biggish data

Passport renewal during K-1 process

QUOTE (Krikit @ Mar 27 2009, 12:54 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Going to move this to the UK regional forum.

Shukria (or, merci)

Edited by CherryXS, 27 March 2009 - 12:33 PM.

Saddle Bronc

Male

2009-03-27 12:33:00

Flying into the UK

Hi, gang,

A quick question (and something that I've asked about before, sort of).

My wife and I are visiting the UK next week for the first time since I emigrated to the US of A. I now have a US passport, so I have dual citizenship, but she only has a US passport.

If I was travelling alone, I would leave the US and enter the UK with my British passport (on the outboard flight) and leave the UK and enter the UKUS with my American passport (on the inboard flight).

I guess my question is what do we do when we arrive in Manchester and have to go through immigration? It's been five years since I flew into the UK, so I don't really remember, but will my wife have to go through non-EU citizen immigration and for me to go through EU citizen immigration? Or can we both go through the same line together?

She's worried about getting lost in the airport. I told her that I didn't think Manchester Airport was quite THAT big and daunting

Mark

Needed the fix.

Looking at the maps, it certainly is much smaller than Heathrow (or even the much-simpler Gatwick).

Saddle Bronc

Male

2010-08-30 08:18:00

Dual Citizenship

If British law on citizenship is analogous to Canada's, then yes (edit: in the case of Canada, it only applies to the first generation born abroad).

Saddle Bronc

Male

2011-06-24 19:37:00

JFK Airport

Then you will be a domestic flight when you arrive in the US. No need for any clearance once you arrive at JFK. Just gather your carry on luggage and proceed to your next gate. Your luggage will follow you to the destination. Have a wonderful trip!

Half-true.

At Dublin or Shannon, the OP will be pre-cleared for Immigration, but not Customs (unlike the 9 Canuck airports which service US)--and will need to clear Customs after landing.

Saddle Bronc

Male

2011-10-26 09:34:00

Based on this post, the time remaining till expiry on Brit passports (unlike Canuck where the applicant gets shafted of it--and only gets the 5 years of the new one) is tacked on to the "regular" 10-year term

Saddle Bronc

Male

2007-07-12 13:37:00

I guess the same way Canada justifies the "Consular Services" fee, even if the applicant downloads the PPT-140 form from Passports Canada website (and never even went within 500 m of the consulate/embassy).

Saddle Bronc

Male

2006-03-23 13:47:00

Thanks alot! I can't believe it is that Much money. Even in UK it is cheaper to get a passport renweal

Now, I'm gonna add insult to injury through lack of sympathy.

To renew a Canuck passport, I have to fork out C$97 (including a C$25 fee for "consular services"--when I actually have to mail/courier the package to Ottawa or Gatineau as NO Canadian embassy/High-Commission/consulate processes passport apps!), currently about US$80, not including mail/courier fees. Even worse, a Canadian passport is valid for only 5 years--where you get 10 on your new Brit passport.

IMO, you're getting a bargain (with £-US$ exchange rates)!

(admittedly, I now have a way of avoidance of such renewal, being a dual Canuck-Yank--but on behalf of the non-dual Canucks on VJ)
:ranting:

Edited by sriniv, 17 March 2006 - 07:41 AM.

Saddle Bronc

Male

2006-03-17 07:38:00

Russia, Ukraine and Belarus

www.britainusa.com

C-1 form

You need to fork out $173 ($185 incl. postage), money order or Plastic (no, you can't use personal cheque).

Send or bring completed C-1 app to:

Passport Office
British Embassy
19 Observatory Circle, NW
Washington, DC 20008

Edited by sriniv, 15 March 2006 - 12:04 PM.

Saddle Bronc

Male

2006-03-15 12:04:00

Russia Visa

Throw in my old adage: have you considered meeting in Canada?

Saddle Bronc

Male

2006-07-20 16:35:00

Russia, Ukraine and Belarus

Help in Atlanta

Dallasguy, two suggestions.

Use a rental car; many of the rental companys will give a replacement in case of breakdown.

Snowstorm? Rather unlikely at this time of year, but you may get heavy rains.

