Miscellaneous

My Indian passport got expired, so submitted a tatkal process for passport renewal.

Submitted documents are delivered to VFS on 27th around 11:30am

Case started processing at vfs on 30th.
Application sent to embassy and processing started on 31st as per update on embassy portal
Passport printed and will be shipped on 1st
Passport delivered home on 2nd around noon.

Sharing my experience here, GL all

I got a call coming from USCIS a day before my oath taking ceremony (04/27/2022 oath taking schedule)and telling me that my oath taking ceremony the following day is cancelled. I ask him why but he is telling me that somebody told him to call me. i dont get any reason why it was cancelled. The only answer i got is to wait for a letter of cancellation and wait for a letter for re-scheduled. is there anyone of you experienced this kind of cancellation.?

I applied for OCI card for myself (Mother) and my two kids (daughter and son).
VFS tracking site - https://www.vfsvisaonline.com/Global-PassportTracking/
is showing my daughter's application status as Invalid Inputs.
I thought maybe its an error on my part while entering the details. It's been over 3 weeks now since I applied for the OCI card.

I googled and found another site for OCI application tracking today - https://ociservices.gov.in/statusEnqury
Here it is showing status as - OCI Application Status UNDER-PROCESS

Hope it helps someone as desparate as myself to know the application status of your family when you have your tickets to India booked in another month or so.

Hi… currently I am on L1A and my visa will expire in February. If my company start my GC application in January and the priority date is current, is it possible to continue my process from outside USA or I need to be present here ?

Hi All,

I am looking to find some information on eligibility for social security benefits post-retirement for non-immigrant visa holders who have worked in the USA for 10 years or more.

I worked in the USA for 2 years on an L1 B visa followed by 8 years on an H1B visa. I am planning to return to my country back but I would like to ensure I do not miss on these benefits due to lack of information.

Any help or pointers on how to find out my US work credits will be a tremendous help.

Best Regards.

I've sent my EAD application i765 in January via FedEx. It's delivered as per the tracking number. I've sent credit card details on form g1450. No deduction has been made till now. I've not received any receiving confirmation from USCIS. How much time does USCIS take for processing the credit card payment? Please help

I know most of them here have horrible experiences but i am on the other side. My experience so far is quite satisfying.

Below is the process:

1. Fill out government form and go through the application multiple times just to be sure you haven't made any errors. Below is the link for the same.
   https://portal4.passportindia.gov.in/Online/index.html

2. Print government application form and fix your passport size photograph and sign the form where required.

3. Fill VFS form under required category by registering in below link and by selecting 'Passport' as category.
   https://row1.vfsglobal.com/IHCUSPostalAppointment/IHCQuestionnaire/Index?q=shSA0YnE4pLF9Xzwon/x/PpYJNc6tVYvHRijnlGjPCAkTJhlFZMmqoidQtaOLB02b6MUlVJYs451ljwqdEp1gtmFpUBTGmrQzPgEV4Nf87vc382F6SI8kzNZeTYRNY1S

4. Fill in details as required and don't forget to provide your email address wherever required which is mandatory for further communication. Most of the communication would be through email from VFS.

Documents Required to be part of your fedex envelope:
1. Checklist (Not all pages are mandatory. Chose and fill only those pages which are relevant to you and make sure you submit all document in specified order under the checklist). Checklist should also be signed.
2. Government application duly signed and photograph pasted.
3. Your Passport Color Copy - First 5 & last 2 pages [Notarized]
4. PSEG/Drivers License for current address proof - Color Copy Notarized
5. i797/Green Card (Approved/Pending) - Notarized Color Copy.
6. Change of appearance - Notarized [Better to send it]. Signed and Photograph pasted.
7. Self Sworn Affidavit - Self Attested
8. Annexure E - Signed
9. Marriage Certificate - Notarized (In case spouse name to be added to passport)
10. Payment Confirmation Page (If payment was made by Credit/Debit Card)
11. Courier Label of your home address (Don't send courier label of VFS location as part of your package)
12. Spouse Passport Copy[First and last page] - Signed by your spouse and notarized

Timeline(NYC Consulate):
11/11/2020 - Send all required document through fedex
11/12/2020 - Documents received by VFS
11/13/2020 - Received an email from VFS saying "Application received"
11/16/2020 - Received an email from VFS saying 'Application send to consulate/embassy'. Checked on government website on the same day and found application status reflects the same. From hereon we need to track application on government site until its dispatched from embassy to OSP(VFS).
11/17/2020 - Checked on gov website myself and found passport if printed. Surprisingly, i received another email from VFS mentioning 'Police Verification is initiated'. Later in the evening status says passport has been send to VFS for delivery.
11/18/2020 - Received an email from VFS late in the evening saying passport has been send through fedex courier. I tracked the courier and found it left NYC on the same date to Jersey City and would be delivered the very next day.
11/19/2020 - Got both my passports back.

I am trying to upload the supporting documents on the Government Website for OCI application for myself (US Citizen), but the website just does not show that the PDF document uploaded successfully or not. I keep getting a blank page after I hit upload. The photo and thumb impressions (JPEG) got uploaded successfully.

I tried IE, Chrome, Firefox on desktop, tablet, laptop but every time I receive a blank page. I have ensured that all the PDFs are <500 KB but that has not seemed to help. Does anyone know what I am doing wrong here? Or if the government website is broken? What are other alternatives?

I filed N-400 0n March 27,2020 in Texas, I am still waiting for biometrics.How long it will take.

Dear Members,

I am a graduate student from the Counseling Psychology department of the University of North Dakota, with supervision I am conducting a study designed to better understand the Quality of life and Self-efficacy of dependent visa holders. If you identify as an International student’s spouse living in The USA kindly feel free to complete this survey.
To be eligible you must:

1. Identify as a dependent immigrant.

2. Be over the age of 18.

3. Identify as a woman.

4. Reside in the United States.

If you agree to participate, we would like you to complete an online survey. The first part of the survey will ask you general demographic information. The second part of the survey will have you read a series of statements and state the degree to which the statement applies to you and your beliefs. It is estimated to take 10-15 minutes to complete this survey.

If you are interested in participating in this study, please click the link below:

https://und.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_eWdqwom26TK0IM5

Thank you,
Surjya Bajpayee