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Online chat with US Consul for Public Affairs
Venkat_meka: Hello Sir....Is there any possibility for an increase in cap for this fiscal year?
US Consul: Venkat, I think you are referring to the H1 B cap. The 65 K cap, determined by the US Congress remains in place. Only Congress can re-visit this issue as it did in the 90's as it moved the cap to 105.
Ramya: Is the chance of getting a F1 visa less after 3 times of rejection or is there equal chance?
US Consul: Ramya, Each application is reviewed on its own merit. Certainly previous refusals may be considered. However a prior refusal or refusals is not a categorical basis to refuse future refusals.
US Consul: By the way I want to correct: I was referring to the $100 SEVIS. Students and exchange (F1 & J1) visitors should use Form I-901 and the fee may be paid locally through such services as Western Union and others. Please refer to DHS SEVIS website.
Ambashankar: Sir, Can I know how long it takes to process Green Card. I have applied in California Service Centre . I had applied in June 2004
US Consul: Ambashankar, The INS regularly updates cut-off dates (wait-times) for various immigrant visa categories. Please visit our web chennai.usconsulate.gov
Neel: Do you feel that with Bush winning the elections the outsourcing of IT related jobs to India would get a boost?
US Consul: Neel, Outsourcing is a worldwide economic phenomenon, not just limited to India. I expect this very valuable transaction, which results in lower production costs and prices to customers to continue.
Brat: Sir. can u tell us how much money the US Consulate collected last year...as visa and interview fees??
US Consul: Brat, Ok, lets do the math! Chennai, received 170 K visa applications for Non-emigrant visas. At $100 an application and another $50 issuance fee, you can do the rest. I would like to add that applicants pay only a small part of the full cost.
Brat: wow.. that's a lotta money!!! US Consulate has become a Profit Center....haha
US Consul: Brat, Actually this money that goes to US treasury is ploughed back into the State department's budget. Congress, unfortunately, does not reward us for generating revenues, if at all, it seems to reduce our budget by the level of our fee generation.
Goga: My earliest visa date is just a couple of days before the orientation at my university. What can I do to get an earlier date?
US Consul: Goga, I understand your frustration. Our wait-time for F1's exceed a month. On our part we are working harder than ever before (more service windows, more staff) and longer than before (two shifts). I recommend you keep an active vigil on your keyboard for a slot to open up. Good Luck.
Menon: Is Mr. Bush a real friend of Asia
US Consul: Indeed. As we speak, he is attending the APEC conference in Santiago, Chile, a country that I served before. Asia with a combined population of half the world has never been more important to the US.
Ian: Hello, Why is India not included in the Visa Lottery Scheme of the USA
US Consul: Ian, Here is the simple answer, the Visa lottery was conceived to allow countries that were under-represented in the immigration population. India ranks number 2, right behind Mexico. I don't think any further consideration is warranted. I hope you agree.
Mukund: Please compare your experience in Pak and India.
US Consul: Mukund, In Pakistan, I served as the Deputy Economic Counsellor and worked on trade issues. I found people there warm, friendly and every-bit as hospitable as my friends here in India. I'm proud to say that I visited Pakistan and tasted their hospitality well before the thousands who went to Pakistan to see the India-Pak series!
Ambashankar: I understand there are a lot of vacancies for Nurses in USA but why is this delay to give a visa for them to work in USA I have applied in last June for Green Card and I got my job in the state of Arizona but still I am waiting for the visa.
US Consul: Ambashankar, The work visas for nurses is a complicated process, not only do you have to adhere to immigration regulations but also to the industry's requirements governed both at the Federal and State level. No doubt, this is a new and needed trend.
Venkat_meka: Indians who are living abroad for studying or working would want to apply for H1, under which quota will we come (Indian quota?)
US Consul: Venkat, There is a worldwide H1B cap of 65 K determined by US Congress. Quotas are not assigned to countries.
Maruthi: Sir, My wife is on H4, and she is in India right now and going for H4 stamping. Last time she overstayed for 6 months. I want to know she will get stamped or not?
US Consul: Maruthi, The key question would be if she was in status during her stay in the US. A Consular officer would be able to determine this.
Ramaiah: I have heard about visa waiver programme. why this facility has not been extended to a country like India?
US Consul: Ramaiah, As I recall, the visa waiver programme, authorised by Congress comprises countries that strictly qualify certain conditions, among which is an extremely low refusal rate (two percent or less). I do not envisage this programme to expand and India, with its significantly higher than 2% refusal rate, would not qualify anyway. I refer you to travel.state.gov for more information.
Goga: There is a proposal to exempt students from HI cap. When is it likely to be passed?
US Consul: Goga, I do not know. Its up to the Congress.
