CityMasala August 2009 DJS 1500 Aug09

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Meeteet thethe
BrideBrides
Big Fat Bollywood
Weddings
ImmigrationImmigration
To “b”or Not To”b”To “b”or Not To”b”
Free CopyAugust 2009
A Lifestyle and Entertainment Magazine for Today’s South Asian
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IN THIS ISSUE
August 2009
CityMasala
A Lifestyle and Entertainment Magazine for Today’s South Asian
In This Issue
8 ChaatMasala
10 Big Fat Bollywood Weddings
14 Quiz
Is it just wedding jitters?
16 Meet the Brides
22 The Parent’s Chatroom
24 Legal Corner
To B or not to B - read more about visitor visas
26 Horoscope of the Month
Meet the Brides
In this issue CityMasala has featured recent
brides and their wedding planning experience.
weddings@CityMasala.com
Photograph Courtesy of Zamana Photo
On The Cover - Arti Patel
Photographed by Khounprasa Xayachack
SAFFRON INDIAN CUISINE
Savor the exotic flavors and subtle tastes of India’s finest cuisine rooted in the rich heritage of India. Enjoy an
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CityMasala www.citymasala.com 8 www.citymasala.com August 2009
CityMasala readers - remember, if you have an interesting tidbit to pass on to us, don’t forget to
write to info@citymasala.com. Pictures make it more interesting, so do remember to attach pictures
to your email.
The Fusion Bridal Event is a natural result of Rita and her team’s endeavors. It is a complete resource for
couples to contact professional personnel who are considered the best in the industry, along with information
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CityMasala www.citymasala.com 10 www.citymasala.com August 2009
Abhishek Bachchan weds Aishwarya Rai
The Bachchan-Rai wedding was not only the talk of the town back in
2007, but was deemed as the “Wedding of the Century.” The festivi-
ties were spread over three days and included a traditional Sangeet,
where the couple performed their own songs, followed by a Mehendi
(Henna) ceremony the next day and
finally a super bonanza wedding cere-
mony at the groom’s massive house –
which started a trend of weddings at
home. Mehendi for the bride’s hands
was specially ordered from Rajasthan
as it is said to be the “best” in the
country, providing a distinctive shade
of maroon. Both the houses were
decorated with bundles of orange and
yellow marigold flowers, which were
exclusively imported from Kerala,
forming the theme for the wedding.
Additionally, the sweets came from
the small city of Kanpur and Ash’s
jewelry was purchased solely from
Kolkata. Just in case that wasn’t
enough, the grand outfits were com-
pletely made by some of India’s favor-
ite designers. Aishwarya was dressed
by her favorite stylist, Neeta Lulla,
Ash wore a gold sari embellished with
sequins and jewels. A master weaver
was hired to hand weave the embroi-
dery on her sari using a silk base. Abhishek chose to stick with his
favorite duo Abu-Jani and wore a Sherwani equipped with a turban
much like that of a king. To top it off, helicopters were hired and
petals were showered over the couple after the wedding ceremony.
All done in true Bollywood style; the cost of the wedding was esti-
mated to set the Bachchans back a whopping ten million U.S. Dol-
lars.
Karisma Kapoor weds Sanjay Kapur
Four years before Bachchan tied the knot, ex-fiancé Karisma Kapoor
tied the knot with Delhi-based industrialist Sanjay Kapur. The wed-
ding took place in true Raj Kapoor style at the R. K. Cottage filled
with celebrity guests and a wide array of food. The bride, who chose
best friend and ace designer Manish Malhotra to take charge of her
trousseau, went against all odds and opted to wear pink on D-Day
along with diamonds for jewelry and embel-
lished sandals. The groom took on Rohit Bal
to design his closet for the wedding and wore
an off-white sherwani with a matching turban.
The cottage, which is known to be the site for
most Kapoor weddings, was decorated in mir-
rors and jasmine flowers. Since the Kapoors
are known for being complete foodies, an array of Thai, Italian,
North Indian and Mughlai, was presented; appealing to all the vari-
ous palettes of their family and friends. Insiders also claimed that
during the wedding ceremony, only vegetarian starters were served
but once it was over, a full bar opened up for the guests. And lastly,
the wedding card came in the form of a personalized letter which was
fitted with rudraksha beads.
Fardeen Khan weds Natasha Madhvani
When Fardeen Khan,
son of the late extrava-
gant Feroz Khan, de-
cided to marry Natasha
Madhvani, daughter of
yesteryear’s beauty
Mumtaz, India knew this
wedding was going to
be a grand and lavish
affair; and it definitely
was. Grand Hyatt,
Mumbai was the venue
chosen for the wedding
and was filled with
scrumptious food for
local and foreign guests.
The cuisine was all de-
cided keeping the
Hindu-Muslim wedding
in mind and included
variations of seafood,
chicken, a live Italian
station, a tandoori grill
and a large selection of
continental desserts. Incidentally for most of the western dishes, the
ingredients were imported from all over the world for the approxi-
mately 2,000 guests that attended. The Khans also opened up a huge
(Continued on page 12)
By: Roshni Mulchandani
Big Fat Bollywood Weddings
Courtesy of films like Hum Aapke Hain Kaun, Monsoon Wedding and Kuch Kuch Hota Hain, audiences have come to believe
that weddings need to be as ostentatious in real life as they are onscreen. In fact, so much do Desis love the idea of weddings,
that most hit films that come out of Bollywood are centered on the subject of marriage and the excitement that surrounds them.
