learning01
02-23 03:06 PM
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/22/AR2006022202446_pf.html
Scientist's Visa Denial Sparks Outrage in India
By Shankar Vedantam
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, February 23, 2006; A01
A decision two weeks ago by a U.S. consulate in India to refuse a visa to a prominent Indian scientist has triggered heated protests in that country and set off a major diplomatic flap on the eve of President Bush's first visit to India.
The incident has also caused embarrassment at the highest reaches of the American scientific establishment, which has worked to get the State Department to issue a visa to Goverdhan Mehta, who said the U.S. consulate in the south Indian city of Chennai told him that his expertise in chemistry was deemed a threat.
In the face of outrage in India, the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi issued a highly unusual statement of regret, and yesterday the State Department said officials are reaching out to the scientist to resolve his case.
"It is very strange logic," said Mehta, reached at his home in Bangalore early this morning India time. "Someone is insulted and hurt and you ask him to come back a second round."
The consulate told Mehta "you have been denied a visa" and invited him to submit additional information, according to an official at the National Academy of Sciences who saw a copy of the document. Mehta said in a written account obtained by The Washington Post that he was humiliated, accused of "hiding things" and being dishonest, and told that his work is dangerous because of its potential applications in chemical warfare.
Mehta denied that his work has anything to do with weapons. He said that he would provide his passport if a visa were issued, but that he would do nothing further to obtain the document: "If they don't want to give me a visa, so be it."
The scientist told Indian newspapers that his dealing with the U.S. consulate was "the most degrading experience of my life." Mehta is president of the International Council for Science, a Paris-based organization comprising the national scientific academies of a number of countries. The council advocates that scientists should have free access to one another.
Visa rejections or delays for foreign academics after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks have led to widespread complaints by U.S universities and scientific organizations, but the new incident comes when things are improving, said Wendy White, director of the Board of International Scientific Organizations. The board was set up by the National Academy of Sciences and has helped about 3,000 scientists affected by the new policies.
"This leaves a terrible impression of the United States," said White, who has seen a copy of the consulate's form letter to Mehta. In an interview yesterday, she added that top scientists had worked with senior State Department officials to reverse the decision before Bush's visit next week. "We want people to know the U.S. is an open and welcoming country."
Mehta's case has especially angered Indians because he was a director of the Indian Institute of Science and is a science adviser to India's prime minister. He has visited the United States "dozens of times," he said, and the University of Florida in Gainesville had invited him to lecture at an international conference.
State Department spokesman Justin Higgins denied yesterday that the United States had rejected Mehta's visa and said the consulate had merely followed standard procedure in dealing with applicants with certain kinds of scientific expertise.
In his written account, the scientist said that after traveling 200 miles, waiting three hours with his wife for an interview and being accused of deception, he was outraged when his accounts of his research were questioned and he was told he needed to fill out a detailed questionnaire.
"I indicated that I have no desire to subject myself to any further humiliation and asked that our passports be returned forthwith," he wrote. The consular official, Mehta added, "stamped the passports to indicate visa refusal and returned them."
Higgins declined to address why the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi had taken the unusual step of saying it "regrets" that Mehta was "upset by the visa interview process."
In its statement, the embassy said: "At the United States mission in India, and to varying degrees at every U.S. mission worldwide, certain cases involving high technology issues are among those that require review before consular officers in the field are authorized to issue a visa."
White said that issuing a visa would solve the immediate problem, but that it would be more difficult to undo the damage caused by the dispute. Mehta is a high-profile example of the hurdles imposed by the new visa procedures. They require all applicants to appear in person for interviews that are done in only a few locations in large countries such as India, White said.
"If you tell an American, 'If you want a visa to go to India, you have to go to Dallas, Chicago, L.A. or New York, and while you are there, you are going to be fingerprinted, photographed and asked about everything you have done in your research for the last 40 years,' we would find this procedure untenable as Americans," she said.
Mehta said in his written account that he had been invited by the University of Florida, where he has previously been a distinguished visiting professor. White said she expected the International Council for Science, also known as the ICSU, to issue a statement today about the case involving its president.
White and William Wulf, president of the National Academy of Engineering, acknowledged that young American consular officers in foreign countries have been under tremendous pressure since the Sept. 11 attacks.
"Making the wrong decision would be career-ending, so they play it safe, not really understanding the macroscopic implications of their decision," Wulf said. "Denying a visa to the president of ICSU is probably as dumb as you can get. This is not the way we can make friends."