Second suggestion: leave on Saturday (24th) and stay in Atlanta area for the extra two days to rest.

Saddle Bronc

Male

2007-06-21 13:42:00

Europe & Eurasia (except the UK and Russia)

transit visa needed for Frankfurt airport?

If you are not planning at all to leave the airport (other than by your ongoing flight to the US), you will not need a transit visa to go through Frankfurt--Pras (with an Indian passport) went through Frankfurt (enroute Hyderabad Rajiv-Gandhi to Detroit-Metro) without any issue, and with no transit visa.

Saddle Bronc

Male

2010-09-23 18:36:00

Indian Supreme Court orders Centre and States to make marriage registration mandatory

Did they happen to have some surplus in the budget that (they assumed) needed spending (on enforcement of the above)?
:lol:

Saddle Bronc

Male

2/22/2006 17:53

HELP!! Has Anyone Here actually Gotten Married in India?

30 day residency in India is NOT required to perform marriage there. The "planner" may be confusing it with the 60-day requirement for DCF.

Specific paperwork advice can be given once you provide more complete info--basically, what status are you in US (temp worker, GC, US citizen)?

Saddle Bronc

Male

2/28/2006 15:53

Fifth consulate at Hyderabad

US 'to open Hyderabad consulate'

The United States will soon open another consulate in India, this time in Hyderabad, the capital of Andhra Pradesh, the state government says.

Saddle Bronc

Male

3/3/2006 14:51

Chennai, INDIA

If you're asking "is there a possibility that you will not be allowed entry into US?", the answer unfortunately is "yes--as it is still up to the discretion of the USCIS officious examining you at the POE".

Never heard of approval being given at interview, and then visa suddenly being cancelled by consulate/embassy.

Saddle Bronc

Male

4/4/2006 18:42

Anyone ever had trouble with the Big brown envelope ?

Pras (as she told me--I was stateside) took the MBE through at RG (Hyderabad) airport with no issues--the envelope was opened only at DTW.

Saddle Bronc

Male

2010-06-18 11:02:00

Anyone born in India ? about your birth certificate

My own (issued in 1965 by Madras Municipal Corp) is in English--albeit with much atrocious handwriting. It did cause me some problems once when I wanted to join Canadian Forces (name on BC not match to name on all ID including Citizenship Card and Passport), but was accepted easily at Montreal Consulate (in fact, when I mentioned it to the woman to whom I had to hand documents, she looked at me with a bored expression and stated "oh, we see lots of those").

Saddle Bronc

Male

2010-06-25 14:15:00

Detailed Process adopted by Chennai consulate

NVC will send a notice to petitioner that it's received it from USCIS and forwarded to Consulate
Take it on faith--it will be electronically transmitted
Yes
Generally, accept the Consulate's given date; you can always postpone it to a worse one
Along with Packet-3
Is Packet-4 even needed?
Courier to VFS

Saddle Bronc

Male

2007-06-27 05:29:00

Indians Will you take US citizenship?

I hear you and I perfectly understand where you are coming from. But let me ask you this: can you really in good conscience then take the Oath of Allegiance then? What if, the gods forbid, the USA enters a war with Hindustan? Wouldn't you have a huge problem with your husband throwing bombs down there on your former home, you ex friends and family?

(I know that this is a bit of an aggressive question, but I also think you'll understand why I'm asking it.)

I'll proxy-answer for DanielParul.

My loyalty is to my country of citizenship first and then to my culture. My birth country does not enter into the equation, even if it is the basis of my culture!

Saddle Bronc

Male

2010-07-08 20:56:00

Indians Will you take US citizenship?

..., I am 100% Indian at heart and will always be.

As are I (who became a citizen of Canada in 1982 and US in 2005) and Pras (who completed naturalisation 2010/03/18).

Edited by Saddle Bronc, 08 July 2010 - 08:54 PM.

Saddle Bronc

Male

2010-07-08 20:53:00

K-1 help !!!!!!!!

I agree with you but i was living in Mumbai from Jan till Aug, i just moved to Bangalore recently, i am originally from Bangalore but was in Mumbai living with my aunt for 7 months coz i had some classes to attend. So what do i do now ? do i change my consulate or just go ahead with Mumbai ?

