Forum	Title	Content	Member	Sex	Country	Date/Time
Asia: South	Don't want my kids issued Indian Entry Visas.... HELP	Thread moved from Off-Topic to the Regional Forum including India as more likely to get knowledgeable responses in this forum	Kathryn41	Female	Canada	10/19/2010 21:00
Asia: South	hi friends anyone having interview	Moving to regional forum	YuAndDan	Male	China	1/4/2011 10:53
Asia: South	Chennai- Hotel to stay	Also, if you are Christian and need prayer beforehand, there is a church about a block from this hotel--the HQ church of Laymen's Evangelical Fellowship.	Saddle Bronc	Male	0	9/14/2010 11:32
Asia: South	Chennai- Hotel to stay	Also btw--Pras reached the Consulate straight from Guntur after all-night-as-passenger in a hired vehicle--without any freshen-up--and they tentatively (pending the medical, which she had to reschedule) approved her K-1.	Saddle Bronc	Male	0	9/13/2010 14:18
Asia: South	Chennai- Hotel to stay	There are lots of hotels in Chennai. One which may work is Hotel Ranjith @ Gemini Flyover on NH Rd, about 400 m from Consulate.	Saddle Bronc	Male	0	9/13/2010 7:30
Asia: South	Travel to Pakistan	Check sites such as expedia, orbitz, ... and also airlines that fly to LHE, ISB or KHI (you may get cheaper fares from the airlines than from those sites). Gifts, yes you can so long as it is not forbidden items such as liquor.	Saddle Bronc	Male	0	10/15/2010 20:21
Asia: South	Which is faster??	http://www.visajourn...m/content/times	Saddle Bronc	Male	0	10/22/2010 11:46
Asia: South	plane ticket to india	Hi everyone, I have seen the add for makemytrip but i don't know if it is valid company. Anyone bought ticket from them and if so please share your experience. We have a family emergency and would like to travel ASAP via Air India. I will be flying from New York (JFK) to Delhi and would like a direct flight. Also anyone know of a good travel agency in New England area? Thank you, Tashi Why not use Air India's site directly? http://home.airindia...Pages/Home.aspx	Saddle Bronc	Male	0	11/12/2010 9:52
Asia: South	CR-1 interview HELP ( I - 130, immigration interview)	Tell them June, but when asked about the photos, explain you had a legal wedding and later a religious wedding/ wedding celebration. It is not uncommon; we had two as well, though ours were only a week apart.	Penguin_ie	Female	Ireland	3/6/2011 6:03
Asia: South	Which is faster??	Hi! I am engaged and thinking of sponsoring my fiance who lives in Pakistan. I was wondering which is faster, fiance visa or spouse visa? And approx. how much is the waiting time? If the spouse visa is faster, I can go to Pakistan in January to get married. But I have no idea where to start so any help will be great! Non immigrant visas are faster but "slower", way more hassel and more costly in the long run. Just a few reasons why to go with the an immigrant visa instead of a K3! Or K1. The K1/K3 has to adjust status which cost a bit. Have to go thru the cost and hassles of getting a I-693 also. K3 /K1normally has to do biometrics and have a AOS interview. Time off from work cost the petitioner. PLUS the hassles of submitting the paperwork and going for the interview. Tain’t fun.. Especially if denied or questioned. Ever done a Stokes interview? That’s the second interview if they are in doubt of your relationship. Also a possibility of being deported. Yeah doesn’t happen much but it happens. K1/K3 have to wait about 90 days after they file to get EAD or GC so they can get SSN and be able to work. CR-1 can work as soon as they get the GC and SS card in the mail. Normally with 6 weeks. Can’t do a LOT of things without SSN. Like work or get a drivers license in some states. Some K visas don’t get GC for a LONG time. If petitioner goes belly up before you get GC you stand a better chance of being deported. If the petitioner loses his/her job after the embassy interview you don’t have to worry about getting a co sponsor for the adjusting status interview. CRs get their GC and SS card in the mail within 6 weeks of arrival. No biometrics , dealing with civil surgeons, AOS interviews, going to SSA for SS card. CRs can start working WAY sooner than K visas. I'm not sure what the actual time difference is at this time but if it's less than 2 months it wouldn't be worth what the K visas require.	Dakine	Male	Philippines	10/27/2010 15:32
Asia: South	Chennai Consulate - Visa approved	Wow--congratulations!	sachinky	Female	India	5/12/2010 16:56
Asia: South	plane ticket to india	I have used makemytrip before. But it was for a domestic ticket (Calcutta to Puri) -- afraid can't comment on the international tickets/fare. Sorry to hear about your family emergency, Third.	sachinky	Female	India	10/15/2010 18:48
