No Light At the End of This Tunnel
I wrote a post late last night with this thought in my mind that everything is just about finalized. Neeraj had gone to the US Consulate on Friday morning, and they told him to come at 3.30 pm that day to pickup his passport with the new visa stamp.
Who would have thought that when he would go to pick up his passport that they would tell him that they were unable to put a visa on, and that he would need a new passport. 
We didn’t expect it at all, and that’s where we stand today. The Indian @ the Consulate told him that they put Neeraj’s passport through the visa imaging machine but after that there is still an issue that the serial numbers on the passport are unreadable due to the water, hence he will need a new passport.
Why couldn’t they tell us this a week ago when Neeraj had gone on Friday??? Why did they lead us on??? Its really upsetting and overly frustrating. We wasted a full week that we could have utilized with getting a new passport due to the US Consulate of Mumbai. 
So we had thought that we might have to go back to Lucknow to get a new passport because Neeraj’s passport was issued from there, but the issue became would be that he is currently residing in Mumbai, so where is the jurisdiction? After discussing this further with friends, we came back to the conclusion that we will try in Mumbai first. There are still so many issues that we need to work out.
How long is it going to take to get a new passport? We are trying to do the Tatkal Scheme which means that we are requesting that our passport be processed out of turn because of its urgency. They say that it shouldn’t take more than 10 days, but in order to do this Tatkal Scheme we must have an affadivit from an officer (Sub-Divisional Magistrate, District Magistrate, Supertinendent of Police, etc…). So we are currently working on that, hopefully if we are able to get that affidavit before Monday, then Neeraj will be able to go that morning.
We are just having a series of bad luck right now, and I can’t even say when Neeraj will come to the US. The countdown will be taken off from the website, because it is just kind of depressing looking at it. We are trying our best to keep our spirits up, but its tough when you realize the emotional roller coaster that we have been on.
So please give us your prayers that we are able to work this passport issue out soon, and that my dear Neeraj doesn’t face too much tension and stress throughout the process. 
Thanks to everyone that have helped us last night with ideas and suggestions as we talked through what should be our next step.
Alvida. Jai Mata Di.
August 6th, 2005 at 12:54 am
Even i had to get a duplicate passport issued because my bag was stolen, the process is not very lengthy. Neeraj just has to get a letter from the people u said or can get a letter from the head of any Public company. The formatting should be right and be sure to have the registration no of the officer, else again it will take a day or two. Don’t worry, as soon as you submit the papers, you will have ur passport in 9-10 days.so it is just a matter of 2 weeks. I know it still is a botheration and yes, he also has to get an affidavit notarised ….its a process, just a matter of time and money really. chinta mat karna…..sab ho jayega. just keep ur ur spirits high…that’s all.
August 6th, 2005 at 1:05 am
Oh god.. i did see tht post yday and commented on tht too.. I felt really happy for u both but now testing times again.
Hoping tht everything sorts out soon.. and my prayers will always be thr too.. Jus don’t loose ur hope… keep going..
August 6th, 2005 at 5:04 am
Hey Neeraj & Poonam, don’t lose your spirits. I know this whole thing is sad, frustrating and now it is becoming too much, but such is life.
Getting a replacement or duplicate passport should not take much time, it is renewal or issue of new passport that takes time and I think it can be done from Mumbai. The best thing is that he still has the passport with him and does not need to do things like FIR and stuff when one’s passport is lost.
Don’t worry, mata par biswas rakho, sab ho jaayega. I am keeping my fingers crossed for both of you.
August 6th, 2005 at 5:24 am
Good Luck… Hopefully things will be sorted out soon.
August 6th, 2005 at 5:57 am
heres praying to God that everything gets okay for you both, testing times but have faith on mata rani.
August 6th, 2005 at 2:10 pm
awwww!
wish you both luck and may God bless you both.
Dun worry.. hopefully, things will work out for good very soon.. i promise.
as the same ol’ sayin goes — Jo hota hain acche ke liye hi hota hain ! probably there’s sumthing good comin up.. this is jus a passing phase.
u hang on!
August 6th, 2005 at 7:01 pm
Our prayers are there to u guys….it will all workout fine for sure…dont lose ur spirit…coz that keeps us going in any tough situations andofcourse the prayers..so here am praying to god for u guys!
August 6th, 2005 at 10:29 pm
Hi,Poonam,whatever happens,don’t lose heart.Take it all as ‘just another test from the One above’,and,I am sure there must be a reason behind it,which you’ll realize,later.When the time is right,Neeraj will be in USA…:)Good luck.*says a silent prayer*
August 7th, 2005 at 5:38 am
Arre yaar, phir se problem.
I think, one can get a passport by paying some extra amount stating the right reasons for it. In Neeraj’s case they will surely consider it to get it done asap. Try ur luck. Am sure, it will be sorted out soon. Now the problems are all sorted, even he got the visa. Now only thing with this passport change wont be a problem either.
ATB to you guys.
August 7th, 2005 at 8:19 am
i heard that they are making things a bit more strict and difficult at the mumbai passport office because of a few descrepencies in some recent cases..
id suggest that Neeraj just try once here in mumbai.. or else it’d be better if he goes to lucknow and gets a duplicate passport issued.. this wont take much time.. and maybe u can even stick to the countdown back again..
wishes to both of u and wishes for friendship day too.. :) take care..
August 7th, 2005 at 8:21 am
n heyy guys.. theres always light at the ned of the tunnel.. its how patiently we cross the tunnel.. these are testing times.. kepp ur faith in mataji and in love..
cheers..
August 8th, 2005 at 2:09 pm
Please update about the progress…
August 8th, 2005 at 8:11 pm
*sigh* I can imagine how stressful the situation is …
that’s really bad that they didn’t tell you about needing the new passport, that’s really terrible.
Regarding making the new passport, I am not sure whether the system in India is same with Indonesia. In Indonesia, we have the identification card, we can make our passport depend on where the identification card was issued. For example I am from Jambi (It’s a small town in Indonesia) and I have the ID card from Jambi. So I need to go back to Jambi to make my new passport. Actually I just returned from Jambi to make the new passport. It only took few days.
Neeraj will get his new passport soon
Maybe he can try to call the immigration office first to make sure where he should make the new passport. Don’t worry *hugs* Just think positively that by waiting more, the excitement to meet Neeraj will increase more and more 
Everything will be fine … something really good, sometimes there are some obstacles. You will be fine … in short times, you will be together soon yeyyyyy
August 10th, 2005 at 12:52 pm
mail me password and btw i called you over the weekend .. u seem very busy :D
August 10th, 2005 at 3:12 pm
could you mail me the password Poonam?
August 10th, 2005 at 9:51 pm
Password?
August 11th, 2005 at 12:49 am
Poonam password….. what has happened……
August 11th, 2005 at 8:10 am
password Poonam dee?
mail me!
August 11th, 2005 at 8:45 am
Password Please
August 11th, 2005 at 1:28 pm
some issue with my password too..!!
August 12th, 2005 at 9:49 am
Password do ne.. pleeeeszzz… pretty plezeezz