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Harassment from Indian Consulate/CKGS -- OCI Application
Background: My name as per my Indian passport is "Rakesh Atul Shah", where Rakesh is the first name, Atul is the middle name and Shah is the last name/surname. Even on my wife's Indian passport, the spouse's name is listed as "Rakesh Atul Shah". However, when I got my US citizenship, I used just "Rakesh Shah" as the name, dropping the middle name.
1st Application: Earlier this month (Oct 5, 2017), I applied for OCI for my wife. The application was thru CKGS for SFO Consulate. In the government application, I stated the spouse's name as "Rakesh Shah", the current name as per US passport. My application got rejected, stating that the name should be as per Indian passport of my wife, ie, "Rakesh Atul Shah". I pleaded to CKGS rep to allow me to send my US passport or any other document they need, and not return my whole application. But to no avail. I attempted to escalate the request to a supervisor, but the supervisor was unhelpful as well. Once the decision is taken by Consulate, CKGS is pretty useless. CKGS told that I need to have a notarized affidavit stating that the names are same and a US passport copy. The whole application was rejected (Oct 18th) and I asked to apply for refund. I had paid $351.90 and its over 2 weeks and I haven't yet received a refund.
2nd Application: So I applied again (Oct 25th, 2017), making a new payment of $351.90. Everything remains same on the OCI application for my wife. The only thing changed is the spouse's name as "Rakesh Atul Shah", as per the request. This time I included a copy of my Indian passport, my US Passport and a notarized affidavit stating that both the names "Rakesh Shah" and "Rakesh Atul Shah" are same person. Result: REJECTED AGAIN (1st Nov). Reason: The name in government application should be as per US passport "Rakesh Shah". I inquire with CKGS and they esclate to consulate, and the response from consulate is: "Since last time you did not submit the US passport copy, we evaluated the application based on name in Indian passport". I pleaded that this is borderline harassment and explained all the things that I had been asked to do as per CKGS. The CKGS staff agreed that I have done everything possible, but they cannot help. Like last time, they prove useless. This time also I esclated for a supervisor response, but I think they are embarrassed that the supervisor has not yet called. I have to again apply for refund.
To me this is ridiculous from many points:
1. The second application had all the possible documents for you to match the names -- Indian passport, US passport and affidavit. If you wanted to co-operate, then you would have found a way to help.
2. The name is question is spouse's name and not the name of the applicant.
I consider this to be harassment from Indian authorities. First of all, their website applicaiton wizard is very difficult and has no clarity on what to fill out. You are suppose to call the CKGS for any query on how to fill up the forms when there is slight deviation from the standard, which is always half hour wait plus half hour to get your query resolved. Even after doing that, when you follow the instructions, one can be tossed from one point to another, as I was above. This a huge waste of time, money and resources on all ends. I am frustrated to the point that I don't care about getting OCI. More than myself, I now feel the pain for innumerable people would have to go thru this kind of experience from our consulate.
I wonder if our Indian authorities will ever change to empathize with the customer? Is customer service ever going to be something that they strive for or it just mythical/alien to them? I admire our Prime Minister on the change he is attempting, but when PM Modi says that ease of doing business is improved with government and the OCI application is being simplified for NRIs, this should be a shining example that both are NOT true. Any pointers on how I can get this case to his notice so there is some action?
Note: Real names are changed to protect identity.
1st Application: Earlier this month (Oct 5, 2017), I applied for OCI for my wife. The application was thru CKGS for SFO Consulate. In the government application, I stated the spouse's name as "Rakesh Shah", the current name as per US passport. My application got rejected, stating that the name should be as per Indian passport of my wife, ie, "Rakesh Atul Shah". I pleaded to CKGS rep to allow me to send my US passport or any other document they need, and not return my whole application. But to no avail. I attempted to escalate the request to a supervisor, but the supervisor was unhelpful as well. Once the decision is taken by Consulate, CKGS is pretty useless. CKGS told that I need to have a notarized affidavit stating that the names are same and a US passport copy. The whole application was rejected (Oct 18th) and I asked to apply for refund. I had paid $351.90 and its over 2 weeks and I haven't yet received a refund.
2nd Application: So I applied again (Oct 25th, 2017), making a new payment of $351.90. Everything remains same on the OCI application for my wife. The only thing changed is the spouse's name as "Rakesh Atul Shah", as per the request. This time I included a copy of my Indian passport, my US Passport and a notarized affidavit stating that both the names "Rakesh Shah" and "Rakesh Atul Shah" are same person. Result: REJECTED AGAIN (1st Nov). Reason: The name in government application should be as per US passport "Rakesh Shah". I inquire with CKGS and they esclate to consulate, and the response from consulate is: "Since last time you did not submit the US passport copy, we evaluated the application based on name in Indian passport". I pleaded that this is borderline harassment and explained all the things that I had been asked to do as per CKGS. The CKGS staff agreed that I have done everything possible, but they cannot help. Like last time, they prove useless. This time also I esclated for a supervisor response, but I think they are embarrassed that the supervisor has not yet called. I have to again apply for refund.
To me this is ridiculous from many points:
1. The second application had all the possible documents for you to match the names -- Indian passport, US passport and affidavit. If you wanted to co-operate, then you would have found a way to help.
2. The name is question is spouse's name and not the name of the applicant.
I consider this to be harassment from Indian authorities. First of all, their website applicaiton wizard is very difficult and has no clarity on what to fill out. You are suppose to call the CKGS for any query on how to fill up the forms when there is slight deviation from the standard, which is always half hour wait plus half hour to get your query resolved. Even after doing that, when you follow the instructions, one can be tossed from one point to another, as I was above. This a huge waste of time, money and resources on all ends. I am frustrated to the point that I don't care about getting OCI. More than myself, I now feel the pain for innumerable people would have to go thru this kind of experience from our consulate.
I wonder if our Indian authorities will ever change to empathize with the customer? Is customer service ever going to be something that they strive for or it just mythical/alien to them? I admire our Prime Minister on the change he is attempting, but when PM Modi says that ease of doing business is improved with government and the OCI application is being simplified for NRIs, this should be a shining example that both are NOT true. Any pointers on how I can get this case to his notice so there is some action?
Note: Real names are changed to protect identity.
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