Some imp Questions before visiting India

[christera22 8]

Hello All,

I have not been to this forum for sometime now.Hope everyone is doing great. I am a 10 yr green card holder from marriage with my us wife. I am from India and we want to visit India . I have some questions that i am sure some experienced Indians would help me going through.

a) I renewed my passport in 2012 in usa and name of my spouse area is empty. I just did not fill it at that time. Now while going through the immigration line in India would the officials want to see my spouse name on my passport ? Is it advisable that I re-renew my passport and put her name in the spouse area ?

b) In light of the above question we would be applying for my wife`s us passport. Is it advisable to have my name in the spouse area ?

c)After our marriage my wife did not take my last name and maintained her original name in official documents. Is it advisable to put my last name to hers in her passport just to be in the safe side ? my thinking is indian immigration officers may have problem when we call ourself husband and wife and our names are totally different from each other.

c) My wife has hearing disablility and she reads lips. As far as i can remember from my last visit to india, the indian citizens and foreign nationals go through seperate immigration lines. Is there any arrangements available that I can be with my wife in the same line to help her understand and reply questions correctly ?

d) For me ( Indian Citizen ) to carry - US Green card, Indian Passport, and round air tickets

For my wife ( US citizen) to carry - US Passport, Indian Visa and round air tickets

any other legal documents to carry for safe to and fro journey ?

Thanks so much for the all the help and answers

[Sam and Fen 41]

Immigration does not care about your married status. All they care about is that you have a valid Indian Passport and in your wife's case a valid visa on the way in and you have a GC and valid Passports on the way out.

You can both go threw the non Indian citizens line for Immigration check.

[TimeTravel 78]

a) I renewed my passport in 2012 in usa and name of my spouse area is empty. I just did not fill it at that time. Now while going through the immigration line in India would the officials want to see my spouse name on my passport ? Is it advisable that I re-renew my passport and put her name in the spouse area ?

b) In light of the above question we would be applying for my wife`s us passport. Is it advisable to have my name in the spouse area ?

c)After our marriage my wife did not take my last name and maintained her original name in official documents. Is it advisable to put my last name to hers in her passport just to be in the safe side ? my thinking is indian immigration officers may have problem when we call ourself husband and wife and our names are totally different from each other.

c) My wife has hearing disablility and she reads lips. As far as i can remember from my last visit to india, the indian citizens and foreign nationals go through seperate immigration lines. Is there any arrangements available that I can be with my wife in the same line to help her understand and reply questions correctly ?

d) For me ( Indian Citizen ) to carry - US Green card, Indian Passport, and round air tickets

For my wife ( US citizen) to carry - US Passport, Indian Visa and round air tickets

any other legal documents to carry for safe to and fro journey ?

a) - It is not required. It will not be questionable by Indian Immigration. But it is best to add spouse name if you can.

b) - US Passport does not have any field to add spouse name.

c) - I just do not know answer for this question

d) - You have all necessary documents to travel.

[christera22 8]

Thank you Sam and Fen & TimeTravel . So can the new york embassy can put my wifes name on the passport if i send it to them ? Do they have any service like that ? I am thinking of getting us citizenship before going to India ..... I just hate that I again have to fill up I-94 when i come back to usa at the port of entry and the cbp officer would ask 100 questions. Any one had any trouble while returning back to usa ?

Edited August 10, 2013 by christera22

[Sam and Fen 41]

I am sure the SOB's at the NY consulate can do that for a fee.

I would not worry about DHS, I would be more concerned with the 2 idiots that check your papers before you board the Plane in India. They are clue less and have no tools to check if your Passport and/or GC is legit so they harass you.

[TimeTravel 78]

So can the new york embassy can put my wifes name on the passport if i send it to them ? Do they have any service like that ? I am thinking of getting us citizenship before going to India ..... I just hate that I again have to fill up I-94 when i come back to usa at the port of entry and the cbp officer would ask 100 questions. Any one had any trouble while returning back to usa ?

Yes, you can update your wife's name in your Indian passport, and this can be done in New York Indian Embassy. Yes, this process is like re-issued passport, so there would be a fee for this. Check with Embassy for further details.

I-94 form is not for Green Card holder. You only have to fill custom declaration form.

Last time when I was returning to USA, I was asked few quick questions - where was I coming from, how many days I stays there, and if I am still married to my USC? That is it! then took the fingerprint, photo, then good to go. Process took less than few minutes. It was real easy.

[christera22 8]

Yes, you can update your wife's name in your Indian passport, and this can be done in New York Indian Embassy. Yes, this process is like re-issued passport, so there would be a fee for this. Check with Embassy for further details.

I-94 form is not for Green Card holder. You only have to fill custom declaration form.

Last time when I was returning to USA, I was asked few quick questions - where was I coming from, how many days I stays there, and if I am still married to my USC? That is it! then took the fingerprint, photo, then good to go. Process took less than few minutes. It was real easy.

Thank you so much ..I would definitely contact Newyork embassy. I did not know that green card holders do not have to fill in I-94 form. I just have to find out more about if I can be in the same line as my wife though she is USC. Thank you so much guys.

[TimeTravel 78]

I just have to find out more about if I can be in the same line as my wife though she is USC.

Green Card Holder and USC have to stand in the same line. When you are at airport, you will see a line for Permanent Resident & USC and 2nd line for Visitors.