When it comes to falling in love, romancing and eventually tying the knot, Bollywood does it with style, pomp and élan.
Often imitated but never fully copied, many have attempted to mock the various functions, dances and of course the fancy de-
signer wear; some successfully and others not quite so. Interestingly, when most celebs finally take the plunge in real life, they
have contrastingly different ideas— some like it elaborate, while others prefer the ceremony to be personal and small. Whichever
they choose, celebrities find themselves at the center of massive media frenzy with every minor detail being thoroughly scruti-
nized. Take a look as we dissect and give you the glitterati on some of the Big Fat Bollywood Weddings.
Images courtesy of BollySpice
CityMasala www.citymasala.com 12 www.citymasala.com August 2009
bar and additionally hired a bartender to stir-up mocktails to cater to
the teetotalers. Designer Shaahid Amir was in charge of Fardeen’s
clothes for the celebrations and he put together a deep blue sherwani
for the wedding which was filled with Swarovski crystals, made from
popular Lucknowi dhaaga (thread) work. The bride’s trousseau was
handled by the groom’s mother, Sundari, who used many trimmings
and peach tones to form the central theme for the trousseau. The cou-
ple was dressed in totally ethnic yet chic clothing that was adored by
all guests. Keeping it all in the family, the wedding card was sketched
by the groom’s sister, Laila Khan, who is an established artist. It is
said that Laila combined Om and Allah, which added the final finesse
with a sophisticated touch to the Khan wedding.
Zayed Khan weds Mallaika Parekh
Fardeen’s cousin Zayed hopped on the marriage band-
wagon with much style - living up to his reputation.
The actor married his childhood love in a wedding
ceremony that was filled with laughter as close actor
friends put on a skit for the Sangeet filled with gags
and dances. Parekh was dressed to fit a queen - quite
literally - as she chose designer Adarsh Gill whose designs have been
worn by the Queen of England. She chose a bright vivid green lengha
and her jewelry was designed by her designer sister-in-law Farah
Khan. The groom chose a sherwani suit embossed with diamonds
which was a creation of Shahab Durazi. The food selection for the
mega-event at Grand Maratha Sheraton, Mumbai was overloaded
with more than 58 dishes, including an assortment of biryanis fol-
lowed by a five-tier wedding cake. The actor wanted to keep his wed-
ding youthful and thus, took much interest in the preparations leading
up to the nuptials. The couple also hosted a small family reception at a
renowned spa in Bangalore.
Ayesha Takia weds Farhan Azmi
Ayesha Takia chose to
keep it simple when
she married restaura-
teur Farhan Azmi. In-
stead of choosing any
famous designers to
take care of her and
her groom’s clothes,
they chose to go with
an unknown one and
kept it traditional. The
bride wore a gold sha-
rara and the groom
chose dark blue sher-
wani. A quiet tradi-
tional Nikaah at the
groom’s restaurant was
followed by a majestic
reception hosted by the
groom’s parents at a
local stadium in Mum-
bai. The couple decided to restrict the wedding to just one day and
kept it comparatively low-key.
Amrita Arora weds Shakeel Ladhak
Most of Amrita Arora’s wedding was arranged by her sister Malaika
Arora-Khan. The couple indulged in a Nikaah and church ceremony;
a Mehendi, and
Sangeet was
followed by a
reception. Over
three days, the
couple man-
aged to cram in
all of the above
functions
which were
attended by the
crème de la
crème of Bol-
lywood. The
bride chose the
prominent A.
K. Motiwala as
the official
jewelers for
wedding which
was brimming
with gold, ru-
bies, dia-
monds, and
emeralds all to
match her ex-
pansive trous-
seau by Ashley
Rebello and Manish Malhotra. The groom chose Shantanu-Nikhil to
design his suit and sherwani for the different occasions. The venues
used for the soirée also catered the food which ranged from Italian to
Chinese and local Mumbai favorites. Her Sangeet was said to be one
of the best till date. Best friend Kareena Kapoor took center stage and
danced away to some of her popular numbers with Malaika, who also
played the Maid of Honor at the church ritual, and danced to some of
her sister’s favorite numbers. This one was all in the family.
In the past, some of Bollywood’s luminaries have individually chosen
different routes when it comes to celebrating their weddings. Kajol
and Ajay Devgan chose to keep it rather intimate and simple with a
small ceremony at Devgan’s home. Pin-up boy Hrithik Roshan chose
a small private affair in the form of a registered marriage and then a
small reception for close friends and family in Bangalore. Raveena
Tandon chose Rajasthan as her wedding destination and married film
distributor Anil Thadani in a family-filled palace wedding.
Clearly, Bollywood celebrities have contrasting opinions when it
comes to celebrating their big day. And whichever they go, they do
provide prospective couples with great ideas to implement into their
own weddings … taking notes, potential brides?
(Continued from page 10)
Big Fat Bollywood Weddings
CityMasala www.citymasala.com 14 www.citymasala.com August 2009
By: Tracey Porpora
1. Your soon-to-be-spouse begins to ask you a few questions
about your vows to each other over dinner one night, so you:
A. Think about how if a tornado occurred just a few minutes be-
fore your wedding and swept your catering facility away, it
wouldn’t be your fault the wedding didn’t actually happen.
B. Think about how to deal with your nerves that day when you
profess your love for each other in front of all your friends and
family.
2. When friends and family ask you, “How are the wedding
plans coming along?” you:
A. Feel a pit swelling in
your stomach, and try to
blow off the question by
changing the subject.
