DISCLAIMER: The Department of State assumes no responsibility or liability for the professional ability or reputation of, or the quality of services provided by, the entities whose names appear in this toolkit. The information contained in this toolkit is for general information purposes only and is provided directly by the local service providers. Inclusion in this toolkit does not constitute an endorsement by the Department of State or U.S. government.
U.S. Travel Resource Toolkit
About the Toolkit
United States Government Resources
List of Indian Embassy and Consulates across the United States
Resources, Advocacy, and Community Groups
Academic Enrichment Resources for Children
Safety and Security – National Hotlines & Crisis Resources
About the Toolkit
The U.S. Mission to India welcomes visitors, students, and temporary workers to the United States, and we hope your stay in the United States will be enjoyable and safe. Moving to a new country can present challenges and put strain on family life, and resources exist to help you acclimate during your temporary stay. We’ve compiled a list of information that might be of assistance–everything from safety and security, to information about community groups, to academic and enrichment resources for children. Many services are available free of charge while others have costs associated or specific enrollment procedures.
[1] United States Government Information and Resources
The United States Department of State’s Bureau of Consular Affairs is responsible for the welfare and protection of U.S. citizens abroad, for the issuance of passports and other documentation to citizens and nationals, for the protection of U.S. border security, and the facilitation of legitimate travel to the United States. The Bureau’s website has a wealth of information for both U.S. citizens and visitors to the United States, including:
- Information on visa requirements and renewals
- Documenting American-born children
- Resources on intra-country adoption, including information on adoption service providers
For more information, visit: https://travel.state.gov
The United States Department of Homeland Security is responsible for anti-terrorism, border security, immigration and customs, cyber security, and disaster prevention and management. Through their website you can learn more about DHS’s areas of responsibility, as well as information on DHS procedures and resources: https://www.dhs.gov/how-do-i
Within the Department of Homeland Security you can get more information about petition-based visas, adjustment of status, extension of stay and more from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services: https://www.uscis.gov/
Also under the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Customs and Border Patrol can provide information about entering the United States via our land, air and sea ports of entry: https://www.cbp.gov/
[2] Indian Embassy and Consulates Across the United States
The Embassy of India in Washington provides the full list of Indian Consulates in the United States. They are listed below for ease of reference: https://www.indianembassyusa.gov.in/pages?id=2&subid=5
Embassy of India
Washington, DC
https://www.indianembassyusa.gov.in/pages?id=2&subid=8
Serving the States of: Delaware, District of Columbia, Kentucky, Maryland, North Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia
Chancery Address: 2107 Massachusetts Avenue
NW Washington, DC 20008
Consular Wing Address: 2536 Massachusetts Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20008
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IndiaInUSA
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/IndianEmbassyUS
- Twitter (Passport): https://twitter.com/IndiaPassportDC
- Twitter (Visa): https://twitter.com/IndiaVisaDC
- Twitter (OCI): https://twitter.com/IndiaOCIDC
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/indianembassyus/
|
Consulate General of India – New York New York, NY Serving the States of: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont Address: Consulate General of India, 3 East 64th Street (between 5th and Madison Avenues), New York, NY 10065 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Consulate-General-of-India-New-York 378967205548294/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/IndiainNewYork |
|
Consulate General of India – Chicago Chicago, IL Serving the States of: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin Address: 455 North City Front Plaza DriveNBC Tower Building Suite No. 850, Chicago, IL 60611 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IndiaInChicago Twitter: https://twitter.com/IndiainChicago |
|
Consulate General of India – Atlanta Atlanta, GA Serving the States of: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, South Carolina, Tennessee, and the territories of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands Address: 5549 Glenridge Drive NEAtlanta, GA 30342 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ConsulateGeneralofIndiaAtlantaUSA Twitter: https://twitter.com/cgi_atlanta |
|
Consulate General of India – San Francisco San Francisco, CA Serving the States of: Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming, and the Territory of Guam Address: 540 Arguello BoulevardSan Francisco, CA 94118 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IndiainSanFrancisco/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/CGISFO |
|
Consulate General of India – Houston Houston, TX Serving the States of: Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Colorado, and Nebraska Address: 4300 Scotland Street, Houston, TX 77007 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IndiainHouston/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/cgihou |
[3] Resources, Advocacy Groups, and Community Networks
Non Resident Indians Online (NRIOL) is a information and service provider to the global NRI population. They offer practical advice on a variety of expatriate topics such as insurance and international shipping and provide a forum to connect with other nonresident Indians. https://nriol.com/
Meetup Groups: Meetup is a service used to organize online groups that host in-person events for people with similar interests; you can search for groups in your area to find out about events like potlucks, festivals, cultural performances, etc. http://www.meetup.com
South Asian Bar Associations of DC, NY, FL, NA, SC, Chicago, Colorado, Philadelphia, etc. All are on Facebook and provide legal clinics and pro-bono (no fee/minimal fee) assistance in various South Asian languages. These associations are very active in major U.S. cities and assist victims of crime as members are licensed attorneys working in those states.
