Hi All,
This is one of the scariest experiences of my life and I would like to share it with all of you.
Right from HDFC’s cold behavior to US VISA Consulate’s inhuman approach to VISA applicants, everything made my life miserable for 2 days.
I applied for US VISA and got an appointment, which was four months later. I submitted the VISA fee at HDFC (Huge amount of 4881 INR), and they gave me two receipts (quite ordinary looking receipts), which had a number that was needed to take an online appintment at VFS office. According to anyone’s common sense, those receipts had a number that is unique and required to take the appointment. After I got the appointment, those receipts kept lying in my purse for quite a while, being treated by me as any other ordinary receipts. Never realized they were so imporant, Nor even HDFC people told that these two ORIGINAL receipts are a MUST for the VISA interview neither was any
such documentation in red on VFS website.
Anyways, one day before the appointment, I realized that those receipts are mandatory and I went to HDFC with the receipt number(which I had saved after taking the appointment for future reference). To my surprise, I was told that they CANNOT ISSUE DUPLICATE RECEIPTS(Where the hell in the world would you find such a rule)They cant generate duplicate receipt as they claim that they have been instructed strictly by the US Consulate.
Then I called up VFS number 044-28112060, which has a recorded message saying that if you lost HDFC receipt, then you can get a new one and appear for the interview on the same appointment slot. I saw a ray of hope. I again called up VFS call centre at 044 4231 6767, and a lady confirmed that this information was 100% correct and that if I pay fees again (4881 INR again), I can attend interview on the same day of appointment and told me to send an email to chennainiv@state.gov
I did the same. Paid the fees again and sent the email to the id given by VFS Call centre representative.
Now comes the most horrible part of the story....
I left for Chennai for the interview after sending the email and with a printout of it so that I can give reference of the email in case, someone questions the validity of receipts again. Stood in the queue for 3 hours (as Consulate guys were not able to process appointments on time, AS USUAL). After all the struggle under hot sun of Chennai, I finally got into the Consulate and reached the counter where they screen the documents. The lady REFUSED to take the new receipts and told VFS HAS NO RIGHT TO INSTRUCT US TO ACCEPT THE NEW
RECEIPTS and WE DON’T LISTEN TO WHAT THEY SAY BUT TO WHAT OUR US SUPERVISOR SAYS. I requested her a couple of times but she started throwing my papers one by one out of window. She was not even ready to hear the recorded audio.
If this is what US Consulate guys have to do, then why do they need to have VFS call center ??? Is it there to MISLEAD people or to help them ?
This incident has left me with nothing but bitterness for the whole process, which is inhuman...There has to be a way out of everything...
What if I lost the receipt? Din’t I pay again and go ta new one. I paid for loosing first receipt but why was I misled again to pay fees again? Is this a racket being run by HDFC, , VFS n Consulate? I failed to understand....
Is there any justice for common man today in this harsh world today?