Delay in Visa Stamping–Send Inquiry to US Embassy / Consulate

 

Make sure:

1. You have checked the Visa Processing or Stamping for your Location and that duration has been surpassed.
2. OR, if your case has been referred to 221(g) Administrative Processing than you have waited for at least 60 days.

Also, make sure you have checked your Visa Application Status Online.

There are two ways you can send your queries to US Embassy or Consulate in your Location

1. You can send queries to designated email address displayed on US Embassy or Consulate website. For example for US Consulate Karachi the email address is KarachiVisaQuery@State.gov
   
2. You can also send your inquiries using “Non Immigrant Visa Unit’s Web Based Email Submission Form” available on US Embassy or Consulate website. For example, following form available on US Embassy Islamabad’s website.
   

Check Current H-1B Visa Application Processing or Wait Time

 

From US Department of State Website, you can now check:

1. Current Wait Time for H-1B Visa Interview Appointment
2. Current Processing Time or Wait Time for H-1B Visa Application (for cases which are not referred to 221(g) Administrative Process)

All you have to do, is to go to US Department of State Website

Select your desired Location from the drop down list and click “GET WAIT TIMES” button. Both Wait and Processing Times of selected Location will be displayed on the following page.

New Birth Certificate in English from NADRA–Post H-1B Visa Stamping Action Items

 

This post is a part of series of posts that makes up “Post H-1B Visa Stamping Action Items”.

Why New Birth Certificate from NADRA?

Older birth certificates are in Urdu Language and in order for them to be used in processes in foreign countries (Green Card processing, for example), you need to get a new one issued from NADRA.

Location / Address / Map

Any NADRA Swift Registration Center NSRC.

NSRC @ Awami Markaz, Shahrah e Faisal, Karachi.

View Larger Map

Timings:

Monday through Saturday – 9:00 to 17:00 PST

Fees & Duration:

• Fee - PKR 50
• Duration – 5 days

Required Documents:

1. Photocopy of CNIC of your parents
2. Original Birth Certificate, if you have one
1. If you do not have original certificate, than an application from your parents, confirming the date of birth
3. Photocopy of your CNIC

Process:

1. Fill the form, shown above
2. Attach all the documents mentioned above
3. Submit the form and documents to any NSRC
4. Get the receipt

Post H-1B Visa Stamping–National Identity Card for Overseas Pakistanis–NICOP

 

This post is a part of series of posts that makes up “Post H-1B Visa Stamping Action Items”.

What is NICOP:

NICOP (National Identity Card for Overseas Pakistanis) is a registration document to be issued to a valid/legitimate citizen of Pakistan. It is actually an English version of your Computerized National Identity Card (CNIC).

Location / Address / Map:

Any NADRA Swift Registration Center (NSRC).

TIP: If you are also planning to apply for Protectorate of Emigrants Stamp, then, there’s a NADRA Swift Registration Center NSRC inside the same building hosting the Office of the Protectorate of Emigrants.

Protector of Emigrants
Bureau of Emigration & Overseas Employment
14-J, Block No.6, Near KFC,
Nursery, PECHS, Karachi.
View Larger Map

Timings:

Monday through Saturday - 09:00 - 17:00 PST

Required Documents:

1. Passport
2. Computerized National Identity Card – CNIC

Fees & Duration:

1. Normal – 30 days – PKR 4,500
2. Urgent – 15 days – PKR 5,000
3. Executive – 7 working days – PKR 6,000

Process:

1. You will be asked to show original CNIC and Passport
2. Official of NADRA will fill a form and get your signatures
3. Your picture will be taken
4. Your finger prints will be taken
5. You will be handed over a print-out of completed form
6. You will have to get this printed completed form, attested with a 17 or higher grade officer
7. You will than have to submit the attested form to NADRA
8. On submission NADRA will issue you a token, carrying unique number to track your case and as a proof of evidence that your NICOP is actually in process.
9. TIP: if you have to get the Protectorate of Emigrants stamp as well, you can use this NICOP token instead of waiting for the NICOP card.

Tracking or Checking Status:

You can check the status of your NICOP application online via NADRA website:

http://www.nadra.gov.pk/index.php/search/tracking

Post H-1B Visa Stamping Action Items

 

I will now discuss about post visa stamping action items in a series of post, these includes:

1. Verify H-1B Visa Information – Verify if all the information mentioned in your H-1B Visa is correct and no information is missing.
   
2. Get your NICOP – National Identity Card for Overseas Pakistanis – from NADRA
   
3. Get your Passport Stamped by Protector of Emigrants, Bureau of Emigration & Overseas Employment
   
4. Get your International Driving Permit (IDP) [OPTIONAL]
   
5. Get your new Birth Certificate from NADRA [Required for GC in future]
   • New Computerized Birth Certificate for Green Card or Permanent Residence
     
6. If you do not have the old Birth Certificate than you need 3 Affidavits; One from your Mother and two from very close relative; testifying your Date of Birth [Required for GC in future]
   
7. Before you Fly – Tips

221(g) Administrative Processing and the Actual Visa Stamping

 

On the day of your H-1B Visa Interview at US Consulate or Embassy, when Visa Officer finished asking questions, he/she will conclude the interview by letting you know whether you succeed or failed in the interview. If you succeed, there are two cases:

1. The Visa Officer hand over to you a 221(g) Administrative Processing Form and say that Administrative Processing is required in your case.
   
   It is possible that the Visa Officer will ask for some more documents related to you or your Sponsor, which you and/or your Sponsor has not submitted throughout the process. Not that these documents were required initially, but they might need them in your case for further clarification.

   It is also possible that they don’t ask for any further documents and your application still have to go through the Administrative Process.

   The actual amount of wait might also vary from case to case. Generally they give you the time of 6 to eight weeks, but in actual it can be less or more than.

   “After the interview, many visa applications necessitate further routine but required administrative processing, an integral part of the visa adjudication process that can be neither waived nor expedited. Individuals whose applications require this processing will be informed of that fact at the conclusion of their interview. Most administrative processing is completed within 60 to 90 days of the visa interview, but some cases do take longer. We cannot predict how long this processing will take for any particular case.”

   Source - http://islamabad.usembassy.gov/nonimmigrant_visa_faqs.html

    

2. The Visa Office will inform you about an estimated time frame when your H-1B Visa will be stamped on your Passport.

UPDATE – You can now Check your Visa Application Status Online, click to read more

In either cases, once your H-1B Visa is stamped on your Passport and your Passport is ready to be collected from American Express, you will receive a call from American Express representative to come and pick it up.