B. Say you are starting to
get nervous, and are
hoping all the events
unfold as planned!
3. When finalizing all
plans with wedding ven-
dors who will help orches-
trate your wedding day,
you:
A. Find yourself asking if
they would give a par-
tial refund if, for some
unexplained reason, the
wedding didn’t happen.
B. Find anxiety building as you fork over final payments, because
that means the big day is almost here.
4. During the last month of your engagement, everything your
future spouse says pertaining to the pending nuptials:
A. Annoys you to the point that you suddenly have a “short fuse,”
and find yourself arguing with him/her constantly.
B. Makes you little nervous, but you try to relax yourself, and
work through the anxiety you may be feeling.
5. When trying to balance work and wedding planning, which
can be a full time job in itself, you often find yourself:
A. Delving into your work, and leaving the wedding part of your
day to the last minute while blaming your spouse for not doing
his/her share of the planning.
B. A bit stressed and sleep deprived because you are trying to jug-
gle both, and do each well.
6. You bump into an Ex boy/girlfriend in a bar or nightclub, so
you:
A. Find yourself confessing that you don’t know if you can spend
the rest of your life with one person, and you are not sure you
made the right decision by breaking up with him/her in the
past.
B. Explain you’re nervous about the whole marriage thing, but
think you are making the right decision to wed this person.
7. When your best friend, who is single, talks about his/her va-
cation plans that include laying in the sun all day, and partying
all night, you:
A. Relish every word, and wonder to yourself why you aren’t go-
ing with him/her.
B. Find yourself wishing you could
go, but then thinking about how your
honeymoon will be great, especially
because the actual wedding day will be
over.
Give yourself five points for every
“A,” and three points for each “B.”
Results:
If your score is 25 or above, you’re
having serious second thoughts about
getting married. If you’re truly having
second thoughts, it’s important to share
your feelings with your future spouse.
“Not only should these feelings be ex-
plored as a test of whether the relation-
ship can handle deep truths or not, but
also to determine whether the wedding
should go forward,” says Dr. Jim Sniechowski, co-author of The
Smart Couple's Guide to the Wedding of Your Dreams, Planning
Together For Less Stress and More Joy. (New World Library,
2005). “Postponing or canceling a wedding is always better than a
divorce later on. Solid, loving marriages can handle all feelings and
experiences that arise in daily living, and feelings about getting
married are terrific tests.”
If you’ve scored 24 or below you are more likely having normal
pre-wedding jitters, which can be remedied with a few stress-
busting techniques. “Pre-wedding jitters are feelings of general-
ized anxiety due to the stress of the wedding--a life altering deci-
sion,” explains Debbie Mandel, author of Addicted to Stress (Wiley,
2008). “You need to sort out: Is it you, or is it the stress of the wed-
ding ceremony and celebration? Perfectionism and the endless to-do
list will sap your vitality, and cause stressors to overwhelm you.
The dream wedding can be an impossibility to aim for as things
inevitably go wrong with flowers, music, caterer, etc. What kind of
“stuff” can you eliminate from the wedding plans to simplify and
ease up on yourself?” To relax, try: breathing, exercise, yoga, medi-
tation, or hot baths!
Is it Just Wedding Jitters?
You’re in love. You’ve decided to get married. It has been fun planning each stage of your
pending nuptials, and the big day is just around the corner—one month away. You should be happy,
right? You’ve met the person you want to spend the rest of your life with—or have you?
“It's crucial to determine whether these second thoughts are indications that you should back out [of the
wedding], or simply that you’re making a huge life change, and that always brings stress,” says Dr. Judith
Sherven, co-author of The Smart Couple's Guide to the Wedding of Your Dreams, Planning Together For
Less Stress and More Joy. (New World Library, 2005) “If you’re certain that you want to marry, and are
simply having jitters, that's normal.”
If you are starting to have doubts, take our quiz and find out if you’re having second thoughts about mar-
riage, or simply pre-wedding jitters?
CityMasala www.citymasala.com 16 www.citymasala.com August 2009
Arti Patel
CM: How much in advance did you start planning your wedding?
AP: I am one of those girls who thought about their wedding since
they were 4-5 years old. I knew what kind of a wedding I wanted
even before I met Ricky. Of course, things change during the plan-
ning process. Since I am the only
daughter, my dad wanted the biggest
and the best wedding for me. I was
still in school so most of the planning
was done by my mom, dad and
brother.
I had attended a wedding and was
blown away by the decoration there.
Later I found out that Pinky of Nikun
Events was the person behind the
magic. Pinky is a very close family
friend too. I didn’t know about the
hall, the caterer or Pinky, but I knew
exactly what I wanted for my wedding.
CM: Tell us why you chose the vendors you used.
AP: For catering, we chose Rajbhog from NJ. They have to be the
most professional
caterer in the in-
dustry. Sachin
Modi and Suzy
were amazing and
innovative. Mine
was a five day
wedding and they
never repeated any
dish. They took
care of breakfast,
lunch, dinner and
snacks. The food
was out of this
world. The best
was the surprise
where instead of
the 4-5 desserts Sachin had offered, we found two huge tables full of
a variety of desserts! The guests liked the food and they were happy.
Arvind Patel and Ashok Pancholi took care of the photography part.
Pinky was the amazing wedding planner and decorator. Rita (Fusion
Bridal) had also come down
from Atlanta to help. They
helped facilitate everything. A
bride doesn’t need to get a wed-
ding coordinator; she can get a
family member to fill that role. I
was so worked up during the
wedding process! I must have
driven up to Orlando at least 4-5
times just to choose the linen.
