maheshf
02-20 09:00 PM
bump
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pcjandyala
08-09 01:20 AM
am also in the same boat
HereIComeGC
04-22 02:14 PM
This is ONLY EB2- India Priority dates from prior visa bulletins. Just FYI - no guesses no assumptions.
Jan-05 C
Feb-05 C
Mar-05 C
Apr-05 1-Apr-02
May-05 C
Jun-05 C
Jul-05 C
Aug-05 C
Sep-05 C
Oct-05 1-Nov-99
Nov-05 1-Nov-99
Dec-05 1-Jul-00
Jan-06 1-Jan-01
Feb-06 1-Aug-01
Mar-06 1-Jan-02
Apr-06 1-Jul-02
May-06 1-Jan-03
Jun-06 1-Jan-03
Jul-06 1-Jan-03
Aug-06 U
Sep-06 U
Oct-06 15-Jun-02
Nov-06 1-Jan-03
Dec-06 8-Jan-03
Jan-07 8-Jan-03
Feb-07 8-Jan-03
Mar-07 8-Jan-03
Apr-07 8-Jan-03
May-07 8-Jan-03
Jun-07 1-Apr-04
Jul-07 C
Aug-07 U
Sep-07 1-Apr-04
Oct-07 1-Apr-04
Nov-07 1-Apr-04
Dec-07 1-Jan-02
Jan-08 1-Jan-00
Feb-08 U
Mar-08 U
Apr-08 1-Dec-03
Jan-05 C
Feb-05 C
Mar-05 C
Apr-05 1-Apr-02
May-05 C
Jun-05 C
Jul-05 C
Aug-05 C
Sep-05 C
Oct-05 1-Nov-99
Nov-05 1-Nov-99
Dec-05 1-Jul-00
Jan-06 1-Jan-01
Feb-06 1-Aug-01
Mar-06 1-Jan-02
Apr-06 1-Jul-02
May-06 1-Jan-03
Jun-06 1-Jan-03
Jul-06 1-Jan-03
Aug-06 U
Sep-06 U
Oct-06 15-Jun-02
Nov-06 1-Jan-03
Dec-06 8-Jan-03
Jan-07 8-Jan-03
Feb-07 8-Jan-03
Mar-07 8-Jan-03
Apr-07 8-Jan-03
May-07 8-Jan-03
Jun-07 1-Apr-04
Jul-07 C
Aug-07 U
Sep-07 1-Apr-04
Oct-07 1-Apr-04
Nov-07 1-Apr-04
Dec-07 1-Jan-02
Jan-08 1-Jan-00
Feb-08 U
Mar-08 U
Apr-08 1-Dec-03
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yabadaba
07-09 04:31 PM
sledgeehammer...this is eb2 india poll. retrogression happened in october 2005 for eb2 india... how will someone with a 2006 priority date file their 485?
gcchahiye has
clearly said do not include the july filing as a factor in this poll.. he used the macaca color scheme also
gcchahiye has
clearly said do not include the july filing as a factor in this poll.. he used the macaca color scheme also
more...
abhisam
07-19 02:11 PM
Hi All,
Is there a way to get an English translation of my birth ceritificate in the US? I have the original with me and to send it to India and get it done seems like a pretty big deal.
Can anyone please advise? Requesting transalation from Marathi to English...
Thanks,
YT
i got my birth certificate translated from marathi to english..i used the service of http://wordexpress.net/ ..they were pretty decent and quick. let me know if you need more information.
Is there a way to get an English translation of my birth ceritificate in the US? I have the original with me and to send it to India and get it done seems like a pretty big deal.
Can anyone please advise? Requesting transalation from Marathi to English...
Thanks,
YT
i got my birth certificate translated from marathi to english..i used the service of http://wordexpress.net/ ..they were pretty decent and quick. let me know if you need more information.
psaxena
04-07 04:59 PM
Hi Friends.
I got the pink slip 3 weeks back with one month severance. So my target was to secure the job in one month to avoid loss of pay. Finally secured the job with 3 offers from 3 top companies.
Some tips if it may be helpful to others , that I recently expereinced
1. Read your resume thoroughly and see if there are anything that you can improve and make the resume with the core skills, do not make the resume of mix of different profiles, like dba, architect, project manager, make them all seperate.
2. Try to make the submission to the direct employer or recruiter on top of the chain. You can do that finding contacts on linked in.
