Process to get travel visa for India, for US Citizens (Person of Indian Origin)

[Jot18 47]

49 minutes ago, Tathastu said:

 

This is my conundrum. Wasn't aware about the Renunciation certificate being a necessary step for visa approval. I have just applied for this via SF consulate (notoriously slow), can't rely on them to process the certificate in time for me to apply for the entry visa. I wasn't aware you can apply for x visa at the same time. Can you please point me in the right direction to get this started? Also, my travel is in mid December, can I still apply for this category/ x/emergency visa? Thanks in advance!

X visa and entry visa is same I believe. I applied for my uncle last week. He had doctors note so you do need some kind of medical note for family member in India to qualify. His category on the visa sticker said x visa and when we applied we followed instructions for emergency visa. Just attach a medical note from someone family member from India and attach the receipt of the renunciation.

[G_One 10]

On 11/4/2021 at 8:58 PM, Jot18 said:

If you apply for tourist/visitor visa, you will most likely get both documents together. However if you apply for emergency visa aka x-visa then just apply together and attach the payment receipt of Renunciation with visa application. That's what I did with my uncle's application. VFS hasn't even sent the acknowledgement email yet but he got his passport yday and went to India today. I'll let you once he reach India. You are not reqd to carry renunciation certificate while traveling.

How would I get both the Documents together ? Do you mean I should apply for both the documents together (ie Entry Visa (of 1 yr or 5 yr multiple entry with 180 days of stay, not tourist visa) and Renunciation certificate) ? 

[Jot18 47]

5 hours ago, G_One said:

How would I get both the Documents together ? Do you mean I should apply for both the documents together (ie Entry Visa (of 1 yr or 5 yr multiple entry with 180 days of stay, not tourist visa) and Renunciation certificate) ? 

Entry visa is issued for 1 year and requires a real emergency for family member in India or if you are visiting spouse then just attach marriage certificate and a letter why you are going. I applied for my uncle and he rec'd his passport in 7 business days but his renunciation is still under process. It took VFS 2+ weeks to just send acknowledgement email for Renunciation. We applied for Renunciation and attached the payment receipt when we sent application for emergency visa. 

[G_One 10]

2 minutes ago, Jot18 said:

Entry visa is issued for 1 year and requires a real emergency for family member in India or if you are visiting spouse then just attach marriage certificate and a letter why you are going. I applied for my uncle and he rec'd his passport in 7 business days but his renunciation is still under process. It took VFS 2+ weeks to just send acknowledgement email for Renunciation. We applied for Renunciation and attached the payment receipt when we sent application for emergency visa. 

 

"he rec'd his passport in 7 business days"  -- Which passport did he receive, the Cancelled Indian passport ?

 

My US passport as per the passport website says I will be getting in next 2 days so thats hopefully gets resolved soon.

But the regular 6 Months, 1 yr, 5 yr entry Visa is still not open for people of Indian Origin (Ex Indian passport holders) you mean ? 

except for emergency situations ?

[NandV 87]

Sorry to break it to you, but as a US Citizen, you're American now. You will be considered a tourist back to India as weird as it sounds. What you're really looking for is the OCI but like everyone said, that will take months to get. Since you want to travel so soon, just apply for a normal tourist visa and when you return, apply for the OCI.

[Mike E 11,739]

4 hours ago, NandV said:

Sorry to break it to you, but as a US Citizen, you're American now. You will be considered a tourist back to India as weird as it sounds. What you're really looking for is the OCI but like everyone said, that will take months to get. Since you want to travel so soon, just apply for a normal tourist visa and when you return, apply for the OCI.

Agreed but s/normal tourist visa/normal tourist e-visa/

 

I once had an Indian consulate take over 2 months to issue a paper visa.  I had to cancel my Sunday flight to India,   fly to the consulate on Saturday, and book a new flight ins different airline out of the consulate’s city to India.  I can’t imagine a scenario where I would apply for paper visa from India again when a 5 year e-visa is faster, simpler, and when including FedEx fees, cheaper.  

[Jot18 47]

15 hours ago, G_One said:

 

"he rec'd his passport in 7 business days"  -- Which passport did he receive, the Cancelled Indian passport ?

 

My US passport as per the passport website says I will be getting in next 2 days so thats hopefully gets resolved soon.

But the regular 6 Months, 1 yr, 5 yr entry Visa is still not open for people of Indian Origin (Ex Indian passport holders) you mean ? 

except for emergency situations ?

I believe regular visas opened on Nov 15 but not the original 5 yr/10yr visas that were issued prior to Covid. My uncle hasn't recd cancelled Indian passport yet. Only recd US passport with visa. The renunciation is done through VFS and emergency visa application is sent directly to consulate.

[G_One 10]

1 hour ago, Jot18 said:

I believe regular visas opened on Nov 15 but not the original 5 yr/10yr visas that were issued prior to Covid. My uncle hasn't recd cancelled Indian passport yet. Only recd US passport with visa. The renunciation is done through VFS and emergency visa application is sent directly to consulate.

Thanks for the info...

Does it help in getting the Renunciation Document quickly if we take an appointment at the VFS Chicago office ? Did you send your uncle's documents by post for Renunciation ?

[Jot18 47]

7 hours ago, G_One said:

Thanks for the info...

Does it help in getting the Renunciation Document quickly if we take an appointment at the VFS Chicago office ? Did you send your uncle's documents by post for Renunciation ?

Yes we sent it by post on 1st Nov and rec'd acknowledgement email like 3 days ago. The visa application was also by mail and it took exactly 7 business days to get issued.