Contacting CKGS Atlanta - JoeGo or Tampaite???

[zbcx123]

I sent my original US passport for OCI matchup to CKGS atlanta over a month ago but no response so far. I get canned responses on email inquiries for a status. My travel date is now days away and am getting nervous..

Do you have any ideas on how I can have them push my application? I notice from your posts that you got in touch with somebody in the Atlanta consulate. Can you please share the details?

Thanks

[tampaite]

I sent my original US passport for OCI matchup to CKGS atlanta over a month ago but no response so far. I get canned responses on email inquiries for a status. My travel date is now days away and am getting nervous..

Do you have any ideas on how I can have them push my application? I notice from your posts that you got in touch with somebody in the Atlanta consulate. Can you please share the details?

Thanks

What is your status on the CKGS website? Also, what is the status on GOI website? can you post screenshots please.

I reached out to Atlanta consulate so they can send our US passport to CKGS and once I got confirmation then I repeatedly called/email CKGS to send our US passport. If Consulate has already sent your passport to CKGS then your only option is to keep calling or visit CKGS personally assuming they are close by.

[zbcx123]

(please note they rejected my passport phots in Aug, which I then resent and finally they seem to have accepted it in Oct as per the status on GOI website.)

Status on CKGS website...

--
Application Status Date of Status Remarks
Your application has been submitted at The Indian Embassy for further processing. 06/18/2014
Your application is in process. Your tracking id is USAA **** **14 06/10/2014
Your application is in process. Your tracking id is USAA **** **14 06/10/2014
Your Appointment is Scheduled 06/10/2014
Your application is in process. Your tracking id is USAA **** **14 06/10/2014

Status on GOI website...

--

Date Of Acknowledgment 12-JUN-2014
Registration Status at Mission ATLANTA
Documents Printing Status PROCESSED On 30-SEP-2014
Dispatched From MOIA (OCI ) NEW DELHI On 01-OCT-2014
Document received At ATLANTA On 09-OCT-2014


I sent my US original passport by USPS priority mail (have the trakcing number too) for matchup on Oct 9. It was signed and accepted on Oct 14.

Can you please tell me which phone # or email address you used to get in touch with Atlanta consulate? I have been calling CKGS almost everyday, but all they have to tell me is "we escalated your applination N number of times but not getting any response back from CKGS atlanta office". The cust service rep also suggested I make a trip to Atlanta if time is of essence.

It is a good 7 hr drive for me to get there, so wanted to see if there is anything I can do before I actually drag myself up there.

Thanks a lot for your advise in advance.

What is your status on the CKGS website? Also, what is the status on GOI website? can you post screenshots please.

I reached out to Atlanta consulate so they can send our US passport to CKGS and once I got confirmation then I repeatedly called/email CKGS to send our US passport. If Consulate has already sent your passport to CKGS then your only option is to keep calling or visit CKGS personally assuming they are close by.

[tampaite]

Document received At ATLANTA On 09-OCT-2014


I sent my US original passport by USPS priority mail (have the trakcing number too) for matchup on Oct 9. It was signed and accepted on Oct 14.

Can you please tell me which phone # or email address you used to get in touch with Atlanta consulate? I have been calling CKGS almost everyday, but all they have to tell me is "we escalated your applination N number of times but not getting any response back from CKGS atlanta office". The cust service rep also suggested I make a trip to Atlanta if time is of essence.

It is a good 7 hr drive for me to get there, so wanted to see if there is anything I can do before I actually drag myself up there.

Thanks a lot for your advise in advance.

Call Atlanta consulate between 1pm - 3pm EST at (404) 963 5902. You may have to try several times.
Get confirmation that your passport and OCI was returned to CKGS and the date and then contact CKGS.

[zbcx123]

I tried called this # several times (around 10-20), but didn't have any luck so far. The phone rings for about 10 times and then abruptly gets disconnected. I probably might not have called from 1pm-3pm. I will try that today.

Even assuming I get the date of dispatch from Atlanta consulate, I am not sure how I would contact CKGS. Everytime somebody answer the phone in CKGS customer service ph #, they keep telling me they are an offshore office and don't have any information on a particular application except what is posted on the website. All they seem to do is take my information and pass it on to the CKGS Atlanta office (what they call it is an escalation) which ofcourse was yielding no response till date. Were you able to get in touch with anybody in the CKGS Atlanta office? If so, do you happen to have any phone # or contact details of local offical i can get in touch with?

Thanks a lot for your help Tampaite. If your name is any indicator to your locality, we belong to the same city

Call Atlanta consulate between 1pm - 3pm EST at (404) 963 5902. You may have to try several times.
Get confirmation that your passport and OCI was returned to CKGS and the date and then contact CKGS.

