visas denied to india

[neel06 0]

wow this is so outrageous.

The indian embassies in the U.S are denying visas to India for naturalized U.S citizens due to some new rules and regulations.

if you want a visa to india you have to provide your old indian passport and if you are unable to provide that your visa will be denied.

this happened to my cousin this week. she came to the U.S as a four year old girl and is now 32. she has visited india on many many occasions. her husband is from india. well her visa application was denied this time as she did not provide her old indian passport. well when she came here some 28 years ago...she did not have a passport.she travelled on her mother's passport and my aunt has not kept her old passport..since she also became naturalized.

this is so freaky... as i am in the same situation as her. I have no indian passport to surrender to them...and that means i can't get a visa to india. my husband's family is there and he is really panicked that i won't ever be able to go there.......

does anyone have any other information on this....

[trinket 30]

This new rule is because of the Headley case. As more and more people use the system for their selfish terrorist acts, Indian Government have to tighten the rules.

[neel06 0]

This new rule is because of the Headley case. As more and more people use the system for their selfish terrorist acts, Indian Government have to tighten the rules.

this is more than tightening of the rule...just harassing poor innocent people like me.

people who have terrorist intentions will find ways to enter...

[sachinky 465]

I heard something about requiring a renunciation certificate that costs around $175 to get from the Indian Embassy before you can apply for an Indian visa/PIO/OCI.

[Saddle Bronc 124]

I heard something about requiring a renunciation certificate that costs around $175 to get from the Indian Embassy before you can apply for an Indian visa/PIO/OCI.

That is plain nuts, since India has automatic renunciation of full-citizenship when one naturalises (admittedly, I'm commenting on it from "oversafe" point--I automatically renounced in 1982 by naturalising to Canada, and already have OCI in hand since 2007)--I guess they decided to also "cash-in" (though the method is shambolic--see below) on the Gilani (Headley) case. I do have to worry about it for Pras (who was naturalised earlier THIS YEAR--and has at least six years left on the now-invalid Indian passport) however.

Cash-in method obviously can backfire if the erstwhile citizen of India has much time remaining on the passport--as that person can easily simply use the unexpired Indian passport to enter India, and the other country's (point for discussion, US--which REQUIRES that its own passport be used) for re-entry home.

Edited June 1, 2010 by Saddle Bronc

[gundas 1]

For anyone that became a citizen prior to May 31, 2010 only has to pay $20 for the certificate, anyone after the date will be paying $175. If you don't have your old Indian passport or have misplaced it you need proof that you had it with passport number, place issued, and date expired. You can also obtain other Copies of your canceled Permanent Residence Card or Employment Authorization Card, Old Indian Passport etc can be obtained from the US Government, by filling a Freedom of Information / Privacy Act Request form - Form G-639 available on the website - www.uscis.gov

[Saddle Bronc 124]

For anyone that became a citizen prior to May 31, 2010 only has to pay $20 for the certificate, anyone after the date will be paying $175.

We were told the $175 figure in Paoli on May 15 (which was prior to May 31)--though admittedly, we have not made any further moves on this issue.

If you don't have your old Indian passport or have misplaced it you need proof that you had it with passport number, place issued, and date expired. You can also obtain other Copies of your canceled Permanent Residence Card or Employment Authorization Card, Old Indian Passport etc can be obtained from the US Government, by filling a Freedom of Information / Privacy Act Request form - Form G-639 available on the website - www.uscis.gov

[TheJesal 2]

Is this rule to only those applying for new visas? What if you still have a 10 year visa that was issue from 2 years ago?

Would they still deny access into india? My parents have been concerned about this as they dont have their indian passports anymore. They been in the U.S for 40 years, legally that is.

Edited July 2, 2010 by TheJesal

[Harsh_77 718]

In your case, your husband has not submitted his Indian passport on receving his US passport. As per new regulation you have to return your old passport and get a PIO card if you want.

Initially they have a heavy penalty for not returning Indian passport, but after lot of pressure from NRIs they have reduced the fee.

[Iqha 0]

Ugh!!! I so don't want to deal with this now. For those who don't have their old Indian passport like my parents...they must do the following:

If you cannot provide the Original Indian passport, you must supply a copy of your Green Card or Employment Authorization Document; or copies of your I-130 documents. If you do not have the copies of any of these documents you must do the following: File form G-639 with the USCIS located here http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/g-639.pdf. Instructions for filling out form G-639 can be found here http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/g-639instr.pdf. These documents are available to you through the Freedom of Information Act.

https://indiavisa.travisaoutsourcing.com/guidelines?id=5