OCI processing times in Houston

[bigmots]

hi folks

first post here, have applied for OCI in Houston towards end of June. Have File Ack and last status update as of Aug 29 says, photos/signature scanned, but nothing since.

Not sure why Houston consulate has 7-8 diff phone lines if nobody wants to answer, same goes for embassy in DC and their email addresses.

Anybody have an idea what the approx turnaround times are. Friend of mine applied at NY after me and he's done with whole thing.

thanks

BigMots

[Maverick01]

Houston OCI

I am in the same boat. Applied during the first week of July 08. Status same as yours. Houston has been terrible in processing the OCI applications compared to other embassies such as NY.

I am guessing that they will blame it on hurricane "Ike". As you may know Houston did not have power for a couple of weeks after the storm. It is a waiting game now. I am not even calling them because they WILL NOT answer. So much for service!!!

[bigmots]

I am in the same boat. Applied during the first week of July 08. Status same as yours. Houston has been terrible in processing the OCI applications compared to other embassies such as NY.

I am guessing that they will blame it on hurricane "Ike". As you may know Houston did not have power for a couple of weeks after the storm. It is a waiting game now. I am not even calling them because they WILL NOT answer. So much for service!!!

I hear you my friend, all other consulates are reasonable in replying to email, of course nobody picks up the phone, incl the embassy in DC. Wonder why they need all these 100 diff phone lines.

The whole concept of "customer service" is lacking..really stinks.

BigMots

[krishnapm]

Applied on 19th May 2010..No response so far.

I am frustrated with the support at Houston. I used all means to find the status...no use. I sent an email twice, no response. I called many times, but the call never go through...why are they wasting money on Telephone lines if they never answer. I think we should really take this up seriously...

[CBUS]

OCI process time with Houston CGI

I applied in June 2010; photo scanned in July 2010 and it says "In Process" since then. This is a serious issue and I am really concered about it. We are helpless because there is no one who can influence CGI Houston. I really don''t know whom to blame.... I always remember taking days off or leaving early to the office and rushing to the post office, banks etc for speeding up application process but it seems all my efforts were next to useless. I am in the midst of the same situation like rest of the folks who applied at the same period or earlier to me and waiting impatiently since then.... One thing is certain that other CGI offices process OCI quickly and within reasonable time......Does anyone has better ideas what can be done in this type of situations? Who can helps us? How long shall we wait? Why CGI houstonn is not getting additional work force if they are under staff? How can we help them so that they can help us?

[cap]

Houston need to update their website what the real issue is

I am too frustrated with Houston not even processing basic Entry Visas or Surrender certificates in acceptable time. Travisa already has a Houston Alert on their website. No calls answered or emails replied. I am thinking they dont have any working staff, some may have gone on india vacation. Also there is a Vacancy posting on their website which has not been filled for a while now. So until all is well we will all wait to get our OCI and Visas and possible not be able to go to India.

[OCI]

These idiots working there are typical. After calling them for 2 hrs continuous and with no luck, i went to Houston OCI one friday and they were during "break". I had to wait for 3 hrs before anyone answered. Then came the answer - processing are taking longer and we do not have a time frame about it. This office is so F%@#ed up. I applied in May 2010 and the process has not changed since. I sent 3 emails and perhaps 50-60 times tried on phone - no response. My son got it done in less than 2 months in India. So, if you are planning to visit India soon, or planning to stay there for 2-3 months, apply there.

[danidjoy]

OCI processing times in Houston

Mine may not be a typical turn around time but to give an idea to those who are waiting.
Applied for OCI Card and RC respectively on June 29, 2010. Recieved the ACK for OCI Card on Oct 10 marked still in process.
Recieved the RC (stamped on Sept 17) today, Oct 14, 2010.
Good Luck All.

[CBUS]

OCI processing time at Houston CGI

Few folks who applied in April, May been granted OCI in October.
I along with my couple of friends applied in June.......show no progress....CGI Houston is painfully slow....

[atldudes]

How long to get the OCI for new passport

We are OCI card holders. I just noticed that my daughter's passport (minor passport) expired and we sent for expedited processing. We have applied for a new passport. We are going to get it on November 1st week. I heard that we need to get a new OCI card and update that in the new passport for our daughter. How long does it take to process in Houston etc? I heard it take about a month to process. Is it true? How long dies it take to stamp the old passport? Our alternative is to get a visitor visa. How long does it take to process that.

We live in the Atlanta area and we belong to Houston consulate. As others have mentioned, they are not responding to our phone calls, emails etc.


We bought tickets to go to India in December and we have a surgery scheduled for my mother. We cannot do postpone our trip. I want to ensure that we can travel in time.

Please let us know.

Thanks.

[CBUS]

OCI Processing time at CGI Houston

Initially I was under impression that OCI processing time takes about three months at Houston CGI but I was wrong. As a matter of fact, Houston CGI takes byond 8 months to process OCI versus SF CGI which takes about 3-5 months followed by NY CGI. I applied in June at Houston CGI; just fortunate enough to get the photo scanned with a message displayed as "under Process" eversince then.

Few folks who applied in April/ May time frame were able to get ther OCI prcoessed in Oct/ November. This confirms the process time in Houston is not 3 months, not even 5 months, but beyond 8 months. I visited their offices personally and was told that they are under tremendous pressure, handling many locations (10 states) and under staff. I could do nothing further but just waiting for the OCI processed at least by December/ January - (hopefully!!!) I am very disappointed and frustrated but what can be done? Whom to blame? Who can help?.......any thoughts???!!!!

[coolcatz2375]

Has anyone who applied for OCI in September receive an ACK yet? I applied Sept 7th and havent seen any process status message except "Application not yet acknowledged". Houston is painfully slow...and they do no respond to any emails so what is the point of providing their contact coordinates on the Houston consulate website?

[cap]

Houston says wait 6 to 8 months

I went to Houston today since I also applied in early September. I was told it may take 6 to 8 months. They have tons of mail sitting around. They also have hired a person starting today to speed up processing i guess. They have made a exception now and for immediate visas apply for Tourist visa (6 month max). You dont need surrender certificate or canceled India passport for it.

[coolcatz2375]

The US immigration system can be complex and messy, but atleast they send some kind of a notice receipt on sending documents. With the Indian consulate, cant even get them to answer emails or phone calls. Thereis no receipt of any kind when docs are mailed except the tracking receipt from USPS or fedex. What happens when the cashiers check and money orders become void after a certain period of time that are attached with the applications? Are they going to contact us to send money to them again? They fail to realize that the tons of docs sitting in their mail room have time sensitive information in them.

[CBUS]

OCI Processing time at CGI Houston

Hi Folks,

Somewhere in the forum I read the following quote....to call CGI office. I have done it several time + visited CGI office twice... I did not see any benefits. Who has time to call CGI contineously for 5 days? Why CGI Houston doesnt understand their internal problems v/s the efficiency of other CGI offices in NY, SF, etc? Why Houston - so called Energy State! It is a shame... I can throw my frustrations in writting in the forum but not sticking to the phone for five days and waste my valuable time...I got better things to do.....Read below



"begin Quote: Call: 713-626-2148 or 713-626-2149
Choose Option # 9, for operator.
If the message say's the "Operator is busy and want to hold ?", you need to press 1.
It'll say, you are in the queue. After a while, it'll ask you to leave a message or try a different extension.
At that time, choose try an extension and choose "0" to go to operator again..
You need to go through this loop, until you get through to the front desk. I was on this loop for 1 1/2 hours... one time and lucky the second time, when it took only 3 mins...
End Quote"