�*2006*The Washington Post Company
Scientist's Visa Denial Sparks Outrage in India
By Shankar Vedantam
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, February 23, 2006; A01
A decision two weeks ago by a U.S. consulate in India to refuse a visa to a prominent Indian scientist has triggered heated protests in that country and set off a major diplomatic flap on the eve of President Bush's first visit to India.
The incident has also caused embarrassment at the highest reaches of the American scientific establishment, which has worked to get the State Department to issue a visa to Goverdhan Mehta, who said the U.S. consulate in the south Indian city of Chennai told him that his expertise in chemistry was deemed a threat.
In the face of outrage in India, the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi issued a highly unusual statement of regret, and yesterday the State Department said officials are reaching out to the scientist to resolve his case.
"It is very strange logic," said Mehta, reached at his home in Bangalore early this morning India time. "Someone is insulted and hurt and you ask him to come back a second round."
The consulate told Mehta "you have been denied a visa" and invited him to submit additional information, according to an official at the National Academy of Sciences who saw a copy of the document. Mehta said in a written account obtained by The Washington Post that he was humiliated, accused of "hiding things" and being dishonest, and told that his work is dangerous because of its potential applications in chemical warfare.
Mehta denied that his work has anything to do with weapons. He said that he would provide his passport if a visa were issued, but that he would do nothing further to obtain the document: "If they don't want to give me a visa, so be it."
The scientist told Indian newspapers that his dealing with the U.S. consulate was "the most degrading experience of my life." Mehta is president of the International Council for Science, a Paris-based organization comprising the national scientific academies of a number of countries. The council advocates that scientists should have free access to one another.
Visa rejections or delays for foreign academics after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks have led to widespread complaints by U.S universities and scientific organizations, but the new incident comes when things are improving, said Wendy White, director of the Board of International Scientific Organizations. The board was set up by the National Academy of Sciences and has helped about 3,000 scientists affected by the new policies.
"This leaves a terrible impression of the United States," said White, who has seen a copy of the consulate's form letter to Mehta. In an interview yesterday, she added that top scientists had worked with senior State Department officials to reverse the decision before Bush's visit next week. "We want people to know the U.S. is an open and welcoming country."
Mehta's case has especially angered Indians because he was a director of the Indian Institute of Science and is a science adviser to India's prime minister. He has visited the United States "dozens of times," he said, and the University of Florida in Gainesville had invited him to lecture at an international conference.
State Department spokesman Justin Higgins denied yesterday that the United States had rejected Mehta's visa and said the consulate had merely followed standard procedure in dealing with applicants with certain kinds of scientific expertise.
In his written account, the scientist said that after traveling 200 miles, waiting three hours with his wife for an interview and being accused of deception, he was outraged when his accounts of his research were questioned and he was told he needed to fill out a detailed questionnaire.
"I indicated that I have no desire to subject myself to any further humiliation and asked that our passports be returned forthwith," he wrote. The consular official, Mehta added, "stamped the passports to indicate visa refusal and returned them."
Higgins declined to address why the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi had taken the unusual step of saying it "regrets" that Mehta was "upset by the visa interview process."
In its statement, the embassy said: "At the United States mission in India, and to varying degrees at every U.S. mission worldwide, certain cases involving high technology issues are among those that require review before consular officers in the field are authorized to issue a visa."
White said that issuing a visa would solve the immediate problem, but that it would be more difficult to undo the damage caused by the dispute. Mehta is a high-profile example of the hurdles imposed by the new visa procedures. They require all applicants to appear in person for interviews that are done in only a few locations in large countries such as India, White said.
"If you tell an American, 'If you want a visa to go to India, you have to go to Dallas, Chicago, L.A. or New York, and while you are there, you are going to be fingerprinted, photographed and asked about everything you have done in your research for the last 40 years,' we would find this procedure untenable as Americans," she said.
Mehta said in his written account that he had been invited by the University of Florida, where he has previously been a distinguished visiting professor. White said she expected the International Council for Science, also known as the ICSU, to issue a statement today about the case involving its president.
White and William Wulf, president of the National Academy of Engineering, acknowledged that young American consular officers in foreign countries have been under tremendous pressure since the Sept. 11 attacks.
"Making the wrong decision would be career-ending, so they play it safe, not really understanding the macroscopic implications of their decision," Wulf said. "Denying a visa to the president of ICSU is probably as dumb as you can get. This is not the way we can make friends."
