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Thanks Q. I have decided to try for Tatkal passport in US first. If they won't allow me, then I will just go ahead and go to India with an old passport, get my stamping done, HOPEFULLY able to come back and apply for renewal. I also think these are the safest options.Quote:
Originally Posted by qesehmk
Kanmani, Q is right. I was talking about physically stapling the passports together.Quote:
Originally Posted by Kanmani
When applying for tatkal service for passport renewal in US, you can cite the family emergency as the primary reason for the tatkal request. my wife recently requested tatkal service at NYC consulate, her father had very serious health issues. when we explained the medical emergency to BLS, they did absolutely nothing to assist (talk about sitting long hours at BLS office and getting bounced around without it getting anywhere), except for telling us to go speak with consulate directly. the folks at the consulate were very understanding.
I-485 Notice Date: 09-06-2013 (3 months back), EB2-I. I received RFE on 11-26-2013. My employer tell me today that I need to get some third-party attorney and ask them to prepare required documentation who will represent me for this RFE and my employer will provide required PERM documents for that third party attorney, because my employer said that I need to mail the papers not them, so I need to hire some third party attorney to take care of this. I thought this would be a simple RFE, just EVL. But my employer sounds complicated. Below are the details of my RFE.
"you must submit a currently dated letter from your intended permanent employer, describing your present job duties and position in the rganization, your proffered position(if different from your current one), the date you began employment and the offered salary or wage. This letter should be in the original and signed by an executive or officer of the organization who is authorized to make or confirm an offer of permanent employment. The letter should indicate whether the terms and conditions of your employment-based visa petition(or labor certification) continue to exist."
Gurus please help me. I am little worried about this RFE because, my employer sent all the required papers (EVL and all) 3 months back when they filed for my 485 and dates were current and also now my employer is asking me to hire some other third party attorney.
Are you joking? What is so hard on this RFE? You cand send this by yourself you dont need to hire a third party lawyer. Yes I-485 its your responsability and not employer.
FTF - the good news is you are seeing the end of the tunnel. The RFE is not as complicated as you think it is. I agree with isantem that you can handle it yourself but if you want peace of mind then hiring a lawyer is not a bad idea.
Quote:
Originally Posted by FirstTimeFiler
You were lucky. I went to BLS International in Chicago on 12/23. They told me to go to Chicago Consulate to get a permission to apply for an emergency passport. So I immediately went to Chicago Consulate and I was there in next 10 minutes. I explained the person sitting at the window in consulate about my situation. The person told me that my passport is valid till May and I can travel to India and refused to listen to me. I tried hard but he kept saying that I can travel to India and just flatly refused to listen to me. In between, he left the window and kept saying "next person". I finally left after 15 minutes.Quote:
Originally Posted by AC_1980
I went back again to explain my situation on 12/24/13 which is today. That same person was there again. I explained that I need to go to India to attend a family emergency and my passport won't be stamped my Mumbai Consulate with H1B visa if I have less than 6 months left. I told them that the airline may also not allow me to travel. I requested him to try and understand my situation. He was very rude. He said that we can't issue permission for emergency passport. He asked me to go to BLS and apply for a regular passport. I told him that it would take 4-6 weeks to get a regular passport and I have to go now but he said that either I have to apply for an emergency passport in India once I reach India or I have to apply for a regular passport through BLS. I again tried to explain him that I have a very short period to go to India, apply for a new passport and then apply for stamping and if I don't get a new passport in India, I will be stuck since the consulate won't stamp my passport with H1B.
I asked him what is the reason they can't issue an emergency passport. I told him that 1) I have all the documents required 2) I have less than 6 months left on my passport 3) I have to apply for H1B stamping in India and 4) I have a genuine reason to get an emergency passport to attend a family medical emergency. Heck, I even showed him the letter from my employer allowing me to leave for India and doctor's certificate from India about the medical emergency. I asked him that where is the issue here? I meet all the criteria to get an emergency passport and there is no reason why you can't issue an emergency passport.
I asked him what is the reason to reject? He kept telling me the same thing that my passport is valid and I can travel to India right now and apply for emergency passport in India. I asked him to at least give me a letter from Consulate so that I can go to India and apply for passport there but he said, we don't give any letters. When I asked him that is there any way to talk with the Consulate General, he told me to go website and call that number.
