jojoe

Thanks a million YuAndDan!

Joe

Hello there everyone!

Quick question: On the DS-230 (part 1) form, Q20 asks about the addresses you (the beneficiary) have lived at for more trhan 6 months since age 16.

It asks only the city, province, and the country.

(In the example DS-230 on VJ, we have it filled as: 'Rome, Rome, Italy')

Is that all we need to write, or do we need to write the exact street address?

A corollary to the same question is what if you have lived on multiple addresses IN the SAME city/province/country?

Reason for the question is that my wife was finishing her studies in India, (and subsequently working) and was in various hostels over the last 8 years in Delhi.

Is it Okay to write Delhi, Delhi, India ONCE for the last 8 years, OR specify Delhi, Delhi, India for each hostel stay (ie 2000-2001, 2001-2003,etc).

OR do we need to list her entire physical address for each of those locations?

(I know we have submitted the exact addresses on the G-325A at the time of submission of her I-130, which the USCIS & the NVC have, but from the DS-230 form, it appears they are only asking for city/province/country, NOT the exact street address here)

Thanks a million,

Joe

Hi Joe,

I had a same issue. My first name listed twice. I called uscis and explain the situation. He correct the issue and gave me Ref# for future record.

Asmo

Thanks a million Pushbrk & Asimo.

Spoke with the USCIS; created a service request; gave me a reference number; mailed my K3 packet today with copy of NOA1 (I-130), with a letter detailing my conversation with them, and the reference number.

Hope they process the case ASAP, and my sweetheart comes here ASAP :-)

Thanks again.....

Joe

Could Anybody out there help me with this one???????????????????????????????????????

PLEASE!!!!!

Dear All,

Quick Question.

I recieved NOA1 for my I-130 from VSC today: THEY made a typo in my name: rather than Joe Doe, they put my name as Doe Doe.

I need to file I-129F for my wife for her K-3, and had been waiting for this NOA1.

Should I wait until they fix this typo, and THEN file the I-129F, OR mail a copy of the NOA1, with a letter detailing my conversations with the VSC (whom I will call tomorrow again, as they were closed this evening when I got the notice)?

Is correcting the typo a simple thing OVER the PHONE or is it a long painful process? (MAil/Fax copy of I-130 I filed to them....)

What is usually involved in this process?

PLEASE let me know ASAP so I may mail the I-129F for the K3 ASAP.

Thanks,

Joe

i do understand your situation joe coz in SOMETIME BACK even i was messed up with name change issue my hubby at the end took comsultation from a very competitive attorney and i was perfectly fine ,

see my past post here for name change

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=72786

now i am going as simple as it is , by not taking tensions .

Thanks Mala....

I think I will just file the petition in her maiden name & when she gets here, we will do the name change part then.... Don't want any pangas with anyone, anywhere along the way.....

Just want to file the petition ASAP now.....

I think I am all set with most of the papers; just need her to DHL me her signed G-325A....

Thanks for all the guidance...

Joe

hi joejoe,

both names will work

if you dont have passport in married name her visa will be issud in maiden name

later she will reeive the ssc in her married name

just mention the applicant name as the married name for her ssc in married name

you will be more than fine joejoe

Thanks nice_lady.

I think the overwhelming consensus seems to suggest that I should not mess with the name; let it be the maiden name & go thru the process as is, and change her name when she comes here....

Thanks Mala....

I know you care, and that is why you are trying to help: I agree I don't want to complicate things for us either. 'Keep it simple' is the best policy. The reason why I have thought about the name change was after I saw some postings on this forum, where people said it took them only 6-7 days for the name change (after marriage) on their Indian passport (in India). IF however it is a long drawn complicated process, then certainly I am NOT getting into it.....

Thanks again folks,

Joe

why u want to take on unnecessary troubles

people do this way who have there passport in maiden name and they dont have any problems ,

Mala,

Your point is very well taken, and indeed I do not want to complicate things.

I was just trying to explore IF it was possible to get her name changed on her passport easily, THEN we shall go that route, so I don't have to change her name when she comes here...

IF however the process in India is going to be a painful one, then we wil keep her maiden name on all papers for now & change the name later when she comes here...

Thanks a milllion...

Joe

thats what i am telling joe

he is thinking that the new passport will be issued at tatkaal and thats it ,

thats so funny

no passport issuing authority in this world will issue a new passport or reissue a new booklet or endorse name without verification .

