immigration tips Archives

Foreigners Regional Registration Office Registration

Why FRRO Registration Is Required?

August 14, 2021 Manoj Sodhani Comments 0 Comment

The Foreigners Regional Registration Office Registration (FRRO) is a competent authority that ensures the registration of foreigners with the Indian government. People travel here for a variety of reasons. This authority keeps their track records, verifies their entity, registers their arrival and departure and assesses their motive through different types of visas.

Typically, this authority verifies the request for different visas by foreigners. These all include the following visas:

· Employment Visa

· Business Visa

· Student Visa

· Entry (X) Visa

· Research Visa

· Journalist Visa

· Medical Visa

· Return Visa

Why FRRO Registration

This authority keeps an eye on every foreigner who comes here for different purposes. In case of its violation, the foreigner may be penalized with imprisonment and compensation amount. Deporting can also be done in certain cases.

Officially, it maintains their proper record in this manner:

Jurisdiction or administration over the place

With the registration of all foreigners, including foreigners of Indian origin, who are on long term student, medical, research or employment visa, it controls over the place where they intend to stay. All foreigners are directed to get registered within 14 days of arrival.

Mandates registering as per nationality

There are some regulations here to govern this registration practice as per different countries. All, except for people from Pakistan, are able to get it done within 14 days of arrival here. Pakistani nationals have to hurry up registering within a day or 24 hours since arrival.

Verifies Afghans

Although Afghans may also inform about their arrival in 14 days, yet there are few cases that are related to the visa validity for 30 days or less. Such cases are treated exceptionally. They have to share their local address in India with the Indian Mission/ FRRO/ FRO. The visa holding Afghans may have the “exemption from police reporting & exit permission” given that they will leave from here within the visa validity period.

Monitor aggregate days of business visa holders

The registration of foreigners on the business visa helps this authority to calculate the aggregate days of their stay. If it exceeds 180 days during a calendar year, it takes an action notifying them.

Visa renewal

However, the foreigners, except for Pakistanis, may not register with FRRO if they have a long term visa and their intention is to return within 180 days from arrival. In case, they want to exceed their stay from 180 days to more, registration is mandatory before its expiry. This authority looks into the renewal visa matters.

Entry (X) and business visa holders who exceed their 180 days of stay to more than 6 months on every visit have to renew registration.

Foreigners above 16 to physically report

Foreigners, including minors above 16 years of age have to be there for reporting in person. An authorized representative can also represent you before the appropriate Registration Officer for registration. Minors below the age of 16 years may not report.

Must to register for visa less than 180 days

FRRO/FRO registration is must in the case you have a visa for less than 180 days. This is also mandatory for the cases of special endorsement.

However, business visa holders shall not be registered on their CONTINUOUSLY STAY LESS THAN 180 DAYS IN A CALENDAR YEAR.

Journalist visa

Foreigners with Journalist visa or any other category that is valid for more than 180 days and has no special endorsement of “each stay 180 days with no registration”, registration is required within 180 days of arrival.

Generally, this process hardly takes a day. But, the rare cases or field inquiry may extend its processing. This authority is governed on the basis of guidelines and norms set under The Passport (Entry in India) Act, 1920, The Foreigners Act, 1946 and The Registration of Foreigners Act, 1939 and The Registration of Foreigners Rules, 1992.

The US President May Suspend Immigration of Indians

April 28, 2020 Manoj Sodhani Comments 0 Comment

It’s not a new thing for the president of the USA who has recently announced that he may order for temporarily turning off approving immigration permission or its renewal for Indians. The terror of widespread pandemic COVIID-19 is still on due to which its economy is tussling hard. Around 15 million people in that continent have lost their jobs. It’s really a hard time when people are struggling to save life. The NRIs are feeling no earth under their feet. Now, they have one more apprehension to face off, i.e. unemployment.

There are many Indians who are looking for revising their visa. Most of these are the employees of the IT companies and technology professionals. They are under a deep shock. It seems another sequence of “Americans first” regime.

When the US president Trump tweeted in the late night on Monday, the non-residents’ fear for ousting came up front. A New York based immigration lawyer Cyrus D Mehta threw light on it.

Here are the key points that are creating a threat to the people with Indian passport there:

Impact on Indian Nationals

However, it is not clear who is going to be impacted with this decision. The details are yet to come out. But, the surfacing of apprehension is obvious because of the history. Previously, such steps had been taken while keeping aside the rights of the green cards holders. Their travel ban had been executed and there was a massive cut in the workforce from this origin. However, it is really unconstitutional to halt entry in the US.

