My parents experience with Qatar Airlines was very good.
Staff was really helpful and co-operative. Flight scheduled was on time, no delay.
I will recommend this airlines if your parents are travelling alone then they can easily travel through this airlines.
There are some web portal available where you can find travel companion.
Saturday, December 20, 2014
Looking for International roaming & calling SIM card (T-mobile)
My personal experience :I have purchased T-mobile postpaid SIM for parents while traveling from USA through middle east countries.
for just 25 minutes usages I need to pay around $200.00 along with roaming charges & Taxes.
Plan name :T-mobile simple choice plan
Pro: $50 monthly rental plan along with international calling and international roaming services.
WiFi calling service.
As my parents used it so I can say that, It worked fine in international roaming, no need to remove & insert SIM in handset.
Con: Roaming charges are depend on City and country.
I will suggest ask your parents, friends to carry any prepaid SIM of home country(life time valid/valid till your return journey),
So that when ever you need you can recharge & it cost less than any US service provider.
for just 25 minutes usages I need to pay around $200.00 along with roaming charges & Taxes.
Plan name :T-mobile simple choice plan
Pro: $50 monthly rental plan along with international calling and international roaming services.
WiFi calling service.
As my parents used it so I can say that, It worked fine in international roaming, no need to remove & insert SIM in handset.
Con: Roaming charges are depend on City and country.
I will suggest ask your parents, friends to carry any prepaid SIM of home country(life time valid/valid till your return journey),
So that when ever you need you can recharge & it cost less than any US service provider.
Sunday, November 30, 2014
I94 expired and Driver's License renewal
What was my case ?
My visa was expired on Oct 30 and I94 as well.
I was just having I797C application receipt copy with me.
What kind experience I got? What you may need to do ?
I have visited DPS before 15 days of my I94 expiry but no use, DPS officer was not able to submit SAVE request and reissue me DL valid till Oct 30. Waste of money :(
Nov 3: I have visited DPS office again & this time they submitted SAVE request in their system and asked me come back with letter which you will receive from DPS Austin.
It will take at least 1 week to deliver it at your mailing address.
Nov 10: I did received letter from DPS , unfortunately with "Lawful Presence Verification Pending"
Means my 2nd level verification was failed and DPS submitted 3rd level verification to USCIS, which take 20 working days to get response.
Nov 24: I did received one more letter from DPS , mentioned with "Lawful Presence Verified"
I have visited DPS along with expired license and this letter. DPS officer issued me license.
By this time by I94 extension was approved by USCIS and I got license validity till by new I94, Instead of temporary 8 months validity.
Suggestion for you:
1 Visit DPS once your I94 expired so that DPS officer can able to submit SAVE request in system
2 It will take max 1 week to get response from DPS for your SAVE request.
3 You may get letter with verification approved or pending
If you get letter with verification approved then you are good to go to DPS and renew license for 8 month.
If you got letter with verification pending then, you don't have to do anything, DPS will submit 3rd level verification request to USICS and which can take max 20 working days.
4 if your are not getting any response from USICS then you can visit nearest USICS office by booking appointment through INFOPASS.
https://infopass.uscis.gov/
5 feel free to ask your queries to me
Sources:
DPS Texas PDF
what is Save request?
what is 2nd level verification?
what is 3rd level verification?
My visa was expired on Oct 30 and I94 as well.
I was just having I797C application receipt copy with me.
What kind experience I got? What you may need to do ?
I have visited DPS before 15 days of my I94 expiry but no use, DPS officer was not able to submit SAVE request and reissue me DL valid till Oct 30. Waste of money :(
Nov 3: I have visited DPS office again & this time they submitted SAVE request in their system and asked me come back with letter which you will receive from DPS Austin.
It will take at least 1 week to deliver it at your mailing address.
Nov 10: I did received letter from DPS , unfortunately with "Lawful Presence Verification Pending"
Means my 2nd level verification was failed and DPS submitted 3rd level verification to USCIS, which take 20 working days to get response.
Nov 24: I did received one more letter from DPS , mentioned with "Lawful Presence Verified"
I have visited DPS along with expired license and this letter. DPS officer issued me license.
By this time by I94 extension was approved by USCIS and I got license validity till by new I94, Instead of temporary 8 months validity.
Suggestion for you:
1 Visit DPS once your I94 expired so that DPS officer can able to submit SAVE request in system
2 It will take max 1 week to get response from DPS for your SAVE request.
3 You may get letter with verification approved or pending
If you get letter with verification approved then you are good to go to DPS and renew license for 8 month.
If you got letter with verification pending then, you don't have to do anything, DPS will submit 3rd level verification request to USICS and which can take max 20 working days.