3. Do not compromise a lot, this makes these recruiters to think that you are vulnerable for any exploitation, (happened with me, I kicked there butt after getting selected and telling them on why did I do that)
All the best to everyone.
I got the pink slip 3 weeks back with one month severance. So my target was to secure the job in one month to avoid loss of pay. Finally secured the job with 3 offers from 3 top companies.
Some tips if it may be helpful to others , that I recently expereinced
1. Read your resume thoroughly and see if there are anything that you can improve and make the resume with the core skills, do not make the resume of mix of different profiles, like dba, architect, project manager, make them all seperate.
2. Try to make the submission to the direct employer or recruiter on top of the chain. You can do that finding contacts on linked in.
3. Do not compromise a lot, this makes these recruiters to think that you are vulnerable for any exploitation, (happened with me, I kicked there butt after getting selected and telling them on why did I do that)
All the best to everyone.
more...
andy garcia
02-21 09:22 AM
I don't have the stats right in front of me, but it is my impression that except for a few odd years (FY06 comes to mind), EB-1 did not max out its numbers. Using EB-1 for L-1 executives is a relatively new idea.
This is the EB1 the usage for the last 14 years
06 = 36,960
05 = 64.731
04 = 31,291
03 = 14,544
02 = 34,452
01 = 41,801
00 = 27,706
99 = 14,898
98 = 21,408
97 = 21,810
96 = 27,501
95 = 17,339
94 = 21,053
93 = 21,114
The limit was at least 40.040 for each FY. In FY 06 it was 41,170. As you can see the limit has been reached twice in the last 14 years.
This is the EB1 the usage for the last 14 years
06 = 36,960
05 = 64.731
04 = 31,291
03 = 14,544
02 = 34,452
01 = 41,801
00 = 27,706
99 = 14,898
98 = 21,408
97 = 21,810
96 = 27,501
95 = 17,339
94 = 21,053
93 = 21,114
The limit was at least 40.040 for each FY. In FY 06 it was 41,170. As you can see the limit has been reached twice in the last 14 years.
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ups
05-07 02:59 PM
I and my husband both of us lost our passports too. We got it stamped again when we went to India. In between I transferred my h1s also with the copy of lost passport and duplicate passport issued by indian embassy ny office. It wasn't too difficult to get it stamped again from mumbai consulate india.
You might get it stamped from Canada or Mexico. We just didn't want to take risk because we had copy of lost and inside usa we could do all our work(including transferring h1s) with the copy.
Don't worry. It is not that big as it looks. Though indian embassy took 12 months to issue duplicate passport
You might get it stamped from Canada or Mexico. We just didn't want to take risk because we had copy of lost and inside usa we could do all our work(including transferring h1s) with the copy.
Don't worry. It is not that big as it looks. Though indian embassy took 12 months to issue duplicate passport
more...
simple1
05-19 11:12 PM
for immigration diploma + 3 yrs experience is Bachelors equivallent that is True for H1B or EB3
for further studies diploma is under grad, you will qualify to continue further studies for Bachelors
yep, I heard exact same when it comes to "edu eval" for work. One of my ex-collegue got h1b with 10+2+3yr-dip-compsci+5 years exp.
I also hear "edu eval" for "work" and "study" may be two different processes. So not sure about the study part.
Recognition of Foreign Qualifications (http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html)
for further studies diploma is under grad, you will qualify to continue further studies for Bachelors
yep, I heard exact same when it comes to "edu eval" for work. One of my ex-collegue got h1b with 10+2+3yr-dip-compsci+5 years exp.
I also hear "edu eval" for "work" and "study" may be two different processes. So not sure about the study part.
Recognition of Foreign Qualifications (http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html)
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rahulpaper
10-15 07:48 PM
Does anyone know why the FP for NSC>>CSC>>NSC are taking so long.....my friends who filed at same time are NSC>>TSC and they already got FP.
more...
morchu
04-27 03:01 PM
"approvable" is the right term.
I always thought that your I-140 *has to be* approved before you can change jobs with the AC21 rule... no?
I always thought that your I-140 *has to be* approved before you can change jobs with the AC21 rule... no?
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delhiguy79
07-30 10:36 AM
Guys ... please help. I am trying to get PCC from my local police station and they are giving me hell time here... and I am running out of time. The local police station guys are saying that they will only give a letter in white paper (No letter head) and they are insisting that it will not be used. What shall I do and I have to submit my documents by tuesday by latest.....