Mala,

I am sorry for being so naiive but when I applied for my US passport several years ago, I downloaded the form from the web, filled it out, mailed at the local post office and the passport was at home in 5 days. Not sure what the police verification was about here.

If my wife were to be here in the US (ie she were to have been here for some reason) and we got married here, we simply filed the application for the change in name at the Indian consulate in NYC, we would have gotten the updated passport in 5 days. Not sure what the poilce verification is about here, either.

When my parents Indian passports were about to expire, we went to the Indian consulate with all the forms prefilled from the website, and picked up the NEW passports that afternoon. Not sure what the police verification was about here, either.

I realize countries have a right to guard their borders, and prevent criminals from travelling, hence the security checks & police verifications, but these have to be balanced with common sense.

I realize the passport issuing office would like to verify all info on the passport before issuing it, and I realize it is a fresh booklet they are issuing, but there is NOTHING else which is changing on the passport; we are submitting bonafide proof of the only item which is changing: her last name, after marriage....

But again, this is bureaucracy 101.....

BTW, I and my parents live in the US; she will continue to live at her current address with her parents (until she joins me here..)

Joe

also lies 1 more problem here

joes wife has lived in different hostels in delhi

so the passport issuing authority may trouble the lady for firm proofs that she stays in delhi

like govt. undertaking bank account p.s they dont consider private bank a/c

more so they may ask her voters card , ration card etc from delhis address

if she applies from chandigarh as she has permanent address in chandigarh she will have to live there for some time n leave her hostel too

so its better advised that joe discusses with her wife which will be most convinient for her

i never had a problem with maiden name still in my passport

n she will definetley get her visa stamped in maiden name if her passport is in maiden name , thats 100 % sure .

2-4 months !!!!! OUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I read many people post it took them 6-7 days....

Also, under the tatkal scheme, she could get a letter from a DC or IAS officer & get the passport right away, right?

I am just not sure if they still do address & police verification for name change after marriage or not....

Joe

also lies 1 more problem here

joes wife has lived in different hostels in delhi

so the passport issuing authority may trouble the lady for firm proofs that she stays in delhi

like govt. undertaking bank account p.s they dont consider private bank a/c

more so they may ask her voters card , ration card etc from delhis address

if she applies from chandigarh as she has permanent address in chandigarh she will have to live there for some time n leave her hostel too

so its better advised that joe discusses with her wife which will be most convinient for her

i never had a problem with maiden name still in my passport

n she will definetley get her visa stamped in maiden name if her passport is in maiden name , thats 100 % sure .

Thanks Mala!

I am spooked by this hostel address thingy;

But educate me: why should her passport have to go thru the same verification #######: she is only getting her last name changed after marriage. (and she has proof of marriage: marriage cert & copy of my passport....)

Does she still NEED police verification ??

Joe

Answer is : number 1. Fill ALL forms in her MARRIED name and CHANGE PASSPORT .

See my answer in your other post.....

Thanks a million luvbugs4ever!

Joe

i just realised she already has her passport from chandigarh and again u r applying fron there then she ma not need the police varification so please just get it confirmed fron the passport office. i had to get it done because my maiden passport was issued fom chandigarh and i got my married passport fom delhi as i got married here.

Thanks a million love2007.

I unfortunately can't do DCF; the requirements for DCF in Delhi are that you must have stayed in India for at least 60 days, and have proof of permanent residence in India, or something like that (I had looked at this a while ago, and realized it was impossible for me....)

We do NOT need to submit copy of my wife's birth certificate OR passport at this time, as I understand (I don't see it anywhere on the form): I realize they required it in the past (we just had her get her birth certificate made, but realized later that we don't really need it at THIS stage...)

The visa process will take several months as I understand; so I think we will have plenty of time on our hand to get her name changed on the passport.

Quick question though: from the RPO Chandigarh's website, the only requirement for name change seemed to be a copy of the marriage certificate & a copy of my passport.

Is there any need for any police verification,etc also in this process???? That would have been if she was changing her address or something, right?? It is a simple name change due to marriage, so hopefully should be simple (wishful thinking:-)

Thanks again,

Joe

Find out if changing the name in the passport is all it takes for a legal name change in India. If so, find out how long it takes. If you can get it done before you have to provide a passport or passport number, go for it. You can file with the name you are certain will be in her passport when the time comes, and show her maiden name as a maiden name.