The Worst Hit Visa Category

The executive order will likely to impact prospective aspirants from this country. Although there is going to have a little impact of the green card holder who are yet to receive confirmation on either a non-immigrant visa or an immigrant visa from the US consulates and embassy.

Stranded Indian Tourists

Those who have travel visa will likely not to be impacted unless they ask to extend their non-immigrant visa to stay there or apply for the change of the status while being in the US.

Legal Challenges

The executive order or EO may likely to face off zillions of challenges in the court. One court or more may issue a preliminary injunction and halt it unless the Apex court of this continent nods for hearing the matter.

Prospective Exemptions

There are hearsays about the exemption of the farm workers, who are there on the H2A visas. Besides, the healthcare workers can also get the opportunity to stay there because of the pandemic spreading widely, taking off lives in millions.

Source: The Economic Times

How to Fill DS-160- Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application?

November 24, 2018 Manoj Sodhani Comments 0 Comment

Are you really intended to visit the USA?

Do you think that getting visa to go there is an uphill climb?

It won’t be that much tougher, today. You don’t have to fill an array of forms, including DS-156, DS-156K, DS-156V, DS-157, DS-158 and DS-3032.

So! How can you get the US visa? It’s easy and, indeed, extremely convenient through a form, viz DS- 160. Let’s catch some more details about this valuable visa:

What is the form DS-160?

It’s a new non-immigrant visa, pertaining to the K visas. The USCIS has replaced all the aforementioned forms with it to let you heave a sigh of relief. Now, the DS-160 online non-immigrant visa application can be filled digitally. This facility enables you to travel temporarily to the United States.

Why is this form required?

The immigration authority in America, i.e. the USCIS, mandates the electronic submission of the visa-applicant’s details. It enables the NRI diaspora to submit the necessary information to that immigration authority. Thereby, it would have his/her prior information.

The visa procedure furthers with a personal interview trailing the application process. It explicitly determines the applicant’s eligibility for the nonimmigrant visa.

How should you fill DS-160 Form?

Download DS 160 form. Fill this form electronically prior to the interview with the US visa authority.
The embassy that you select for the visa interview might be different from the one you have been scheduled for. But, that embassy should be located in the country only, as in India.
Fill the entire form in English language, unless you are asked to feed a particular detail in your native language.
Be quick while filling the form online since its application won’t be active longer than 20 minutes. You can try a hack wherein you have to record your application ID number. Save it in your desktop memory to get off the DS-160 session timed out over and over.
Bear in your mind that the browser won’t be closed unless you provide with your application ID. Copy it from the top right-hand corner of the form. Whenever your form will be closed, paste it to re-start filling this form.
Once you’re done with the application form, an alphanumeric code will automatically be generated. Take its print out. Show it off to the consular officer whenever you walk-in for the visa interview.

Tips to Apply DS 160 Visa Application:

You should take into account the standards that have been fixed for the photographs, like its dimension, paper-quality, not so older, no eyeglasses and many more.
You don’t need to fill multiple forms, which are DS-156, DS-156K, DS-156V, DS-157, DS-158 and DS-3032. Only DS-160 form is enough to apply for the nonimmigrant visa.
For E-visa applicants also, this form is enough to fill in. However, your employer/manager/essential employees should feed your pan information into the Form DS-156E. Subsequently, the immigration authority will release a form DS-161. Once it’s released, the forms won’t be required. Previously, the candidates had to take along the aforementioned application forms at the time of face-to-face interview with the consul.
This Form maintains security. The level privacy remains higher than ever because the candidates directly fill the form digitally. Thereby, the visa process goes on a fast track.
The consular officer takes a look into your personal details prior to the formal interaction. Thereby, the visa processing progresses by leaps and bounds. And, delays never occur.
The USCIS comes across flawless data of yours. This is how it compiles the required information accurately in its data repository.
It’s seamless to download the DS-160 form. You can save on time and money that might be expended on if following the old methods, which were manual as well as electronic.
The immigration authority immediately accesses the data by scanning the barcode on your form. This barcode scanning transmits your particular data into their database automatically. Thereby, it escapes the typo errors and hence, the time remains spare with them.

Guide to Know About DS 160 Form For Visa Application

July 27, 2018 Manoj Sodhani Comments 0 Comment

What is a Non-Immigration Visa?

A person who lives temporarily in the US is a non-immigrant. Plainly speaking, the one might reside in the US for fulfilling the purpose of employment or medical treatment or business or temporary work/study. He would require a non-immigrant visa. It is provided to the non-natives of that country.