How about the trite "hurry-up-and-wait" approach? Basically, wait for the notice from NVC and go to the specified consulate.

Saddle Bronc

Male

2010-09-29 13:04:00

K-1 help !!!!!!!!

Since i live in Karnataka do i have to go thru the Chennai consulate or since i have already mentioned Mumbai consulate can i go thru there ????? whats the major difference ?

NVC will decide which one you go to, based on your state of residence--which in your case is Chennai (I checked at US Consulate/Embassy site).

The major difference is the language (other than English) availability.

Saddle Bronc

Male

2010-09-29 11:50:00

K-1 help !!!!!!!!

A likely scenario is that NVC will see the mistake, and simply redirect it to Chennai (why they haven't moved Karnataka to Hyderabad Consulate's purview?).

I had an analogous experience with INS about 12 years ago--the chop tasked to file I-129's for company employees mistakenly sent the one for my TN-1 to TSC (mail-in TN-1 renewals are processed only at NSC), and it was forwarded to the right one so no harm was done (and I would not even have found out, had I not been asked for a sample renewal-letter).

Saddle Bronc

Male

2010-09-29 09:07:00

K1 process

Thanks! Another quick question about K1 filing fees: it is $340 for the initial I-129f form petition correct? Is there any other fee which needs to be sent along with the preliminary package? I saw somewhere someone saying there is the I-129f fee and then some sort of immigrant visa fee for $350? Is this correct?

The $340 is correct. There are fees which have to be paid at the consulate/embassy by the beneficiary, but you cannot prepay them in the US.

Saddle Bronc

Male

2010-12-14 21:58:00

Indian Passport Surrender

$20 for surrender + $20 for postal-fee

And for further:

OCI, $275 (+ postal)
PIO, $150 (+ postal)

A combined app (renunciation + OCI/PIO is possible, with single $20 postal-fee.

(btw, these have to be separate money-orders/drafts/cashier's-cheques--no personal cheques)

Saddle Bronc

Male

2011-04-12 09:11:00

URGENT: Not enough time for medical til the interview date

Oft, the consulate will put an order, "issue visa, but don't give it till med result in"--which is exactly what happened in Pras' case.

Saddle Bronc

Male

2011-05-17 09:50:00

Adding to D&K's;

For those on (or close to) West Coast, I would recommend--Singapore Airlines--which was IMO the best airline overall for flights to India from that side (I would drop that qualifier if they had flights from this side of the continent to Singapore). It does have the "drawback" of rather long layovers in Singapore, which is much-compensated for by the use of Changi Airport's day-rooms (somewhat like a 150-room Motel-6 inside security area; these are first-come-first-serve) where you can then proceed from North America to India (or reverse) with a long nap and a shower--of which you will not find equivalent in Europe or Muddle East.

Unfortunately, lousy for those on East Coast (no airport akin to Changi in Europe).

Saddle Bronc

Male

2011-06-06 20:05:00

One possible alternative for US-passport (or GC) holders is to take Air India from Pearson. Only known advantage of this is of already clearing customs/immigration (on return trip) prior to setting foot on US soil (Canada-PFI US customs are known to be more lenient) and known serious drawback of having to clear Canada customs both ways (neither Canada nor US has ever figured out the setup to be a transit nation--more appalling in the case of US as prior to Canada-to-India flights initiation, commonest method for desi Canadians was to connect Air India through JFK)

(note: I certainly will never avail myself of this "alternate"--due to my long-running intense dislike for Toronto and Pearson Airport)

Saddle Bronc

Male

2010-09-10 12:03:00

British Airways is BIG no-no for me, even if they offer free airline tickets for lifetime.
Those people are so rude and unfriendly; they make you feel unwelcome on the flight. (2 times flying experience with them was more than enough for me).
Also, I don't understand why Heathrow Airport harasses passengers with US passport who come from India.

It's been my experience that Heathrow allows "smooth-sail" for US or Canuck passport-holders (I've gone through there both ways), even with obvious Indian features, due to the facile perception that the person is not likely to immigrate to Britain ever. Did you mean "US visa/GreenCard holders"?

