CaraF

32 minutes ago, amegster said:

The Entry visa is not a multiple entry Tourist visa. I have had both after living in India over the last 11 years. The Entry visa is given to those who are Indian origin, but don't have an OCI card yet, those who are spouses of Indian citizens or those whose spouses are on employment, student or other type of long-term visa. Last year, I got a 5 year X-1 Entry visa and I am allowed to stay over 180 days, which I've already done during this trip. I also received a residence permit, which you can't do on a Tourist visa.

 

You can see all the different visa categories on the attached document by the Ministry of Home Affairs.

AnnexI_01022018.pdf 107.3 kB · 0 downloads

But the entry (X) visa only lasts for 5 or 6 years, while the multiple entry tourist visa lasts for 10, if I'm not mistaken.  The X visa runs about 120 usd and the other is about 85

It's also important to mention that "foreigners visiting India on long term (X) visa need not register themselves with Foreign Regional Registration Offices (FRRO)/ Foreign Registration Office (FRO) as long as their visit does not exceed more than 180 days on a single visit. However, if they intend to stay in the country for more than 180 days, they should get themselves registered in one of the two aforementioned offices before the expiry of the 180 days."  not sure if this there are any additional fees involved with the FRRO process.

So if she doesn't really plan on staying beyond 180 days at a time, the multiple entry visa would be a better investment (cheaper and valid for a longer period of time overall).  Just throwing that out there

On 4/1/2021 at 12:12 PM, amegster said:

Once you get married, you can apply for an Entry (x) visa. That's currently what I am on. Came back to India in August 2020 while we wait for our green card application.

Just to provide some clarification, the Entry X visa is a "Multiple entry Tourist Visa may be granted for a period of 10 years to the nationals of USA, Canada and Japan with a stipulation that “continuous stay during each visit shall not exceed 180 days"

This information comes from the Ministry of Home Affairs. 

On 3/17/2021 at 12:43 PM, US-INDIA said:

Oh! Damn, I didn't know there was a two year waiting period. Thanks for the reply.

So I can only travel to India on a tourist visa even after marriage (for two years), is that what you are saying?

That is correct

I'll be eligible for my OCI next week...though sadly my spouse has been stuck in India for almost 2 years now waiting on his IR1 (thanks to a series of pandemic delays)

It's very frustrating...but the purpose of my OCI would be for ease of travel in the future to visit his friends and relatives, and maybe to purchase a vacation home.  I don't think I could live there unless I absolutely had to

On 6/12/2020 at 11:35 AM, hscoots said:

Even though you got approved on 5/21, the case website(https://egov.uscis.gov/casestatus/landing.do) shows it was sent to state dept/nvc yesterday?

That's correct.  There seems to be a lag between steps.  

It could be normal, or it could be because of coronavirus.  I don't know why

9 hours ago, Lara&Gabriel said:

Call nvc if its already more than 2 weeks if uscis said that it was sent to nvc already nvc agt will just sent you your invoice number via email make sure you have the correct email address.

According to me I-797 letter, it says to contact them if nothing is updated after 45 days

Guess it takes even long these days 😓

3 hours ago, Sweiki2019 said:

Congratulations - such good news for you! 

 

We have yet to hear anything on our I-130. From what I can understand the window is 12-16 months (we just hit 12 months). Should we contact USCIS for an update or is that futile/worthless? 

Thank you,.  it has to be over the estimated time before they will give you any additional information, so unfortunately you will have to wait a little bit longer before you contact them

I received my I-797 dated 5/21/2019 approving the I-130!

And as of today the USCIS website said that they sent the case to the department of state for visa processing

I guess now I'll wait again until the NVC reaches out to me with additional information.

i'm a little worried that delays will continue since all the US embassies overseas were closed due to Coronavirus for the last couple of months. 

Not having a solid timeline is very frustrating.

2 minutes ago, Sweiki2019 said:

Awesome news! I may follow your lead if we don't hear in the next week or so. Keep us posted! Did you need to give a reason for your request for information? 

They were supposed to send me a transfer notice in the mail by April 22nd, but it never arrived.  That was my reason for the inquiry.  Hope that helps!

Good news!  I finally got a second I-797C - NOA letter in the mail over the weekend

My petition was transferred from the Nebraska Service Center to the Texas Service Center "in order to speed up processing." (according to the notice)

Keeping my fingers crossed!

20 hours ago, Sweiki2019 said:

We have not heard anything yet either. We are on the same timeline as you are roughly. From other June/Nebraska filers, it looks like we should hear back in the next week if others are any indication. If you go here, you can see where in "line" you are: https://www.visajourney.com/timeline/monthly_filers.php?form=2&visa=3&scenter=5&option=2&sortby=2

 

 A couple of weeks ago we were 37, we are now 7 and I see that you are fourth in line. I think these are fairly helpful but we shall see! 

I just got an online response about my inquiry.  They are mailing me another notice.

While they didn't specifically say which service center my case was transferred to in the email, the response came from the Texas service center.

I wonder if it's safe to assume that the Texas Service Center now has my case...

Hopefully this will roll into some progress

On 3/23/2020 at 1:22 PM, CaraF said:

Just received a text message that my I-130 case has transferred to another office!

 

Not sure which one yet, details will be in a mailed notice soon

 

I hope this is good news!

Update:  should have received that aforementioned notice by April 22nd, but nothing yet.

Filed an online inquiry about it last week.  As of today, an officer has been assigned my inquiry and I am still waiting for an update.

I'm sure COVID is causing additional delays of all types...anyone else experiencing this?  I was hoping for everything to be finalized by the summer, but with everything going on, I don't even think this year will be likely

Just received a text message that my I-130 case has transferred to another office!

Not sure which one yet, details will be in a mailed notice soon

I hope this is good news!

On 2/27/2020 at 5:48 PM, Y&J said:

255 days for us....also waiting!

Still waiting too, I-130 was received by the Nebraska office first week of June 2019

Not a peep since then

😞

I must be one of the unlucky ones that has their I-130 petition at the Nebraska office.

Haven't heard a peep since they mailed my NOA1 with a June 5, 2019 received date 😥

Hoping for good news soon, but it's difficult to stay optimistic.