OCI delays at New York BLS

[OCIapplicant1]

My application reached NY BLS office on March 25, 2014. But there is no update after that. The application package does not seem to have been opened yet. I already saw one post of OCI delay at NY BLS office. Are there any more cases? Has anyone been able to contact BLS-NY and get any info about reasons for delays?

[Rajagort]

Any update? I am getting ready to send it for OCI reissue for my kids to NY. Trying to see what to expect in terms of leadtime. What frustrates me is that they do not pick up their phones.

My application reached NY BLS office on March 25, 2014. But there is no update after that. The application package does not seem to have been opened yet. I already saw one post of OCI delay at NY BLS office. Are there any more cases? Has anyone been able to contact BLS-NY and get any info about reasons for delays?

[AP_OCI]

OCI application stuck with BLS NY

I mailed my OCI application on 24-March. I received an email on 31-March and this is my current status as of 10-April. Looks like there is no movement from BLS to India Consulate for processing.

"Current Aplication Status : Your application with tracking number xxxxxxxxxx has been received at our New York Center on 2014-03-31 , waiting for documentation check and acceptance. Kindly note it may take up to 48 working hours for status to change. "

I have been on wait over the phone (773-358-1742) for 4 hours daily for last 3 days and I still cannot get through to anyone at BLS using the help line number provided on website.

[KC_2014]

I have also my application delay too. I had applied for my kids OCI reissue on 30th January . Got an acknowledgment from BLS that they received it on 31st as I had sent it overnight.

It was sent to Consulate in India on 19th February and since then there is no change. I am so frustrated . I have emailed so many times , got the standard reply that it is still in process. I will trying calling from tomorrow as I really need to find what exactly is happening with my kids applications.

Please let me know if anyone of you hear anything from BLS .

Thanks
KC

[ndk100]

OCI delays at New York BLS

There does seem to be an issue at New York BLS.

I have sent passports of my two kids for 'OCI re-issue due to new passport'. The OCI documents were printed and received at NY consulate and I sent over the original passports for match-up and these were received at BLS on 3/31. They were sent over to the consulate on 4/1 for match-up and one of them showed the status that it was received back at BLS after match-up and was ready for dispatch on 4/5. It hasn't been dispatched yet. There was no update on the other passport after it was sent to the consulate for match-up on 4/1. I am now getting a 'MySql' error when I try to track these applications.

[Rajagort]

ndk100,
Can you tell your timeline like when you send it, when it was sent to CGNYI, etc? This will help us to see the leadtime for each step. Thanks.

There does seem to be an issue at New York BLS.

I have sent passports of my two kids for 'OCI re-issue due to new passport'. The OCI documents were printed and received at NY consulate and I sent over the original passports for match-up and these were received at BLS on 3/31. They were sent over to the consulate on 4/1 for match-up and one of them showed the status that it was received back at BLS after match-up and was ready for dispatch on 4/5. It hasn't been dispatched yet. There was no update on the other passport after it was sent to the consulate for match-up on 4/1. I am now getting a 'MySql' error when I try to track these applications.

[Raj K]

OCI application issue (NY)

Here is my situation.

- Sent OCI application for my wife and son (13 yrs) March 14, 2014. My son applied as family member in the same application
- Application received at BLS NY office 17 March 2014.
- Received two e-mails 14 April 2014 (almost after a month)
- First e-mail addressed to my wife as follows:
**** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** ****
We have received your application and have placed your application on hold due to missing documents. BLS International Services USA Inc. will be unable to process your application further, until our office receives the missing document(s). Please mail your missing documents to us using a carrier with tracking service.

The following documents are missing from your application:

Missing Documents

Reason pending with family memeber ppt 49####### (this is my son's passort number)

Abandonment Policy: Your application will remain on hold in our office for a maximum of 21 calendar days. If you have included a prepaid shipping label with your application, we will use the same prepaid shipping label to mail your application back. If no shipping label has been provided, your application is considered abandoned and will be handed over to the Indian Consulate of your Jurisdiction.
**** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** *

- Second e-mail addressed to my 13yr old son as follows:

**** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** ***

Dear **** **** **** **** **,
Your application has been accepted by BLS International Services. Your application Reference ID is OCIN########
For Courier return of your passport, please Click Here.
To track your application, please Click Here.