�*2006*The Washington Post Company
wallpaper Animals of Africa Part III
rajeshalex
09-19 02:14 PM
Another thing. Since the ticket starts from India base fare will be in INR and when u buy online the credit card company converts $ into INR. Usually credit card company exchange rate is lower than the ones provided by HDFC and other banks.
Also check for foreign transaction charges imposed by credit card companies..
Also check for foreign transaction charges imposed by credit card companies..
andy.jones110
10-16 10:37 PM
Thanks for the reply.
So you mean to say that I will get the Approval for Visa Transfer, but with consular processing and I need to Travel to my country of origin to get Visa stamped and I will get new I-94 when I enter US again.
Am I correct?
So you mean to say that I will get the Approval for Visa Transfer, but with consular processing and I need to Travel to my country of origin to get Visa stamped and I will get new I-94 when I enter US again.
Am I correct?
2011 Tagged: Africa, animals, East
Immi_Chant
07-28 03:20 PM
Hi Friends,
I am an July 2007 485 filer and did the biometrics within couple of months after that. Last year applied EAD and AP by paper filing so there was no biometrics.
May be its my wild hope... still..
If by any magic the processing dates moved by Oct. 2009 and I am current(:) I know its very little chance), as I am planning to apply my AP renewals now, is it good to do e-filing since it will trigger to do the biometrics also and there won't be any delay in the form of RFE's in regards to fingerprinting expiry or so?
Thanks,
Immi_Chant
I am an July 2007 485 filer and did the biometrics within couple of months after that. Last year applied EAD and AP by paper filing so there was no biometrics.
May be its my wild hope... still..
If by any magic the processing dates moved by Oct. 2009 and I am current(:) I know its very little chance), as I am planning to apply my AP renewals now, is it good to do e-filing since it will trigger to do the biometrics also and there won't be any delay in the form of RFE's in regards to fingerprinting expiry or so?
Thanks,
Immi_Chant
more...
brb2
08-27 07:50 AM
Yingli
Don't waste your money on lawyers. Take things in your own hand. If I were stuck in name check, I would file it myself. The links that are there in your thread are good enough to file your own MTD. A basic undergraduate degree and a good command of English is more than enough to win a MTD. Just use the existing cases on-line to prepare your defense.
Thanks you all so much for the reply! I really appreciate it!
How do I respond to the government's motion that the USCIS's decision on the adjustment of status (I485) is discretionary, so it does not fall under Mandamus? The U.S. attorneys wrote that only NATURALIZATION (but not greencard application) falls under Mandamus. Any suggestions?
I am thinking about using a different lawyer. My current lawyer only complains that he lost money on my case (I paid $2,500 lawyer fee!), but does not really care about the outcome of my case.
I will definitely check with Sheila Murthy. Any other recommendations? If you do not feel comfortable posting your lawyers' contact info. here, can you send me a private message (yingli95@gmail.com)?
YL
Don't waste your money on lawyers. Take things in your own hand. If I were stuck in name check, I would file it myself. The links that are there in your thread are good enough to file your own MTD. A basic undergraduate degree and a good command of English is more than enough to win a MTD. Just use the existing cases on-line to prepare your defense.
Thanks you all so much for the reply! I really appreciate it!
How do I respond to the government's motion that the USCIS's decision on the adjustment of status (I485) is discretionary, so it does not fall under Mandamus? The U.S. attorneys wrote that only NATURALIZATION (but not greencard application) falls under Mandamus. Any suggestions?
I am thinking about using a different lawyer. My current lawyer only complains that he lost money on my case (I paid $2,500 lawyer fee!), but does not really care about the outcome of my case.
I will definitely check with Sheila Murthy. Any other recommendations? If you do not feel comfortable posting your lawyers' contact info. here, can you send me a private message (yingli95@gmail.com)?
YL
Lewwy
10-28 06:34 PM
Wehey - I can do all that (- website layouts) and I havent had classes yet :)
Your car is slightly different.. It has a gradient; where mine was bright purple.
Can I view a few of your sigs? Or a website you have previously made?
Your car is slightly different.. It has a gradient; where mine was bright purple.
Can I view a few of your sigs? Or a website you have previously made?
more...
priderock
05-15 02:40 PM
1) current visa stamp has already expired, so I have to apply for a new stamp(this is the key question: how long is the visa stamp? 3-moth or only till June 30?)2) the validity of new I-797 approval notice will till 2010. I guess it will be approved next month.
My wish is the visa stamp is 3-month and then I can enter US with the new I-797 extension approval. Am I right?
