Immigrant Visa

Anyone who has the misfortune to transact with this consulate via mail or phone must absolutely plan & act well in advance since once the application is sent in, then all you can do is sit & wait.

The two telephone numbers provided for consulate inquiry are always busy. If you are lucky enough to connect then it goes into voicemail or better still it encourages you to hold & says "we'll be right back shortly". After 2 hours being on hold the call is simply disconnected. Indian bureaucrats certainly know how to deal with stubborn (paying) customers who demand service.

Also, check out the definition of India as printed on the application for PIO (Person of Indian Origin) card as resproduced below:

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Expression ‘India’ as given in sub-section (1) of the section 311 of the Government of India act, 1935 means British India together with all territories of any Indian ruler under the suzerainty of His Majesty, all territories under the suzerainty of such an Indian ruler, the tribal areas, and any other territories which His Majesty in Council may, from time to time, After ascertaining the views of the federal Government and the Federal legislature, declare to be part of India.
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Above form is actually posted on the Consulate General of India - Houston website. Check it out for yourself (on page 2):

http://www.cgihouston.org/PIOTemplate2.pdf

You may need to cut/paste above URL into your browser.

Regards,
Sanjay Bhatnagar.