Regards,
BLS International Services USA Inc.
**** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** ***

In the first e-mail, I am not sure what it meant by "pending with family memeber ppt 49#######". I have included all docuements meeting their requirement including my sons. Not sure what this really means.

No one answers the phone at BLS and I finally sent them an e-mail(s) and hope to hear back from them.

Any help/advice is greatly appreciated.

[ndk100]

ndk100,
Can you tell your timeline like when you send it, when it was sent to CGNYI, etc? This will help us to see the leadtime for each step. Thanks.

Rajagort,
Here is my timeline. As I said before, I have two applications and both of them followed approximately the same timeline give or take a couple of days.

At BLS
======
Application received - Feb 28
Acknowledged - Mar 17
Accepted - Mar 18

Consulate/New Delhi
===================
Acknowledged - Mar 19
(there is no approval/granting as this is a re-issue)
Printed - Mar 24
Dispatched - Mar 26
Received at Consulate - Mar 28

At BLS again
============
BLS asks for original passport Mar 27
Original passport received (from me) at BLS Mar 31
Passport sent to Consulate for match-up Apr 1
Passport received back at BLS after match-up Apr 5 and supposedly 'Ready for Dispatch' (this hasn't been dispatched yet)

The other original passport was sent over to the Consulate for match-up on Apr 1 but hasn't come back to BLS after match-up.

And now we cannot even track as we keep getting the 'MySql' error.

[Rajagort]

Thanks. I need to send my 2 kids for reissue. I am working to get the documents ready. Do you mind posting what documents you sent for reissue? Did you have to notarize them? What I learn is that each Consulate is unique in their specific requirements. Since you sent to NY, it will be helpful. Thanks again.

Rajagort,
Here is my timeline. As I said before, I have two applications and both of them followed approximately the same timeline give or take a couple of days.

At BLS
======
Application received - Feb 28
Acknowledged - Mar 17
Accepted - Mar 18

Consulate/New Delhi
===================
Acknowledged - Mar 19
(there is no approval/granting as this is a re-issue)
Printed - Mar 24
Dispatched - Mar 26
Received at Consulate - Mar 28

At BLS again
============
BLS asks for original passport Mar 27
Original passport received (from me) at BLS Mar 31
Passport sent to Consulate for match-up Apr 1
Passport received back at BLS after match-up Apr 5 and supposedly 'Ready for Dispatch' (this hasn't been dispatched yet)

The other original passport was sent over to the Consulate for match-up on Apr 1 but hasn't come back to BLS after match-up.

And now we cannot even track as we keep getting the 'MySql' error.

[ndk100]

For the most part, I followed their check-list. I just noticed that they have updated the requirements from when I applied in Feb.

Here are few general points to keep in mind:
- Original OCI booklet and original expired passport are required
- They need two sets of copies of everything.
- When in doubt whether a document (copy) is needed or not, just include it.
- For minors, both parents should sign and get it notarized on application (as explained in the check-list)
- Don't forget to include the proof of residence (copy of drivers license for both parents)
- All copies can be self-attested
- Include the copies of 'Naturalization Certificate' and 'Renunciation Certificate' of both parents

If you have any specific questions, I can try to answer them.

[OCIapplicant1]

Thank you, 1mariandr.

Based on note posted by 1mariandr in OCI tracker, I was expecting my OCI postal application to be opened today, April 18, 2014. Today I did receive email from BLS stating that application has been accepted. I am hoping that now it will move along without any more bottlenecks.

[OCIapplicant1]

Thank you, 1mariandr.

Based on note posted by 1mariandr in OCI tracker, I was expecting my OCI postal application to be opened today, April 18, 2014. Today I did receive email from BLS stating that application has been accepted. I am hoping that now it will move along without any more bottlenecks.