My wedding was absolutely
how I wanted it to be. There
were a few instances when I
was upset. Also, the biggest
concern throughout the wedding
process was I like this but will
everyone like it? I finally accepted that you can’t please everyone.
I saw other people, looked through their books, mandaps, linens, etc
and then I decided on Pinky. I wanted a mandap that was all floral
and Pinky custom made that for me. we kept going back and forth
and she showed me some pictures and it was all flowers and crystals.
I saw a bit at a bridal show in Orlando. I still
have people telling me it was gorgeous.
They all worked very hard. The wedding
planner goes to all vendors. Pinky referred a
lot of people to us and she coordinated every-
one and their efforts.
My parents definitely wanted to pick things
on their own. You work and plan, plan, plan –
and then you let the wedding coordinator take
over.
InterContinental hotel was not quite the first
choice as wedding venue. My dad wanted to
have a wedding in our backyard which is
about 5 acres and he was going to get it bulldozed. Instead we opted
for the nearest biggest hotel that met out needs and it turned out to be
wonderful. Monica is the sales manager and we were on the phone
with her almost eve-
ryday about light-
ing, mehendi, party
by the pool, wed-
ding in the ball-
room, different
ceremonies and
more. They were
willing to let us do
what we needed,
like letting 10 peo-
ple take over the
kitchen! Also they
made sure we had
the privacy and se-
curity that was
needed and met our
every need.
CM: What would tell future brides to help them with planning their
wedding?
AP: Every bride needs to go with somebody who knows how to rep-
resent you, your style and who you are, and fits your needs.
∗ It is extremely important to get ref-
erences. We relied on references when
it came to photographers, caterers, etc
and asked everyone what they liked or
did not like about them.
∗ Attend bridal shows. I also went to
some bridal expos and fairs. I found
them to be amazingly helpful. The
amount of vendors you will meet and
the information you will collect will be
very helpful.
∗ Right before the wedding, just relax
and let go, this is your wedding, enjoy
it!
(Continued on page 18)
Meet the Brides
CityMasala www.citymasala.com 18 www.citymasala.com August 2009
Meet the Brides
Deepika Aneja
CM: How did you start planning your wedding?
DA: For me, the wedding planning was different because I had just
started interning! I was
very much against the
traditional wedding, it
requires too much plan-
ning and work and I am
not one of those girls
who always dreamt of
how her wedding will be.
To me, it seemed like the
wedding is more for the
town and expensive. My
dad, however, did not
think that way. He
wanted me to have a nice
big wedding since I am
the first born daughter
and it was very important
to him.
CM: Tell us why you
chose the vendors you
used.
DA: We had about 400-
450 people at the wed-
ding. The venue turned
out to be the Hilton in
Daytona Beach since that
was probably the only
place in our area that
could accommodate the
wedding.
I had heard of Seema of Zamana Photo and I got to know her. I liked
her work, we set a price and she was the first person I booked for the
wedding. The toughest part was deciding on the decorator. First of all,
I did not have time to go back and forth and I found the prices to be
outrageous. I met with Remmal of Occassions by Shangri-La, he
turned out to be one of the easiest vendors to work with.
Finding a DJ was a problem because they are usually booked a whole
year in advance! Finally, I brought DJ Jatin from Washington, DC, as
it is he was my first choice in DJs.
Philip, from Memories of India, was in charge of catering. I did not
get to eat because I did not have
time to, but the feedback was that
the food was amazing. We also had
fresh dosa catered by Woodlands on
Friday.
I went all over Florida looking for
someone to do my hair and makeup.
I finally found the perfect person in
Aisha Sattar, I took all my chunris
during the trial. She did a great job.
My mom, sister and bridesmaids
also got her to do their hair and
makeup. I am definitely going to
continue going to her in future.
For clothes, I was going to get Priya and Chintan’s, but somehow that
did not work out and I ended up ordering an outfit from Season’s
website. (www.seasonsindia.com) and my mehendi outfit from
Khazana’s in New Jersey, I love their clothes!
CM: Please share your wedding experience.
DA: Punjabi weddings are all about good food, music and alcohol!
We managed to get all of that together quite well.
For someone who did not even want a traditional wedding, we actu-
ally set up a 14 page schedule. If it was to be an event, it had to be
really nice. My cousin Sumeet was my enforcer. He is great at event
planning. I am sure Sumeet stopped sleeping 72 hours before the wed-
ding!!
The mehndi, sangeet, wedding, reception, everything went per plan.
At the reception we did something untraditional, we had a live multi
media presentation for about 30 minutes and the guests were kept en-
tertained. The dance floor stayed open until 2.30 am!
CM: What would you like to share with future brides?
DA: Most important—Book ahead!
∗ Always set a price. Set a budget. Have your contracts and quotes in
writing, and take a family member or friend with you and have
them double check. Keep your guard up. Ask if they will throw in
something because sometimes they will. Control costs on alcohol
by getting a tally every hour.
∗ One important thing that future brides should keep in mind is that
there are often surcharges at hotels. We
ended up paying 22% gratuity and service
fee for what we spent there. I don’t know if
this is the case at all hotels, but it helpful to
ask about it so that you can budget better.
∗ Keep an extra outfit handy! My lehenga
was 35-40 pounds, not the easiest thing to
dance in! Also, having a pair of comfortable
shoes is an absolute must.
