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PIO Card Application – Washington DC
I submitted my application for PIO card this week. For the benefit of our readers, I will list it down step-by-step:
1. The embassy is walkable (10 mins) from DUPONT CIRCLE METRO STN – RED LINE ( You have to go to : 2536 Mass. Ave). Taxi will cost you Four dollars 50 cents.
2. The lobby is accessible before the counter opens, so if you reach early, you can get in the lobby and make yourself comfortable. ( The ENTRY door to the lobby doesNOT shut itself, so please please SHUT it after you, otherwise it really gets cold inside. The EXIT door shuts itself but makes a loud THUD sound, so please SHUT it gently after you.)
3. Please DONOT show-off your BABU GIRI in the lobby. In the two hours that I was there, people made business, social, and all sort of calls. This is very annoying. Please be courteous, if you have to make a call, please make it quick or step outside.
4. Please take a TOKEN. Don’t act blind; when 20+ people are sitting you cannot pretend to be the first one in line.
5. Now the main thing, these are the documents that I attached: (For all notarized document, I just got the first page Notarized.)
a. TWO copies of the application. TWO pictures with each application (One stuck and ONE stapled)
b. Cashier Checks 365.00 for adults, 185.00 for kids
c. Notarized Birth Certificate
d. Notarized photocopy of US Passport
e. Notarized photocopy of parents US Passport ( with kids application only)
f. Photocopy of Indian Passport
g. Photocopy of Drivers License
h. Photocopy of ONE Utility Bill
6. I carried all the originals also, just in case, if they needed to verify.
7. Don’t forget to take the receipt that is the ONLY evidence you have. ( REMEMBER, they have your US passport, so you have to be a little careful.)
8. General Comments:
a. The restroom/lobby was clean, neat and fresh.
b. Be prepared for the counter to open late. This may not be an everyday affair but it happens.
c. I was asked, if I had ONLY one token for all applications. I said yes, and there was no issue as such, but I think they expect ONE TOKEN per application. So if you have more than one application, pull out more than one token, this keeps everyone cheerful.
d. For PIO, it takes 45 days. I anyhow asked when should I come to collect the PIO and cancelled Indian Passport, the answer was “45 days”. So it is 45 days if you hand deliver it. By mail, I am NOT sure.
e. I got an impression that they were not very pleased with me hand delivering the application, may be, I should have mailed it. But, the reason I chose to go in-person is:
i. Make sure they have all the documents needed.
ii. Make sure that they acknowledge the receipt of ORIGINAL US Passports. By mail, I was not very confident. (Remember: it is not what you send, it is what is acknowledged as received, that matters.)
1. The embassy is walkable (10 mins) from DUPONT CIRCLE METRO STN – RED LINE ( You have to go to : 2536 Mass. Ave). Taxi will cost you Four dollars 50 cents.
2. The lobby is accessible before the counter opens, so if you reach early, you can get in the lobby and make yourself comfortable. ( The ENTRY door to the lobby doesNOT shut itself, so please please SHUT it after you, otherwise it really gets cold inside. The EXIT door shuts itself but makes a loud THUD sound, so please SHUT it gently after you.)
3. Please DONOT show-off your BABU GIRI in the lobby. In the two hours that I was there, people made business, social, and all sort of calls. This is very annoying. Please be courteous, if you have to make a call, please make it quick or step outside.
4. Please take a TOKEN. Don’t act blind; when 20+ people are sitting you cannot pretend to be the first one in line.
5. Now the main thing, these are the documents that I attached: (For all notarized document, I just got the first page Notarized.)
a. TWO copies of the application. TWO pictures with each application (One stuck and ONE stapled)
b. Cashier Checks 365.00 for adults, 185.00 for kids
c. Notarized Birth Certificate
d. Notarized photocopy of US Passport
e. Notarized photocopy of parents US Passport ( with kids application only)
f. Photocopy of Indian Passport
g. Photocopy of Drivers License
h. Photocopy of ONE Utility Bill
6. I carried all the originals also, just in case, if they needed to verify.
7. Don’t forget to take the receipt that is the ONLY evidence you have. ( REMEMBER, they have your US passport, so you have to be a little careful.)
8. General Comments:
a. The restroom/lobby was clean, neat and fresh.
b. Be prepared for the counter to open late. This may not be an everyday affair but it happens.
c. I was asked, if I had ONLY one token for all applications. I said yes, and there was no issue as such, but I think they expect ONE TOKEN per application. So if you have more than one application, pull out more than one token, this keeps everyone cheerful.
d. For PIO, it takes 45 days. I anyhow asked when should I come to collect the PIO and cancelled Indian Passport, the answer was “45 days”. So it is 45 days if you hand deliver it. By mail, I am NOT sure.
e. I got an impression that they were not very pleased with me hand delivering the application, may be, I should have mailed it. But, the reason I chose to go in-person is:
i. Make sure they have all the documents needed.
ii. Make sure that they acknowledge the receipt of ORIGINAL US Passports. By mail, I was not very confident. (Remember: it is not what you send, it is what is acknowledged as received, that matters.)
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