India Visa Wait Times

Posted on June 13, 2016 by Arjun Mishra

Backlogged in India: Nonimmigrant Visa Interview Times

If you are planning on having a nonimmigrant visa interview at a US consulate in India, make your arrangements early. All of the US consulates in the country are badly backed up, with waiting times of:

Chennai – 75 days

Hyderabad – 93 days

Kolkata – 96 days

Mumbai – 88 days

New Delhi – 100 days

These are the average wait times for nonimmigrant visas outside of the B, F, and J category, which have different procedures.

There are possibilities for expediting a nonimmigrant interview, provided there is a family or business emergency. Another option could be to process the nonimmigrant visa in a different country’s US consulate, as a third country national.

State of the Union Tonight

Posted on January 12, 2016 by Arjun Mishra

State of the Union: President Obama’s Final SOTU

President Obama is delivering his final State of the Union address tonight. Immigration was an important topic in his last State of the Union address. At that time, the executive orders for the deferred action programs were announced but not yet in effect. They were also not blocked in the federal court. The executive orders contained substantive measures to improve various aspects of the immigration system: L-1 visas, hardship waivers, the visa bulletin process.

Here are quotes from previous States of the Union.

“And we should continue the work of fixing our broken immigration system — to secure our borders and enforce our laws, and ensure that everyone who plays by the rules can contribute to our economy and enrich our nation.” — 2010

“Now, I strongly believe that we should take on, once and for all, the issue of illegal immigration. And I am prepared to work with Republicans and Democrats to protect our borders, enforce our laws, and address the millions of undocumented workers who are now living in the shadows.” — 2011

“I believe as strongly as ever that we should take on illegal immigration. That’s why my administration has put more boots on the border than ever before. That’s why there are fewer illegal crossings than when I took office. The opponents of action are out of excuses. We should be working on comprehensive immigration reform right now. … Send me a law that gives them the chance to earn their citizenship. I will sign it right away.” — 2012

“Our economy is stronger when we harness the talents and ingenuity of striving, hopeful immigrants. And right now leaders from the business, labor, law enforcement, faith communities, they all agree that the time has come to pass comprehensive immigration reform. … we know what needs to be done. … Send me a comprehensive immigration reform bill in the next few months, and I will sign it right away. And America will be better for it.” — 2013

“Finally, if we are serious about economic growth, it is time to heed the call of business leaders, labor leaders, faith leaders and law enforcement — and fix our broken immigration system. … So let’s get immigration reform done this year.” — 2014

“Yes, passions still fly on immigration, but surely we can all see something of ourselves in the striving young student, and agree that no one benefits when a hardworking mom is snatched from her child, and that it’s possible to shape a law that upholds our tradition as a nation of laws and a nation of immigrants. I’ve talked to Republicans and Democrats about that. That’s something that we can share.” — 2015

International Migrants Day

Posted on December 18, 2015 by Arjun Mishra

The UN Celebrates International Migrants Day

“On International Migrants Day, let us reaffirm our commitment to shape diverse and open societies that provide opportunities and lives of dignity for all migrants.”

Ban-Ki Moon and the United Nations celebrates International Migrants Day today. This is the sixteenth celebration of International Migrants Day, and it is in recognition of the increasing number and importance of immigrants and non-immigrants to countries and communities around the world. The United States has prided itself on having thriving immigrant communities, but the rest of the world has been experiencing its own migrant experiences. Western European countries post World War II have been built on the strength of migrant communities, Brazil and Argentina are renown for their immigrant communities, and Canada is a rich mosaic of migrants.

In the United States, 13% of all Americans are immigrants today and that does not include the millions of nonimmigrants who are currently residing in the country as F-1 visa students, H-1B workers, and various other visa holders. Migration can sometimes involve difficult and arduous journeys and International Migrants Day tries to draw attention to the peril of those migrations. It also rallies support against racism and intolerance encourages better public perception of migrants and migration. The State Department lamented the hardship many migrants have faced in trying to escape to better lives. This day is particularly poignant given world events recently.