South Asian Network (SAN), based in Los Angeles county, is a social group that provides a forum for discussion of political, economic, and social issues with the goal of raising awareness, engagement, and advocacy. The South Asian Network is known for its community health action initiative (CHAI), women’s empowerment voices against violence (AWAZ), and the civic engagement civil rights unit (CRU). http://southasiannetwork.org/about/
Sakhi is a social group that brings together issues of ethnicity and gender in discussing immigration and civic integration, life skills, domestic violence, youth empowerment, and other topics relevant to the challenges faced by the South Asian immigrant community in New York. Services are provided in ways that are culturally appropriate and in many languages spoken in South Asia. http://www.sakhi.org
Texas Muslim Women’s Foundation – With the mission of creating strong communities, Texas Muslim Women’s Foundation supports and empowers women and their families of all backgrounds. It provides emergency shelter for family violence and battered victims. Its intervention programs include safety plan development, case management and referrals, transitional housing, legal consultations, crisis counseling, and court accompaniment. https://tmwf.org/family-violence/
Anisa Hope Center is a Texas-based non-profit that provides support, education, and resources to families in crisis situations. It has a professional team of volunteers who help run women-to-women support group and weekend youth programs. https://www.annisahopecenter.org/
National Coalition Against Domestic Violence is a public policy coalition group that helps lead and mobilize support efforts around a wide variety of needs ranging from child welfare and disability to the wellness and leadership of women of color. Those resources are listed here: https://ncadv.org/learn-more/resources#workingwith
Benefits.Gov – Family Violence Prevention Services Program is a program to help victims of domestic abuse and their dependents secure immediate shelter and related assistance. The program provides shelter for victims and children and supports local and community-based domestic violence programs. https://www.benefits.gov/benefit/626
[4] Academic Enrichment Resources for Children
Khan Academy Math – Indian Curriculum: Khan Academy is creating new India-first content and mapping thousands of videos, exercises, and articles, to create NCERT (National Council of Education Research and Training) aligned math courses. Learners can use Khan Academy to learn, practice, and master the fundamentals for their exams. Teachers can use Khan Academy’s teacher tools to supercharge their classrooms to become more personalized and mastery-based. https://www.khanacademy.org/math/in-math-by-grade#in-in-class-4th-math-cbse
MathGuru.com is a homework help resource and a syllabus-oriented online program which crafts courses to fit a variety of grade/class levels. The available content covers varied topics and key concepts, includes DIY exercises, and promotes learning from solved examples. It even offers practice questions for NCERT or Common Core exams. http://www.mathguru.com/mathguru/aboutus.aspx
Outdoors Alliance for Kids is a national strategic partnership of organizations from diverse sectors with a common interest in connecting children, youth, and families with the outdoors. OAK’s members are brought together by the belief that the wellness of current and future generations, the health of our planet and communities, and the economy of the future depend on humans having a personal, direct, and lifelong relationship with nature and the outdoors. https://outdoorsallianceforkids.org/
Asian American Youth Leadership Empowerment and Development (LEAD): Based in the District of Columbia and Montgomery and Fairfax counties, Asian American LEAD is an after-school program that provides academic support resources. Such support includes safe spaces and tools to help simplify the process of selecting middle/high schools, as well as navigate the college admissions process. LEAD promotes safe and supportive spaces for shaping identity and opportunities for leadership and civic engagement. http://www.aalead.org/what-we-do/programs/afterschool/
[5] Safety and Security – National Hotlines & Crisis Resources
9-1-1
National emergency telephone number to reach police, fire, or emergency medical assistance from any phone in any U.S. location.
3-1-1
Non-emergency number used in many U.S. cities for reporting non-emergency situations to the police. Use 3-1-1 to report situations such as pickpocketing, damage to property, burglary, graffiti, or potholes.