∗ Get rid of your cell phone the day. Have
fun, enjoy your day because this day will go
by fast.
(Continued on page 20)
Photograph Courtesy of Zamana Photo
Photograph Courtesy of Zamana Photo
Photograph Courtesy of Zamana Photo
Beautiful • Enchanting • Inspiring
EVENT DECOR
&
DESIGN COORDINATORS
Pinky: 407.448.7128
nikunevents@yahoo.com
www.nikunevents.com
CityMasala www.citymasala.com 20 www.citymasala.com August 2009
Meet the Brides
Nima Patel
CM: How much in advance did you start
planning your wedding?
NP: My wedding was going to take place in
Jacksonville while I was living in New
York! To top it all, my parents had a HUGE
wedding in mind for me since I am the first
daughter and first everything in my family!
My parents paid for the entire wedding but
they let me plan everything the way I
wanted it. Ever since I was a little girl I
knew exactly what I wanted for my wed-
ding, like coming in on a doli and how I
wanted it to look. My mom and dad, maasa
and masi, mama and mami took care of
everything.
CM: How did you chose the different ven-
dors?
NP: The first place we started looking was
halls, our guest list was 750 people, not
many places can accommodate so many
guests and my selection was narrowed
down automatically since very few hotels
let you have Indian food catered from
outside. Hyatt Regency Jacksonville
Riverfront was able to accommodate
our request and the guest list.
My parents were concerned about
breakfast and chai-naashta. We got an
extra room for people to change and
we were able to negotiate prices for
the wedding guests to stay at the hotel.
We got all the rooms and halls we
wanted and we also made sure there
wouldn’t be a convention or another
party at the same time.
We chose Occassions by
Shangri-La as the decora-
tor. A friend of mine had
recommended them and
they have a warehouse
where they show different
set ups. I had also seen
pictures of the weddings he
has done. It was easy
working with Remmal,
especially since he had
already done a wedding at
the Hyatt. I started booking
vendors one year in ad-
vance. I also had time to
go to India to pick out my
outfits for the wedding.
We got a band to play at
my wedding, Hemang
Thakker from Texas. My mom had seen
him at another wedding and they are an
amazing band, expensive but well worth it!
I also had DJ Prem from Clearwater for
American songs during the cutting of the
cake, Prem brought out another DJ who
was with him.
We are Surti Patels, and my parents wanted
a Surti cook. My dad was adamant about
having Sudha Patel, who can be pricey,
cater and there was no negotiating with my
dad. She came for about 6 days and
brought her crew and a kitchen caravan.
The dinner for the reception was catered by
Memories of India.
I saw an ad for Zamana Photos and
checked out Seema’s website, we couldn’t
meet up but she sent me some albums and I
really liked her contemporary style. We
needed her for 3 days and she did all the
photography and videography. They are
probably twice as pricey as other tradi-
tional photographers and I had a hard time
convincing my dad, my mom liked the
pictures and our package was good and
they also did a slide show of previous
events and had a projection screen for
people in the back to be able to watch
the wedding. It all worked out great!
Prerna and her sister did the hair and
makeup for the wedding party. Sushila
aunty from Jacksonville, and her
daughter in law did an amazing job for
mehendi.
CM: Please share your wedding ex-
perience.
NP: The ceremonies lasted 4 and a ½
days. I got my Mehendi done a little
bit earlier so that I could enjoy the
actual Mehendi ceremony. The cere-
monies began the first day with Ganesh Pooja &
Peethi in the morning, Mehendi and Sangeet in the evening, The
next day we had Grah Shaanti in the morning and Garba in the
evening. On the third was it was the Wedding in the morning and
Reception in the evening and concluded with a farewell lunch the
following day.
CM: What would tell future brides to do or not do?
NP: I feel that everybody goes through the issue of how many peo-
ple are invited – parents always seem to want more! That is where
you need to make a compromise. You can’t book any vendor until
you know how many people will be there.
Book ahead of time, I have friends who went through a difficult
time trying to find the right vendors because it was too late.
RSVP – with Indian people, it is the most difficult thing to accom-
plish. They don’t respond and still show up, or better still, people
who are not invited may show up! You have to follow up.
Schedule – make sure they know that you are not following Indian
Standard Time.
(Continued from page 18)
Photograph Courtesy of Zamana Photo
Photograph Courtesy of Zamana Photo
Photograph Courtesy of Zamana Photo
CityMasala www.citymasala.com 22 www.citymasala.com August 2009
THE PARENTS' CHAT ROOM
Q: Dear Dr. Trivedi,
1) Our 12 year old daughter was caught
shop lifting in the mall. We have done eve-
rything we can to instill the best of Indian
values and culture. We think she is influ-
enced by her friends and want her to stop being friends with
them. We do not want her to grow up a crack addict thief.
Should we move back to India ? Or send her to India?
- Rajish Shah, Fort Lauderdale
2) I am recently divorced and have two boys, 10 and 11 years
old. They are both very good boys and they are well behaved on
normal days. However, when they have friends over they be-
come very rowdy. They refuse to eat Indian food, they only want
to talk to me in English when their friends are around and it is
almost as if they don’t want to accept their own Indian identity. I
don’t know if I am making a mountain out of a molehill, but I
have seen a lot of Indian kids that do not want to identify them-
selves as Indians and I would really like to prevent my children
from going through that.
- Sunita Verma, Jacksonville
A: Both questions in this month’s column present very simi-
lar dilemma for the parents; how to raise children who make
decisions based on solid family values.