I felt like going behind the counter, holding his collar and giving him a tight slap. I was in a mood to fight with him but I did not since I want to try to go there one more time after Christmas to make the last attempt. These people are supposed to help us but they make our life hell. I felt that because it is Christmas, they don't want to do any work and if I apply for emergency passport, then it may add more work for them before the holiday. There is no genuine reason for them to deny me an emergency passport. I still can't understand why the consulate can not give me the permission to apply for emergency passport.
Anyways, I will try one last time on 12/26. I am definitely going to fight this time if he rejects me. Is there any other way to escalate this matter? Can I complain to the Indian Ambassador to US about this? I am really upset at these people. There is no basic decency. They don't have any sympathy for someone who is in genuine need. They are bunch of bureaucrats who think that they can do whatever they want because they sit on the other side of window. I am really disappointed. I am also trying to call the Consulate and see if someone else will pick up the phone so I can explain my situation.
Jonty - now that the US consulate and everybody has confirmed - why are you restless!! I really don't see any risk now that you confirmed with US consulate in India. Worst case is you come back on AOS. Right? The Airliner can't and shouldn't hold you back as long as your passport has at least 1 valid day left on it.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jonty Rhodes
Q, I understand that may be I should not be so restless but I will explain where my confusion comes from.Quote:
Originally Posted by qesehmk
When I called US Consulate in Mumbai first time 5 days ago, they told me that I am allowed to apply for H1B stamping. Then they sent me this link.
http://www.ustraveldocs.com/in/in-gen-faq.asp#gen1
So I was relieved that I will be allowed to apply for H1B stamping.
However, later on I stumbled upon this on US Consulate in Mumbai website when I was trying to look for process of taking a visa interview appointment.
http://mumbai.usconsulate.gov/freque...cor_visas_ppts
The answer to 2nd question mentions clearly that one needs to obtain a new passport before applying for visa or booking an appointment, if the passport is going to expire in less than 6 months.
This confused me because I was getting two different answers here. On one side, I was being told that I will be able to attend the H1B stamping even if my passport validity is less than 6 months. On the other hand, the link on US Consulate, Mumbai website clearly mentions that a new passport needs to be obtained before appearing for an interview if current passport is valid for less than 6 months.
When I asked this to US Consulate in Mumbai, they sent me this reply.
__________________________________________________ ______________________________________________
Dear Mr. XXXXX,
Thank you for writing to the U.S. Visa Service Desk.
We understand that you wish to apply for a U.S. visa and you have a query regarding the passport.
With regards to your query, we would like to inform you that, in order to apply for a visa an applicant needs to have a valid passport. Please note that, India is exempted from the 6 months passport validity rule. Information about the same is provided in the following link "http://cdn.ustraveldocs.com/in/in-gen-faq.asp#gen1". Hence, the applicant may apply for a visa if they have a valid passport. If the applicant is required to apply for a new passport, the Consulate officer will inform about the same.
Additionally, you can follow the link "http://cdn.ustraveldocs.com/in/in-niv-visaapply.asp" to know about the visa application process and the link "http://cdn.ustraveldocs.com/in/in-niv-typework.asp" to know about the work visa.
We hope this answers your query.
Have a pleasant day!
Yours sincerely,
U.S. Visa Service Desk.
__________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ ______
Again, from their answer it seems that I should be ok to apply for H1B stamping but then in the same answer, they say "If the applicant is required to apply for a new passport, the Consulate officer will inform about the same." So now you can see where my confusion comes from.
I tried various forums but I am getting different answers. Some are saying they will allow stamping, some are saying 6 month passport validity is must for stamping. I am also trying to find out a) if I will be able to get a Tatkal passport in India and b) If I can, then how long will it take.
I am also little wary of renewing the passports in India because I have read horror stories of people being stuck for 4-5 months and paying huge amount of bribes to get passports back. I don't know if services have improved recently.
When you said that I can come back on AOS, did you mean that when I come back, I have to extend I-94? I am asking this because I am not on AOS yet. My PD is May, 2011, which has never been current hence no I-485 filed, no EAD or AP, still on H1B.
