OCI application - Confusing instructions/procedure of VFS

[nshalady]

I applied for a new OCI at Washington DC recently. Here are some dates that might be useful for people who are lost waiting for a response from VFS (although not related to my question):
Application delivered to VFS: 12/02/20
Acknowledgement received: 12/22/20 (After 6 email follow ups) Yes, after 3 weeks!!!
Sent to the embassy: 12/23/20
Original passport received back: 12/29/20 (No notification of dispatch!!)
(I wonder if VFS has any SLA with govt of India at all - it looks like a total chaos to me)

To my surprise, I got my US passport back today with a photo stapled, and my MO for $15 returned. They used the Fedex label that I had sent for OCI card dispatch to return my passport. I followed the instructions on the check list and added an MO for $15 for the passport return. Also sent 2 pics (1 of them pasted to the app). Any idea why the pic and MO have been returned? There is no explanation provided. Wondering if anybody else had the same experience. I am not sure what happens when my OCI arrives. Maybe they will ask me to provide another label?

I used to think CKGS was the worst visa service provider. Now I seriously miss them! I wonder if VFS and govt of India have any accountability at all. May God help us all.

[Donald_Trump]

nshalady

Same here, had a horrible experience with CKGS once but now I miss CKGS. Off lately CKGS was quite efficient as long as long as you bought shipping from them and not use your own shipping and follow all their instructions to the word - had used them twice and they were pretty efficient). CKGS lost the contract as the founder of Cox & Kings, parent company of CKGS is involved in a bank loan fraud (You can google it for news).

For OCI, I got the US passport back today without notification as you have mentioned with 1 photo sent back. However, they kept my $15 money order with them for OCI shipping. They used the shipping label that I sent for US passport.

[oci-dc-123]

I applied for a new OCI at Washington DC recently. Here are some dates that might be useful for people who are lost waiting for a response from VFS (although not related to my question):
Application delivered to VFS: 12/02/20
Acknowledgement received: 12/22/20 (After 6 email follow ups) Yes, after 3 weeks!!!
Sent to the embassy: 12/23/20
Original passport received back: 12/29/20 (No notification of dispatch!!)
(I wonder if VFS has any SLA with govt of India at all - it looks like a total chaos to me)

To my surprise, I got my US passport back today with a photo stapled, and my MO for $15 returned. They used the Fedex label that I had sent for OCI card dispatch to return my passport. I followed the instructions on the check list and added an MO for $15 for the passport return. Also sent 2 pics (1 of them pasted to the app). Any idea why the pic and MO have been returned? There is no explanation provided. Wondering if anybody else had the same experience. I am not sure what happens when my OCI arrives. Maybe they will ask me to provide another label?

I used to think CKGS was the worst visa service provider. Now I seriously miss them! I wonder if VFS and govt of India have any accountability at all. May God help us all.

Here are my timelines of OCI application with VFS Washington DC office:
Application delivered to VFS: 12/12/20
Email received for additional docs not listed in the checklist: 12/21/20
Email update application under process: 12/24/20
US Passport received with a photo & $15 MO: 12/30/20
Status update on govt site 'Your application received at Embassy": 01/04/21

[nshalady]

oci-dc-123, Good to know that you got your $15 MO and a photo returned too. I thought mine was sent back by human error. I wonder why they don't update their checklist. We have to throw away the MO, as Western Union charges $15 for refund claim. We will have to pay for return shipping when the card arrives. I am assuming they will send an email and ask us to pay $15 online.

[Donald_Trump]

nshalady oci-dc-123 Which VFS location was your application sent? (For oci-dc-123 I guess its DC from your username).

I didn't get the $15 money order back with US passport.

[peaceful]

Agree, VFS is very difficult to work with. Their refusal to allow edits or re-submission of documents even for minor mistakes appears to be unfair and costly to us.

[nshalady]

@Donald_Trump, Mine was sent to DC.

nshalady oci-dc-123 Which VFS location was your application sent? (For oci-dc-123 I guess its DV from your username).

I didn't get the $15 money order back with US passport.

[oci-dc-123]

oci-dc-123, Good to know that you got your $15 MO and a photo returned too. I thought mine was sent back by human error. I wonder why they don't update their checklist. We have to throw away the MO, as Western Union charges $15 for refund claim. We will have to pay for return shipping when the card arrives. I am assuming they will send an email and ask us to pay $15 online.

no status change as of today. Hopefully they are working on it. I applied for emergency visa on 1/7 as my mother is very sick. Got a call from Embassy (Washington DC) to appear on Monday, 1//11. Emergency visa valid for 6 months (but single entry) was issued. Planning to travel to India in a week or so. Hopefully, OCI card will be approved soon.

[oci-dc-123]

@Donald_Trump, Mine was sent to DC.

Mine is Washington DC

[oci-dc-123]

oci-dc-123, Good to know that you got your $15 MO and a photo returned too. I thought mine was sent back by human error. I wonder why they don't update their checklist. We have to throw away the MO, as Western Union charges $15 for refund claim. We will have to pay for return shipping when the card arrives. I am assuming they will send an email and ask us to pay $15 online.

I am not sure what to expect. I hope VFS sends an email asking for a FEDEX return label to send the OCI card. Yesterday I asked the guy at the emergency counter and he has idea about the timelines. He asked me to check with VFS directly.

[Donald_Trump]

oci-dc-123 VFS is notorious for its indifference, un-professionalism, and utter lack of any responsibility or accountability.

If they do send your OCI card without charging you more, then you are good. If they ask for payment once more, you can then argue with with them. If they don't agree, you can pay another $15 for OCI card shipping. Once you have OCI card in hand, you can go ahead and dispute the charge of your lost $15 (lost due to money order) with your credit card company (Assuming you padi wtih card) saying you followed their instructions to the word and yet you are losing $15. Your case is surely going to prevail and you could get your $15 money lost on money order back.

I am not sure what to expect. I hope VFS sends an email asking for a FEDEX return label to send the OCI card. Yesterday I asked the guy at the emergency counter and he has idea about the timelines. He asked me to check with VFS directly.

[oci-dc-123]

oci-dc-123 VFS is notorious for its indifference, un-professionalism, and utter lack of any responsibility or accountability.

If they do send your OCI card without charging you more, then you are good. If they ask for payment once more, you can then argue with with them. If they don't agree, you can pay another $15 for OCI card shipping. Once you have OCI card in hand, you can go ahead and dispute the charge of your lost $15 (lost due to money order) with your credit card company (Assuming you padi wtih card) saying you followed their instructions to the word and yet you are losing $15. Your case is surely going to prevail and you could get your $15 money lost on money order back.

I have no patience to deal with them fighting for $15. I just want them to mail the OCI card ASAP. I understand they have issues dealing with new contractor resources apart from their own administration issues.

[Donald_Trump]

oci-dc-123 Check your VFS invoice which was sent after you paid with credit card. I think the extra $15 for 3rd shipping was already charged to your credit card and hence they sent the money order back. This is the case with sinnerman26
Since I was not charged the $15 on my credit card, VFS kept my money order.

[Jot18]

Hello, in the OCI application, section Applicant's Passport Details - should this be filled with my US passport details or my canceled Indian passport details?

There is a section for us pp and indian pp.

[KA_2020]

There is a section for us pp and indian pp.

Thanks. Looks like I need to enter the US passport details. The field 'Place of Issue' confused me as my US passport doesn't have the 'Place' of issue in it