You can’t fulfil immigration dreams unless you have a legal permit to live there. It can be procured through a non-immigrant visa, let’s say H1B Visa. But, this is not the only one option you can have to settle there for a few years. Your employer files petition for seeking this visa on your behalf. In the meantime, you undergo several ordeals to get it.

Filling DS 160 Form is also a part of that visa formality. Let’s catch on why it’s essential; how much safe it is and how you can fill this form on the internet.

What is a DS 160 form?

As aforesaid, it’s an electronically available application form. You will have to submit it to the Department of the State. If you look into its layout, it would take a wink to estimate what and why you need to fill it.

Simply telling, it’s a kind of an e-Portfolio wherein you fill the necessary information about yourself. The ultimate motto of seeking this biography is to collect pan information and to send it to the US immigration authority (USCIS). It’s mandatory to fill prior to the visa interview. Once you submit it, the consular officers gain an easy access about you. Thereby, examining whether or not you’re eligible to get the non-immigrant visa becomes a walkover for them.

What are the benefits of DS 160 form?

It provides with an interactive help that doesn’t need any mediator.
In place of Forms DS-156, DS-156K, DS-156V, DS-157, DS-158 and DS-3032, just one form (i.e. DS 160) is to be filled.
As far as privacy is concerned, the consulate officer comes across your information through electronic mode. Thereby, your data remains confidential with him.
If you have filled it flawlessly and accurately, the visa processing won’t take a long. Rather, the officer would gain efficiency in processing your visa application. He would know about you before the screening during an interview. Hence, the delay in the visa processing can be averted.
Since you have the access to this form on the internet, you can easily edit it to serve the accurate details. If you want to edit or revise it the first time, you can do it remotely anytime, as per convenience and requirement.

Where does this form’s information store?

When you fill it online, your data straightly get stored in the robust storage architecture of the Department of State (DoS).

A few years ago, this facility was partially available on the internet. The applicant had to take out its hard copy. Subsequently, he had to visit the consular office in person to submit it. The erstwhile security was based on the barcode scanning. The form consisted of certain code in the form of bars. The officer used to scan it to enter the filled data into the database of the DoS. Thereby, they skip the start to end process of filling and re-filling your information into their database.

Also, you used to go for the interview with the A to Z papers, confirmation sheet and other relevant information in regard of the visa.

How can you skip filling this form?

If you want an employment visa, you will be split into the category of E-2 visa applicants. Then, the DS-160 form is a must. But, if you are a treaty trader or an executive/manager/ crucial employee, your employer will have to fill DS-156E form. When the immigration officer issues DS-161, no other form would be required.

How Can a Spouse Immigrate to Canada From India?

June 25, 2018 Manoj Sodhani Comments 0 Comment

Do you feel nostalgic while living alone in Canada?

You’re a social animal. Living social life is your tendency. So, feeling homesick now and then is obvious. It’s a common problem for those who go on employment visa, study visa or business visa. Right from the day first, the Canadian government offers perks and facilities. It can be free education, free healthcare, legal protection, job opportunities and a lot more.

Don’t be a slave of loneliness! You have an option to immigrate your spouse or dependents to Canada from India. Yes! It’s possible provided that you’re ready to sponsor them. Let’s catch what eligibility criteria you need to match in the next section:

How can you sponsor a person to immigrate to Canada from India?

You should be 18 years of age
You should be a Canadian citizen or a Permanent citizen
You should be financially sound enough to sponsor a family member in his initial stay period. This period of support can be 3 to 10 years long.
You will be disqualified to sponsor the second time, if you have sponsored earlier to the one who was granted the permission of the government.

How can you determine that a spouse is eligible for immigration to Canada from India?

Your spouse should be of 18 years or more.
Your spouse should have a marriage certificate to prove he is legally married.
Your spouse should have a marriage certificate from state, territory or province of Canada, if he has solemnized marriage there.
Your spouse should have a proof that the marriage ceremony took place, if it’s solemnized outside Canada.
Your spouse should have an apostilled police clearance certificate. It should read that your spouse has not committed any offense (if he has not been convicted ever).

How can you determine that a child is eligible for migrating to Canada from India?

Possibly, a married couple might have a child. In the immigration books, it would be considered a dependent. Otherwise, your parents and relatives would also be called dependent. You can sponsor either of them, if:

He/she is less than 22 years and is unmarried.
His/her study is on-going and his/her age is +22.
He/she is financially dependent on parents although he/she is 22 or plus.
He/she is married although he/she is less than 22 years but his/her study is ongoing.
He/she is married although he/she is less than 22 years but he/she is dependent on parents.
He/she is 22 years or more, but he/she is financially dependent on parents due to physical or psychological disability.