Questions for friends around
1.. is the letter given by the local police station with out the letter head will e accepted in the Consulate?
2.. If not can we get a PCC from the commisioner office?
Please give me some directions.
u can get from the office which issued u passport
u dont need to go to police station
Questions for friends around
1.. is the letter given by the local police station with out the letter head will e accepted in the Consulate?
2.. If not can we get a PCC from the commisioner office?
Please give me some directions.
u can get from the office which issued u passport
u dont need to go to police station
more...
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sriniks
12-07 06:09 PM
On the infopass web site, there are four categories, and I can't relate to any of them. I don't have an SR because the rep refused to open one; I don't have a notice. Is it still possible to go for infopass?
We offer 4 kinds of appointments for a case that you have already filed. Please choose from the following -
Order from Immigration Court - If you were directed to us for processing based on an order from the Immigration Judge. You must bring all documents required in the post order instructions given to you by the court.
Case Processing Appointment - If you received a notice to go to your local office for further case processing.
EAD inquiry appointment - If your I-765 employment authorization application has been pending for more than 90 days.
Case Services follow-up appointment - If it has been over 45 days since you contacted NCSC and have not received a response to your inquiry. You must bring the Service Request ID Number related to your inquiry to the appointment.
We offer 4 kinds of appointments for a case that you have already filed. Please choose from the following -
Order from Immigration Court - If you were directed to us for processing based on an order from the Immigration Judge. You must bring all documents required in the post order instructions given to you by the court.
Case Processing Appointment - If you received a notice to go to your local office for further case processing.
EAD inquiry appointment - If your I-765 employment authorization application has been pending for more than 90 days.
Case Services follow-up appointment - If it has been over 45 days since you contacted NCSC and have not received a response to your inquiry. You must bring the Service Request ID Number related to your inquiry to the appointment.
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belmontboy
02-15 01:29 PM
If each state in India were a country
There would have been no backlog.
dude people are fighting EB2 Vs Eb3 war.
Why do u want to ignite one state Vs another state war now??
Don't u have better to do with your spare time?
Admin, please delete this useless thread. We have enough topics to crib/fight/backstab about!!!
There would have been no backlog.
dude people are fighting EB2 Vs Eb3 war.
Why do u want to ignite one state Vs another state war now??
Don't u have better to do with your spare time?
Admin, please delete this useless thread. We have enough topics to crib/fight/backstab about!!!
more...
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GotGC??
01-20 09:11 PM
...of LC cases, by PD and category. Goes to show how scary the situation is without increase of visa numbers....just I-485 is a good first step, but there is a looooong way to go.
Date NON-RIR RIR TOTAL
Dec-97 760 54 814
Jan-98 925 22 947
Feb-98 29 4 33
Mar-98 48 5 53
Apr-98 42 1 43
May-98 35 1 36
Jun-98 43 3 46
Jul-98 36 1 37
Aug-98 36 3 39
Sep-98 33 3 36
Oct-98 60 3 63
Nov-98 34 1 35
Dec-98 34 6 40
Jan-99 36 2 38
Feb-99 34 3 37
Mar-99 42 2 44
Apr-99 42 3 45
May-99 49 11 60
Jun-99 38 6 44
Jul-99 35 5 40
Aug-99 43 8 51
Sep-99 38 8 46
Oct-99 68 7 75
Nov-99 49 27 76
Dec-99 57 25 82
Jan-00 43 49 92
Feb-00 44 20 64
Mar-00 59 18 77
Apr-00 55 33 88
May-00 69 21 90
Jun-00 112 19 131
Jul-00 87 24 111
Aug-00 67 35 102
Sep-00 46 39 85
Oct-00 62 48 110
Nov-00 65 100 165
Dec-00 65 103 168
Jan-01 143 120 263
Feb-01 353 266 619
Mar-01 1018 544 1562
Apr-01 11502 11982 23484
May-01 180 966 1146
Jun-01 104 1089 1193
Jul-01 94 1213 1307
Aug-01 107 1389 1496
Sep-01 92 1052 1144
Oct-01 141 1186 1327
Nov-01 78 799 877
Dec-01 70 809 879
Jan-02 47 805 852
Feb-02 48 935 983
Mar-02 46 1352 1398
Apr-02 84 1614 1698
May-02 196 1942 2138
Jun-02 73 1660 1733
Jul-02 88 1905 1993
Aug-02 46 1822 1868
Sep-02 85 1836 1921
Oct-02 92 1833 1925
Nov-02 71 1856 1927
Dec-02 93 2404 2497
Jan-03 60 2202 2262
Feb-03 70 2155 2225
Mar-03 75 2216 2291
Apr-03 147 2231 2378
May-03 90 2140 2230
Jun-03 46 2100 2146
Jul-03 87 2207 2294
Aug-03 129 2089 2218
Sep-03 181 2013 2194
Oct-03 71 1796 1867
Nov-03 96 1065 1161
Dec-03 130 1329 1459
Jan-04 94 861 955
Feb-04 118 842 960
Mar-04 116 449 565
Apr-04 92 388 480
May-04 47 353 400
Jun-04 43 283 326
Jul-04 17 253 270
Aug-04 13 144 157
Sep-04 5 9 14
TOTAL 19998 69227 89225
Yesterday after a long time I was reading the Labor cert section on immigrationportal.com. I havent felt the need to read that section since my LC was approved in October 2005.