[tampaite]

Thanks a lot for your help Tampaite. If your name is any indicator to your locality, we belong to the same city

Your welcome. yep, same city!

You can also send email to: [email protected]

If they don't respond, best option would be go visit CKGS personally and I know you have to take 1-2 days off etc.

[CKGS Visa Services]

I tried called this # several times (around 10-20), but didn't have any luck so far. The phone rings for about 10 times and then abruptly gets disconnected. I probably might not have called from 1pm-3pm. I will try that today.

Even assuming I get the date of dispatch from Atlanta consulate, I am not sure how I would contact CKGS. Everytime somebody answer the phone in CKGS customer service ph #, they keep telling me they are an offshore office and don't have any information on a particular application except what is posted on the website. All they seem to do is take my information and pass it on to the CKGS Atlanta office (what they call it is an escalation) which ofcourse was yielding no response till date. Were you able to get in touch with anybody in the CKGS Atlanta office? If so, do you happen to have any phone # or contact details of local offical i can get in touch with?

Thanks a lot for your help Tampaite. If your name is any indicator to your locality, we belong to the same city

Dear zbcx123,

We regret the inconvenience caused in getting the latest update on the OCI application. Please be assured, the Atlanta team is looking into the case and will get in touch with you at the earliest.

Regards,
CKGS USA Team

[zbcx123]

Thank you

Thank for your response.

It turns out I sent the wrong passport for OCI matchup which is why the passport was lying around in CKGS office for a month. Although it would have been nice for CKGS to alert me about the mistake, I still take responsibility and consequences for my error.

Once I knew there was an issue and contacted the local CKGS office (turns out consulate and CKGS were already in touch trying to figure out what was going on with my application), they were exceptionally fast in moving forward with the process once they realized the mistake I did. They shipped the wrong passport back to me within an hour's notice and promised to expedite the OCI matchup on correct passport (which I overnighted to them last night) and send back the matched OCI and passport the very same day - since my travel date is now only days away. Thank you Karan for all your help.

I am impressed by the way they got on top of the things. Never expected to hear back from a consular office or an agent after hours - but I had CKGS on the phone with me until late in the night to coordinate swapping the passports - just first class passion to serve customers which we rarely see these days. I am encouraged to see such quality service from a public/private partnership model after all the horror stories I heard and read about BLS. Now I see why outsourcing some government functions are actually not a BAD idea after all.

All in all very happy with the service and I hope (which I am very optimistic) to receive my matched up passport and OCI card in time for our much awaited travel.

Thank you CKGS Atlanta.

Dear zbcx123,

We regret the inconvenience caused in getting the latest update on the OCI application. Please be assured, the Atlanta team is looking into the case and will get in touch with you at the earliest.

Regards,
CKGS USA Team

[tampaite]

It turns out I sent the wrong passport for OCI matchup which is why the passport was lying around in CKGS office for a month. Although it would have been nice for CKGS to alert me about the mistake, I still take responsibility and consequences for my error.


.

Glad its working out but am confused. can you explain what you mean by sending wrong passport?

[CKGS Visa Services]

Thank for your response.

It turns out I sent the wrong passport for OCI matchup which is why the passport was lying around in CKGS office for a month. Although it would have been nice for CKGS to alert me about the mistake, I still take responsibility and consequences for my error.

Once I knew there was an issue and contacted the local CKGS office (turns out consulate and CKGS were already in touch trying to figure out what was going on with my application), they were exceptionally fast in moving forward with the process once they realized the mistake I did. They shipped the wrong passport back to me within an hour's notice and promised to expedite the OCI matchup on correct passport (which I overnighted to them last night) and send back the matched OCI and passport the very same day - since my travel date is now only days away. Thank you Karan for all your help.

I am impressed by the way they got on top of the things. Never expected to hear back from a consular office or an agent after hours - but I had CKGS on the phone with me until late in the night to coordinate swapping the passports - just first class passion to serve customers which we rarely see these days. I am encouraged to see such quality service from a public/private partnership model after all the horror stories I heard and read about BLS. Now I see why outsourcing some government functions are actually not a BAD idea after all.

All in all very happy with the service and I hope (which I am very optimistic) to receive my matched up passport and OCI card in time for our much awaited travel.

Thank you CKGS Atlanta.

Dear zbcx123,

We understand that our Atlanta team has investigated the concern raised by you and your issue stands resolved. We look forward to assisting you in the future.

Regards,
CKGS USA Team

[zbcx123]

mistakenly sent the wrong family member's passport.

Glad its working out but am confused. can you explain what you mean by sending wrong passport?