Chapter Spotlight: NetIP Dallas’ January Third Thursdays ~ Supporting The Grameen Foundation’s Haiti Fund

President Riya Bhattacharjee, Professional Development Pillar Chair Hosi Kamiya, and VP of Events Jasmin Rohmam signing up a New Member

On January 21st, the Network of Indian Professionals Dallas Chapter kicked off the decade by hosting a very successful Third Thursdays networking event at Bengal Coast Restaurant in Uptown, Dallas. The event was a huge success and drew over 75 attendees, many attending a NetIP event for the first time. NetIP Dallas was able to sign up 20 new members on the spot by featuring a one day onsite membership promotion. Special guest attendee Ajay Patel ,Co-Vice-President and National Liaison of NetIP Atlanta, was quoted on saying how impressed he was with the venue, event execution, and pricing strategy, which he was looking forward to sharing with the NetIP Atlanta Board.

Due to the recent events in Haiti, NetIP Dallas donated all proceeds from this Third Thursdays event to the Grameen Foundation’s Haiti Fund. In line with National’s commitment towards the Grameen Foundation, NetIP Dallas felt that it was critical to donate proceeds towards an effort that not only helps with immediate disaster relief, but will also provide long term relief for the people of Haiti. Grameen’s principle of providing micro-finance loans that will create jobs and help rebuild the city of Port-au-Prince is what attracted NetIP Dallas to this organization.

Unique fundraising efforts of the night included a raffle with 2 pairs of Dallas Mavericks tickets (the best team in the NBA after all), Pearl Earrings donated by Dallas Diamonds ($300 value), and an Aveda spa package. Profits from the raffle ended up raising over $500! Bengal Coast was kind to donate delicious appetizers, which included chicken sticks, vegetable pakoras, and Goan chicken lettuce boats. Dallas’ very own DJ Masai stirred up the night by generously providing his services, getting the crowd to celebrate the new year with a BANG! All attendees went home with a NetIP Dallas t-shirt sponsored by the 2010 Census, perfect for the next NetIP Dallas community service event! This was a great kick off event for the decade and just a hint at what is yet to come!

NetIP Dallas President, Riya Bhattacharjee, was very pleased with their kickoff event and the fact that they have already tripled membership numbers from this time last year. “New year.. new board.. new start .. all you large chapters, watch out for this new addition to your competition!”

Attendees NetIP Atlanta National Liaison & Co-VP Ajay Patel and VP of External Affairs for NetIP North America Latha Nehru

Some NetIP Dallas Upcoming Events Include:
2/13 Tax & Financial Planning Workshop at Bengal Coast
2/18 February Third Thursdays ~ Supporting CHETNA at Red Room
2/20 CHETNA Gala at Fun Asia
2/23 Dinner Circle at Queen of Sheeba
2/25 Investment 101 Workshop
3/06 Job Hunting 101
3/07 Holi at the DFW Hindu Temple
3/13 Carnaval-International Dance Experience at the Hyatt Regency DFW

NetIP Dallas was formed in 1994 and received the 2009 Boscar for Most Improved Chapter. NetIP Dallas began hosting Third Thursday’s in August 2008 after their then Community Service Chair Latha Nehru attended a NetSAP DC Third Thursdays earlier that year and was very impressed with the concept. Third Thursdays continue to be NetIP Dallas’ highest attended event month after month. For more information about NetIP Dallas and any of their upcomming events please visit www.NetIP-Dallas.org or www.Facebook.com/NetIPDallas.

Edited by Latha Nehru, VP of External Affairs, NetIP NA

New Immigration Rules Complicate Travel to India

by Vishal Chander, Attorney At Law

New immigration regulations may inconvenience frequent travelers to India. In December 2009, India enacted regulations prohibiting tourist visa holders from reentering the country for at least two months after any visit. The regulations have caught many international travelers off guard and drawn complaints from other nations, including the United States.