Asia: South	What to do with the X-Ray	They were supposed to take the medical report from you at the time of the interview. I think it is inserted inside of the sealed brown visa file that they give you when you receive the visa. Someone else can chime in about whether the medical report is supposed to be part of the visa file or not. But I would carry it with you to the USA - it is possible the POE needs to collect that - it might need to be part of your entire file for things such as Removal of Conditions, etc. They don't collect the X-ray at POE or anywhere else. When you do your medical, you get the medical report and the x-ray, Medical report is submitted at the consulate during your interview and that X-ray is for you to keep. I wasn't sure what to do with the x-ray either when I received it, because consulate didn't take it, so I thought may be I will have to submit it at POE, but POE officer didn't take it either.	trinket	Female	India	10/12/2010 13:20
Asia: South	Change of Plans	Yes you would need Entry Visa, both for the purpose of living in India and also applying for DCF later on. You can't apply for DCF if you are on tourist visa. Make sure though that you do keep your residency in USA while you are living in India, something like an open bank account or a valid driving license; as these would be needed when you apply for DCF later on. Best wishes(F)	trinket	Female	India	1/4/2011 18:45
Asia: South	Yet another 221g from New Delhi on K-1	Sorry about the 221g, best wishes that all will go smoothly and he will get the approval after you give the additional proof.	ELW	Female	India	10/3/2010 14:53
Asia: South	What to do with the X-Ray	The X-Ray has never been asked for by anyone at POE. Only useful case would be, like And_Sam said, if you had some illness and the doc here wanted an old X-Ray for comparison. However that usually never happens. Docs just want to take new X-Rays and work off them. Hubby brought his but I don't even remember if it is buried in a suitcase here somewhere or thrown away!	ELW	Female	India	10/12/2010 20:22
Asia: South	Prosperous Deepawali with Happy Visa Journey to All	Deepavali Subhakankshulu!	ELW	Female	India	11/5/2010 22:50
Asia: South	HAPPY DIWALI TO ALL INDIANS	Thanks and Happy Diwali to All!	ELW	Female	India	11/4/2010 8:08
Asia: South	plane ticket to india	I used makemytrip.com for my husband's flight ticket from Hyderabad, India to Fresno, California with my USA credit card. Great rate, great service. No trouble whatsoever.	ELW	Female	India	10/15/2010 20:31
Asia: South	Airline Consolidators?	We bought tickets from Expedia, Kayak and makemytrip.com and they are all reputable.	ELW	Female	India	10/19/2010 20:07
Asia: South	Disgusted with Pakistani Embassy / Nadra	Agreed - but you will probably want to visit family and friends in Pakistan at some point or the other, which will mean applying for visas which will be more expensive then coughing up the $100 to cancel the National identity card now. I say grit you teeth, pay the money and consider it a small price to pay to forevermore cut your ties with that govt and enjoy lifelong visa-free travel to your homeland. Yes it's unfair but worth the visa application and expenses later on.	ELW	Female	India	12/30/2010 11:08
Asia: South	Change of Plans	Yes you could do that, but why? Apply for a PIO card NOW and then no troubles! Here is a post I found of a native citizen of America getting a PIO card through his Indian-national wife, you might be able to find more recent ones if you search online: PIO Card Experience PIO card timeline for US citizen spouse, Houston Consulate Hi all, I sent my docs to the Houston Consulate on 10/10 (they arrived on 10/13), and I received my shiny new PIO card yesterday (11/13). That's pretty much in line with the four weeks processing time stated on the website. Here's what I included: Documents included per the CGI-Houston website: • Application in duplicate (both with original signatures) • Notarized copies of: -- My birth certificate -- Wife’s Indian passport (all pages) -- My US passport (all pages) -- Marriage certificate • Four passport sized photographs • Money order for $385 ($365 fee + $20 courier charge) Additional documents (not notarized): • For validation of my wife’s current address: -- Copy of bank passbook main page -- Copy of credit card bill -- If needed, her mobile number in India is +91 ***** ***** • For validation of my current address: -- Copy of driver’s license -- Copy of electric bill -- Copy of cable TV/broadband bill I sent a cover letter including the above with the intention of making it as simple as possible for the person processing the package -- who knows if it helped, but it made me feel better about it... My wife is in India (we're still doing the US visa stuff), and they did call her to confirm some details, but they didn't call the two references I provided on the application. I started the process just after our one-year anniversary, as they turned us down when we tried last fall just after the marriage. Cheers, Curt	ELW	Female	India	1/4/2011 23:54
