G_One

On 7/26/2022 at 12:19 PM, arken said:

Yes. 
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/Visa-Reciprocity-and-Civil-Documents-by-Country/India.html

 

Affidavits of birth from her parents is a good document as well.

 

You will file separate i130s for your wife and her kid assuming you'll marry her before the kid turns 18. At some point later during visa application, she will need a written authorization from the kid's father or the legal sole authority document to be able to bring the kid to the US.

Thanks Arken, appreciate it...  

Hi All,

I have few questions regarding sponsoring prospective spouse to US with kid from India. I am a USC, naturalized US citizen formerly an Indian. 

She is from a small town from India, and she somehow doesn't have birth certificate (its unheard of nowadays for people to not have official Birth cert in India aswell). Even though she is a graduate (bachelors degree), worked in Banks, and she had travelled to middle east, she is a divorcee. I am not married or engaged to her yet, but I want to make sure there are no issues in future for her to join me in US.

1) Would any alternates work in place of Birth Certificate (for Indians) ?

2) What is the process to bring wife's kid (step kid for me), additional documentation needed (for Indians)? 

Thanks for your help.

On 11/19/2021 at 5:58 PM, arken said:

You are self employed/freelancer so answer accordingly. There is a 0% chance they will ask other than name and address of the employer. You'll put your name and address for self employment.

How can I put my name and address for self employment ? I am not incorporated, I dont do business, I dont have a corporation. If they ask me to submit any document proving my company I can not do that. 

14 minutes ago, JeanneAdil said:

Self employed as you will do on tax returns

using your address and your SS #

your address as you will use on Schedule C when filing taxes 

you don't need a EiN # for self employment 

u should get from UBER and Grub hub a  1099

1099(s) and IRS tax transcripts will be all needed to show employment for the Interview

 

Thanks for the response. However your answer is true if I am submitting documents to USCIS, but here I am not submitting it to USCIS.
I am applying for INDIAN ENTRY VISA (Indian Visit/Tourist Visa) to INDIAN Embassy as I was a previous Indian Citizen, and now I am US Citizen. 

Its not clear on Indian Embassy website or any other forums if they would allow 'Self-Employed' as an answer. 

Hi All,

What should I write for Employer Details, address and phone number ? I am not working for a company full time for now. I am looking for new Jobs. I do delivery jobs like UBER, GRUBHUB etc and am looking for Jobs.

Both in VISA form and OCI forms what should I write ? 

Would 'Self-Employed / Freelancer' is ok ?

Employer: <Self Employed / Freelancer or UBER ?>
Employer Address: <NA or UBER address in California ?> 
Employer Phone Number: <My number or Uber number ?>

If I put UBER then would they ask follow up questions like Employment letter or any verification ? I dont know how to get an employment letter when in USCIS documents I mention myself as SELF EMPLOYED and it was okay. 

Please suggest, I need to submit the form urgently.

1 hour ago, Jot18 said:

I believe regular visas opened on Nov 15 but not the original 5 yr/10yr visas that were issued prior to Covid. My uncle hasn't recd cancelled Indian passport yet. Only recd US passport with visa. The renunciation is done through VFS and emergency visa application is sent directly to consulate.

Thanks for the info...

Does it help in getting the Renunciation Document quickly if we take an appointment at the VFS Chicago office ? Did you send your uncle's documents by post for Renunciation ?

2 minutes ago, Jot18 said:

Entry visa is issued for 1 year and requires a real emergency for family member in India or if you are visiting spouse then just attach marriage certificate and a letter why you are going. I applied for my uncle and he rec'd his passport in 7 business days but his renunciation is still under process. It took VFS 2+ weeks to just send acknowledgement email for Renunciation. We applied for Renunciation and attached the payment receipt when we sent application for emergency visa. 

"he rec'd his passport in 7 business days"  -- Which passport did he receive, the Cancelled Indian passport ?

My US passport as per the passport website says I will be getting in next 2 days so thats hopefully gets resolved soon.

But the regular 6 Months, 1 yr, 5 yr entry Visa is still not open for people of Indian Origin (Ex Indian passport holders) you mean ? 

except for emergency situations ?

Hi All,

Did any one apply for Renunciation in Chicago Indian Embassy recently. How much time does it take for the package sent day to the Renunciation certificate receive day ?
Pls advice, I need to plan accordingly.  
Also can I simultaneously apply for Indian Entry visa while I had Renunciation application in process ?