As far as I know if your current visa is valid until June30 , 2007 and you go to stamping with that visa , your new stamp will only be valid until June30 , 2007. You can enter US by that date. You will probably asked proof about new extension if you travel to wards end of month. I don't think it will be valid for 3 months (say until September) even though your visa was only valid until June30.
Since your visa stamp is expired you MUST get new stamping before re-entering the US.
If you go to stamping with new extension , you will get the stamping until that date (2010).
PS: I am not an attorney , get help from an attorney when in doubt.
My wish is the visa stamp is 3-month and then I can enter US with the new I-797 extension approval. Am I right?
As far as I know if your current visa is valid until June30 , 2007 and you go to stamping with that visa , your new stamp will only be valid until June30 , 2007. You can enter US by that date. You will probably asked proof about new extension if you travel to wards end of month. I don't think it will be valid for 3 months (say until September) even though your visa was only valid until June30.
Since your visa stamp is expired you MUST get new stamping before re-entering the US.
If you go to stamping with new extension , you will get the stamping until that date (2010).
PS: I am not an attorney , get help from an attorney when in doubt.
2010 Pay for ANIMALS OF AFRICA
Sandeep
01-26 12:23 PM
(a) a policy paper by the committee for economic development
(b) A paper by Pia Orrenius and Madeline Zavodny of the FRB, Dallas, that discusses the effect of immigrants on wage levels
16
17.
(b) A paper by Pia Orrenius and Madeline Zavodny of the FRB, Dallas, that discusses the effect of immigrants on wage levels
16
17.
more...
a_yaja
01-16 09:27 AM
Hi,
I got laid off in dec-08, my H1B visa got extended till 2011, but stamp in passport was expired sept-30th. I got my W2 good for last year and have got pay stubs till dec month. Now i am in need of visiting India, I have to get my stamp renewed in India.
As I am on job at present, I can not produce any client letter at consulate in case if they ask.
Will there be any issues which I may come across, please help me if you have any experiences.
thanks in advance.
Niru
It is considered fraud if you go for H1B stamping and you don't have a job. If the consulate gets to know that you don't have your job anymore and you were aware of that fact when you applied for the H1B visa, you could permanently be barred from entering the US.
I would advice against such a move. Try to get a new job and transfer your H1B and then go to India for visa stamping.
I got laid off in dec-08, my H1B visa got extended till 2011, but stamp in passport was expired sept-30th. I got my W2 good for last year and have got pay stubs till dec month. Now i am in need of visiting India, I have to get my stamp renewed in India.
As I am on job at present, I can not produce any client letter at consulate in case if they ask.
Will there be any issues which I may come across, please help me if you have any experiences.
thanks in advance.
Niru
It is considered fraud if you go for H1B stamping and you don't have a job. If the consulate gets to know that you don't have your job anymore and you were aware of that fact when you applied for the H1B visa, you could permanently be barred from entering the US.
I would advice against such a move. Try to get a new job and transfer your H1B and then go to India for visa stamping.
hair adj98m12-africa-animals
TomPlate
07-11 01:53 PM
poda naygala. panni pasangala.
you all are pigs and dogs. go away from me.
you all are pigs and dogs. go away from me.
more...
gcisadawg
07-11 01:03 AM
Kudos and Hats off to the originators of this idea and hundreds of members that sent flowers.
Check this site!
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070710/pl_nm/usa_immigration_indians_dc_1
Check the statement from USCIS Director Emilio Gonzalez..
Message from USCIS Director Emilio Gonzalez
I understand that individuals are planning to send flowers to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) beginning on Tuesday, July 10. USCIS has made arrangements to forward those flowers to our injured service members recuperating at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and at Bethesda Naval Hospital.
Thank you guys for the creativity shown here!
Check this site!
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070710/pl_nm/usa_immigration_indians_dc_1
Check the statement from USCIS Director Emilio Gonzalez..
Message from USCIS Director Emilio Gonzalez
I understand that individuals are planning to send flowers to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) beginning on Tuesday, July 10. USCIS has made arrangements to forward those flowers to our injured service members recuperating at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and at Bethesda Naval Hospital.
Thank you guys for the creativity shown here!
hot Photos of animals in Africa
cool_desi_gc
11-26 05:34 PM
Hmm..I see lot of approvals in today.I know atleast 5 people who got approved today (India Eb2 and Eb3's).Atleast it is moving for somebody.
more...
house of wild animals in Africa
eb2dec2005
09-23 01:26 PM
Soft LUD for me. It was so soft that it didnt even update the date.
