NEW DELHI: The father of Nilam Shinde, a 35-year-old Indian student in a California hospital coma, has been granted an emergency visa interview after weeks of delay.
Following appeals from the family and intervention by Indian authorities, the U.S. scheduled the visa appointment at 9 a.m. on Friday, allowing Shinde’s father to travel and be by her side.
Key Facts:
- February 14: Shinde was critically injured in a hit-and-run accident in Sacramento, California.
- February 16: Her family in India was informed and sought an urgent U.S. visa.
- Visa approvals were stalled until the Indian Ministry of External Affairs intervened.
A Master of Science student in her final year, Shinde was struck by a speeding four-wheeler while on her routine evening walk.
The driver fled, leaving her with multiple fractures and severe head injuries.
Her roommates informed her family two days later, but by then, she had already undergone emergency brain surgery.
The hospital required family consent for further procedures, prompting a desperate visa application attempt by her father.
Despite the medical urgency, Shinde’s father, faced significant visa delays at the U.S. Embassy in Mumbai.
He reported that officials were initially unresponsive, pushing back appointment slots by nearly a year.
Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar) MP Supriya Sule stepped in, tagging External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on social media and urging swift action.
“This is an alarming issue, and we all need to come together to resolve it,” Sule stated.
Shinde’s case highlights bureaucratic inefficiencies in granting emergency visas.
While U.S. policies allow for expedited approvals, delays remain frequent due to high demand and scheduling backlogs.
Indian authorities and immigrant rights groups have called for streamlined procedures for families dealing with overseas medical emergencies.
Shinde’s family is now preparing to travel, hopeful that her father will reach her in time.
Meanwhile, lawmakers in India and the U.S. are being urged to reform emergency visa policies to prevent similar delays for families in crisis.
Do You Know?
The U.S. B1/B2 visa is required for short-term visits, including medical emergencies.
However, expedited appointments are only granted in extreme cases, requiring strong documentation. (Source: U.S. Department of State).
Key Terms:
Hit-and-Run: A road accident where the driver flees the scene without stopping to help the victim.
Emergency Visa: A fast-tracked visa approval process for urgent travel, often for medical or humanitarian reasons.
Ministry of External Affairs (MEA): The Indian government body responsible for foreign relations, including visa assistance.