I am an US resident - in my 5th year of residency.
I have family in Austrlia - two siblings (sisters). Since I hold an Indian passport, I cannot travel without a visa. I applied for and received 12-month Tourist visas in April 2007, and April 2008. Upon expiry of the visa, I applied for another, again this year (April '09).
My passport had remained at the embassy for more than 3 weeks, when I received an e-mail from my sibling that our other sibling had suffered a head injury, and had been admitted to the "ER at Royal Hobart Hospital". The e-mail went on to add that the sibling was headed to Hobart by the first flight.
It was the morning of May 4th - I promptly wrote to the embassy, requesting expedited processing of my visa application. A lady called me at 8pm, EST. She informed that she was calling from the embassy, and had just processed my visa. She said that it was 8pm, and would not be able to send it until the following day. She asked me if that was ok? I replied by asking if I had a choice. She replied in the negative. I then went on to ask if I had been issued a 12-month visa (as in prior years). She replied in the neagtive - she said she awarded me a 3-mo. visa. I asked her, why so - I asked if the decision was prompted by my impromptu request for processing of my visa application? She replied that I had "insufficient ties" to the US, and "might not return" from Austrlia. I asked her to give me an example of "ties", and she replied, "such as owning a home". (I thought to myself, how antiquated, and even convoluted that argument - for one could have n # of reasons for renting vs. owning. Moreover, the document check-list did not list any titles of ownership, or such). By this time, I was frustrated - I indicated to her that I was a Permanent resident - that I was on the route to "naturalization". She replied that she "did not know about the Naturalization process" (at which point I thought to myself that was telling - that she didn't have the full knowledge to adjudicate visas in the US). I pointed to her that the application was for a 12-mo. validity visa as published on the website, and also as awarded to me in past years ('07, and '08). She replied that it was not "required" to award a 12-mo. visa. She added something to the effect, "I'm here at this hour, and I don't know what you expect of me" (to which, I thought to myself, "I imagine, you were expected to depatch my passport by close of business? ...and then, you didn't even enquire about the condition of my sibling that suffered the head injury?)
I pondered over the matter overnight, and concluded that my credentials had only improved over the past couple of yrs. I decided that I must 'strive' for the issuance of a 12-month visa - given that my passport had not yet been despatched. Items that I considered - how the issuance of a 3-month visa would cause me severe distress:
a) For starters, this could become a pattern. I would then need to apply every 3 months - which would cost me application fees, shipping costs, and time for organizing the paper-work.
b) My passport would remain at the Consulate for the better part of the year - just for the sake of securing the ability to travel to Austrlia. This situation would prevent my travel to India.
So, I wrote to her, first up, the following morning - I asked to connect me to a supervisor, so I could explain my "ties" to the United States. I waited for a couple of hours, but she did not reply. Since the day was running out, I followed up with another e-mail - literally touting my credentials, point by point.
Boy, was she incensed at my e-mail - she called my cellphone 6 times (seething with anger)! When I returned her call, she was livid - she accused me of "harrassing" her! I asked, "how so?". She replied that she was making a note - that she had "inserted all in my file". Upon being 'threatened', I simply shut up.
(Clearly, she took umbrage at my e-mail...)
My Priority Mail w/Signature confirmation (comprising new application) sent last week was REFUSED (from being accepted). I do not know if my name has been turned into "persona-non-grata"...
Gentlemen, I need your ideas:
1) How to resolve the issue - who to approach, etc. (Travelling to Austrlia is important to me - especially on a/c of a frail sibling that is prone to injury and illness)
2) Can this individual or the Consulate itself, 'influence' USCIS, in any manner (as I send my N-400 this week)?
Thank you much, for your time.
I have family in Austrlia - two siblings (sisters). Since I hold an Indian passport, I cannot travel without a visa. I applied for and received 12-month Tourist visas in April 2007, and April 2008. Upon expiry of the visa, I applied for another, again this year (April '09).
My passport had remained at the embassy for more than 3 weeks, when I received an e-mail from my sibling that our other sibling had suffered a head injury, and had been admitted to the "ER at Royal Hobart Hospital". The e-mail went on to add that the sibling was headed to Hobart by the first flight.
It was the morning of May 4th - I promptly wrote to the embassy, requesting expedited processing of my visa application. A lady called me at 8pm, EST. She informed that she was calling from the embassy, and had just processed my visa. She said that it was 8pm, and would not be able to send it until the following day. She asked me if that was ok? I replied by asking if I had a choice. She replied in the negative. I then went on to ask if I had been issued a 12-month visa (as in prior years). She replied in the neagtive - she said she awarded me a 3-mo. visa. I asked her, why so - I asked if the decision was prompted by my impromptu request for processing of my visa application? She replied that I had "insufficient ties" to the US, and "might not return" from Austrlia. I asked her to give me an example of "ties", and she replied, "such as owning a home". (I thought to myself, how antiquated, and even convoluted that argument - for one could have n # of reasons for renting vs. owning. Moreover, the document check-list did not list any titles of ownership, or such). By this time, I was frustrated - I indicated to her that I was a Permanent resident - that I was on the route to "naturalization". She replied that she "did not know about the Naturalization process" (at which point I thought to myself that was telling - that she didn't have the full knowledge to adjudicate visas in the US). I pointed to her that the application was for a 12-mo. validity visa as published on the website, and also as awarded to me in past years ('07, and '08). She replied that it was not "required" to award a 12-mo. visa. She added something to the effect, "I'm here at this hour, and I don't know what you expect of me" (to which, I thought to myself, "I imagine, you were expected to depatch my passport by close of business? ...and then, you didn't even enquire about the condition of my sibling that suffered the head injury?)
I pondered over the matter overnight, and concluded that my credentials had only improved over the past couple of yrs. I decided that I must 'strive' for the issuance of a 12-month visa - given that my passport had not yet been despatched. Items that I considered - how the issuance of a 3-month visa would cause me severe distress:
a) For starters, this could become a pattern. I would then need to apply every 3 months - which would cost me application fees, shipping costs, and time for organizing the paper-work.
b) My passport would remain at the Consulate for the better part of the year - just for the sake of securing the ability to travel to Austrlia. This situation would prevent my travel to India.
So, I wrote to her, first up, the following morning - I asked to connect me to a supervisor, so I could explain my "ties" to the United States. I waited for a couple of hours, but she did not reply. Since the day was running out, I followed up with another e-mail - literally touting my credentials, point by point.
Boy, was she incensed at my e-mail - she called my cellphone 6 times (seething with anger)! When I returned her call, she was livid - she accused me of "harrassing" her! I asked, "how so?". She replied that she was making a note - that she had "inserted all in my file". Upon being 'threatened', I simply shut up.
(Clearly, she took umbrage at my e-mail...)
My Priority Mail w/Signature confirmation (comprising new application) sent last week was REFUSED (from being accepted). I do not know if my name has been turned into "persona-non-grata"...
Gentlemen, I need your ideas:
1) How to resolve the issue - who to approach, etc. (Travelling to Austrlia is important to me - especially on a/c of a frail sibling that is prone to injury and illness)
2) Can this individual or the Consulate itself, 'influence' USCIS, in any manner (as I send my N-400 this week)?
Thank you much, for your time.
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