While it has always been true that most preteens and teens are
under significant peer pressure, the job of a parent has become
ever more important in recent years. With advancement of tech-
nology and diluting of traditional family life, kids in today’s
generation have a much broader exposure to information as well
as opportunities for independent choice. On one hand, parents
struggle to instill family values that they identify as basis of their
Indian heritage. On the other hand, the children often feel iso-
lated and have difficulty identifying with their inherited culture.
As a consequence, situations such as the ones described in the
questions above arise. Let’s look at some of the roots and impli-
cations of this family dynamic. As we do that, we will also ex-
plore possible solutions to bridge the gap for those families fac-
ing these complex issues.
No matter what age, children are influenced by their environ-
ment. What is even truer is that as children grow up, they are
less and less influenced by the at-home environment and more
and more likely to be influenced by the environment outside of
their home. Nonetheless, early influences do carry more weight
in shaping the child’s value system and their character. There-
fore, in the bigger picture, rather than pointing the finger at one
specific incidence as the result of poor outside influence, all par-
ents can benefit from taking a broader look at their child’s prob-
lematic behavior. Build your children’s character through re-
peated guidance and positive influence at home.
First, it is of tantamount importance to recognize that making
mistakes is a way for children to learn. Rather than seeing poor
behavior choices (i.e. shoplifting) as a precursor to punishment,
it must be viewed as an opportunity to educate and refine the
child’s decision-making capacity. It is always better to mold
than it is to scold. More simply said, it is easier to praise good
behavior choices and reinforce them than it is to address prob-
lem behaviors through punishments. Catch your children doing
the right thing, and praise them for making good choices. Cor-
rect their poor choices as soon as you come to know about them,
but do not dwell on them. Give your child repeated opportuni-
ties to prove to you that they know how to make better choices.
Also, be careful not to take one event and see it in the most
‘catastrophic’ light. It is easy to conjure up future negative im-
ages when you discover your child acting outside of the ‘value’
system you thought you had instilled in them. But, in reality, a
child’s upbringing is not shaped by a single choice. It is the total
sum of all experiences, good and bad, which they have under-
gone. A child’s ability to make good choices is determined by
the variety and richness of their experiences growing up. There-
fore, allow your children to learn from all of their experiences.
Do not harbor negativity based on a handful of poor choices in
behavior. Accentuate their positives.
For most parents, having direct access and involvement in their
children’s growth will prove most empowering in the long run.
While sending the child to India may appear to be a quick fix to
a situation, please acknowledge that you are surrendering all of
the control over shaping your child’s future by sending them
away. Not to mention, you are creating a great distance in your
relationship with your child. It would be much easier to refocus
your time and energies towards positive parenting than to sur-
render your ability to influence them by sending them away.
You must weigh the risks against the benefits of sending your
children to India. You must do so without having false expecta-
tions or fantasies about children being raised in India, especially
when they are away from their parents.
Finally, please note that what children see and experience as
joyful and uniting is what they will carry on. Thus, if their sense
of belonging is greater outside of their home than it is inside,
you can be certain that they will grow up with a value system
that is closer to the culture outside of their home. The best anti-
dote is to create and maintain a circle of friends and family that
can provide a culturally balanced atmosphere for the growing
child. A healthy mix of Indian activities with American activi-
ties can reinforce Indian pride while allowing the child to mingle
successfully with the American culture that surrounds them en-
tirely once they leave their home.
Ultimately, if as parents, you have helped your child merge their
Indian identity with their American life demands, then you will
have successfully completed your job as a parent. If you get
caught up in labeling Indian versus American, you will find
yourself lost in a maze and discover your relationship with your
child to be very distant and aloof. Although this may be difficult
at first, over time, you too can develop this balanced approach to
parenting.
Dr. Trivedi is a Board-Certified Psychiatrist. He treats
children, adolescents and adults.
Please send your questions to
parentschatroom@citymasala.com
By: Dr. Maulik Trivedi
CityMasala www.citymasala.com 24 www.citymasala.com August 2009
The process of obtaining B-1/B-2 visa involves direct submission of
the application at the U.S. consulate. A holder of B-1 or B-2 visa,
once in the U.S may apply for the extension of stay upon showing a
good cause, and may also apply to change his/her status in a different
category. Similarly a foreign national in the U.S. in another visa
status may also apply to change his status into B-1 or B-2 category.
I will first touch upon the B-2 visa and will leave the details of B-1
visa for the second part of this article. The B-2 visa is generally in-
tended to temporarily admit visitors in the U.S for pleasure or to en-
gage in recreational activities. Such visitors are not permitted to ac-
cept employment during the period of their stay in the U.S.
B-2 visa can be issued for the following activities:
√ Tourism;
√ Make social visits to relatives or friends;
√ Medical reasons i.e. coming to the U.S. for diagnosis or treatment;
√ Participation in social events like, conferences, conventions, con-
vocations of fraternal, social or service organizations; and
√ Accompanying one’s partner “significant other”, the term
“significant other” also includes same sex partner.
In addition to the above there are also some other aliens that are clas-
sifiable as B-2 under special circumstances.
The B-2 visa can be one of the most difficult and complex visas to
deal with because the issues and factors involved in the decision of
the U.S. Consulate to issue the visa are almost entirely subjective. Not
to mention that the decision of the Consular Officer is also not subject
to any “review” or formal appeal, however, if the reasons of denial
are known it will help the applicant to present better evidence in sub-
sequent visa application.
