a multistage process for preparing interfacially polymerized polyamide reverse osmosis membranes on a microporous support is disclosed . the process involves applying a solution containing from 1 to 10 wt % of an aromatic diamine having 1 or 2 aromatic rings and 2 to 3 amino groups in a first solvent to the microporous substrate . then a solution of an aromatic or cyclophatic acyl chloride having 1 or 2 rings and 2 . 2 to 4 acyl chloride groups in a solvent immiscible with the first solvent is applied to the microporous substrate . then a solution of different acyl chlorides is applied to the substrate . the acyl chlorides in this second solution can have 2 to 4 acyl chloride groups attached to an aliphatic group of 6 to 12 carbon atoms or an aromatic or cycloaliphatic group having 1 or 2 rings and containing 8 to 14 carbon atoms . also suitable for the second treatment are bis chloroformates .