Renunciation Procedure using VFS

[sinnerman26]

Hello, I just started my frustrating journey of Renunciation. I downloaded this "Declaration of Renunciation OF Citizenship..." PDF. This form looks like it is designed by some mental patient in the Gotham asylym.

Who all are supposed to sign. I thought only the applicant is needed to sign, but there are three total signatures.

It is designed by an illiterate person.

What I did was edit the form using the Snagit tool, you may use photoshop or any other editing tool. Type in the details. Leave the declaration part after your signature blank. This will be filled by the Consulate official. I did not have any issues sending it this way. I did not even create a profile on VFS since when I applied, there was no way to create a profile. I just compiled all the docs and sent it to them via UPS.

[we-shall-overcome]

VFS lost my canceled Indian passport and Surrender Certificate. They delivered it to someone else. The other person contacted me but would not send the canceled passport and surrender certificate without authorization from Consulate. The Consulate ofcourse never responds. Anyone have any ideas what to do?

i would get after VFS and make them to deliver to you .......write to them....they respond usually within a day...u can also talk upto 5 minutes a week without charge

[sinnerman26]

i would get after VFS and make them to deliver to you .......write to them....they respond usually within a day...u can also talk upto 5 minutes a week without charge

Thank you for your response. I've sent multiple emails to them already. I tried to call the VFS Helpline but these folks are not even present in the US and all they say is that we have notified the VFS Chicago Center of the incident. So far its been frustrating.

[Donald_Trump]

This company operates on US soil. I believe there should be some form of legal options that we as American Citizens have regarding this. After all you paid fees to VFS and it's their responsibility to handle our important documents like passports and certificates with utmost care.

How can they send your documents that has your personal information to someone else. I hope some one can sue them.

If you paid through credit card, you can dispute VFS fees saying they lost your passport and didn't provide the service they charged you for.

Thank you for your response. I've sent multiple emails to them already. I tried to call the VFS Helpline but these folks are not even present in the US and all they say is that we have notified the VFS Chicago Center of the incident. So far its been frustrating.

[savssavssavs]

VFS lost my canceled Indian passport and Surrender Certificate. They delivered it to someone else. The other person contacted me but would not send the canceled passport and surrender certificate without authorization from Consulate. The Consulate ofcourse never responds. Anyone have any ideas what to do?

Off topic but did you submit the "Additional Particulars Form" along with your application?

I didn't know i had to submit it because it wasn't on the VFS checklist and now I don't know what to do

[sinnerman26]

This company operates on US soil. I believe there should be some form of legal options that we as American Citizens have regarding this. After all you paid fees to VFS and it's their responsibility to handle our important documents like passports and certificates with utmost care.

How can they send your documents that has your personal information to someone else. I hope some one can sue them.

If you paid through credit card, you can dispute VFS fees saying they lost your passport and didn't provide the service they charged you for.

You're right. I am contemplating filing a police complaint and taking the legal route if I don't get a response.
I paid through money order as that's what they had requested. I had applied in mid November when the website was not even working so it wasn't possible to pay with credit card.
The more frustrating part is that the Consulate folks never ever respond to your email. Their phone lines go straight to voicemail. There emergency numbers dont work. Why do we even have a consulate?!

[sinnerman26]

Off topic but did you submit the "Additional Particulars Form" along with your application?

I didn't know i had to submit it because it wasn't on the VFS checklist and now I don't know what to do

No I did not submit that. When I looked at the Additional Particulars Form, the language seemed to be referencing to Visa/OCI.

I sent the following things:

Checklist
Government Renunciation Form (Photo affixed on the form)
VFS provided Renunciation Certificate (2 copies, both signed)
Original Indian Passport
Copy of Naturalization Certificate
Copy of Indian Passport
Copy of US Passport
Driver's License (For address verification)
2 additional passport size pictures
$197.90 Money Order made to VFS
Prepaid Return UPS Label & Envelope

[Donald_Trump]

savssavssavs - I am also in same boat. Didn't submit additional particulars form as it was not mentioned in the checklist. Now, if VFS asks for the additional particulars form separately, I am going to insist that they provide shipping labels or bear the shipping cost as it's not applicant's fault. Right now, my application is showing under process at VFS so don't know yet. Been over a week since it reached them (11/30), status shows "Processing at VFS center" as of today. I had done renunciation for another family member with CKGS earlier and had got the certificate back in this time.

Off topic but did you submit the "Additional Particulars Form" along with your application?

I didn't know i had to submit it because it wasn't on the VFS checklist and now I don't know what to do

[we-shall-overcome]

i just checked their checklist still does not mention the additional particulars form. they have updated the checklist (removed the need to upload digital photo and signature) but they have not made any updated to include the additional particulars form. So not sure if its really needed ....has anyone else been asked to submit other than kiranboda .... if not, then maybe it was asked from him in error...at this point we cann all keep guessing....unfortunately

[Donald_Trump]

we-shall-overcome It is definitely not an error on VFS asking for it. The requirement of Additional Particulars form is stated on Indian Consulate website too (at least on SFO Consulate website - https://www.cgisf.gov.in/page/FAQs-R/ (see attached screenshot) and CKGS had this form as part of the application workflow on their website and it would be auto-generated once you had filled the application on their website.

Now, VFS without understanding the whole process and requirements by the Indian Consulate has taken over and has not included Additional Particulars form as part of the application. Typical Indian bureaucratic system and process.

if not, then maybe it was asked from him in error..

[savssavssavs]

savssavssavs - I am also in same boat. Didn't submit additional particulars form as it was not mentioned in the checklist. Now, if VFS asks for the additional particulars form separately, I am going to insist that they provide shipping labels or bear the shipping cost as it's not applicant's fault. Right now, my application is showing under process at VFS so don't know yet. Been over a week since it reached them (11/30), status shows "Processing at VFS center" as of today. I had done renunciation for another family member with CKGS earlier and had got the certificate back in this time.

Where can i find the status?

Mine was delivered to the Consulate on Dec 1st and I have not yet received any email from VFS

[savssavssavs]

No I did not submit that. When I looked at the Additional Particulars Form, the language seemed to be referencing to Visa/OCI.

I sent the following things:

Checklist
Government Renunciation Form (Photo affixed on the form)
VFS provided Renunciation Certificate (2 copies, both signed)
Original Indian Passport
Copy of Naturalization Certificate
Copy of Indian Passport
Copy of US Passport
Driver's License (For address verification)
2 additional passport size pictures
$197.90 Money Order made to VFS
Prepaid Return UPS Label & Envelope

Thank you for clarifying. Since they processed and approved your application without it, i guess it is not mandatory anymore....it sucks that they shipped to the wrong address though.

When did you submit your app and when did they ship your certificate? (trying to figure out the apprx timeline for the renunciation process)

[kiranboda]

My application still got forwarded to the consulate, when I complained that "Additional particulars form" was not mentioned anywhere. It has now reached the consulate and I am waiting to find out if I won the lottery or not This ordeal of renunciation application has been bizarre.

[grrfromgk]

Finally I received email from VFS stating application has been processed and dispatched via courier ( yesterday), I sent UPS prepaid label but their email notification says dispatched via FedEx, and I don’t see any updates for my UPS tracking. I seriously wish they did not send my passport and surrender certificate to wrong person.

[we-shall-overcome]

Finally I received email from VFS stating application has been processed and dispatched via courier ( yesterday), I sent UPS prepaid label but their email notification says dispatched via FedEx, and I don’t see any updates for my UPS tracking. I seriously wish they did not send my passport and surrender certificate to wrong person.

thats great....when did vfs report it was sent to embassy? and did you send the additonal particulars form?