4 if your are not getting any response from USICS then you can visit nearest USICS office by booking appointment through INFOPASS.
https://infopass.uscis.gov/
5 feel free to ask your queries to me
Sources:
DPS Texas PDF
what is Save request?
what is 2nd level verification?
what is 3rd level verification?
Saturday, November 8, 2014
New PIO/OCI Card - Minor USA
Applying for PIO card? It's very easy I recently applied it for my new born baby(New PIO Card -Minor). Its very easy and hassle free, I did received PIO card within 2 weeks of time.
Note:
PIO Scheme has been stopped.
Now applicant can apply only for OCI card, and existing PIO card will be considered as OCI cards.
As per CKGS official site applying for an OCI card in lieu of PIO card is optional till further instruction. However, PIO cardholder is encouraged to apply for OCI card in lieu of PIO card
31st March, 2016 will be the last day to apply for OCI card in lieu of PIO card.
I will share what all step I did followed to get PIO card without any issue or delay in processing in August 2014.
I started PIO card process once I received US passport for my Baby. I visited CKGS website, which is present third party vendor who processed PIO card.
http://www.in.ckgs.us/
Please read the instruction provided on this site as they keep updating it.
Please find below attached sample form which I filled for Houston Location;
1 order-form-pio
a. provide the applicant details
b. provide the return address same as mentioned in application form
c. I selected option for returned of document by courier service fedex and hence paid $15.00
in this case you don't have to provide any return shipping label in envelope
2 Houston-application-form
a. make sure that you fill this form correctly with all required details
b. make sure you provide correct US and India address at requested places.
c. Baby(minor) thumb impression will be required at three places on this form
1 On first page below photo
2 & 3 thumb impression will be on page 3 under two additional specimen signature requested section
Make sure you thumb impression not touching box.
This form needs to notarized in two copies. I did notarization from by bank at no cost. All banks do notarization at free of cost for their customers.
3 additional-particular-form
4 checklist-parental-authorization-form
I did submitted set of 2 copies of all documents
1 order-form-pio
2 Houston-application-form
3 additional-particular-form
4 checklist-parental-authorization-form
Attached Supporting documents as follow:
1 Original US passport along with photo copy(preferred in color )
2 Photo copy of father & mother passport
3 Photo copy of grand parents passport(not mandatory but I did attached so that they can verify address in India easily)
4 Copy of driving license mother and father
5 Electricity bill of address mentioned in India
Once document received by CKGS office and they entered your details in their system you will get first notification email as mentioned below:
Subject: Payment Receipt for your Application
Cox and Kings Global Services LLC
A Cox and Kings group Subsidiary
CKGS Houston
Suite 550, The Binz Building, 1001 Texas Avenue
Toll Free Number:1-866-978-0055
E-mail: enquiriesusa@ckgs.com
Website: www.in.ckgs.us
(Customer Receipt)
Tracking ID: USAH12345678
Web File No:-
Postal
Applicant’s Name: Applicant Name
Passport Number: Applicant_Passport_Number
Nationality: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Submission Date: 9/8/2014 9:25:54 AM Time: 9:02 AM
Service Category:- PIO
Service Type:- New PIO-Minor
Payment Type (USD)
New PIO-Minor 185.00
ICWF Fees 3.00
Service Charges 17.00
Courier 15.00
Total Fee 220.00
Payment Mode USD
Demand Draft 220.00
Documents will be returned only after presentation of this receipt and identity proof.
Collection time: 16:00 to 18:00 only
Disclaimer:
Please note that granting / rejection of visas, OCI, PIO and Renunciation is the sole discretion of embassy / consulate. We only act as a facilitator for obtaining these services. Further, note that the CKGS would not be liable in any manner for any delay, deficiency, injury, death, loss or damage as a result of delay on the part of the concerned embassy or transmission delays or loss of passport or documents due to act or default of the concerned courier company. Please go through the website www.in.ckgs.us for any further details. Passport, if collected, will only be returned once the application process at the Embassy / Consulate of India in United States of America has been completed. In case of emergency and if you want to withdraw your application, please write an email to centermanager_hs@ckgs.com
Below are the various statuses of your application which you can track using your tracking ID :
Once they approved your application and Dispatched you will get another mail as mentioned below :
Subject: Your Application Status
Dear Applicant full name,
Your application has been despatched by post/courier on 9/20/2014 4:54:47 PM.
Your AWB No. is FedExTrackingNumber.
Kindly note the Tracking ID of your application USAH12345678. You can track your application using this number on our website www.in.ckgs.us.
With Regards,
CKGS Team
Whenever I was having any question or doubt I used to send an email enquiriesusa@ckgs.com and I did received prompt response.