The travel regulations create several restrictions. Any person holding a multiple entry tourist visa (T visa) is prohibited from entering India within two months of any prior visit. A tourist visa holder must obtain special permission from an overseas Indian mission or post if he or she wishes to reenter India within two months of a previous visit. If a permit to reenter India is granted, the traveler must register with a Foreign Regional Registration Office (FRRO) within 14 days of entering the country. The new regulations also provide that foreign nationals who frequently apply for tourist visas would be referred to the Ministry of Home Affairs for clearance.

The changes were prompted, in part, on news that David Headley ” the American man accused of scouting locations for the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks ” entered India using multiple entry tourist visas. The new regulations are part of a broader strategy to better track foreign travelers in India.

On enactment of the regulations, the United States Embassy in Delhi reported multiple incidents where U.S. citizens were unable to reenter India after brief side trips to countries like Sri Lanka and Thailand. Both the United States and United Kingdom have raised formal complaints regarding the new regulations.

The Indian Bureau of Immigration issued comments clarifying how the regulations will be implemented for tourists who may need to make multiple entries to India during a single trip. The comments state that Indian immigration officials have the discretion to allow two or three entries to travelers on presentation of itinerary and supporting documentation evidencing legitimate tourism.

The comments also state that travelers may obtain a reentry permit for multiple entries on a single trip from Indian missions and posts abroad by submitting itinerary and supporting documentation. The comments conflict with statements from the Indian Embassy in Washington, D.C., which provide that permits are not needed when a trip follows the itinerary exactly.

Media reports suggest the new regulations are temporary and will be reevaluated after six months. Travelers should err on the side of caution. Individuals intending to make multiple entries to India on a single trip may wish to seek reentry permits before traveling. Individuals are also advised to seek the appropriate visa for work, business, medical treatment, or study when traveling to India, instead of engaging in unauthorized activities while on a tourist visa.

Vishal Chander has been attending Network of Indian Professionals’ events since 1998.  He is managing attorney of The Chander Law Firm, P.C.  Vishal sits on the State Bar of Texas standing committee on Laws Relating to Immigration & Nationality.  He is also Young Lawyers Division Chair of the Texas chapter of the American Immigration Lawyers Association.  In 2008 and 2009 Vishal was recognized as a “Rising Star” in the area of Immigration Law by Texas Monthly magazine.

The Chander Law Firm’s principal area of practice is United States Immigration Law. The firm also provides representation to individuals and businesses in a variety of other matters including commercial litigation, collections, personal injury, consumer rights, and civil rights cases. You can learn more about The Chander Law Firm by visiting www.chanderlaw.com.

www.NetIP.org

Help Rebuild Haiti by Creating Jobs with Long Term Micro-finance Loans through the Grameen Foundation

Dear NetIP Family,

For more than a week now you have all seen the devastating images from Haiti and read heartbreaking accounts of surviors from the 7.0 magnitude earthquake that struck one week ago today. While there has not been an official estimate of the tragic loss of life that has occurred, the figures appear to be in the tens of thousands.

According to the CIA World Factbook, roughly 80% of Haiti‘s population lives below the poverty line, which further underscores the urgency of this crisis.

Our non-profit partner the Grameen Foundation has setup a fund to collect donations to support not only immediate disaster relief and much-needed humanitarian aid for Haiti, but also long term relief through micro-finance loans that will create jobs and help rebuild the city of Port-au-Prince. NetIP North America has pledged to assist in these fundraising efforts and we urge you to donate today. If every single one of our members donates just $15, we can raise over $150,000!

If you have already donated to this important cause, then Thank You! However, Haiti‘s path to recovery can be further accelerated with your additional support and generosity. When the news cameras are gone and Haiti is no longer the cause of the moment, The Grameen Foundation will still be there providing long term sustainable development through micro-credit and micro-finance loans.
An important mission of the Network of Indian Professionals is to bring the South Asian community together in a common movement to support those in need during such catastrophic times. Again, please CLICK HERE to donate now.

To read about the work Grameen is doing in Haiti please visit their Blog

Thank you for making a difference,

The 2010 NetIP North America Team

www.NetIP.org http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Network_of_Indian_Professionals