Had a successful CP in Chennai on Feb 19. No questions asked. Had to submit my original I-797 (I-140 approval notice) as mine was one of the cases that got stuck due to Anthrax, Certified I-140 application, Labor Cert copy, latest Paystub and H1 (as my passport H1 expired in Sept.01.
I had arranged all doc's as per P4. Had put the PCC last. Also on Immi photos write ur case # and name on the back of all 3 photos. On the drafts, put down ur case # & name on the back of 2 (Rs. 12740 & Rs. 3185) and case# & ur spouse's name on the other 2 if you are married. On the Bluedart DD, put ur case# and both ur names on the back.
Reached the embassy on Feb 19 at 7:10 AM. The only advantage of going there early is that you can sit inside the Visa Section office instead of the Shamiana (will be helpful in peak Channai summer). But after submitting your docs u have to go to the Shamiana. At present the weather is not bad at all in Chennai...really nice...
Will post in detail on Lister, Medical and Photos.
Documents: Arrange the doc's in this order for Primary Applicant...
1. OF-171 (Appointment letter or Web printout)
2. DS 230 Part 1 (copy) and DS 230 Part 2 (not signed)
3. Marriage Certificate (Original & Copy)
4. Wedding Photos (I had 5 in a ziploc)
5. Birth Certificates (Orig & Copy), BC Affidavits (Orig & Copy)
6. Notarized Employment Letter (Orig & Copy)
7. Bank Acct Summary Letter (O&C), Last 3 mo's bank statements (O&C)
8. Last 3 yrs tax transcripts (Orig)
9. Medical Reports (No X-rays)
10. IRS 9003 form
11. Police Clearance Certificate (Orig & Copy)
Have your Passport & Immi photos in ur hand and give them in first while submitting ur docs.
For Secondary Applicant....
1. Copy of Appt letter (OF-171) or web printout
2. DS 230 Part 1 (copy) and DS 230 Part 2 (not signed)
3. Marriage Certificate (Copy)
4. Wedding Photos
5. Birth Certificates (Orig & Copy), BC Affidavits (Orig & Copy)
6. Notarized I-134 (Orig & Copy)
7. Primary's employment letter (Copy)
8. Medical Reports (No X-rays)
9. IRS 9003 form
10. Police Clearance Certificate (Orig & Copy)
Lister Labs:
Went to lister on Feb 11 at 8 am. There were around 4 couples. Take your P4 medical form with a passport photo affixed to it. (Have one more photo available for Medical). Lister will ask you to fill a form and pay Rs.600 each. Do that and go out and wait for your name to be called for Blood first and then X-rays. You will get done here in less than an hour. If you are taking an auto or taxi, Hotel GANPATH is the landmark. Most of the drivers know this place. If they don't give them this landmark. I was staying in my friend's place in Kilpauk. Auto fare is around 25 to 30 Rs from here to lister.
When done at Lister, you can have good breakfast at Hotel Seetharam (100 yards from Lister - come out of lister, make right, go to main road, make right). Very good Idli, Dosa, Sambar, etc.,
Drafts:
From lister, took an auto to Indian Bank (opp US consulate). Paid Rs.20 for auto. Took 5 drafts. 2 for 12,740, 2 for 3185 and 1 for 350. Took more than an hour at bank due to crowd. The commission for draft amount of 12,740 is Rs.70; for 3185 it's Rs.50 and for 350 it's Rs.20. The cost for 2 people (Draft + Commission) will be Rs.32,460. Came out of bank at around 11:30 am.
Photos:
Took an auto to Konica Lab (Opp Hotel Maris & Chola Sheraton) for Rs.20. Went into the lab around noon. You pay downstairs and go upstairs for photo. Got done in 5 mts. Was told to come back in half hour. Did some handicraft shopping near the lab. Went back and collected the photos. Time was only 1 in the afternoon. So went to the bar in Maris and had couple of beers. Opposite to Maris there are 2 good restaurants (Copper Chimney-Indian & China town). Had food at Copper chimney. It was 3:30. Took an auto back to lister to collect reports. Got the sealed reports at 4:45 and went home.
Medicals:
Had an appt with Dr.V on Feb 12 at 10 am. Took an auto from my friend's place in kilpauk for Rs.15. Dr.V's office is on Poonamalle Highroad (just past Ega theater). Medical is nothing if your blood report and X-rays are ok. Took MMR shots. TAKE A PASSPORT SIZE PHOTO. You will need it for medical report. You lie down and Dr.V checks BP & other vitals. Everybody else (including my wife) goes out of Dr.V's office & a male doc then comes in and checks ur privates. Then Dr.V does the same thing for my wife. Gave our photos & Rs.600 each fee to Dr.V. If your medicals are normal, the doc does not seal the envelope. You take the report and leave.
The interview is the easiest part. You go in (no need to stand in the long queue. Couple of people did that) and show ur passport & appt. letter. For arranging my docs I purchased a huge folder in a dept store here locally. They have a folder made by Databank. This folder has 20 plastic pockets, each of size 12" x 16". Costs Rs.225. Arranged all my docs that I had already labelled in US.
Submitted my docs in counter 6 and then my spouse's. The officer will give a receipt and slip for Bluedart. Then went to counter 1 and handed the receipt that I got and paid 12,740 fees DD. The cashier gave a 2 part receipt (White & Yellow). Have this handy. Went out & waited in Shamiana (you can fill the Bluedart slip at this time). Then the US officer comes out and all IV applicants assemble & take oath. Then waited in Shamiana till my name was called. Went in for interview and submitted additional docs that the officer asked & gave him the Bluedart DD & slip. The officer will ask for the Yellow receipt that the cashier gave u. You will get one more receipt. The officer then told me to pay the fees and go home. Went back to counter 1 & gave the receipt & paid 3,185 fees DD, This time the cashier just gave me the white portion of the receipt. Took the receipt and left the consulate at 11 am.
Came out and took an auto to Hotel Anjappar (near hotel Ranjith) for Rs.10. The lunch meals is really great. You get excellent food & curry items (non-veg gravys) for just Rs.30.
Partytime:
After lunch, went to my friend's place & relaxed for a while. Then went to Hotel Breeze and had a few drinks. This was really relaxing being that your GC process is done. The next day got my package at around 1 in the afternoon. No mistakes in my doc's.
Thanked GOD.... for everything.
Good luck to all CP'ers.
I have access to internet but don't know how often I will login. But will answer questions as I login. Will return to US on March 10.