Asia: South	Change of Plans	I've read tons of these last few years so I'm the expert here. You are eligible for a PIO card. They will send you a card. That is like a visa for 15 years. No need to get any seperate visa or do any sort of application or pay any other fee for 15 years. Just bring your US Passport and PIO card and hop on a flight to India! SF Consulate says PIO card processing takes 15 working days. Recently the rules changed regarding tourist visas for India (and it seems like this applies to Entry visas also, from what you've read), because of terrorist activities. Even if the visa length is 5-15 years, you have to leave the country after 6 months and they will not let you return for at least 2 months. No such rule for PIO card, you can stay as long as you like! Also, it looks like Entry visas are only issued to people of Indian origin.	ELW	Female	India	1/4/2011 22:13
Asia: South	Change of Plans	Did you read the site? A SPOUSE of an Indian citizen is eligible! So YES, even if you were born US Citizen you can get the PIO card because you are married to an Indian. I'm going to get my PIO card soon, too! PS One requirement is you two have to be married for at least a year, that cuts down on fraud cases. In case you want to go to India before you've been married a year, then you can get an Entry visa and apply for a PIO card while still in India, as soon as the one year marriage requirement is fulfilled. Edited by ELW, 04 January 2011 - 09:50 PM.	ELW	Female	India	1/4/2011 21:46
Asia: South	Change of Plans	A PIO card is the way to go! Any spouse of a citizen (or former citizen) of India is eligible. It is a 15-year multiple-entry visa with no time constraints. You could even stay the whole 15 years! Check out your nearest Indian Consulate site for details, here is the San Francisco one: PIO Card, SF Indian Consulate Pick "Consular Services" link on the left side of the page, then pick Person of Indian Origin card. You may fall deeply in love with India and never want to return (like I felt). Edited by ELW, 04 January 2011 - 09:30 PM.	ELW	Female	India	1/4/2011 21:29
Asia: South	OCI Application	Yes but during 2008 I was collecting forms (and even practicing filling them out) to be used in 2009! And from 1984-2005 I was constantly filling out visa forms several times a year during my long stay in India! Hopefully 2012 will be my first year with no govt visa/immigration forms since 1983! If the world doesn't end first...	ELW	Female	India	1/4/2011 8:45
Asia: South	OCI Application	Thanks for the info! Yes it's true, things are constantly changing. Pages we sent, besides the application itself, included a cover letter, the OCI Application checklist, copy of surrender certificate, copy of Naturalization certificate, copy of green card, copies of Indian and American passports, and a copy of drivers license (required). I ended up just paper-clipping it all together, they can do with it what they want! The SF Consulate says it might take two months and no one should attempt to call before 60 days have passed. Also there is an online list of granted OCI applications. They require our original US AND Indian passports so hopefully they will send it back without us calling them about it!I guess I'll have to re-read the Indian Consulate site to see if any further action is required after we see our name on the online granted list.	ELW	Female	India	1/3/2011 21:54
Asia: South	OCI Application	We're ready to send off hubby's OCI Application tomorrow and were wondering how to put it together - loose papers in a folder? Stapled? Paper-clipped, butterfly-clipped or with the two-hole ACCO fasteners we used in the USCIS applications? The Application is only about 20 pages and apparently one copy at least will go to India so what would they prefer?	ELW	Female	India	1/2/2011 17:47
Asia: South	What to do with the X-Ray	You don't need to carry the xray with you, but bringing it to the US would be a good thing to do medically. Usually if you are in need of a chest xray, it is always better to have a previous xray for comparison. My husband gave me his xray and I brought it back with me to the US after his interview. Good luck!	And_Sam	Female	Egypt	10/12/2010 8:21