New term: Very Soft LUD. No visible change to the naked eye, but something is cooking behind the scenes regarding your case
You cracked me up :)
New term: Very Soft LUD. No visible change to the naked eye, but something is cooking behind the scenes regarding your case
You cracked me up :)
tattoo Discover wild animals#39; secret
casinoroyale
06-25 08:37 PM
I used AP thrice and renewed my H1 twice after entering using AP without any issues.
Thanks
nlssubbu, its amazing that you still check IV and answer other's questions. I got my first AP and i travelled once and after coming back renewned my H1B and now i am thinking of applying for AP renewal. Can you please tell me if I can travel while the AP renewal application pending? The instructions in I-131 form says, the application will be abondoned if the person leaves the country after filing I-131.
Thanks
nlssubbu, its amazing that you still check IV and answer other's questions. I got my first AP and i travelled once and after coming back renewned my H1B and now i am thinking of applying for AP renewal. Can you please tell me if I can travel while the AP renewal application pending? The instructions in I-131 form says, the application will be abondoned if the person leaves the country after filing I-131.
more...
pictures Africa, movies, animals .
vikasgarg24
07-13 09:27 AM
Done and forward to friends
dresses photo : Animals of Africa,
vikram2101
08-08 05:34 PM
That's funny someone told you that ..
My case is similar, July 2007 NSC filer, file was transferred to CSC, and then transferred back to NSC 2-3months later, but that was after they had mailed me the 485 receipt notice, EAD and AP.
I had called NSC a couple of weeks ago to inquire about my spouse's application, they informed me that the application was very much with them, it's cleared name check and it's waiting for it's turn so that a decision can be made.
My case is similar, July 2007 NSC filer, file was transferred to CSC, and then transferred back to NSC 2-3months later, but that was after they had mailed me the 485 receipt notice, EAD and AP.
I had called NSC a couple of weeks ago to inquire about my spouse's application, they informed me that the application was very much with them, it's cleared name check and it's waiting for it's turn so that a decision can be made.
more...
makeup Animals In Africa
deepakjain
01-08 09:18 AM
Did the office say that you are granted visa and the passport will be mailed. I know in Mumbai consulate, you can collect the stamped-passport the same evening.
NewDelhi consulate will have an email address, email them and check. otherwise if you are there in the city visit the consulate and enquire.
Just my thoughts.All the best.
THe process has changed the passport are now delivered the next day between 4:30 PM to 5:00 PM. Mumbai consulate no longer delivers the passport the same day of interview.
Deepak
NewDelhi consulate will have an email address, email them and check. otherwise if you are there in the city visit the consulate and enquire.
Just my thoughts.All the best.
THe process has changed the passport are now delivered the next day between 4:30 PM to 5:00 PM. Mumbai consulate no longer delivers the passport the same day of interview.
Deepak
girlfriend African Animals
anilsal
12-19 10:14 PM
I think the idea should be to get the callers from IV over zip codes that are dispersed across the country. Plus the calls should be daily from a few of the members. Maybe like 5-10 calls per day till SKIL bill gets cleared?
What do you think?
Sen.Cornyn should get to know that his bill is important (of course the tech industry has made its intentions clear by pushing for it). Now if the members of IV also keep calling amidst the negative calling campaign from the anti-imm group, it would do us a world of GOOD.
What do you think?
Sen.Cornyn should get to know that his bill is important (of course the tech industry has made its intentions clear by pushing for it). Now if the members of IV also keep calling amidst the negative calling campaign from the anti-imm group, it would do us a world of GOOD.
hairstyles Wild animals from Africa
mariner5555
05-15 11:32 PM
wow ..so I guess there is hope :)
eb3retro
02-04 04:36 PM
has anyone requested USCIS to send AP via Fedex/UPS?
I am thinking of sending USCIS a Fedex return envelope so that they can use that instead of regular USPS mail.
has anyone done this successfully?
would help me a lot
thanks
whats so urgent about this?
I am thinking of sending USCIS a Fedex return envelope so that they can use that instead of regular USPS mail.
has anyone done this successfully?
would help me a lot
thanks
whats so urgent about this?
MatsP
February 16th, 2005, 04:58 AM
It seems like the subject is solved sort of, but if your camera exports an EXIF (Extended Information or whatever it's called), it should give the focal length in the EXIF for the image. So you could take a few pictures at different lengths and view the image information in Photoshop (or whatever good picture editor you like to use).
--
Mats
--
Mats
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