B-2 is a non-immigrant visa which requires the applicant to have a
pure non-immigrant intent. There are some key factors that must be
present in a case for the Consular Officer to make a positive determi-
nation regarding the eligibility of the visa applicant. The Consular
Officer must be satisfied that:
1. The applicant intends to leave the U.S. at the end of his/her tempo-
rary stay. A round trip ticket can be submitted by the applicant to
establish this.
2. The applicant is legally and otherwise permitted to come back to
his/her home country or another country at the end of his/her stay.
What this means is that the applicant is not being sent on exile or
will not be restricted legally or otherwise to come back to the coun-
try of his permanent residence. The Consulate will conduct the ap-
propriate security checks.
3. Adequate financial arrangements have been made out to facilitate
the applicant in his/her travel and activities while in the U.S. It is
important to take bank statements and any other documents estab-
lishing financial ability to satisfy this requirement.
4. The applicant has a residence in his/her home country and other
country of permanent residence which s/he has not and will not
abandon. Documents pertaining to the ownership of home or lease/
rent deed can be submitted in this connection.
5. The applicant must have adequate funds to avoid unlawful employ-
ment to complete the purpose of his/her travel. Again bank state-
ments as well as any financial statements from the host in U.S (if
the applicant has any) can be submitted. Sometimes the submission
of Form I-134 by the U.S host is also advised.
6. The applicant must have realistic and specific plans for the entire
period of proposed visit. It is important to present a definite itiner-
ary. If the applicant intends to travel within U.S the proposed dates
as well as evidence of any air or hotel bookings (if applicable) can
be included. In addition if the trip is for single purpose then a state-
ment in that regard can be helpful.
7. The applicant has strong ties in his/her home country or other coun-
try of permanent residence like permanent employment; business or
financial control; property ownership; family ties remaining at
home etc. In this connection a current employment verification
letter, pay stubs, evidence of having family (spouse/children/
parents etc), and other documents concerning professional and cul-
tural associations should be taken to the Consulate at the time of the
interview.
8. For persons seeking medical treatment in U.S.., a letter/diagnosis
from the local doctor explaining the ailment and the need to get
treatment in U.S. and a statement from a U.S. doctor or institution
concerning the proposed medical treatment/appointment.
The Consular Office issuing the B-2 visa has unfettered discretion to
determine the eligibility of the applicant. What make the process
more difficult is the casual nature of the interview of the B-2 appli-
cants by the Consular Officer. As a result of casual questioning the
applicant may not get proper opportunity to satisfy the Consular Offi-
cer concerns regarding the purpose and temporary nature of the pro-
posed visit hence resulting in the denial of the visa.
It is therefore advised that the applicants be proactive and not hesitate
throwing in additional useful information (voluntarily) at the time of
the interview. In addition the applicant must make sure that the infor-
mation they are providing should facilitate the Officer arriving at a
positive determination of the applicant’s eligibility and not the other
way round. As such, it is very important to exercise proper care in
putting together the supporting documents/relevant evidence to be
submitted to the Consular Officer at the time of the interview.
In the next part we will discuss the B-1 visa. In the end I am includ-
ing an answer to one general question that I received from a reader.
Please note the question and answers are printed ONLY if they DO
NOT include unique circumstances. In addition we conceal the iden-
tity if any personal information is included.
Question from Reader:
Dear Ms. Syed:
I need help regarding two issues:
1- I came to US 3 n half years ago on H4 visa. My husband and I
have our Green Cards. We got it 1 year ago and we have two children
(Continued on page 30)
By: Neelofer Syed, Esq.
Legal Corner - To B or Not to B
In the recent past I have noticed an increased number of calls and emails from CityMasala readers and others inquiring about obtaining the
temporary visit (B-2) visa for their relatives, friends and others wishing to come to visit the United States temporarily. Most of these people
have already suffered denials of the B-1/B-2 visa from the U.S. Consulates.
While each query is specific in its nature, the general principles of the B-1/B-2 visa application remain the same. Similarly most of the time
the reasons of denial are also very similar. In this article I will discuss the topic of B-1/B-2 visa in order to address the concerns of a large
number of people.
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CityMasala www.citymasala.com 26 www.citymasala.com August 2009
Aries: Mar 20th - Apr 19th
Ruled by Venus
Gemstone: Red Coral
Lucky Day: Tuesday
Your love life can prove to be challenging
where you may be faced with emotional tur-
moil and may find yourself feeling rather
blue over the one you are with. If things are
getting too much for you, take time out to
reevaluate what you really want. If you are
not happy, then it's best to cut your losses.
Else make the necessary changes to keep
your relationship alive.
Taurus: Apr 20th - May 20th
Ruled by Venus
Gemstone: Diamond
Lucky Day: Friday
An active time to speak up and voice your
concerns as you find yourself sticking up for
a friend or someone in need who's been a bit
victimized. Your straight forward and diplo-
matic approach can prove to be beneficial in
sorting out a rift. Just don't get so involved
that you are used as a crutch and relied upon
too much.
Gemini: May 21st - Jun 20th
Ruled by Mercury
Gemstone: Emerald
Lucky Day: Wednesday
Challenges in the work place can test you
where you can be burdened with extra re-
sponsibilities or find yourself in conflict with
superiors or subordinates. It's best to keep
your words in check and accept the working
ethos currently in place as you could other-
wise find yourself in a very compromising
situation. Keep working hard and you will
soon reap the rewards.
