Surrender certificate delaying visa application

[ts5061sun]

Am a US citizen of Indian origin. I wanted to get a visa, which I heard takes a couple of weeks. Have already bought my tickets to go to India in October.
The SFO consulate had said it takes about 20 days to get the surrender certificate. Had applied in August 2nd week for that (sent in all documents and my Indian passport which is already expired). Have not yet got it. So am unable to apply for visa without that certificate. Unable to reach any live person in the SFO office via phone. Also had sent an email, got back saying there's no estimate when we will get our certificate due to huge demand. Wanted to get some advice what to do now.

Sounds like I could just wait for it to arrive some fine day (who knows when) or would it help to travel to SFO to the consulate and can I get the certificate there the same day ? I also needed a visa, so can both be done on the same day in SFO. Also approximately how long does a visa application take at SFO by mail these days ? Lastly, can I start the visa app process without the surrender cert. (can I give it to them later). Thanks.

[zsarang]

Wait another week

Hopefully you will receive your SC next week. Start preparing for your visa. Keep the visa packet ready. The day you receive your SC, make copies for yourself and send the original with the packet to Travisa. Please read the instructions on Travisa website 5 times till you understand completely.

The SFO consulate will not entertain you unless you have some emergency which you do not. Their websites states not to buy any airline tickets till you have your passport with visa in your hand.

You will also need copy of GC or EAD if your Indian Passport does not have an Immigrant US visa the first time you entered USA.

Be patient as the visa takes only 7-10 days if all documents are in order.

Good Luck.

[ts5061sun]

Update / passport missing in returned packet

Hi zsarang,
Thanks for the helpful info. Quick update - today received the return package from SFO. There was only 1 form inside - 'Renunciation of Indian citizenship' for which I had sent (on the bottom ... under Official use only... there was a stamp - 'passport cancelled... and there a number and date stamp ... And returned to holder on acquiring US nationality'. Is that the surrender certificate ?

Also there was no passport in the returned packet - don't know if its lost in the mail or not (on the side of the package, saw a small slit in the express mail envelope, could have fallen out. ). Am guessing, they do return the passport, right. What can be done now.

Please help.

[zsarang]

Contact SFO consulate Immediately

The paper you have is the surrender certificate.

The USPS will never drop your passport and for express mail...never.

There has been some mistake at the SFO consulate. Please call them urgently today by phone and email. They work on Saturday for emergency matters only. Leave a message and they will call you back.

They have done similar mistakes before as per other forum users.

You definitely need your cancelled Indian Passport for future references.

(415) 632 7562 or (415)668-0662; (415)668-0683

Do not panic and hopefully you will have your passport next week.

[ts5061sun]

Apply for visa without cancelled passport

Hello zsarang,
Thanks for your helpful advice. Will call the SFO office on Tuesday (guess they could be closed on Monday - Labor day). Was going through the requirements to apply for the visa, and one of them was they needed the cancelled Indian passport or the same documents needed to get the surrender certificate. In my case, I have the surrender cert, so will that be good (instead of the cancelled passport).

- Say if passport is lost, can I still apply for the visa, using the surrender certificate.
- Also what happens in Indian immigration - do they just check the Indian visa stamp (in US passport) or do they also check for cancelled passport stamp (on Indian passport), which if I am not able to get back, could cause problems there.

Thanks.

[zsarang]

You can still apply for VISA

Hello

You can still apply for the Indian Entry Visa. You do not need the Indian passport to travel to India.

To apply for the visa you need copies of your Green Card or Employment Authorization Card or I-130 as per the Travisa site below:


Former Indian Nationals - San Francisco Jurisdiction
As a Person of Indian Origin, you must supply the following. There are no exceptions.

You must supply the Original Indian passport issued in India which you entered the US on and a copy of any pages containing an entry stamp into the US, along with a copy of the first and last page of the passport. B1/B2 and ARC stamps are not acceptable as the entry stamps must show lawful entry into the US as a permanent resident. Tourist stamps will not be permitted to fulfill this requirement.

If you cannot provide your Original Indian passport, you must supply a copy of your Green Card or Employment Authorization Document; or copies of your I-130 documents. If you do not have the copies of any of these documents you must do the following: File form G-639 with the USCIS located here: /show-form/g-639 These documents are available to you through the Freedom of Information Act.