I was amazed at the number of EB3 cases being approved with PD's in 01 and 02 as well as EB2 cases in 02 and 03.
No doubt dates arent moving. More and more ppl are choking the pipeline. We are screwed if numbers arent increased.
Date NON-RIR RIR TOTAL
Dec-97 760 54 814
Jan-98 925 22 947
Feb-98 29 4 33
Mar-98 48 5 53
Apr-98 42 1 43
May-98 35 1 36
Jun-98 43 3 46
Jul-98 36 1 37
Aug-98 36 3 39
Sep-98 33 3 36
Oct-98 60 3 63
Nov-98 34 1 35
Dec-98 34 6 40
Jan-99 36 2 38
Feb-99 34 3 37
Mar-99 42 2 44
Apr-99 42 3 45
May-99 49 11 60
Jun-99 38 6 44
Jul-99 35 5 40
Aug-99 43 8 51
Sep-99 38 8 46
Oct-99 68 7 75
Nov-99 49 27 76
Dec-99 57 25 82
Jan-00 43 49 92
Feb-00 44 20 64
Mar-00 59 18 77
Apr-00 55 33 88
May-00 69 21 90
Jun-00 112 19 131
Jul-00 87 24 111
Aug-00 67 35 102
Sep-00 46 39 85
Oct-00 62 48 110
Nov-00 65 100 165
Dec-00 65 103 168
Jan-01 143 120 263
Feb-01 353 266 619
Mar-01 1018 544 1562
Apr-01 11502 11982 23484
May-01 180 966 1146
Jun-01 104 1089 1193
Jul-01 94 1213 1307
Aug-01 107 1389 1496
Sep-01 92 1052 1144
Oct-01 141 1186 1327
Nov-01 78 799 877
Dec-01 70 809 879
Jan-02 47 805 852
Feb-02 48 935 983
Mar-02 46 1352 1398
Apr-02 84 1614 1698
May-02 196 1942 2138
Jun-02 73 1660 1733
Jul-02 88 1905 1993
Aug-02 46 1822 1868
Sep-02 85 1836 1921
Oct-02 92 1833 1925
Nov-02 71 1856 1927
Dec-02 93 2404 2497
Jan-03 60 2202 2262
Feb-03 70 2155 2225
Mar-03 75 2216 2291
Apr-03 147 2231 2378
May-03 90 2140 2230
Jun-03 46 2100 2146
Jul-03 87 2207 2294
Aug-03 129 2089 2218
Sep-03 181 2013 2194
Oct-03 71 1796 1867
Nov-03 96 1065 1161
Dec-03 130 1329 1459
Jan-04 94 861 955
Feb-04 118 842 960
Mar-04 116 449 565
Apr-04 92 388 480
May-04 47 353 400
Jun-04 43 283 326
Jul-04 17 253 270
Aug-04 13 144 157
Sep-04 5 9 14
TOTAL 19998 69227 89225
Yesterday after a long time I was reading the Labor cert section on immigrationportal.com. I havent felt the need to read that section since my LC was approved in October 2005.
I was amazed at the number of EB3 cases being approved with PD's in 01 and 02 as well as EB2 cases in 02 and 03.
No doubt dates arent moving. More and more ppl are choking the pipeline. We are screwed if numbers arent increased.
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karthik_may
07-18 07:01 PM
No change in address since 2002..