Saddle Bronc

Male

2010-09-03 14:11:00

I flew in Air India non-stop from JFK-New York to New Delhi twice this year. No problems. Plus did not have to deal with in -between country stay. Bought my tickets from http://us.yatra.com.

Was IGI (and not another city with international-airport) your final-destination?

Saddle Bronc

Male

2010-09-02 11:57:00

I am from Madras and really don't want to ever go through Bombay or Delhi customs and change flights. So I always tend to go with flights which tends to gets me straight to Chennai. I have traveled Emirates, Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines and Qatar airlines to India. I like Qatar Airways and they seem to have decent food. I have heard so many horror stories about connecting through Heathrow that I have never want to travel British Airways.

I'm guessing that most of the problems with British Airways were related to the issue of Britain not recognising US Green Cards (or temp visas) when associated with Indian passport (obviously, that is a point of "insulation-bias" for me--as I was "insulated" from this due to having never had adult Indian passport, but using Canadian passport in 1999 for trips to/through London and American passport for 2009 trip through).

It would be ideal if there was a straight-through flight (as there are to Sahar and IGI) to Chennai (the option of straight-through to IGI/Sahar followed by connexion to Chennai is one I'd rather avoid).

Saddle Bronc

Male

2010-09-02 08:15:00

Last time (May 2009), we travelled BA through Heathrow to Chennai. I agree it is nice to avoid Mumbai (horrid airport, NOT whitewashed) and Delhi (whitewashed for Games, but still horrid)--two "bad experiences" (but neither airline-specific) on that trip:

Pras was scheduled to fly out to Chennai on 2009-04-05 with her mum--but forgot the extension (I-751) letter; I had to rebook her ticket to 2009-05-14 (same date as mine), and ensure that the letter was included
2009 BWI Travesty

Rating: comfort-wise (according to Pras), Lufthansa better than BA; foodwise, BA better (we got a nice lamb-curry)

(I do have issues about using Lufthansa due to its having code-share with United)

Edited by Saddle Bronc, 02 September 2010 - 08:11 AM.

Saddle Bronc

Male

2010-09-02 08:10:00

Controversial Indian painter M.F. Husain dies in London @ 95

http://www.bbc.co.uk...h-asia-13708844

India's most highly prized artist MF Husain dies aged 95
2011/06/09 14:14 ET

MF Husain spoke to the BBC at his home in Dubai, shortly before his death

One of India's most famous artists, MF Husain, has died in hospital in London aged 95 after years of self-imposed exile.

He had been unwell for several months.

Maqbool Fida Husain was India's most highly prized - and perhaps most controversial - painter and his work sold for millions of dollars.

His paintings of nude Hindu goddesses angered hardline Hindus who accused him of obscenity. He left India in 2006 and took up Qatari nationality in 2010.

Mr Husain has also made two Bollywood films, although both failed at the box office.

The maverick artist was often called the "Picasso of India" and influenced a whole generation of artists in the country.

'Never aged'

With flowing white hair and long beard, he was known to walk barefoot at social gatherings.

Leading Indian artist Anjolie Ela Menon said that Mr Husain's "enormous body of work is matched by Pablo Picasso's body of work".

"Husain never aged. He retained his energy, humour and his amazing capacity to work. He was restless, often saying he never had a bedroom in which he slept. He was a nomad, a gypsy," Ms Menon said.

Art critic S Kalidas said Mr Husain was painting until two weeks before his death, and led a "full life".

"He could paint anywhere - on the streets, in the studio. He was colourful, agile in mind and body. He was a fast thinking and fast painting man. I have never seen anybody paint so fast," he said.

Mr Husain's career was marked by controversy when he was accused of obscenity and denounced by hardline Hindus for a painting of a nude goddess.

His exhibitions were often attacked by hardline Hindu groups.

In 2006, Mr Husain publicly apologised for his painting, Mother India. It shows a nude woman kneeling on the ground creating the shape of the Indian map.

He also promised to withdraw the controversial painting from a charity auction.

In 2008, India's Supreme Court refused to launch criminal proceedings against Mr Husain saying that his paintings were not obscene and nudity was common in Indian iconography and history.

