Neeraj and I have been busy the past few days discussing about what forms he needs to fill out for his upcoming interview call, and what documents I need to send him. We had been visiting the US Consulate site for Mumbai many a times to find out the correct documentation. Of course the site is so vague that it becomes not helpful at all. 
The good thing that the site does provide is an email address where you contact them regarding questions for immigrant visas. So I did that. I wanted to know what document I needed to fill out for the Affadavit of Support (I have to show that Neeraj will be financially supported once he comes to the US until he is able to work on his own). I also wanted to find out more information about the police certificate that Neeraj needs to obtain.
The Consulate replies the next day about which form I needed and further says:
Each applicant must produce a police certificate for every place he lived for six months or more from the age of 16.
Ok so Neeraj hasn’t been your run-of-the-mill applicant because he has shifted too many times. First of all, why is a police certificate so freakin’ important???? That too from the age of 16??? Doesn’t India have some kind of central database where they can get this information or something?? 
Now our biggest concern. Kanpur. Neeraj studied at IIT for four years graduating in 2002. You all know that he is in Mumbai now, so how is he going to get a police certificate from there??? Plus its been over a month since the Mumbai Police Dept or whoever have been processing his police certificate (which btw still has not been completed), how long will the Kanpur Police take??? How will they even be able to make a police certificate for someone who hasn’t been there for three years?? I just do not understand the logic.
So now Neeraj will have to go to Kanpur and tell them to make him one, and definitely they won’t do it over the weekend, so how is he going to manage? Aargh. 
Sometimes, I just don’t understand the Indian system because I know that this isn’t a US requirement. I don’t even think you can get a police certificate from our local police office in the US 
What are we going to do? I don’t know as of yet. 
Alvida. Jai Mata Di.
**looking around in disbelief …ME FIRST! ok n ow reading it all :):hyper:
pahunch toh gayi pehle..par abhi tak pad rahi hai??
just kidding..pad le dost.
Poonam…certain things are like this, and no matter what, we have to accept them:!:. I had a friend who had to go through the same procedure couple of years back. Her fiance was in States and she had to come to US…it was literally a head banging situation for her:banghead:. But then, you really cannot say anything.You have to follow the rules. On top of all these things, they called her for the interview thrice. She LITERALLY cried the last time she went and pleaded to those ppl to grant her the visa. Luckily she got it:grin:.
I hope you both realize that this is not going to be easy:no:…as you must have already known. But just concentrate on the end product (you two being together:hyper:) and it will be become easier for you.
Maybe Neeraj could go to Kanpur over the weekend and get everything done and come back. I am sure he would have to go couple of times (knowing the Indian police system..which is totally sucked up), but he should push them to get this done ASAP.
Chalo…good luck..I am sure it will all work out in the end:yes:
The thing that gets me down the most Mannat is that they fail to mention any of this. On all of the websites I have seen it says you will need a police certificate or you might need a police certificate. This is the first time I have read that you will need it for all of the places that you have been in for more than 6 months since the age of 16. I think that’s kind of outrageous.
Anyway, we knew that it would take some work but this is crazy. The problem remains is that because Neeraj is busy in his work he is unable to go out of state during the weekdays, and I will be pakka sure that they don’t do this stuff over the weekend. Its really something that we are going to have to look into closely.
Thanks for your nice words. It will work out for sure..I know that..but its just that they do this to cause grief. The task could have been very simple if they would have just asked have a police certificate from the past two/three years. 9 out of 10 times they don’t even look at the documentation…but who can take the risk of being that one person that they do look @ the documentation.
Poonam. You r right. Most of the time they don’t look at the documents. But then you can’t even afford to take a risk…kya pata inke dimaag mein kya chale aur yeh kya maang lein!!! And yes, u wish that everything is told to you right in the beginning. But with this system so many surprises get unfolded each & every day!!
Hey Poonam, I read it but someone just called right then and believe it or not I am still on the phone ;)
Acha bout the documents…they probably are not even going to look at half the documents..but like Mannat said you do not want to take any chances. You know, and you probably already know this that not all things come easy…we just have to struggle to get things done for the end result of it all:) take care and MY BESTEST wishes to the two of you. Sab theek ho jaayega. Well begun is half done girl! :)
Such lengthy procedures still exist in India, because at every stage the Police and other government servants have opportunity to ask for a unofficial fees ;) and the person at top also get share
And that is the reason, you can be sure that everything will be done in time, with offering a little unofficial fees.
Mantra: The more you pay, faster things work
But ‘Star News’ is soon going to change the trend… with around 50 government employees already exposed. Others are reluctant to accept bribe, thinking there may be hidden camera along
Ya, you can try this, tell Neeraj to carry a Hidden Camera and tell the Police… he is from Media
Yup Mannat so true. Well karna toh hai hi..choice hi nahi hai…par ab soch rahe hain ke kaise kare.
