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Hi, new to this forum. I'm hoping someone can help me figure out what to do next in my visa + renunciation situation.
Here is my current status:
- I submitted a Visa + Renunciation Application to CKGS NYC.
- The FedEx packages for both applications arrived on 7/13 and this morning I received notice about missing documents.
- Visa application says it is missing the Renunciation Certificate (obviously, since I applied for both at the same time, it should be clear that I don't have it).
- Renunciation application says that it is missing the Renunciation certificate form, Naturalization certificate (I naturalized as a US citizen in 2008, have not been to India in that time), and my original Indian Passport.
- I can upload copies of the renunciation certificate and the naturalization certificate, but they are asking me to submit the original Indian passport. I have copies, but obviously I can't send the original because I ALREADY SENT IT to CKGS.
- I immediately contacted CKGS by phone and explained the situation. They told me to email [email protected] with the missing documents and explain about the passport.
- I emailed the missing documents and uploaded them on the website (paying a "printing fee" which is f***ing ridiculous since I sent it to them already, but whatever).
- I explained in my email and on the phone that I cannot send the original passport because they already have it.
- I received 2 emails back from CKGS today on my emails about the RENUNCIATION APPLICATION saying that my VISA application is missing the Renunciation Certificate (doesn't look like they read my emails at all or looked at the documents I sent).
- I've responded to the emails saying that I am trying to submit the missing documents for the Renunciation application and that I need to find out what happened to my original Indian passport.
- I cannot get through to anyone by phone and I haven't heard a response to my latest email.
Looking through these forums, it's clear that this has happened to many others. I'm looking for advice/answers on the following:
1) I live in Ohio, but my regional office is in NYC. Have people had success going to CKGS in person and getting these materials found/processed? I will do this if it will help, but this is a serious burden for me to travel to the East Coast on such short notice. My travel date to India is supposed to be 7/31. Yes, I know I should have applied sooner, but it took a long time to track down all of the documents that they requested since they are kept in a safety deposit box in a different state with the rest of my family's important files.
2) Has anyone had luck emailing the Indian consulate and getting them to intervene? i.e. Getting CKGS to admit that they lost the passport or getting them to search for it?
3) Has anyone taken CKGS to small claims court or threatened to sue? Has it helped you get anywhere with the customer service? I've talked to 5 people so far today and all have them have been useless.
4) Does tweeting at CKGS/Indian Consulate or reaching out on other social media help at all?
I literally don't understand how they could have lost half of my application!! All documents were paper clipped together! They seem to have the copies of the US passport, my driver's license, 2x copies of the renunciation certificate, document checklist, payment receipt, and disclaimer form. How could they have these documents, but not the others? WTF happened? Did they drop on the floor and no one bothered to pick them up? For $500 I expected them to at least be competent enough not to lose half the application when removing it from the envelope. Ugh.
Thank you in advance for any help.
Here is my current status:
- I submitted a Visa + Renunciation Application to CKGS NYC.
- The FedEx packages for both applications arrived on 7/13 and this morning I received notice about missing documents.
- Visa application says it is missing the Renunciation Certificate (obviously, since I applied for both at the same time, it should be clear that I don't have it).
- Renunciation application says that it is missing the Renunciation certificate form, Naturalization certificate (I naturalized as a US citizen in 2008, have not been to India in that time), and my original Indian Passport.
- I can upload copies of the renunciation certificate and the naturalization certificate, but they are asking me to submit the original Indian passport. I have copies, but obviously I can't send the original because I ALREADY SENT IT to CKGS.
- I immediately contacted CKGS by phone and explained the situation. They told me to email [email protected] with the missing documents and explain about the passport.
- I emailed the missing documents and uploaded them on the website (paying a "printing fee" which is f***ing ridiculous since I sent it to them already, but whatever).
- I explained in my email and on the phone that I cannot send the original passport because they already have it.
- I received 2 emails back from CKGS today on my emails about the RENUNCIATION APPLICATION saying that my VISA application is missing the Renunciation Certificate (doesn't look like they read my emails at all or looked at the documents I sent).
- I've responded to the emails saying that I am trying to submit the missing documents for the Renunciation application and that I need to find out what happened to my original Indian passport.
- I cannot get through to anyone by phone and I haven't heard a response to my latest email.
Looking through these forums, it's clear that this has happened to many others. I'm looking for advice/answers on the following:
1) I live in Ohio, but my regional office is in NYC. Have people had success going to CKGS in person and getting these materials found/processed? I will do this if it will help, but this is a serious burden for me to travel to the East Coast on such short notice. My travel date to India is supposed to be 7/31. Yes, I know I should have applied sooner, but it took a long time to track down all of the documents that they requested since they are kept in a safety deposit box in a different state with the rest of my family's important files.
2) Has anyone had luck emailing the Indian consulate and getting them to intervene? i.e. Getting CKGS to admit that they lost the passport or getting them to search for it?
3) Has anyone taken CKGS to small claims court or threatened to sue? Has it helped you get anywhere with the customer service? I've talked to 5 people so far today and all have them have been useless.
4) Does tweeting at CKGS/Indian Consulate or reaching out on other social media help at all?
I literally don't understand how they could have lost half of my application!! All documents were paper clipped together! They seem to have the copies of the US passport, my driver's license, 2x copies of the renunciation certificate, document checklist, payment receipt, and disclaimer form. How could they have these documents, but not the others? WTF happened? Did they drop on the floor and no one bothered to pick them up? For $500 I expected them to at least be competent enough not to lose half the application when removing it from the envelope. Ugh.
Thank you in advance for any help.
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