BLS closing; Cox & Kings to handle India visa services in US

[sureshht]

Tricky situation. As far as what I have heard of BLS service they are unlikely to even open the package. But who knows you may get lucky! Or may be try to submit in person. Just in case some kind soul guides you properly.

The passport services still be handled by BLS. Please check.

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I have an appointment on 20th May, 2014 at BLS Chicago for passport re-issue. I do not know if that appointment still holds good. I have tried calling every BLS number they posted on website. No luck.
Like 'INKCUTS' and 'NOTKIM' say they posted that "VISA/OCI/PIO/RENUNCIATION CERTIFICATE SUPPORT SERVICES" are being transferred to Cox & Kings. Does that mean passport services are going to be with BLS after 20th May?
If so, who should be the payee for my passport re-issue on 20th May?

My passport expires on August 12th. I thought it is a good idea to postpone the appointment, but what good would that be if the passport services are going to be with BLS after May 20th.

Passport services still be handles by BLS.

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I am in the same situation (Passport Renewal). On the embassy website it says "VISA/OCI/PIO/RENUNCIATION CERTIFICATE SUPPORT SERVICES".....no where the word "Passport" or "Passport Renewal" is mentioned. I did call Cox & Kings and some trainee guy said that they do not do Passport Renewals and that I might have to go thru BLS, but that I should check by calling BLS. As I said, he sounded like a trainee (was not sure after answering me and asked me to stay on line while he re-checked what he just told me).

Will wait till end of May and go thru the consulate website to see whom/which website I get directed to. Tried calling up the Consulate, but no one answers the phone as usual! Meanwhile if anyone gets any confirmed info reg. passport renewal please post here. Will it still be BLS or Cox & King?

Passport services still be handled by BLS

[Pavithra.s.kannan]

Already provided an application to BLS for a new passport

I have already applied for my passport back in January 2014. BLS doesn't respond to my mails and calls. It's been more than 4 months now. What can I do to speed up the process? Should I reapply to cox and kings?

[RAKK]

I had sent my paperwork for OCI & Renunciation to BLS just before the announcement. Today, all my paperwork was returned except the cashier checks!!!

Any suggestions, what do I do? The amount was over $1200 for the family!!!

[pgubbala]

I am also in the same situation. I had sent my paperwork on April 25th for OCI & Renunciation to BLS . On may 24th all my paperwork was returned except the cashier checks!!! . Cashier checks were encashed May19th . Any suggestions ..how to proceed ?

[Vaaz]

Apply for a refund from BLS

I had sent my paperwork for OCI & Renunciation to BLS just before the announcement. Today, all my paperwork was returned except the cashier checks!!!

Any suggestions, what do I do? The amount was over $1200 for the family!!!

The "Track My Application" page on the Cox & Kings website has a notice that for your case you can apply for a refund from BLS.
[ http://www.in.ckgs.us/VPOOnline/WebP...plication.aspx ]

[Vaaz]

Cox & Kings -- Track My Application - Functional?

Was anyone able to, successfully, track their visa application (applied after 21st May with Cox & Kings) via the Cox & Kings "Track My Application" page @
[ http://www.in.ckgs.us/VPOOnline/WebP...plication.aspx ]?

I received a tracking Id via email which I used in conjunction with web file number from the application on the tracking page. I either get an "application does not exist" or no results (the same page is displayed w/o any errors). Is this tracking mechanism functional?

[rghrdr]

BLS closing; Cox & Kings to handle India visa services in US

I applied for my son's PIO on May 23rd at CKGS, New York. I was given a receipt with tracking number. Like others are saying, I am not sure if their tracking feature is functional. Until this weekend, I got a message saying the application is under process. Earlier this week, the message changed to "Your appointment is scheduled". Now it gives me message "No application exist". Don't know what is going. I was able to talk to the customer service. They gave me a lame excuse that the system is being upgraded and the tracking will be back within few hours. The errors are apparently due to the large number of applications getting transferred from BLS. That doesn't make any sense, why would BLS applications have impact on tracking CKGS submitted applications. This was on 27th. Not sure on how to track the status.

[RPANY]

Cox & Kings PIO application

I applied for my son's PIO on May 23rd at CKGS, New York. I was given a receipt with tracking number. Like others are saying, I am not sure if their tracking feature is functional. Until this weekend, I got a message saying the application is under process. Earlier this week, the message changed to "Your appointment is scheduled". Now it gives me message "No application exist". Don't know what is going. I was able to talk to the customer service. They gave me a lame excuse that the system is being upgraded and the tracking will be back within few hours. The errors are apparently due to the large number of applications getting transferred from BLS. That doesn't make any sense, why would BLS applications have impact on tracking CKGS submitted applications. This was on 27th. Not sure on how to track the status.

Hello RGHRDR, Did you get any update from Cox & Kings, I have applied PIO for my son on 23rd of May and much follow up now the status says "in process" on June 3rd. I am not sure when they are going to have it send to Consulate.

[rghrdr]

Hello RGHRDR, Did you get any update from Cox & Kings, I have applied PIO for my son on 23rd of May and much follow up now the status says "in process" on June 3rd. I am not sure when they are going to have it send to Consulate.

Same here. It says in process today. I don't think they even sent the applications to Consulate. Kind of disturbing. I called the customer service today, was on hold for about 50 minutes. Their call center is in Mumbai. The agent told me that he doesn't have any more information than what we see. He says that it is in process. I asked him point blank if any applications had gone to the consulate. He couldn't answer that, but just gives a generic answer saying that things are moving. I asked him to call the New York office. He kept me on hold a few times and came back and told me that the extension to New York office was busy. I am not sure if he was just pretending or what. I don't know what to do now. I have a trip planned to India in early August. Didn't even book tickets as I am not confident that this will get resolved by then. I am not sure if going to New York will help. Let me know what you plan to do. May be we can do a concerted thing so that the consulate knows the troubles we are going through.

[shahpragnesh]

Tourist visa processing time

I have applied with cox and king on May 23, 2014 for tourist visa. online status says submitted to Indian Embasy for further processing. Does any body knows how long does it take to get visa

[RPANY]

Same here. It says in process today. I don't think they even sent the applications to Consulate. Kind of disturbing. I called the customer service today, was on hold for about 50 minutes. Their call center is in Mumbai. The agent told me that he doesn't have any more information than what we see. He says that it is in process. I asked him point blank if any applications had gone to the consulate. He couldn't answer that, but just gives a generic answer saying that things are moving. I asked him to call the New York office. He kept me on hold a few times and came back and told me that the extension to New York office was busy. I am not sure if he was just pretending or what. I don't know what to do now. I have a trip planned to India in early August. Didn't even book tickets as I am not confident that this will get resolved by then. I am not sure if going to New York will help. Let me know what you plan to do. May be we can do a concerted thing so that the consulate knows the troubles we are going through.

I am not sure what to be done, we have travel planned for August first week. CKGS is not at all prepared to handle this job, atleast for now and it is one of the biggest mistake to change the service provider at peak travel time. I am not sure how many watched reports from SF location. http://www.sfexaminer.com/sanfrancis...nt?oid=2806904

I hope there will be some move soon else I am thinking of reporting to embassy.

[mks_239]

I finally could catch hold of BLS through phone, and they said they are going to handle the passport services. Only VISA/OCI/PIO/Renunciation are transferred to COX & Kings. I got an e-mail from Indian consulate as well saying that I can apply passport renewal with BLS on 20th May. So, I think I am going to keep my appointment.

Did you call San Francisco division? If yes can you please give me the phone number? The number listed on website - states voice mail currently unavailable.
Thank you