If not, well you don't.

Thanks pushbrk.

Amen, that is exactly what I am trying to find out: how painless or painful (quick or SLOOOOOOOOOOOW) it will be to get her name changed on her passport in India..... Based on that, shall decide...

Quickie though: Anyone know, if there are ANY other requirements for a woman to get her last name changed in India AFTER marriage, apart from the marriage certificate??

(It is the norm for Indian women to use their husband's last name after marriage: and I do NOT see newspapers full of legal notices of last name changes of women....)

Thanks again,

Joe

Found the below information from the India embassy website:

http://www.indianembassy.org/newsite/instructions.asp

ISSUE OF NEW PASSPORT

Application for a new passport can be made six months before date of expiry or within one year of the expiry of the passport. Requirements for issuing new passport are:

(a) Duly completed application form filled in BLOCK LETTERS in expanded form using black/blue ink only (see Application Form for an Indian Passport)

(B) Four latest identical passport size photographs depicting the applicant’s facial features against a light background;

© In cases, where the passport has already expired beyond a period of one year, the Applicant should submit an affidavit (see Annexure) and may have to appear personally before the Consular Officer;

(d) Two proofs of residence/mailing address in USA (photocopy of Driving license/ Lease agreement/ Utility Bills etc.);

(e) Alien Status (photocopy of US Visa/Green Card/ Work authorization card);

Current Passport;

(g) Proper Fee (see fee schedule for details)

(h) Applicants for a new passport or additional booklet are required to submit a photocopy of marriage certificate, in case, the name of their spouse have not been included in their respective passports.

If the application is found to be in order and no prior reference is required to be made to the original Passport Issuing Authority, a new passport will be issued within 5 working/business days from the date of receipt of the application.

Please note the underlined words..... Well it says, passport will be issued within 5 working days from the date of receipt so I think it will be sure wise to use your wife's married name in filling-out the I-130 form. It takes a month or more before u get an approval anyway so by the time you get approved your wife will sure have her new passport on her married name. Changing her passport now will get you out of trouble changing everything into her new married name.

Thanks a million luvbugs4ever!

I had seen that but this is for the Indian consulate in the US. I am NOT sure what the timeline is in India (things often take much linger in India then here in the US; the Indian consulate is far more efficient than their counterparts back home...)

I did see it posted somewhere in this forum that it took someone only 6 days, and while I sincerely hope & pray thats all it takes, I have a hunch it probably takes much longer....

Anyone have any ideas, how LONG does it take for the name change on Indian passport after marriage???

Thanks again luvbugs4ever!!

Joe

File the papers using her name. Marriage in and of itself does not change her name. If she wants to change her name, that is a specific legal process you would want to look into, including all ramifications.

In many US States, the woman's name change at marriage is nothing more than checking a box on a form. Then you have all the issues of changing identification, passports etc. Foreign marriages don't alway make it so simple for a woman to take her husband's name, even if she wants to.

So, again, use her official name. If it has been changed, officially, then complete the process by changing the name on her passport and any other identifying documents as appropriate.

Thanks Gemangel, BelwinMills & pushbrk!

We really would like my wife to use my last name, and have that everywhere, but if that will delay the process, I would not want to risk that.

In India, a very traditional society, almost all women take their husband's last name after marriage.... So, it is the norm there, rather than an exception. And I did not think there was any need for anything else to change her last name except her passport.

From the Indian passport agency's website, the requirements for getting the name changed are:

" (B) CHANGE OF NAME

I. Following marriage, remarriage or divorce:

(a) A woman applying for change of name/surname in existing

passport due to marriage must furnish:

(i) Photocopy of the Husband's passport, if any, and

(ii) An attested copy of marriage certificate issued by Registrar of Marriage OR an affidavit from the husband and wife along with a joint photograph,

(Specimen at Annexure D)."

So, it seems pretty straightforward. But I honestly don't know how long the damn thing takes in India, and don't want the process to kill our application...

My concern is that if we don't change her name now, she will continue her maiden name for several years (until she gets her green card & SS#, and will then need to change it in all of them later). Might as well start with her new name and have the new name be the one used everywhere: her I-130, I 129F, --->green card, SS#, etc.....