To inquire visit Contact and Feedback page on CKGS site http://www.in.ckgs.us/
Contact and Feedback page:: http://ww1.in.ckgs.us/feedback/
Please feel free to ask question and all the best for you!
Note:
Please visit CKGS site as it is continuously getting updated with latest information to Process OCI.
Note:
PIO Scheme has been stopped.
Now applicant can apply only for OCI card, and existing PIO card will be considered as OCI cards.
As per CKGS official site applying for an OCI card in lieu of PIO card is optional till further instruction. However, PIO cardholder is encouraged to apply for OCI card in lieu of PIO card
31st March, 2016 will be the last day to apply for OCI card in lieu of PIO card.
I will share what all step I did followed to get PIO card without any issue or delay in processing in August 2014.
I started PIO card process once I received US passport for my Baby. I visited CKGS website, which is present third party vendor who processed PIO card.
http://www.in.ckgs.us/
Please read the instruction provided on this site as they keep updating it.
Please find below attached sample form which I filled for Houston Location;
1 order-form-pio
a. provide the applicant details
b. provide the return address same as mentioned in application form
c. I selected option for returned of document by courier service fedex and hence paid $15.00
in this case you don't have to provide any return shipping label in envelope
2 Houston-application-form
a. make sure that you fill this form correctly with all required details
b. make sure you provide correct US and India address at requested places.
c. Baby(minor) thumb impression will be required at three places on this form
1 On first page below photo
2 & 3 thumb impression will be on page 3 under two additional specimen signature requested section
Make sure you thumb impression not touching box.
This form needs to notarized in two copies. I did notarization from by bank at no cost. All banks do notarization at free of cost for their customers.
3 additional-particular-form
4 checklist-parental-authorization-form
I did submitted set of 2 copies of all documents
1 order-form-pio
2 Houston-application-form
3 additional-particular-form
4 checklist-parental-authorization-form
Attached Supporting documents as follow:
1 Original US passport along with photo copy(preferred in color )
2 Photo copy of father & mother passport
3 Photo copy of grand parents passport(not mandatory but I did attached so that they can verify address in India easily)
4 Copy of driving license mother and father
5 Electricity bill of address mentioned in India
Once document received by CKGS office and they entered your details in their system you will get first notification email as mentioned below:
Subject: Payment Receipt for your Application
Cox and Kings Global Services LLC
A Cox and Kings group Subsidiary
CKGS Houston
Suite 550, The Binz Building, 1001 Texas Avenue
Toll Free Number:1-866-978-0055
E-mail: enquiriesusa@ckgs.com
Website: www.in.ckgs.us
(Customer Receipt)
Tracking ID: USAH12345678
Web File No:-
Postal
Applicant’s Name: Applicant Name
Passport Number: Applicant_Passport_Number
Nationality: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Submission Date: 9/8/2014 9:25:54 AM Time: 9:02 AM
Service Category:- PIO
Service Type:- New PIO-Minor
Payment Type (USD)
New PIO-Minor 185.00
ICWF Fees 3.00
Service Charges 17.00
Courier 15.00
Total Fee 220.00
Payment Mode USD
Demand Draft 220.00
Documents will be returned only after presentation of this receipt and identity proof.
Collection time: 16:00 to 18:00 only
Disclaimer:
Please note that granting / rejection of visas, OCI, PIO and Renunciation is the sole discretion of embassy / consulate. We only act as a facilitator for obtaining these services. Further, note that the CKGS would not be liable in any manner for any delay, deficiency, injury, death, loss or damage as a result of delay on the part of the concerned embassy or transmission delays or loss of passport or documents due to act or default of the concerned courier company. Please go through the website www.in.ckgs.us for any further details. Passport, if collected, will only be returned once the application process at the Embassy / Consulate of India in United States of America has been completed. In case of emergency and if you want to withdraw your application, please write an email to centermanager_hs@ckgs.com
Below are the various statuses of your application which you can track using your tracking ID :
When you see status as "Your application has been submitted at The Indian Embassy for further processing." it means there are no errors in application form and CKGS submitted your documents to Indian embassy.
Subject: Your Application Status
Dear Applicant full name,
Your application has been despatched by post/courier on 9/20/2014 4:54:47 PM.
Your AWB No. is FedExTrackingNumber.
Kindly note the Tracking ID of your application USAH12345678. You can track your application using this number on our website www.in.ckgs.us.
With Regards,
CKGS Team
Whenever I was having any question or doubt I used to send an email enquiriesusa@ckgs.com and I did received prompt response.
To inquire visit Contact and Feedback page on CKGS site http://www.in.ckgs.us/
Contact and Feedback page:: http://ww1.in.ckgs.us/feedback/
Please feel free to ask question and all the best for you!
Note:
Please visit CKGS site as it is continuously getting updated with latest information to Process OCI.
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