination [although the standard of review changes.]
    > It will proably work out fine. Good luck.
    > --
    > Certified Specialist
    > Immigration & Nat. Law
    > Cal. Bar Board of Legal Specialization
    > Posted via http://britishexpats.com

Please be patient. I am from China and I've heard of stories that the
Consulate calls one's ex-husband or ex-wife to see if they are really
divorced. We can not fight city hall. Sad for you and your fiance. This
is absolutely shit. Well, once your fiance gets to the U.S. and has to
go through AOS etc. you'd probably encounter more shit crapier than
this.
They have no right to deny your visa as far as things are done in China.
The only thing they can do is to ask for more evidence to verify your
relationship. Can you find a capible lawyer to present the stuff they
ask for on your behalf? I don't know much about India, but just calm
down, you will get it eventually as long as your relationship is there.
Don't lose your patience. I know how it feels. Be strong and you will
pull it through. Gook luck!

--
Posted via http://expatforums.com