Tweet
We had applied for OCI card for minor on March 27th with BLS and their cards were received at SFO on May 28th. Based on the information on CKGS website which stated that they process Passport match up with OCI at the consulate we sent in the passport to CKGS with all the required documents. It was our mistake, without realizing how bad a transition can go . Sent an email to CKGS two days to check if the passports were received and sent to consulate. In turn I get response saying enter in your passport number to track the status. Tracking showed our application was at the consulate, which mislead. We thought they might have sent it to the consulate. But after seeing all the horror stories of people on the blogs we were not sure what was going to happen. Every time emails response from CKGS was of false promise. We didn’t imagine that they were giving us wrong information. Phone calls were long wait. After two weeks of wait time we still didn’t get any change in the status. Meanwhile, I started seeing people going directly to Indian consulate to get their passport match-up with OCI. What alarmed us was when we got email from the consulate directly asking to send in the passports for matchup. We knew for sure that passports were stuck at the CKGS. Call center rep were clueless on what’s going on at the centers in US. Finally, my hubby made a 9hr drive to SFO to figure out what was going on. With the guidance from Embassy we were able to get our kids passports back.Next day i.eThurs Jun 19th Embassy stamped the U sticker to the passport and got the OCI card. During this whole process the ordeal that we went through is beyond words. Anxiety and stress that was created during this transition was awful.
Note to CKGS staff:
CKGS as a long way to build confidence in people. I hope your management team takes extra efforts to run their business smooth in order to make our lives easier. It’s not just important to reply back in 24hrs but what’s more important is also the information that’s provided is true and correct. Don’t make people to run around in circles. Our parents and we build a dream every time a trip in planned to visit in India. It’s very hard to tell an old age parent that they’ll have to wait one more year to see us just because things went wrong due to this awful transition. I guess you guys can never understand that.
Lessons learnt:
Never apply for any PIO, OCI closer to your travel.
Without any appointment CKGS doesn’t entertain anyone. Just make sure to take an appointment before heading out to their center.
I thank Indian embassy but I wish they had posted that they were entertaining the PIO/ OCI cards for people struck in the transition. I pray that no one should go through this ordeal.
Note to CKGS staff:
CKGS as a long way to build confidence in people. I hope your management team takes extra efforts to run their business smooth in order to make our lives easier. It’s not just important to reply back in 24hrs but what’s more important is also the information that’s provided is true and correct. Don’t make people to run around in circles. Our parents and we build a dream every time a trip in planned to visit in India. It’s very hard to tell an old age parent that they’ll have to wait one more year to see us just because things went wrong due to this awful transition. I guess you guys can never understand that.
Lessons learnt:
Never apply for any PIO, OCI closer to your travel.
Without any appointment CKGS doesn’t entertain anyone. Just make sure to take an appointment before heading out to their center.
I thank Indian embassy but I wish they had posted that they were entertaining the PIO/ OCI cards for people struck in the transition. I pray that no one should go through this ordeal.
Comment