This review is not about the American Consulate but the American Embassy. I wondered why
the topic was American Embassy and then they had the address of American Consulate? They
better get that right, as it only shows the inclination of Mouthshut owners to attend to
Mumbai people.
Well, my experience at the Embassy, New Delhi was a mixed one but overall it was fun. I
will narrate the incidents as they happened and then may be you can judge many things on
your own.
It all began one fine June Delhi morning. My friends had told me that you have to make it
early to the embassy as there is a big queue. But guess I underestimated the degree of
earliness as for person like me, who wakes up at 10-11 almost everyday, 4:00 a.m itself
was too early. I reached there around 4:15 and my!! There were so many people already
there! They themselves were making a list and there was no American embassy staff to
assist them. Woteva, my number was 207!! Its cool, when u see that by start there were around 500-600 people!! Anyway with all my eagerness and sleepy eyes I waited for the time to enter. Then came some constables and they asked for the list and told us to make a queue. I was placed in my worthy 207th position. Nevamind , I had the consolation that I was ahead of another 400 (the glass is always half full for me!!). The queue started rolling at exactly 9:30 a.m. and they took people in groups of 5-10. But before that yeah at around 8 they told us that they will not be accepting cash when u get confirmed for a visa and dang! I only had draft for the initial payment of fees. Thank god! my cousin had accompanied me and he was immediately pressed into service. There was a state bank nearby which was open early to deal with such cases, so I got one. But for those who came in alone, they had to buy them from the black marketers over there who were openly selling drafts for some extra amount. All of a sudden a young man had some quarrel with the private security force personnel over there and was challenged into a fight. He couldn’t resist it and punched the guard in the face. *wheW* immediately three police gypsies converged and that person was first hurled inside the embassy and then whisked away.
At around 11:45 my turn to enter came and with a great anxiety and a small prayer I entered. The inside was pretty comfortable and spacious and you could even buy American food stuff there. I didn’t though. I could see people queuing up and in front of windows to give interviews, some happy faces , some tensed and some just laughing around (feeling at home, I guess!!). I was asked to go to a person sitting at a desk . I was told he would be decide whether I needed to go through an interview or not. Boy!! I had manage at this level only, I thought. I went over there. He was an American. He said hello and told me that u look tired, guess u came in early. And I was like yeah. He smiled and I wished hello to him. He asked me for my documents. I showed him all the papers. But he just looked at my I-20 and my passport and stapled them together and threw it in his closet. I was a bit tensed that time but he smiled again and said you are all set young man!! go and deposit the fees for visa and collect your visa at 4:30 today. Wow!! cool!! piece a cake. I was immensely happy and wanted to call my mom and dad then and there, but no cell phone u know!! :( Neways I was given a token number and asked to wait for a call to deposit the fees. It took some time and I then looked around at what was there in the embassy. People and only people. Many students, many elderly and of course many H-1 people. I had conversation with a lady who suggested me damn!! u going to Buffalo, its damn! cold. I was like ok, I will be fine. She was like na, u should buy this, u should buy that before u go!! Ok Ok!! Then I was called and I was asked for the second draft. I told them that people outside had real problems with getting the second draft as they were not aware of this rule. They apologised for that and told me that yeah the rule had been brought into action only a few days back!! Nevamind!! I got my fee deposited, my work done and I rushed out to my cousin and we were like really happy, the last hurdle was gone now!! :)
But when we came at around 4:30 in the evening, I had to stand in line again for an hour and was then asked to come the following day. I was like ok!! The next day I had my tickets booked for home so I came in with all my luggage and went to the counter (Again a big queue). I was asked again to come the following evening. I was like I cant have to get home!! Then they went and talked to someone and they returned back saying that there printing machine was having some probs and thats why they are getting delayed. They told me to ask anyone of my family to collect the visa on my behalf and that what I did.
So, the visa finally reached me by post and they did give the visa the next day!!
So, as I say this review should help u get many things straightened out regarding American Embassy.
What I would recommend is that u get all the documents in your wildest imagination you think you would be needing or can be asked for and arrange them in order you know. And you are all set!! And try n make it on a Monday !!
Happy hunting!!! If u still wanna ask any questions then you can mail me, I will be happy to help anyone and everyone!!
Have fun,
Vikas.