Tu abhi tak phone par hai Kaush?? Let me guess who you are talking to..
I guess I thought that this police certificate would be the last of our worries..really didn’t think it would become an issue.. But you note this for the future ok? 
Tere saath bhi aaisa nahi hona chaiye. 
I don’t think we are going to take that risk Ankur with the hidden camera…but I do see your point about the bribing and all. Its horrible actually and you know I had read on one visa site where another person who went through the process in Mumbai said that if you want your police certificate made quickly then take extra cash with you so that they you can bribe them. Interesting enough that’s what is happening. Hate to be participate in something as horrible as bribing, but if aaisa hi apna desh chalta hai toh phir karna hi padega to get the job done!
Point noted :)
Hmm, getting police certicate is also no exception. Corruption is so widely spread in India. Sometimes, I have seen people getting driving licence with out being tested for it. All with money. No one cares. One of my friend even got car driving licence by driving a scooter.
Anyways, I hope for Neeraj they wont trouble much. :)
Good Kaush.
That is crazy Govind. Getting a license for a car when driving a scooter. I do hope that they don’t trouble Neeraj.
hiii poonammmmmmm
miss you so much ….
I am really sorry that lately I am very very busy in the office because I will be joining a new project. This project will start mid of May but we are busy doing the preparation. So many things and information that I need to collect. This is my first project which I actually involve from the start. So it’s kinda interesting and challenging too
ohhh yeahhhhhh, I hate the police clearance things …. that’s really annoying ! The biggest problem when you actually have stayed in a lot of places …. and the hardest part, how you can get the police clearance from the place where you stayed a long long time ago ?
especially the place which took a long time to produce the certificate … and a lot of paper work to do 
I had difficulty when I need to apply for the police clearance in Singapore because I need to ask for a letter from the immigration first … so many things to do …..
It really takes times …. I hope Neeraj will get the police clearance soon. This visa matter, always take sometimes
Wish you the best always *hugssss* 
hmmm Vivek should not be together with Ash. I like Vivek and I don’t really like Ash
hehehehe
Good to see you back Mona dear!
I was thinking that you must be quite busy that I haven’t seen an update on your blog! I hope that you will be able to get back to blogging soon! It was so great reading it! 
So you had to have police certificate for your visa as well? I thought this might be an Indian requirement.
Neeraj has that problem where he has lived in many different places (biggest is when he was in college) and now its been so long, how will they be able to provide him with proof? Anyway, we will try our best, that’s all we can do. 
Good to see that you are on a new project, that too from Phase I.
Best of luck hope all goes well!
Poonam:smile: I can’t believe that this is our own site after seeing my low frequency of writing posts or comment.
But anyway, it will always be ours, no matter what the case is. 
I have been so much busy in my work and this headache of Police Clearance Certificate. Its getting to be a nightmare to get it:banghead:
Tomorrow I am going to US Consulate to put my query in front of them and will hope for some good(atleast not bad) solutions.
Apart from it, at my job, I am the only developer in the team of about 40 developers who is always there in core development (never in Maintenance) since last august (meaning since I have joined). They always select me on priority, I guess because of my good work in terms of quality. That’s the main reason of being so busy. Never stopped writing codes.
I really feel that I am getting a very good experience with this company. 
Neeraj:!: Good Luck for all the VISA process
Neeraj, All the best with you VISA process!
I like Vivek Oberoi…his intentions are good..but he gravely lacks PR skills :)
want a bunty aur babli poster? I can mail it to u.
Thanks Ankur and Indu on behalf of Neeraj.
Yes Vivek Oberoi does lack PR skills. Well said Indu! 
Do you have a poster of Bunty aur Babli Gaurav?? I am looking for one that has both Abhishek and Rani.
If you have one then let me know I will email you my addy. 
Let me know how much it costs — I will write you a check. 
lol @ writing a check – how many do u need? I just have 1 big one like 3 ft by 2 ft but I already promised it to someone. If u need small ones then I can mail u. Its prolly like 2 X 1.5 ft and I think it has both Rani n Abhishek but I’ll still check it once I reach home. BTW u can win a CD 2.
I just need one to put up in my room..but then again i want a good size one…..if you don’t have it or can’t find it..don’t worry i will be checking back @ my indian store..he will get it sooner or later.
Thanks for the offer though! 
I have already downloaded all of the songs..so no need for the CD.
Thanks for letting the junta know Gaurav. There might be someone else out there that might be interested. 
main india jaa rahi hoona…i m gonna get an abhishel poster! have been doing the same thign poonam, going to the indian store and asking for it ;)
Arre great Kaush dear!! Bindaas leh aana.
Even I had bought one from Bhavnagar’s Archies when i was there three or four years back. Abhi tak mere deewar par laga hua hai. 