Any suggestions???

Hello All! (I posted in the Asia section as well; but haven't receieved any replies; hence re-posting: PLEASE

My wife already has an Indian passport; we recently got married, and I am about to file I-130 for her.

Should we use her maiden name or my last name on all of our applications?

(She wants to use my last name in the longterm)

IF we use my last name as her NEW last name (married name), then she will need to get her passport updated for it, right? How long does that take in India (Chandigarh RPO)? and what is the procedure for that? Is it fairly simple, or a pain-in-the----

All of her professional documents are in her maiden name (obviously); is that an issue? (I guess not; women get married & in India, most take on their husband's last name.....)

My concern is with the processing of our case: what is the best route to take:

1. File ALL papers with her MARRIED name, AND change name on her passport

OR

2. File all papers with her MAIDEN name & leave same name on passport.

PLEASE

Joe

I had a quick question about my wife's (beneficiary's) Indian passport. Right now, it says "unmarried". Does she need to get this changed to "married" before her interview?

Thanks,

Vikas

My wife got new passport with name changed in six days from A'bad passport office.

SIX DAYS

Is that the typical time it takes people to get their wife's name updated on the passport?

Did you use the 'Tatkal' scheme?

(I am not too aware of it,, but saw that posted by some people: not sure if it even applicable here..)

Vikas, how long did it take for your wife?

Anyone have any experience with the Chandigarh passport office?

Joe

Hello All!

My wife already has an Indian passport; we recently got married, and I am about to file I-130 for her.

Should we use her maiden name or my last name on all of our applications?

(She wants to use my last name in the longterm)

IF we use my last name as her NEW last name (married name), then she will need to get her passport updated for it, right? How long does that take in India (Chandigarh RPO)? and what is the procedure for that? Is it fairly simple, or a pain-in-the----

All of her professional documents are in her maiden name (obviously); is that an issue? (I guess not; women get married & in India, most take on their husband's last name.....)

My concern is with the processing of our case: what is the best route to take:

1. File ALL papers with her MARRIED name, AND change name on her passport

OR

2. File all papers with her MAIDEN name & leave same name on passport.

PLEASE HELP & GUIDE.....

Joe

G-325 a form is no longer taken as seriously as it was taken previously ,

you should be consistent with rest of the forms if u mention hostel address in i-130 then do so in i-129f too.

i was in my medical school hostel when we filed for g-325 a form

thereafter when i finished my schooling n was back to my home i mentioned my permanent home address in rest of forms n i was consistent and it was perfectly fine as of now .

Doc_cute,

I think we will mention the permanent address on the I-130 AND the I-129F. (they both ask for your relative's address, NOT specifying the permanent address or the current living address).

On the G325A, they specifically ask for the current living address, ('and the addresses you have lived at for the last 5 years....') and so we will write her current hostel address. (Yodrak, I know your point about the 'current' address....)

If the G325A is NOT a big deal, I think it should be fine for the address to be different on the I-130 vs the G325A; IF they ask, I will tell them: one is her current temporary address, and the other is her permanent address....

It should be OKAY to have a different address on the G325A vs the I130/I-129F, right?

Joe

absolutely Joe ,

thats is perfectly fine and that is exactly what i also did and it never affected the petition

but as i said be consistent with the i-130 and i-129f

Mala

I spoke to an immigration lawyer (curbside...) who also suggested it is fine to do so.

She suggested that I mention BOTH her permanent address AND her hostel address on the G-325A (2 concurrent addresses) for present address (and it is true; she lives at both the addresses 'part-time' currently).

My only question is that at the time of the police certificates later, will it be a royal pain-in-the------ getting all the police clearance certificates....

Did you have to get police clearance certificates from your home/permanent address, and also from your med school hostel local thana?

Joe

This is unreal, I submitted more documents for proof than required. I also visited my fiance 3 times. Her family is best friends with my aunts family. Yet she got a 221g at the interview and then this:

Documents submitted by you are unable to establish that a crdible relationship exists between yourself and petitioner. The fiance visa petition is valid for 4 months from the date of its approval. Your petition was approved on Feb 6 2007, and since then more than 4 months past. Because the consular officer was not convinced with the relationship between yourself and petitioner, the petiton was not revalidated . We have returned the petition to the NVC.