Ramya: Due to heavy rush at the Chennai Consulate the genuinety of the student is not being judged properly. Are the visa officers predetermined not to issue student visas to student who have completed MBBS and BDS.
US Consul: Ramya, As I stated before, each application is judged on its merit. I do admit that the length of the time for an interview is limited due to the sheer number of applications. Sometimes nearly a 1,000 a day!
Bahadur: Sir, I'm going for H1 stamping in a few weeks, I was refused the B1 visa last year at Delhi Consul, but I got the visa when I visited Consul for second time and visited US last year. Will the first time refusal for B1 have any effect for my H1 visa stamping. In my application should I mention this refusal details. What do you suggest.
US Consul: Bahadur, Each application is a new application. That you successfully visited and returned from the US, I'm sure will be taken into account.
Babu: Hello Sir I am a professor of English and I want to apply for schools in US for teaching. I have been reading a lot about job vacancies in US schools for teachers. Would you be able to tell me what are the visa procedures for applying.
US Consul: Babu, the work Visa process is initiated by the US employer, be it for an H1B or for LPR. Please check with your employer.
Shaks: One of my friend who studies in the US said that its increasingly becoming difficult to get a job in the US for an MBA guy after completing his studies in the USA.
US Consul: What's your question?
Range: Hi Ravi, I had a valid H1 Visa, I came Back to India, It's been a year now, but still my H1 is valid till 2005. Can I apply for H1 Transfer with other company now or not valid. Do I need to try for a New H1
US Consul: As I understand, you must apply for a new H1B, based on the new approval (although the current one may still be valid).
Bhatia: India is going US way, be liberal in giving visas
US Consul: Bhatia, Trust me, I have the numbers to show that more visas are being issued now than ever before. For example, Chennai issued over 65K B1/B2 visitor/business visas in FY 04 ending Sept. 30.
Satish3: My brother's qualification is Master of Commerce (M.com) and he has 4 years of experience in Oracle Financials. But somebody says he is not eligible to get H1B visa because his background study is not related to the computers. ....is it right? please clarify my doubt.
US Consul: The H1B approval is based on the potential employee meeting the qualifications for the stated position. This should be the overriding consideration.
Bahadur: Sir, Should I mention my B1 refusal details in my DS156 form . I have already visited US before, but why do they need the refusal details
US Consul: Yes! Answer all/all questions on the visa application (DS 156 and 157) truthfully and completely. One of the questions pertains to previous applications.
Chatterjee: when will the sanctions on India be lifted, Completely?
US Consul: Chatterjee, High-tech trade between India and the US is at its best ever. Since the founding of the HTCG in Nov 2002, the two countries have met at least four times. The recent June 2004 Space Conference, which heralded the new phase of the Strategic Partnership, is the most exciting development to date on US-India Space and HT cooperation. I take it you were referring to this issue.
Dharus: If I change the company with which I get H1, do I have to apply for new H1B
US Consul: Dharus, Yes. A new employer means a new job and therefore a new visa. H1B is employer specific.
Bahadur: Do premium H1B petitions carry any extra weight for the visa issual
US Consul: Bahadur, The premium H1 B petition only applies to the speed with which DHS clears petitions. Once the approval is sent the applicant has to apply at an overseas Consulate.
H1: how much time it takes for processing of premium H1B petitions
US Consul: H1, I do not know. It depends on the employer, the timing and the avaiblaibilty of the unused H1B cap and of course the backlog that DHS faces.
Man: This is not regarding Visa, I was in US for 3 years I paid SSN Can I get some of it Back.
US Consul: Man, You are certainly entitled to file for a refund of the Federal Income Tax withheld by IRS - should you qualify. However, payments into Social security can be withdrawn only when you meet the retirement age (62) and if you have adequate contributions (40 quarters)
Sharma: What's US future policy regarding visas, and jobs for Indians?
US Consul: Sharma, I am happy to report that people to people relations are at their best ever. More Indians than ever before are travelling to the US while more Americans and American Companies are coming to India than in the past. As the foreign direct investment climate in India improves, I would only expect that there will be more jobs for Indians both here in India and in the US.
Mukund: I hope Consul service will improve during your tenure in Chennai.
US Consul: Mukund, I take it as a compliment, not only to me but to the dedicated staff in Chennai. The service, during my year has already improved, not because of me but because of additional resources and effective management.
US Consul: At this point I would like to sign off and thank all who joined in. Should you have further questions please e-mail them to usconsul@team.indiainfo.com.
Indiainfo, whom I wish to thank for this opportunity has promised to pass on the questions to the consulate. So we can update our FAQs.
Moderator: Indiainfo.com thanks Mr Ravi Candadai for his time and for answering our browsers' questions in today's Live Chat Show.
And a very big Thanks to all you browsers for participating in the Live Chat session.
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