Poison Help – American Association of Poison Control Centers
https://www.aapcc.org/
1-800-222-1222
National Weather Service is a service that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration provides to keep you up to date about the weather, water, and climate data, and forecasts. A key feature of this service is the timely provision of reliable weather updates and advisories for the protection of life and property and enhancement of the national economy. https://www.weather.gov/about/
Consumer Product Safety Commission is an independent agency of the United States government. The CPSC seeks to promote the safety of consumer products by establishing safety requirements for other consumer products, issuing recalls of products already on the market, and researching potential hazards associated with consumer products. https://www.cpsc.gov/
SeeClickFix
Anonymous mobile app and web tool used in many cities (Houston, Detroit, and Oakland, among others) to report non-emergency issues to local government. SeeClickFix covers more than 25,000 cities in the United States.
U.S. Department of State – International Parental Child Abduction resources
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/International-Parental-Child-Abduction.html
1-888-407-4747 (from the U.S. and Canada)
+ 1 202-501-4444 (from outside the United States)
If you believe your child is in the process of being abducted by a parent, legal guardian, or someone acting on their behalf, call us: 1-888-407-4747 or 202-501-4444.
The Children’s Passport Issuance Alert Program (CPIAP) allows the Department of State’s Office of Children’s Issues to contact the enrolling parent(s) or legal guardian(s) to verify whether the parental consent requirement for minor passport issuance has been met when a passport application has been submitted for an enrolled child. In addition, upon a child’s enrollment in the CPIAP, we may alert the enrolling parent(s) or legal guardian(s) of a pending passport application and past passport issuances for the child.
Hotlines
National telephone numbers, or “hotlines,” have operators trained to help individuals in need 24 hours a day free of charge. Interpreters are also available, and responders can connect you with other free services in your local area, including emergency housing, medical care, counseling, and legal advice. If you cannot afford to pay a lawyer, you may qualify for a free or low-cost legal aid program for people who have experienced immigrant crime or domestic violence.
People who have experienced domestic violence in the United States can access state and local resources that may be administered publicly or privately. More than 10,000 organizations and agencies in the United States provide support and services to victims of crime, including domestic violence, regardless of their immigration status. Services may include counseling, interpretation, safety planning, emergency housing in confidential shelters, and emergency financial assistance.
The U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Violence Against Women, provides grants to all 50 states to be used for combatting violence against women, including domestic violence. Their state-specific domestic violence resources can be found here: https://www.justice.gov/ovw/local-resources.
Internet Crime Complaint Center IC3
You may file a complaint with the IC3 if you believe you have been the victim of an Internet crime or if you want to file on behalf of another person you believe has been such a victim. www.ic3.gov
National Domestic Violence Hotline
The National Domestic Violence Hotline – a non-profit organization with U.S. government funding – runs a 24-hour, seven-days-a-week, toll-free service that provides crisis assistance and local shelter referrals for callers across the country. The telephone number is: 1-800-799-SAFE (1-800-799-7233). The TTY number for hearing impaired is 1-800-787-3224. Trained advocates provide translation services and can connect individuals in need to free state and local resources. www.ndvh.org
National Sexual Assault Hotline of the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network (RAINN)
The Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network is an American nonprofit anti-sexual assault organization, the largest in the United States.
1-800-656-HOPE (1-800-656-4673)
www.rainn.org
National Center for Missing and Exploited Children
The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) is a private, nonprofit organization that provides resources for parents, children, law enforcement agencies, schools, and communities to assist in locating missing children and to raise public awareness about ways to prevent child abduction and child sexual abuse.
1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678)
www.missingkids.com
Suicide Prevention Hotline
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is a national network of local crisis centers that provides free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.1-800-273-TALK (8255)
www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org
Narika
Narika is a nonprofit organization offering a number of services for victims of domestic violence including a helpline, support groups, economic development programs and wellness workshops.
1-800-215-7308
www.narika.org
1-888-862-4874
www.maitri.org
The National Center for Victims of CrimeThe National Center for Victims of Crime (NCVC) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing information, resources and advocacy for victims of all types of crime.
1-800-FYI-CALL (1-800-394-2255)
1-800-211-7996 (TTY)
www.ncvc.org
† The list of legal resources is not a substitute for legal advice; consult a lawyer or other expert who may be able to provide insights on your specific circumstances.
