My spouse and I are lawful permanent residents who left the U.S. in October 2014 and had planned to return in March 2015. However, owing to personal health problems, we could not return as planned and had to stay in India for some more time. Do we need to seek prior permission for our extended stay?
Ghanta Venkatasubbarao
Under current regulations, a legal permanent resident of the United States (i.e., a person holding a green card) must return to the U.S. within 364 days of the last departure in order to retain status as a permanent resident. Yes, you need to seek prior permission to extend your stay. Please contact the USCIS office at the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi, at cis.ndi@uscis.dhs.gov, for further information on extending your stay.
My sister applied for a U.S. visitor’s visa to come and visit us. Even though the interviewing officer did not check any of her documents, her application was refused. Can she apply again?
Kowmudi Abburi
We understand that it is disappointing to get refused. The consular officer who refused your sister’s visa application is trained to evaluate all aspects of an applicant’s current situation and their purpose of travel. Your sister may not have provided enough specific information to the consular officer to prove that she qualifies for a non-immigrant visa. Individuals whose non-immigrant visa applications were refused are eligible to reapply. Please visit www.ustraveldocs.com/in and http://travel.state.gov/
content/visas/
english/general/denials.html for details.
I applied for an L2 visa in September 2014. How much time does it take to issue an L2visa? When I track my visa application status, it shows that my case is under administrative processing.
Gulzar Gilani
Administrative processing is a routine step that many applications are required to undergo before a final decision can be made. Unfortunately, we cannot give a specific time frame during which the processing will be completed.
We recognise that the delay caused by the process can be frustrating, but we assure you that we process each case as quickly as possible. For more information about your specific case, please write to support-india@ustraveldocs. com and continue checking your case status at: https://ceac.state.gov/
CEAC/
Can a newborn baby of 20 days travel to the U.S.? Also, how can we get access to a translator?
As long as the baby has a valid U.S. visa he/she may travel to the U.S. Please visit www.ustraveldocs.com/in for details. The Consulate has translators in several regional languages, so there’s no need to bring a translator.
My niece recently came to know that her biological mother is a U.S citizen. Except for a few pictures taken during her birth, she does not have any documentary proof of her relationship with her mother. How can she apply for a DNA profile test with her mother in the U.S? Should her mother apply for the test in the U.S or my niece who lives in India?
Wasif Yousuf
Please direct your inquiry to HydACS@state.gov.
Is there an appointment system at the U.S. Consulate General, Hyderabad? What is the address of the Consulate in Hyderabad?
Khursheed Khan
Yes, the U.S. Consulate has an appointment system. Please visit http://hyderabad.usconsulate.gov/http://hyderabad.usconsulate.gov/ for information on making an appointment.
I am an Indian working in Saudi Arabia. I have a valid B1/B2 visa. My parents are retired and legally stay in Saudi Arabia. They have applied for B1/B2 visas in Saudi Arabia but unfortunately they were denied visas under 214(b) due to “unavailability of Saudi residence permit.” I would like to take my parents with us for a holiday in the U.S. and I will fund their trip. Can my parents reapply for B1/B2 visas from India? What is the essential support documents required to reapply for a B1/B2 visa? Can my parents answer the consular officer’s questions in their native language Urdu so that they are understood clearly?
Syed Arifuddin
Yes, your parents may apply again. Non-immigrant visa interviews are not document-based, and the officer may or may not ask to see their documents. Yes, your parents can choose a language appointment and speak in Urdu at their interview. Please visit www.ustraveldocs.com/in for details.