I had to throw the Airline excuse at the end of our conversation in hope that at least that person sitting behind the window would listen to me one last time which may change his mind, after he completely refused to listen to me yesterday. It seems he did not care regardless of what I told him. In fact, I wonder whether he even listened to me at all because in between our conversation, he continued to talk with the person standing behind him. He already pre-determined that he was not going to give me permission for emergency passport, period. I was very polite during the entire conversations on both days but I guess, giving emergency passports means extra work for them and they were in no mood to work. They were just shooing away people today. I was not the only one. There were multiple people who were in similar emergency situations who were denied for no good reason.
I was never given a good reason in last 2 days why I can't be given emergency passport even though I had all the required documents, had doctor's certificate, had employer's notarized letter and had a genuine reason to get the Tatkal passport. When I went to BLS on 12/23, the person there reviewed all the documents first and told me that my application is full-proof and I should be able to get a permission to apply for Tatkal Passport from Consulate without a problem. But when I went to Consulate, all I was told was to either go to India and apply for new passport or go to BLS and apply for regular passport and wait for 4-6 weeks. They never even bothered to look at my documents. You can't imagine how traumatic and nightmarish this experience was.
Thank you for your reply. Is it common for USCIS to ask EVL within 3 months of notice date? Do you have any links where I can get format of the letter and all the documents, that I need to send as part of RFE response.
Quote:
Originally Posted by qesehmk
I thought so it was a simple RFE, EVL. But my employer is complicating things. Is it common for USCIS to ask EVL within 3 months of notice date? Do you have any links where I can get format of the letter and all the documents, that I need to send as part of RFE response.
Quote:
Originally Posted by isantem
Jonty you have information overload here. Just go by what the US consulate in Mumbai told you. That's the best and final information on this topic.
There is no way an airliner should hold you back with 3-4 months on passport remaining.
As per the Indian staff at consulate - forget them. Don't let your peace of mind go over them. That is something out of our control. But I will say this - I have had nothing but good experience with consulates. But may be because I never went there in person!!!
Good luck. Don't be doubtful just go by what consulate itself told you!! Relax.
p.s. - My bad on AOS. I somehow thought you were waiting on AOS.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jonty Rhodes
Of course it is very common. So don't worry at all .... just create your own format. Nice and clean. And give all the information to them signed by your hiring manager or his boss.
Quote:
Originally Posted by FirstTimeFiler
Jonty,
There have been a lot of changes happened in India in our absence over the years , one good thing I noticed is passport services are outsourced . Regular, non-renewal passports arrive within 2 weeks of interview (yes ).
I hope you could renew it in India within couple of days. All the best!
Q, I too had a bad experience with the consulate here in DC . Exactly the same words "NEXT on line please" with an facial expression which conveyed why/what are you in/doing in this country? .
Hi Anish and Others,
My wife's passport is expiring in June 2014 and I applied for renewal in Atlanta Indian consulate with all the reqd documentation. The processing time says 6-8 weeks. Does it really take that much time?
Do you know what exactly happens behind the scenes? Does the passport get printed here in US or comes from India?
I also saw some new stuff (unrelated though but may be applicable to me)
http://passportindia.gov.in/AppOnlin..._Passports.pdf
Thanks,
Venkat
Quote:
Originally Posted by Anish05
Venkat,Quote:
Originally Posted by venkat
I was told by BLS guys in Chicago (They were really co-operative and helpful to me) that regular passport renewal takes at least 6 weeks if everything goes smooth. But it could take 8-10 weeks as well if there are some hiccups. There are some people who have received their passports in 3-4 weeks as well. Overall, if everything goes smooth, you should expect 4-6 weeks on an average to get the passport back.
Not sure about Atlanta but it should probably be the same time frame as Chicago. Also, they were telling every regular passport renewal applicant, not to start tracking their passport before 6 weeks. They said that, only after passports arrive back at BLS office and entered in to the BLS system, the applicants will be able to track them.
I don't know what exactly happens behind the scenes but I was clearly told by BLS and Indian Consulate in Chicago, that the passports are now printed in India exclusively. Passports are no longer printed here in US. After BLS accepts the passport applications, they are sent to India and new passports are printed in India. You can trust this information because I was just at the Indian Consulate in Chicago and BLS Chicago office yesterday to apply for a Tatkal (Emergency) passport.