The update is as follows:

"Your OCI Application has arrived at the BLS Office. Scrutiny of the application may take up to 2-3 working days.The Application will undergo numerous steps before the status changes. Any additional required documents requested will need to be provided within 15 days of receiving an email from the BLS Office."

So I am not out of the blue yet. They have just opened the FedEx envelope after almost one month!

[girishkm]

My Application Status on BLS website : Passports Sent to NY Consulate for Match-up.

Here is what bothers me...
When I emailed to NY consulate on May 06th 2014 to find out current status of OCI match up, consulate person emailed me back saying our OCI & Passports has been ALREADY MATCHED-UP and sent back to BLS as of on Apr 16th 2014, but BLS is still continue showing that it is PENDING with NY indian consulate for OCI Match-up process as of May 8th 2014. When I reached out to BLS via email regarding this, they are still saying application is waiting for Passports to come back from consulate.

Did anybody experienced this kind of delay and discrepancy between BLS & Consulate!!!!!. It is been 4 WEEKS just for OCI-MATCH up process !!!!!!!

Here is the details of my Family OCI Application status ( 4 applications in one packet)

04/12/2004: Since then WAITING!!!!!!
04/11/2014: Original US Passport sent to consulate for Match-up
04/11/2014: Received Original passport for Match-up of OCI card
04/07/2014: Application Ready for Passport Matchup
03/25/2014: Application Submitted to Consulate NY
03/05/2014: Application processed and ready for submit to consulate NY
03/05/2014: Application Accepted
02/18/2014: Reached BLS office
02/17/2014: Applied via UPS

Thanks

[ndk100]

Hi Girishkm,
I am in the same situation as you. I had applied for OCI re-issue for my kid. The status on BLS website shows that the passport was received by BLS NY on Apr 5th after match-up but they haven't dispatched it yet.

I have been raising escalation tickets every week but haven't got back any response. I had asked a similar question in a different thread and asked for suggestions to get BLS to respond but haven't received any.

How did you get them (BLS) to respond? Did you send an email and to which address?

Thanks

My Application Status on BLS website : Passports Sent to NY Consulate for Match-up.

Here is what bothers me...
When I emailed to NY consulate on May 06th 2014 to find out current status of OCI match up, consulate person emailed me back saying our OCI & Passports has been ALREADY MATCHED-UP and sent back to BLS as of on Apr 16th 2014, but BLS is still continue showing that it is PENDING with NY indian consulate for OCI Match-up process as of May 8th 2014. When I reached out to BLS via email regarding this, they are still saying application is waiting for Passports to come back from consulate.

Did anybody experienced this kind of delay and discrepancy between BLS & Consulate!!!!!. It is been 4 WEEKS just for OCI-MATCH up process !!!!!!!

Here is the details of my Family OCI Application status ( 4 applications in one packet)

04/12/2004: Since then WAITING!!!!!!
04/11/2014: Original US Passport sent to consulate for Match-up
04/11/2014: Received Original passport for Match-up of OCI card
04/07/2014: Application Ready for Passport Matchup
03/25/2014: Application Submitted to Consulate NY
03/05/2014: Application processed and ready for submit to consulate NY
03/05/2014: Application Accepted
02/18/2014: Reached BLS office
02/17/2014: Applied via UPS

Thanks

[girishkm]

Hi ndk100,

I emailed to BLS at [email protected] & [email protected]. I got reply only once from blsgroup.in.
Can you post your application timeline. This will help me to guage how along it may take.
Thanks
Girish.

Hi Girishkm,
I am in the same situation as you. I had applied for OCI re-issue for my kid. The status on BLS website shows that the passport was received by BLS NY on Apr 5th after match-up but they haven't dispatched it yet.

I have been raising escalation tickets every week but haven't got back any response. I had asked a similar question in a different thread and asked for suggestions to get BLS to respond but haven't received any.

How did you get them (BLS) to respond? Did you send an email and to which address?

Thanks