There are no exceptions to this policy. Phone calls and emails pertaining to this policy will not be entertained as there are no exceptions.

[ts5061sun]

Visa application

Hi zsarang,
Thanks for the information. Have already emailed and left a voicemail at the SFO office regarding the lost passport. Let's see what happens. Also will send the papers for the visa application. Wanted to find out if its ok to send a copy of the surrender certificate (instead of the original).

Would you know how long approximately does it take for former Indians to get a visa at SFO nowadays - they were saying it takes longer time than non-Indians.

Thanks.

[zsarang]

7-10 business days

The entry visa will be done in 7-10 business days if all your application documents are in order.

Send original with 2 copies of SC. Keep some good copies for yourself. Send copy of first 2 page, last 2 page and the US page of Indian Passport used to enter USA first time....if you have copies.

To be safe send copies of your green card and EAD or I-130. Do not forget to send your valid US passport to stamp the visa.

Also send covering letters addressed to Travisa and Consulate. Explain all documents enclosed, remind them about your lost Indian Passport, request a quick process as you are travelling next month.

If you do not receive your visa in 10 days contact them by phone. Also do not forget to send the Prepaid return envelope.

Wish you luck and hopefully all will go fine.

[azindian]

Also waiting for my surrender certificate

I also sent my packet for purpose of obtaining surrender certificate around second week of August and still waiting for it. I have a question. I sent by USPS priority mail and of all the necessary documents also included self-addressed pre-paid priority mail envelope for sending me back the necessary surrender certificate and my cancelled passport. Is that correct?
I have still not gotten it yet. I also tried calling them and sent them e-mail, but did not get anything out of it.

[zsarang]

20 business days

If you do not receive your SC by 9/18/10 then you can contact the consulate by email giving your information - name, passport no, etc.

Priority Mail is perfectly ok.

Let us know when you receive next week.

[hlathia]

SC processing time

CGI NY website says it takes three weeks to process a SC appliction. You have add one more week for mailing from both ends. It took me 22 calendar days in July. If your documents are in order you will receive your SC in due time. Do not worry if have a proof they received your application.

[azindian]

Regarding my surrender certificate

@zsarang
Thanks so much for your reply!!

I had sent it to SFO Indian consulate. I will wait until the coming week and contact the indian consulate, if I still have not received the needed doc from them.
Will let you know about the progress made related to my case

[azindian]

If you do not receive your SC by 9/18/10 then you can contact the consulate by email giving your information - name, passport no, etc.

Priority Mail is perfectly ok.

Let us know when you receive next week.

Hello zsarang,

I checked my mailbox today and was very delighted to see the self-addressed return-envelope that I originally mailed from SFO Indian consulate. In there, the following items were there:
1) My indian passport with CANCELLATION STAMP
2) RENUNCIATION OF INDIAN CITIZENSHIP FORM, that I mailed to them, with the STAMP FROM INDIAN CONSULATE under the "FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY" stating that "Passport Cancelled".

There was NO SEPARATE SURRENDER CERTIFICATE from the INDIAN CONSULATE. I want to clarify, whether the STAMPED RENUNCIATION OF INDIAN CITIZENSHIP FORM is actually the SURRENDER CERTIFICATE.

Would like to hear feedback to this query of mine. Please let me know

Thanks,
azindian

[hlathia]

Surrender Certificate

The application form you filed which was stamped and returned to you is the Surrender Certficate. Keep the original of that piece of paper in a safe place. A copy of this paper will be required for any service you will require from CGI in futrue.

[ts5061sun]

Update on lost passport

Hi zsarang,
I had called the emergency number at SFO consulate, telling them about my lost passport, but to date no one has called back. Also had sent an email, but no one even bothered to reply back. Is that normal ? Someone needs to reply to our emergency emails or phone calls. Or I am guessing, everyone is calling their emergency number, by which case, that number becomes just a regular number.

Also had asked the local postal service to check for a lost passport, as I had mentioned the envelope had a small tear at the side (don't know how that happened). But in a couple of days time, the local postal guys did some calling, with me calling them frequently, and finally they found the passport. Collected it few days back !!! The passport had the small renunciation receipt stapled on page 2. But, from what I remember, there was no cancellation stamp. Is that right or does it matter, as long as we have the renunciation form in hand. Regards.