Cancer: Jun 21st - Jul 22nd
Ruled by Moon
Gemstone: Pearl
Lucky Day: Monday
Find yourself by exploring the deeper ele-
ments in life such as exploring past lives or
opening yourself up to meditation or psychic
development. Now is a key time when you
can broaden your horizons in terms with
your philosophical outlook in life. Inner re-
flection is highly favored as many hidden
answers can be found.
Virgo: Aug 23rd - Sep 22nd
Ruled by Mercury
Gemstone: Emerald
Lucky Day: Wednesday
New people can enter your life out of the
blue as you may attract eccentric and unusual
people who are different from your usual
social circle. You find yourself open to new
ideas. New adventures and evenings out are
highlighted as you mingle and a special
someone can attract your attention. Just
make sure that that person is
single or there may be trouble.
Libra: Sep 23rd - Oct 22nd
Ruled by Venus
Gemstone: Diamond
Lucky Day: Friday
Close family members and relatives can be
quite loud and irritating, annoying you till
you are at the end of your tether. Tact and
diplomacy on your part can avoid a confron-
tation so just remember to take a deep breath
to avoid losing your cool. A very favorable
time to solve any rifts and arguments within
your social and family circles.
Scorpio: Oct 23rd - Nov 21st
Ruled by Mars and Pluto
Gemstone: Red Coral
Lucky Day: Tuesday
Passionate and energetic, you are buzzing
with a thousand ideas to illustrate your vari-
ous ambitions. You are advised to stop for a
moment and pick the ones that are the most
practical and realistic to put them into prac-
tice. Otherwise you can find yourself lost in
the world of thought without ac-
tually achieving anything.
Sagittarius: Nov 22nd - Dec 21st
Ruled by Jupiter
Gemstone: Yellow Sapphire
Lucky Day: Thursday
Hot tempered and aggressive, recent events
have been taking a toll on you which makes
you that extra bit touchy. Rather than biting
everyone's head off, it's time to get to the
root of the problem otherwise you'll simply
go around in circles. A time for inner reflec-
tion is needed to get you back to your usual
self.
Capricorn: Dec 22nd - Jan 19th
Ruled by Saturn
Gemstone: Blue Sapphire
Lucky Day: Saturday
You can be vulnerable to health conditions
due to stress at work and at home. So you are
well advised to get plenty of rest and a nutri-
tious diet to keep you in shape. A new fit-
ness regime can be very beneficial in keep-
ing you in shape and allowing you to focus
your energies rather than displacing them.
Aquarius: Jan 20th - Feb 18th
Ruled by Saturn
Gemstone: Blue Sapphire
Lucky Day: Saturday
Financial prospects seem to be
on the rise for you as you may find that extra
bit in your bank account. Just don't spend it
all at once as it's wise to save a little for a
rainy day. A favorable time to ask for a pay
raise, have a flitter on a horse or find an extra
source of income that can really boost your
bank balance.
Pisces: Feb 19th - Mar 19th
Ruled by Neptune
Gemstone: Yellow Sapphire
Lucky Day: Thursday
You can find yourself in a rather sticky situa-
tion where you may be caught up in a com-
promising position which tests your loyalty
to both sides. It is best to remain neutral as
you may otherwise lose a friend especially
when you've done nothing wrong. Friend-
ships can be testing for you as you discover
who is your real friend.
Horoscope
By: Astrologer Rajesh Modi
Leo: Jul 23rd - Aug 22nd
Ruled by the Sun; Gemstone: Ruby; Lucky Day: Sunday
Bold, confident, loud, dramatic, generous, leader are some of the easiest characteristics that set you apart. Your presence commands respect
and admiration as you love to be the center of attention and enjoy the occasional drama. You possess a generous and giving nature and love
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CityMasala www.citymasala.com 30 www.citymasala.com August 2009
who are born here. My question is if before filing for our citizenship,
like in another 4 years we (me and my husband) are no more together,
would I not be able to file my citizenship because I am not with him
anymore and I got my green card because of him.
2. I applied for my parents visit visa almost 8 months ago. When they
went to Islamabad for their interview they got their approval and were
expecting to get their passport in few weeks, but even after 8 months
they have not received their visa, and whenever they go to ask, they
are told your case is in process. Please help me and let me know what
can I do from here or what they need to do in order to get their pass-
ports.
Thank you, (Name Concealed for Protection of Privacy)
Answer:
Dear Reader:
To answer your questions:
1. Even though you obtained your green card as the derivative benefi-
ciary of your husband, you are entitled to keep it even though you are
separated/divorced. In other words, you should be able to file for your
citizenship after 4 years and 9 months from the date of becoming a
permanent resident.
2. Regarding your parents. I am assuming that you facilitated their
process for their visitors B-2 visa because being a green card holder
you can not file for their residency. So assuming that your parents
have applied for the visitor's visa, the reason it is taking so long might
be the clearance on security check.
U.S. consulate is required to run a security clearance on each appli-
cant before issuing a visa. Since the U.S consulate is relying on third
parties to get the security clearance, some cases take longer than oth-
ers. My suggestion is that your parents keep following up and if possi-
ble, write a letter to the Consulate General regarding this delay.
I hope I was able to address your concerns. Feel free to contact me
with any other questions that you may have.
Ms. Syed is a practicing attorney with Perez and Associates, special-
izing in immigration law. Please send your questions concerning
immigration issues to legal@citymasala.com
(Continued from page 24)
Legal Corner - To B or Not to B
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