Thanks

On 11/4/2021 at 8:58 PM, Jot18 said:

If you apply for tourist/visitor visa, you will most likely get both documents together. However if you apply for emergency visa aka x-visa then just apply together and attach the payment receipt of Renunciation with visa application. That's what I did with my uncle's application. VFS hasn't even sent the acknowledgement email yet but he got his passport yday and went to India today. I'll let you once he reach India. You are not reqd to carry renunciation certificate while traveling.

How would I get both the Documents together ? Do you mean I should apply for both the documents together (ie Entry Visa (of 1 yr or 5 yr multiple entry with 180 days of stay, not tourist visa) and Renunciation certificate) ? 

19 hours ago, Jot18 said:

You can renounce your Indian citizenship after receiving your US PP. If you have some kind of emergency then you can request emergency visa. OCI takes couple of months. I applied for my uncle's Renunciation and emergency visa at the same time. We sent application last mon and rec'd visa today. However no word on renunciation yet.

Can we travel once we get the Indian Tourist/Visit Visa, without the Renunciation document (if it is applied and in process) ? 

I am about to file for Renunciation in couple of weeks, however I found this on the VFS website, I guess that is excluding the courier delay back and forth:

https://www.vfsglobal.com/one-pager/india/united-states-of-america/renunciation-of-indian-citizenship/

"The normal processing times for Renunciation application is 6 - 7 working days after a complete application is submitted to the Embassy / consulate"

19 minutes ago, Mike E said:

“For e-Tourist Visa (01 year / 05 years), the validity would be 365 days / 05 years from the date of grant of ETA with Multiple entries and continuous stay during each visit which shall not exceed 90 days 
   except nationals of USA, UK, Canada and Japan. In case of nationals of USA, UK, Canada and Japan, continuous stay during each visit shall not exceed 180 days.”

 

You are an American right? 180 days.  

Great ! I didnt read those details on their website, that should work for me. 

19 minutes ago, Mike E said:

There doesn’t have to be but it turns out there is.  OCI.  And since you want to travel next month I don’t believe it is feasible to get an OCI.  Have you even gone through the process to renounce Indian citizenship?

No I did not renounce it yet. When and how do I renounce the Indian citizenship ? I am yet to receive my US passport though, it in process.

38 minutes ago, Mike E said:

What’s wrong with Tourist? 
 

You can get a 5 year multi entry visa with that.  

Tourist is not correct, because I am not a tourist to India. I am from India, its just visiting your home country to meet your family and friends. And it is limited to 30 days which also doesnt meet my needs. That's why there has to be some other visa type for people of Indian origin visitng India.

5 minutes ago, Mike E said:

IME: Quickest and simplest is an e-visa https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/

E-visas pre Covid took less than a week to be approved.  You do not go through the consulate.  

Most cost effective will be an OCI if you intend to travel often to India (multiple times per year).  
 

The trade off between e-visa and OCI is a ten year multi entry visa.  An excellent solution but you barely have the time to get it. 

Thanks for the reply. 

But What category should I select for a general entry visa, when applying for e-Visa ?
There is no relevant visa type (there is -Tourist, -Medical, Business, Conference, Medical Attendant, Emergency X Misc )  

Hi all,

I recently became US Citizen. I want to know what is the process to get travel visa for India, for US Citizens (Person of Indian Origin) ? 
Can I apply a general visit visa to India Online Or do I have to visit the Indian Embassy in Chicago (as I live in Missouri) ?
Which is quicker OCI or a Visa ? I have to travel in December 1st week.
What is the ETA to get the Entry Visa ? And what is the ETA for OCI ?

Pls advice. Thanks

On 9/8/2021 at 4:30 PM, Awla said:

Hi everyone. Posting here for the very first time. We just got the N-400 Citizenship Interview letter for my parents.

I'm just curious whether it is mandatory to bring state ID/ driver license ID during interview. My parents have neither.

In the notice only documents that are mentioned to bring - interview letter, passport, green card. 

Can someone kindly verify if that's all that are required?

 

They will ask for Drivers License at the security and also the USCIS officer will ask for the IDs. That State Id/License is so basic that I dont think anyone could not have them. I would advice that you get the Ids for your parents rather than second guessing them if that is mandatory or not. You should try to clear the interview without any hiccups. Those Ids will be useful all the time, you should avoid using passport or GC as your ID proofs.  

