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siddh1

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After one back-and-forth I've now received a letter requesting a color photocopy of my green card, which, of course, I surrendered when I became a citizen several decades ago. They 'helpfully' notify me that I can request a copy of my original I-130 and supporting documents using a Freedom of Information Act request. Any idea how long this might take? I'm leaving for India in 6 weeks! Why on earth do they want this when they already have copies of my naturalization certificate, US passport, my father's Indian passport, my Indian birth certificate, etc. It makes absolutely no sense. Help!
 
siddh1 said:
After one back-and-forth I've now received a letter requesting a color photocopy of my green card, which, of course, I surrendered when I became a citizen several decades ago. They 'helpfully' notify me that I can request a copy of my original I-130 and supporting documents using a Freedom of Information Act request. Any idea how long this might take? I'm leaving for India in 6 weeks! Why on earth do they want this when they already have copies of my naturalization certificate, US passport, my father's Indian passport, my Indian birth certificate, etc. It makes absolutely no sense. Help!
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Under FOIA it will take 6 to12 months to get the copy of Documents.
 
Thanks for the information. Any idea why they need this info? It seems as if they just want to make things difficult!
 
I think for now you are better off getting a entry visa to India - it does not need a green card copy.
 
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I just checked the entry visa requirements and they are basically the same as the OCI. Can they convert one into the other or do I have to wait for them to mail it back? Also, since I sent it in March, the renunciation proof has been added. I turned in my Indian passport to the Indian embassy when I became a US citizen in the 1980s. What does one do?
 
siddh1 said:
I just checked the entry visa requirements and they are basically the same as the OCI. Can they convert one into the other or do I have to wait for them to mail it back? Also, since I sent it in March, the renunciation proof has been added. I turned in my Indian passport to the Indian embassy when I became a US citizen in the 1980s. What does one do?
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Do you have the Indian passport with you or did the consulate retain it? I think there are convoluted options like a notarized affidavit for those who don't have their Indian passports. Are any of your older Indian passports with you?
 
No passport. Consulate retained it. I sent a notarized letter to that effect with my OCI application. They then requested my father's Indian passport copies which he faxed from India. Then they requested the green card copy, so I emailed saying please return the OCI app. I'm now looking at the entry visa requirements and they're the same as the OCI requirements (which originally said NOTHING about Green card copies). Why is it easier for non-Indians to get an Indian visa?
 
siddh1 said:
No passport. Consulate retained it. I sent a notarized letter to that effect with my OCI application. They then requested my father's Indian passport copies which he faxed from India. Then they requested the green card copy, so I emailed saying please return the OCI app. I'm now looking at the entry visa requirements and they're the same as the OCI requirements (which originally said NOTHING about Green card copies). Why is it easier for non-Indians to get an Indian visa?
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An entry visa is the best bet for you at this time. When you return from your visit, hopefully the requirements will be made clearer since they seem to be changing everyday. At that time you can possibly apply for OCI.
 
Thank you. But even to get an entry visa you need a surrender certificate. To get the surrender certificate you need your old Indian passport, or lacking that, a " police report that shows the passport as lost or stolen." But the passport was not lost or stolen; I'm pretty sure it was turned into the NY consulate. Or, if not, it was lost, but I don't have any police report. What to do?

On my OCI status it says:
Registration Status
Granted
On
04-MAY-2010
Photo/Signature Scanned
On
04-MAY-2010
Documents Printing Status
PRINTED
Documents Printed On
04-MAY-2010
Documents Dispatched to Concerned Mission/Office on 05-MAY-2010

But only after that did I get the request for the Green Card copy.
Does anyone know what all this means?
 
Researching entry visa: does this mean that former Indian citizens can only receive a 6month entry visa whereas other nationals can get the 5 or 10 year tourist visa? Is there a long-term entry visa? Thank you!
 
Entry visas are given out for 5 years max and stay in India is unrestricted but with the requirement that registration with FRRO is required every 6 months. Costs $223 for 5 year visa plus cost of renunciation $175.
 
We are in the same situation. It is not easy to get green card copy. I am so surprised that they ask for this. Our forms are returned because of this. One application form in our case has name change. SFO told us court document with the name change is enough to process OCI(email reply). But they returned all the forms stating we are missing GC copy and not submitting copy of newspaper advertisment with name change.Then why did they bother to respond to my query saying court document is enough!
 
Bvenkat,
It's very frustrating. It seems they created this new rule with recent naturalized citizens in mind, not those of us who have been here for a very long time (before copiers were invented!). What do you plan to do?
 
you really want to know what's happening. they made all these rules kepping those people in mind who got US citizenship through asylum. since many many former asylum holders becoming US citizens these days. so these people cannt get indian visa or other things and they can make big bucks through middlemen. in other words when they see copies of old green card it mention asylum category on it and they can easily refuse indian visa or POI card. you got the whole point ? then these poor folks have to pay thousands to get indian visa to visit their birth place. shame
 
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