What happens now.. Congressman didnt do a thing... supposedly they called up etc etc. she is a wreck.. what do i do now.

btw this is what we submitted

1. 200 emails

2. hundreds and hundreds of dollars in phone bills

3. 3 seperate pplane trips by me

4 over 70 engagement photos..

what else?

I am very upset. I called him lawyer and he was furious... he said my fiance will come here... and he will get working on it. The congressman, said he will directly call the consulate general. I dont know about that, but since he works with my dad on many projects I hope he means it.

My laywer told me to be reasonable and think what else we could have shown, he said based on the law, the consulate officer was out of bounds. They do have discretion but there is a limit, and they usually have to follow what the USCIS decides, and only overrule if they find concrete evidence to the contrary. he even faxed me the actual rules they must follow. It was sent to them by State Dept. Seems that alot of people are suing DHS since the consulates are not following the standards. But like i said, who knows .. this system is so wacky.

I just sent the embassy a detailed email stating what was provided, if they can revalidate the visa for 4 more months and I wil be more than willing to provide anything to prove the relationship.

I am terribly sorry to hear that and pray that everything works out for you.

Certainly a good immigration lawyer, the help of a congressman from the India caucus, and the prayers of avg-joes like us, will get you there...

All the best,

Joe

Hello everyone,

from which all places do i need police certificates from the age of 16

1) i need from my current residence

2) place of my stay in medical school , same country

3)since the place i stayed in my med schol time - didnt issued passport my passport was issued from the larger place same state but different place - my main question is do i need police certificate from the passport office also ? my passport is 4 yrs old

thanks ,

Doc_cute,

My wife has also lived in hostels for the last couple of years: from where all will she need police certificates?

Joe

joe,

from which indian embassy is she applying from ?????

the police certificates are valid for 1 year

delhi embassy requirements are from local district police from the age of 16 yrs and police clearance certificate from the regional passport office where the passport was issued from .

different embassies have differnet requirements in india,

do let me know your embassy .

New Delhi Consulate.

She has been in various hostels over the years in Delhi, and her permanent address is in Haryana; Chandigarh Regional passport office.

So, will she need a Passport office clearance from Chandigarh, AND local police clearance from ALL local police stations where her hostels were located over these last few years??

For those of you who have been through the process, how long does it take to get the Passport office clearance? how about the police certificate?

Is it a simple one day thing or a pain-in-the-----?

Joe

Hello everyone,

from which all places do i need police certificates from the age of 16

1) i need from my current residence

2) place of my stay in medical school , same country

3)since the place i stayed in my med schol time - didnt issued passport my passport was issued from the larger place same state but different place - my main question is do i need police certificate from the passport office also ? my passport is 4 yrs old

thanks ,

Doc_cute,

My wife has also lived in hostels for the last couple of years: from where all will she need police certificates?

Joe

G-325 a form is no longer taken as seriously as it was taken previously ,

you should be consistent with rest of the forms if u mention hostel address in i-130 then do so in i-129f too.

i was in my medical school hostel when we filed for g-325 a form

thereafter when i finished my schooling n was back to my home i mentioned my permanent home address in rest of forms n i was consistent and it was perfectly fine as of now .

Doc_cute,

I think we will mention the permanent address on the I-130 AND the I-129F. (they both ask for your relative's address, NOT specifying the permanent address or the current living address).

On the G325A, they specifically ask for the current living address, ('and the addresses you have lived at for the last 5 years....') and so we will write her current hostel address. (Yodrak, I know your point about the 'current' address....)

If the G325A is NOT a big deal, I think it should be fine for the address to be different on the I-130 vs the G325A; IF they ask, I will tell them: one is her current temporary address, and the other is her permanent address....

It should be OKAY to have a different address on the G325A vs the I130/I-129F, right?

Joe

Joe,

One very experienced and highly respected immigration attorney consistently voices the opinion that the G-325A is an arcane form that is not taken seriously at all. Google 'folinskyinla G-325A' and you'll find numerous posts he has made in response to questions about G-325A.

Yodrak

Yodrak,

.....

How seriously do they take the G-325A address business though?

Joe

Thats what I had seen posted in one of the forums earlier, and that is what I wanted to know...

(But with all the homeland security stuff, I thought they might be very concerned about the addresses; hence just want to be sure before I fill the form...)

Joe.