Hi All,

I have recently done with my Naturalization Interview, however the Oath was not on the same date. I am still waiting for the Oath. 

I have got to Travel to Canada for some Important work for 5-6 days (Just in case there I get my Oath in my USCIS account during those 6 days I can come back immediately). Because after Oath I cannot travel for about 45 days or so till I get the new passport.

Would there be any issue if I travel Internationally at this point in between Interview and Oath ? 

Hi All,

Anyone from St.Louis, Missouri ASC here.
Did any one complete the Interview in last few months ?

Do they do same day oath to anyone in St.Louis ?

How many days Gap between Interview and Oath in St.Louis for you ?

Anyone from St.Louis, Missouri ASC here.
Did they do same day oath to anyone in St.Louis ?

How many days Gap between Interview and Oath in St.Louis ?

17 hours ago, SusieQQQ said:

You’re going to need to be up to date on taxes at the time of interview. When you go through the yes/no answers, your answers need to be accurate at the time of interview.  If you’ve traveled since, you need to update that. If you’ve committed a crime, you need to update that. In the same way, if you haven’t paid your latest taxes due, you have to answer correctly. If you didn’t earn enough and that’s why you haven’t filed, you have to say yes that you haven’t filed a return and explain why. 
 

You may be required to show any of the documents on this list, which includes divorce papers. Most people don’t seem to be asked but be prepared in case they do. https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/guides/M-477.pdf

 

Thanks Susie.....

21 minutes ago, G_One said:

Hi All,

 

I have Naturalization Interview in next 4 days. I am applying for Naturalization based on 5 yr rule. Reading other's experiences I want to clarify about few Documents that I would need.

 

1) Divorce papers, do I need those ? (I was married after I got the Green Card in India, and got divorced after about a year. Also my Ex was an Indian never came to US. The only Divorce certificate that I had is in India right now at my sisters place, is not with me in US. I have its photo however)

 

2) 2020 Tax Papers, do I need to file taxes for 2020 and carry its papers ? I have 2019 tax filed and have the papers. I filed for N400 in Nov 2020 so 2020 did not end so I technically up to date with my taxes at that time of filing 

(I did not work much in 2020, just few months 3-4 months rest I was travelling out of US for few months, looking for full time jobs etc)

 

Pls advice, Thanks

Want to add that was my only marriage, and I didnt get married after that.

Hi All,

I have Naturalization Interview in next 4 days. I am applying for Naturalization based on 5 yr rule. Reading other's experiences I want to clarify about few Documents that I would need.

1) Divorce papers, do I need those ? (I was married after I got the Green Card in India, and got divorced after about a year. Also my Ex was an Indian never came to US. The only Divorce certificate that I had is in India right now at my sisters place, is not with me in US. I have its photo however)

2) 2020 Tax Papers, do I need to file taxes for 2020 and carry its papers ? I have 2019 tax filed and have the papers. I filed for N400 in Nov 2020 so 2020 did not end so I technically up to date with my taxes at that time of filing 

(I did not work much in 2020, just few months 3-4 months rest I was travelling out of US for few months, looking for full time jobs etc)

Pls advice, Thanks

16 hours ago, SusieQQQ said:

Also when are you flying? A quick google search shows round trip flights from St Louis to Calgary for $350-$460 (via AA or Delta) and notes that these are typical prices.

Yes I would prefer flying, however if it needs driving for few hours I am ok with it. If that can save me couple of hundred bucks or more. 

16 hours ago, SusieQQQ said:

if you pick up the rental car in the US be sure to find out the requirements for driving across the border. It seems relatively painless, nevertheless, there are procedures that need to be followed.

Thanks 🙂 

12 hours ago, snowdog said:

Try Rome2Rio.com, they have all the transit options listed.

Thanks....

One suggestion I got was to travel to the Border, may be Montana and then drive to Calgary on a rental car round trip. Would be much cheaper.

Hi All,

I have to travel to Calgary CANADA in the week following Aug 9th 2021 for a 3-4 days stay, I am on GC and fully vaccinated.

My question is What is Cheapest way to travel to Calgary Canada from Missouri US. The Flight tickets are too costly around 1000 USD round trip. It is way too costly for me to spend for 3-4 days stay.

Are these fares normal ?  

What is the best cheapest way to travel to Calgary from St.Louis MO USA ? What are my other options Train, Bus etc ?