What things you should keep in your mind for applying PR of Canada?

The acronym PR stands for the Permanent Resident. If you have an idea of shifting to Canada at any corner of your mind, you should acquire its PR. For getting it, you should know which documents you should have; which examination is a must to give for and also, the migration cost.

Let’s consider these three major points briefly.

Documents: You need to know the Express Entry System because it mentions which documents you should enclose. The major role is of age proof and educational credentials. You should have their assessment report to validate your candidature for Canada’s PR. You can hire S2NRI to consult the list and specification of educational documents. It has been into the NRI service for more than a decade.
Test/Examination: You should be a certified IELTS. It will assess whether or not you’ll be able to communicate there. All in all, it’ll be an assessment of your linguistic proficiency. You can check its details on its official website. From costing to examination process, you’ll find every detail.

If you want to get into Canada via a business visa, you should have the certificate/documents pertaining to your profile.

Migration Cost: Like educational credentials, you should have an asset valuation assessment report. It will let them believe that you’ll be able to bear the cost of living there. And if you’re thinking of getting sponsorship, go through the details above carefully.

If you want to know more, you can give S2NRI a call. We’re always ready to provide you with absolutely free consulting about visa and immigration.

How to Get Form I-864 Online & Which Documents to Attach?

June 15, 2018 Manoj Sodhani Comments 0 Comment

Have you filed a petition for a visa of the US?

It’s absolutely necessary to premeditate the upcoming challenges. Your visa application might be approved. But, have you looked into your financial status? What if you won’t have enough funds? Lack of funds can throw a volley of problems upon you. So, be prepared.

There is a silver lining. You can grab a support. It’s what most of the employers/sponsors do. They lend their helping hands to let you and bear most of the expenses.

Now, consider a flip situation. What if you have funds to live in the US? Obviously, you’ll be in a win-win situation. But, having deep pocket is not enough. You have to show it up. The USCIS (US Citizenship and Immigration Services) requires you to provide an assessment report of your financial status. It’s what you can call the evaluation of your assets.

So! How can you do so?

Well, it’s way gets through the submission of Form I-864.

What is form I-864?

It’s a fund and asset assessment evaluation. It is also termed as an Affidavit of Support. If you’re likely to go to the US as a dependent from the family, you’ve to enclose the duly filled Affidavit of Support, i. e. Form I-864.

If you’re going through an employment visa and are economically sound, it mandates you not to become a public charge there. You have adequate modes of the financial support. In case, you’ll not have that much money, the foreign employer will sponsor with the much needed financial support. It’s a legal contract between the US government and the employer.

Who can apply for this form?

An explicitly defined immigration policy states that:

A US citizen, US national or lawful permanent residents who are 18 or 18 plus.
The individuals who have income 125% above the federal poverty line.
The prospective expats should have a country of domicile.

All these individuals can apply for this affidavit form.

How can you get it?

The prospective NRI can get it once his Form DS -260 (which is an immigration visa application form) has been successfully submitted.

You can download this affidavit form through these steps:

Visit the official website of the USCIS (www.uscis.gov)
Download the affidavit form.

Things to keep in your mind:

The browser should be updated.
Check if your system has a recent version of Adobe Reader.
If there is an older version, the prompt will show a ‘file corrupted’ message.

So, always keep your senses and mind awake along with all aforementioned instructions.

Which instruction would you follow?

Duly filled all pages of the affidavit form.
Make sure that you’ve put your signature on the form to avoid rejection.
Fill information in the capital letter.
Mention applicant’s name and the US security number.
Put header ‘Form I-864’ at the top right.
If you require additional sheet, mention the number, case number and the subject of each question.
Put in the sign of the sponsor or joint sponsors.
Take its two photocopies before its final submission.
There is no need to notarize it.

Which documents should you enclose with it?

When a sponsor or joint sponsors fill form:

A Barcoded cover sheet from NVC (National Visa Center)
A cover letter stating that all requisite documents are enclosed.
Form I-864
Photocopies of the affidavit of support
Federal income tax documents
Evidence of income
Asset assessment report or asset evaluation report.
A joint sponsor or sponsor requires a legal status proof, like citizenship certificate.

When you fill it on your own by using the income of your household:

A separate Form I-864A for each person whose income will be drawn.
Proof of joint residency & their relationship, like a copy of rental income stating the name of and address of the applicant & household members, like utility bill’s copy, personal correspondence and copies of the school records.
Proof of family relationship, like school records
Federal income tax documents
Evidence of income & the evidence of its frequent inflow in future
Evidence of assets
A list of all benefiting programs with receipt and date of previous 3 years.

S2NRI

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