Saddle Bronc

Male

2011-06-09 19:11:00

Bitter jeera found to be excellent alternative medicine

Go easy on the Jaljeera though... lol

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jal-Jeera

Easy enough--I never found that stuff drinkable. :lol:

Saddle Bronc

Male

2011-06-02 08:07:00

Bitter jeera found to be excellent alternative medicine

Yes ELW, there are two verities of jeera, white one and black one. Its the black one which is very small in size and also the bitter one.

Oh, so kalajeera is the one that is mentioned here? Next time we go to grocer, we'll stock-up on it.

Saddle Bronc

Male

2011-05-30 18:38:00

Bitter jeera found to be excellent alternative medicine

http://www.personall...2011_05_26_PLA_[P11245356]&rrid=243529603

Bitter Cumin Shown To Be Effective Alternative Medicine
2011/05/26

In a study that was published in the BioMed Central journal Complementary and Alternative Medicine, a team of scientists found that bitter cumin seeds contain a wide array of phenolic compounds, making the spice a powerful antioxidant.

Moreover, bitter cumin has been shown to be effective in treating diseases like vitiligo and hyperglycemia, and has antiparasitic and antimicrobial properties. Previous studies have revealed that the spice may also be effective in treating fever and pain.

Indian researchers examined bitter cumin using biochemical and biological methods. They found that it helped to eliminate free radicals and to protect DNA.

“The antioxidant activity of bitter cumin correlated with total phenol content so it may well be that an array of phenolic compounds within bitter cumin seeds are responsible for the antioxidant activity seen,” said co-author Kamatham A. Naidu.

Authors of the study noted that oxidative stress — which stems from an overabundance of free radicals in the body — can lead to atherosclerosis, neural degenerative diseases, inflammation, cancer and aging.

Bitter cumin, or Glinus oppositifolius, has been traditionally used in Malian culture to treat wounds, inflammation, ulcers, fever, malaria and other immunological conditions, according to the Oxford Journals.

To all desis, don't go easy on the jeera!

Saddle Bronc

Male

2011-05-26 08:28:00

PIO Card for US Citizen spouse

Hello,

I am a US citizen trying to apply for a Person of Indian Origin (PIO) card based on my marriage to my Indian husband. The instructions on the form are not very helpful.

My fist question is what we should put in the "Permanent Address in India (verifiable)" box. My husband is still an Indian citizen but we are both US residents and do not have an address in India. We could put my in-laws address, but they are in a village without a post number or anything, so I don't know that this would be considered "verifiable". Can I just put n/a or something here?

Just use the village (along with the District and State) name. External Affiairs India doesn't really bother to verify these addresses (I've heard of people putting made-up addresses and then putting a slum-area name--example "79A S-D Rd., Dharavi, Mumbai").

I am also wondering about the boxes: "name and complete address of person known to the applicant living in India or USA telephone number". Obviously the English on this does not make sense. Are they asking for a name, address and telephone number of a reference who may be living either in the USA or India? Or are they asking for an address if the person is in India and a phone number if the person is in the US? Or???? Does this person have to be an Indian?

Hoping someone who has completed this application may be able to help make sense of it. Thanks for reading!

Jillian

On that, they're asking for the address and phone of someone living either in Inia or US, and known to the applicant.

Saddle Bronc

Male

2011-07-25 11:59:00

Where to stay in Chandigarh?

I am going to be visiting my bf during Diwali. I will be flying from US to Delhi and then should i fly from Delhi to Chandigarh or just taxi it? Then once I get to Chandigarh, bf will meet me there. Just wondering if anyone has any good hotel suggestions in Chadigarh. Very nice but reasonable as well. Thanks!!

How about train?

For hotels, http://www.hotelsinchandigarh.in/

Edited by Saddle Bronc, 30 September 2011 - 10:10 AM.

Saddle Bronc

Male

2011-09-30 10:09:00

Anyone with experience with US Tourist Visa from India?

How about "meet in a third country"? (edit: this only moves the visa issue to THAT country).

Saddle Bronc

Male

2011-10-03 13:10:00