Yes. Printed the status of pending with timestamp.. I just checked case tracking website and still shows pending.
The biggest frustration is we have lost 2 years due to lack of information.
Would contacting IO using InfoPass be a issue here? My attorney does not want to contact IO, as he is afraid that might confuse the case..
Yes. Printed the status of pending with timestamp.. I just checked case tracking website and still shows pending.
The biggest frustration is we have lost 2 years due to lack of information.
Would contacting IO using InfoPass be a issue here? My attorney does not want to contact IO, as he is afraid that might confuse the case..
more...
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chanduv23
03-31 02:52 PM
Yes, we are seeing more denials and RFEs these days, but we are also seeing more signs of preadjudication at the same time which makes it hard to tell if the rate of denials/RFEs has gone up.
In Mar 2008 for example, we saw maybe 2 485 denials on the forums, which seemed like a small number, and in Mar 2009 if we see 10 485 denials, it will seem like a large number, but you have to remember that the number of applications being pre-adjudicated in March 2008 (according to NSC, TSC processing times) were probably far less than the ones being pre-adjudicated now (since the processing times have only now reached close to or past July 2007 and we have been seeing signs of pre-adjudication activity - soft LUDs, etc.).
So if 100 applications were being preadjudicated in Mar 2008, the % of denials was 2% and if 500 are being pre-adjudicated now, the % of denials is still 2%, it just seems higher because 10 guys posting about 485 denials in a month, seems more shocking than 2 guys a month.
Of course, these numbers are all based on the assumption that the # of applications filed in July 2007 far exceeded the # of applications that were "in process" until then, and that forum members are a good statistical sample, so in the end, it is still a guess.
Godspeed to all of us.
Yes - this seems like pre adjudication as we see so many RFEs and denials and soft LUDs even though the dates are not current.
In Mar 2008 for example, we saw maybe 2 485 denials on the forums, which seemed like a small number, and in Mar 2009 if we see 10 485 denials, it will seem like a large number, but you have to remember that the number of applications being pre-adjudicated in March 2008 (according to NSC, TSC processing times) were probably far less than the ones being pre-adjudicated now (since the processing times have only now reached close to or past July 2007 and we have been seeing signs of pre-adjudication activity - soft LUDs, etc.).
So if 100 applications were being preadjudicated in Mar 2008, the % of denials was 2% and if 500 are being pre-adjudicated now, the % of denials is still 2%, it just seems higher because 10 guys posting about 485 denials in a month, seems more shocking than 2 guys a month.
Of course, these numbers are all based on the assumption that the # of applications filed in July 2007 far exceeded the # of applications that were "in process" until then, and that forum members are a good statistical sample, so in the end, it is still a guess.
Godspeed to all of us.
Yes - this seems like pre adjudication as we see so many RFEs and denials and soft LUDs even though the dates are not current.
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gcwanter
01-25 11:20 AM
if anything on Earth; the last place to go would be to Indian politicians.
am not inviting criticism but thats the way the indian system is built.
i agree and definitely believe more in the US system.
am not inviting criticism but thats the way the indian system is built.
i agree and definitely believe more in the US system.
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gemini23
11-19 08:50 AM
Do we have to send copies of H1 visa stamp in passport in order to apply for ead renewal. if yes, what would be the case if the H1 visa stamp is expired. Can I send the copy of expired H1 visa stamp and I-797 approval , for ead renewal?
Can you please answer this question as I am about to file for a ead renewal.
Can you please answer this question as I am about to file for a ead renewal.
thatwillbeit
10-03 02:58 PM
gc_mania_03,
Sorry for the delay in replying, I just saw the message and replying to it as soon as I saw it.
Anyway, I did send the photographs to the Service Center along with covering letter explaining the issue along with a copy of the AP receipt notice.
I did not get any RFE for AP and they approved it about 6-8 weeks after I sent over the photographs.
Hope this helps
Sorry for the delay in replying, I just saw the message and replying to it as soon as I saw it.
Anyway, I did send the photographs to the Service Center along with covering letter explaining the issue along with a copy of the AP receipt notice.
I did not get any RFE for AP and they approved it about 6-8 weeks after I sent over the photographs.