Lot of time, there is a shortage of passport booklets in India which can delay the printing of passports and their delivery to US. I found that out yesterday from my brother-in-law who went to regional passport office in Ahmedabad to find out if I can get a Tatkal passport in India because Indian Consulate in Chicago was denying me to give a Tatkal passport. The lady at the inquiry window in Ahmedabad, said that regular 36 page passport booklets have run out of stock pretty much everywhere so there may be delay in getting the passport back even though it is a Tatkal application. The new shipment of booklets was going to arrive after January 1st. This fact was confirmed by BLS Chicago office yesterday because I had to give extra $25 for a Jumbo 60 page Passport booklet as BLS told me that, only 60 page booklets are in stock, especially for Tatkal passports.
Regarding the link that you posted, I met an Indian guy from Kolkata at BLS Chicago, who came to get a new passport with 10 year validity as his old passport had validity of 20 years. He told me that, if you have an Indian passport with 20 year validity, you can not get visa to travel in Eurozone. He also told me that by 2015, US will also stop giving visas to Indians who have passports with 20 year validity. I am sure he was referring to this document.
I hope, this is helpful.
Jonty- Please first call the Indian embassy in Chicago (since you mention Ohare). The passport printing system WAS down (Oct--->Dec 1st week) and my husband's passport went to India along with everyone else and as usual no track of it once it went. We had an intl vacation coming up and his passport was stuck somewhere in India for printing. My husband went to the embassy and had to plead his case and don't know if it is the result of pleading or just luck, we got the passport 4 days before the travel date. The passport approve date was earlier date than the date my husband went to plead his case. So, may be the officer just helped track the passport and not actually speed up the process.
My friend who applied the same date as my husband has not received her passport as yet. Been 2 months. You may be allowed to board Air India, but u need to check on the return. Immigration Officer is what matters. Not the airline.
My husband's passport expires in June and when we returned from the holiday we had 5 months + days and we read we needed 6 months. I don't know if the holiday country's requirement or US requirement. That is the reason why we renewed it and it turned out to be a bigger nightmare.
Remember BLS is just call center. Their job is to hand over the passport to Chicago Office and then collect it. They don't know what happens in between. I received NO HELP and NO proper response. They had no clue Passport printing system was even down. I had to tell them. Just call or visit the embassy.
Not sure when this was published.... but the NVC wait list data point is now available ...
http://www.travel.state.gov/pdf/WaitingListItem.pdf
Those who don't know what this is - basically these are all the candidates that opted for counselor processing. So more than likely these people are waiting for their EB GC in their home country (although some present in US do opt for CP).
As per trend - two trends are quite visible:
1. EB5 is increasing YoY
2. EB3 is decreasing YoY by 10% which supports the fact that EB3 dates have moved with lightening speed of late.
Thanks Jonty and RMS for your insights.
Now it appears that it doesn't matter which Indian embassy you apply through (Chicago vs Atlanta) as eventually everything has to go to India for printing.
My guess is if its a major city embassy (like Chicago, SFO or New York) they may get it 1-2 weeks earlier than say Atlanta...but other than that everything else may be the same.
RMS, Based on what you have said your friend may have applied in the last week of October. I think your husband got luckier while your friend's case may be pending for some other reason.
I am sure there is some process in place before they start printing the passport in India (like some kind of verification....?)
Quote:
Originally Posted by RMS_V13
Header updated with NVC explanation.
What's the basis for estimated 4500 EB2I cases with pre 2009 PDs. To me that number sounds much higher given that dates had moved till June 08 recently. So seems that I am missing something obvious.Quote:
Originally Posted by qesehmk
NVC data shows 9K. Those 9K are spread out from 2006/7 through early 2010 where dates touched briefly last year. I have no reason to believe that 9K is skewed towards early or later years. So just evened it out and approx 4.5K pre 2009 sounds just about right. Makes sense?Quote:
Originally Posted by suninphx
Happy New Year to all. Hope 2014 brings better news for those waiting for their GCs
I see your logic. But wouldn't majority of NVC application till PD June 08 have been cleared during recent date movement ?Quote:
Originally Posted by qesehmk
The 485 inventory is as of 1 Oct 2013 whereas NVC data is as of 1 Nov 2013. So it seems that none of those 9K are cleared. Or better put - 9k are net of any 2013 allocations.Quote:
Originally Posted by suninphx