Asia: South	plane ticket to india	At times the tickets are more expensive on the website itself, for last minute emergency the ticket can really expensive but very reasonable if you go through a consolidator. I've used this travel agency called Sunnyvale Travel, they have excellent ticket price. We got a last minute round trip flight from SFO to BLR for $1400 with only a 2.5hours layover in Dubai. so it should be even cheaper on the east coast.	Nikita2Charles	Not Telling	India	11/12/2010 17:30
Asia: South	OCI Application	Congratulations on your hubby getting the citizenship and done with USCIS. Things are constantly changing since we last filled out for the OCI, we don't recall printing out a 20 pages application, We filled out the OCI application online but you can't submit it online, at the end, we printed the summary, basically it has all the information you have entered, signed the application and mailed it, we also added a returned envelop priority envelop for the OCI card. The timeframe they give out for the OCI varies quite a bit, so we had to call up the San Francisco Consulate office to get an update, and there was so many changes going on around that time, because they have outsourced the visa process, and i think OCI also don't count me on that it's been awhile, but you can check on the indian consulate website.even though the OCI was processed somehow they still had it there, so it wasn't until we call them up, they mail it out to us. Another thing that's different, back then the Renunciation of Indian Citizenship/Surrender of last held Indian Passport was not required. The OCI actually looks like an Indian Passport with Booklets. We have flown to India once we it, once we clear custom that was in Bangalore, had to go through a secondary custom check for the OCI it took less than 2 minutes, nothing major.	Nikita2Charles	Not Telling	India	1/3/2011 17:32
Asia: South	Chennai Consulate - Visa approved	Congratulations!!	DanielParul	Not Telling	0	5/12/2010 10:58
Asia: South	VISA Received but sealed packet - Corner cut?	Yes, it's like that for all. Nothing to worry about. Whatever you do, don't let it get torn in any other places. People I received the passport stamped and the 'sealed envelope', but i see that packet's corner is cut and stapled.. is that hows its meant to be(for identifying its conetents as docs) or is this a problem??!!	marriedtomrg	Female	Philippines	10/20/2010 7:10
Asia: South	HAPPY DIWALI TO ALL INDIANS	We got Diwali Gift... Thanks to all of you for the best wishes... We have visa in hand. Edited by Deep2009, 08 November 2010 - 09:34 AM.	Deep2009	Not Telling	India	11/8/2010 9:34
Asia: South	HAPPY DIWALI TO ALL INDIANS	"HAPPY DIWALI to all of you out there!" Here is why sikhs celebrate Diwali... Sikhs celebrate Bandi Chhorh Divas to mark the return of the Sixth Guru, Sri Guru Hargobind Ji, who was freed from imprisonment and also managed to release 52 Hindu Kings (political prisoners) at the same time from the famous fort of Gwalior by making clever use of Emperor Jahangir's orders to allow any who could hold on to the Gurus coat tails to leave the fort with the Guru (October, 1619). And so the Kings/rajahs were freed and the Guru became known popularly as the "Bandi Chhor" (Deliverer from prison). He arrived at Amritsar on the Diwali day and the HarMandar (also known as the "Golden Temple") was lit with hundreds of lamps to celebrate his return and hence the day came to be known as the "Bandi Chhor Divas" (the day of freedom). Edited by Deep2009, 05 November 2010 - 08:50 AM.	Deep2009	Not Telling	India	11/5/2010 8:48
Asia: South	HAPPY DIWALI TO ALL INDIANS	Happy Diwali to all of you out there waiting and going through the process.	Deep2009	Not Telling	India	11/4/2010 14:03
Asia: South	What to do with the X-Ray	Put the x-ray in your suitcase. and don't worry if that involves squashing it. Edited by JoannaV, 12 October 2010 - 11:06 AM.	JoannaV	Female	United Kingdom	10/12/2010 11:06
Asia: South	Chennai Consulate - Visa approved	Congrulations	Bani	Female	India	5/12/2010 12:42
Asia: South	CR-1 interview HELP ( I - 130, immigration interview)	Since you filed after the June wedding, and your certificate shows June, then June it is. You do not have to answer any question you are not asked. You cannot use the later wedding since you had already filed your I-130 before then. Just explain that you did a little wedding with the little money you had then, and when you had more, you did a big wedding and show them all pix Edited by Tero, 05 March 2011 - 05:38 PM.	Tero	Male	Nigeria	3/5/2011 17:37
Asia: South	Chennai- Hotel to stay	One more to add.. New Woodlands	Visa Grant	Male	India	10/27/2010 0:14