Hope this helps
learning01
02-23 03:06 PM
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/22/AR2006022202446_pf.html
Scientist's Visa Denial Sparks Outrage in India
By Shankar Vedantam
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, February 23, 2006; A01
A decision two weeks ago by a U.S. consulate in India to refuse a visa to a prominent Indian scientist has triggered heated protests in that country and set off a major diplomatic flap on the eve of President Bush's first visit to India.
The incident has also caused embarrassment at the highest reaches of the American scientific establishment, which has worked to get the State Department to issue a visa to Goverdhan Mehta, who said the U.S. consulate in the south Indian city of Chennai told him that his expertise in chemistry was deemed a threat.
In the face of outrage in India, the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi issued a highly unusual statement of regret, and yesterday the State Department said officials are reaching out to the scientist to resolve his case.
"It is very strange logic," said Mehta, reached at his home in Bangalore early this morning India time. "Someone is insulted and hurt and you ask him to come back a second round."
The consulate told Mehta "you have been denied a visa" and invited him to submit additional information, according to an official at the National Academy of Sciences who saw a copy of the document. Mehta said in a written account obtained by The Washington Post that he was humiliated, accused of "hiding things" and being dishonest, and told that his work is dangerous because of its potential applications in chemical warfare.
Mehta denied that his work has anything to do with weapons. He said that he would provide his passport if a visa were issued, but that he would do nothing further to obtain the document: "If they don't want to give me a visa, so be it."
The scientist told Indian newspapers that his dealing with the U.S. consulate was "the most degrading experience of my life." Mehta is president of the International Council for Science, a Paris-based organization comprising the national scientific academies of a number of countries. The council advocates that scientists should have free access to one another.
Visa rejections or delays for foreign academics after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks have led to widespread complaints by U.S universities and scientific organizations, but the new incident comes when things are improving, said Wendy White, director of the Board of International Scientific Organizations. The board was set up by the National Academy of Sciences and has helped about 3,000 scientists affected by the new policies.
"This leaves a terrible impression of the United States," said White, who has seen a copy of the consulate's form letter to Mehta. In an interview yesterday, she added that top scientists had worked with senior State Department officials to reverse the decision before Bush's visit next week. "We want people to know the U.S. is an open and welcoming country."
Mehta's case has especially angered Indians because he was a director of the Indian Institute of Science and is a science adviser to India's prime minister. He has visited the United States "dozens of times," he said, and the University of Florida in Gainesville had invited him to lecture at an international conference.
State Department spokesman Justin Higgins denied yesterday that the United States had rejected Mehta's visa and said the consulate had merely followed standard procedure in dealing with applicants with certain kinds of scientific expertise.
In his written account, the scientist said that after traveling 200 miles, waiting three hours with his wife for an interview and being accused of deception, he was outraged when his accounts of his research were questioned and he was told he needed to fill out a detailed questionnaire.
"I indicated that I have no desire to subject myself to any further humiliation and asked that our passports be returned forthwith," he wrote. The consular official, Mehta added, "stamped the passports to indicate visa refusal and returned them."
Higgins declined to address why the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi had taken the unusual step of saying it "regrets" that Mehta was "upset by the visa interview process."
In its statement, the embassy said: "At the United States mission in India, and to varying degrees at every U.S. mission worldwide, certain cases involving high technology issues are among those that require review before consular officers in the field are authorized to issue a visa."
White said that issuing a visa would solve the immediate problem, but that it would be more difficult to undo the damage caused by the dispute. Mehta is a high-profile example of the hurdles imposed by the new visa procedures. They require all applicants to appear in person for interviews that are done in only a few locations in large countries such as India, White said.
"If you tell an American, 'If you want a visa to go to India, you have to go to Dallas, Chicago, L.A. or New York, and while you are there, you are going to be fingerprinted, photographed and asked about everything you have done in your research for the last 40 years,' we would find this procedure untenable as Americans," she said.
Mehta said in his written account that he had been invited by the University of Florida, where he has previously been a distinguished visiting professor. White said she expected the International Council for Science, also known as the ICSU, to issue a statement today about the case involving its president.
White and William Wulf, president of the National Academy of Engineering, acknowledged that young American consular officers in foreign countries have been under tremendous pressure since the Sept. 11 attacks.
"Making the wrong decision would be career-ending, so they play it safe, not really understanding the macroscopic implications of their decision," Wulf said. "Denying a visa to the president of ICSU is probably as dumb as you can get. This is not the way we can make friends."
�*2006*The Washington Post Company
Scientist's Visa Denial Sparks Outrage in India
By Shankar Vedantam
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, February 23, 2006; A01
A decision two weeks ago by a U.S. consulate in India to refuse a visa to a prominent Indian scientist has triggered heated protests in that country and set off a major diplomatic flap on the eve of President Bush's first visit to India.
The incident has also caused embarrassment at the highest reaches of the American scientific establishment, which has worked to get the State Department to issue a visa to Goverdhan Mehta, who said the U.S. consulate in the south Indian city of Chennai told him that his expertise in chemistry was deemed a threat.
In the face of outrage in India, the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi issued a highly unusual statement of regret, and yesterday the State Department said officials are reaching out to the scientist to resolve his case.
"It is very strange logic," said Mehta, reached at his home in Bangalore early this morning India time. "Someone is insulted and hurt and you ask him to come back a second round."
The consulate told Mehta "you have been denied a visa" and invited him to submit additional information, according to an official at the National Academy of Sciences who saw a copy of the document. Mehta said in a written account obtained by The Washington Post that he was humiliated, accused of "hiding things" and being dishonest, and told that his work is dangerous because of its potential applications in chemical warfare.
Mehta denied that his work has anything to do with weapons. He said that he would provide his passport if a visa were issued, but that he would do nothing further to obtain the document: "If they don't want to give me a visa, so be it."
The scientist told Indian newspapers that his dealing with the U.S. consulate was "the most degrading experience of my life." Mehta is president of the International Council for Science, a Paris-based organization comprising the national scientific academies of a number of countries. The council advocates that scientists should have free access to one another.
Visa rejections or delays for foreign academics after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks have led to widespread complaints by U.S universities and scientific organizations, but the new incident comes when things are improving, said Wendy White, director of the Board of International Scientific Organizations. The board was set up by the National Academy of Sciences and has helped about 3,000 scientists affected by the new policies.
"This leaves a terrible impression of the United States," said White, who has seen a copy of the consulate's form letter to Mehta. In an interview yesterday, she added that top scientists had worked with senior State Department officials to reverse the decision before Bush's visit next week. "We want people to know the U.S. is an open and welcoming country."
Mehta's case has especially angered Indians because he was a director of the Indian Institute of Science and is a science adviser to India's prime minister. He has visited the United States "dozens of times," he said, and the University of Florida in Gainesville had invited him to lecture at an international conference.
State Department spokesman Justin Higgins denied yesterday that the United States had rejected Mehta's visa and said the consulate had merely followed standard procedure in dealing with applicants with certain kinds of scientific expertise.
In his written account, the scientist said that after traveling 200 miles, waiting three hours with his wife for an interview and being accused of deception, he was outraged when his accounts of his research were questioned and he was told he needed to fill out a detailed questionnaire.
"I indicated that I have no desire to subject myself to any further humiliation and asked that our passports be returned forthwith," he wrote. The consular official, Mehta added, "stamped the passports to indicate visa refusal and returned them."
Higgins declined to address why the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi had taken the unusual step of saying it "regrets" that Mehta was "upset by the visa interview process."
In its statement, the embassy said: "At the United States mission in India, and to varying degrees at every U.S. mission worldwide, certain cases involving high technology issues are among those that require review before consular officers in the field are authorized to issue a visa."
White said that issuing a visa would solve the immediate problem, but that it would be more difficult to undo the damage caused by the dispute. Mehta is a high-profile example of the hurdles imposed by the new visa procedures. They require all applicants to appear in person for interviews that are done in only a few locations in large countries such as India, White said.
"If you tell an American, 'If you want a visa to go to India, you have to go to Dallas, Chicago, L.A. or New York, and while you are there, you are going to be fingerprinted, photographed and asked about everything you have done in your research for the last 40 years,' we would find this procedure untenable as Americans," she said.
Mehta said in his written account that he had been invited by the University of Florida, where he has previously been a distinguished visiting professor. White said she expected the International Council for Science, also known as the ICSU, to issue a statement today about the case involving its president.
White and William Wulf, president of the National Academy of Engineering, acknowledged that young American consular officers in foreign countries have been under tremendous pressure since the Sept. 11 attacks.
"Making the wrong decision would be career-ending, so they play it safe, not really understanding the macroscopic implications of their decision," Wulf said. "Denying a visa to the president of ICSU is probably as dumb as you can get. This is not the way we can make friends."
�*2006*The Washington Post Company
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