SFO OCI processing time update

[sholay]

Fedex-ed my OCI application to VFS San Francisco. How long does it take the VFS office to verify and return the US passport ?

[Donald_Trump]

SFO VFS is highly backlogged. You are definitely looking at a 2 week turnaround.

Fedex-ed my OCI application to VFS San Francisco. How long does it take the VFS office to verify and return the US passport ?

[Shra16]

It took around 4 weeks for my passport to be returned from VFS SFO location!

[sln]

In March, VFS SFO took 2 weeks to return our passports.

[sholay]

Thank you. My counter starts today. It has been delivered, hoping for the early return of passport and later OCI

[kiranboda]

Expect 3-4 weeks for passport return from VFS SFO. They won't even update your status in the tracking system for 2 weeks straight, its sort of like dumping it in a black hole. After the application is submitted to the embassy, expect another 60 days from there for OCI to be delivered. Our entire family went through the ordeal and SFO is such a nightmare with the slowness of processing. Wish for us in Seattle area would be assigned to another consulate in the future, instead of SFO as this is just appalling how slow things move here.

[sholay]

Expect 3-4 weeks for passport return from VFS SFO. They won't even update your status in the tracking system for 2 weeks straight, its sort of like dumping it in a black hole. After the application is submitted to the embassy, expect another 60 days from there for OCI to be delivered. Our entire family went through the ordeal and SFO is such a nightmare with the slowness of processing. Wish for us in Seattle area would be assigned to another consulate in the future, instead of SFO as this is just appalling how slow things move here.

Sounds like long wait time... I wish they are more transparent in the process.

It is very strange that they ask for original passport + notarized copy of the passport.

Do someone know why do they want notarized as well as the original passport ?

[sln]

Do someone know why do they want notarized as well as the original passport ?
They return original and send the notarized to the Consulate

[kiranboda]

I feel for you guys as well, this is a recent addition to ask for notarized copies of US passport. I lodged a protest on the twitter handle of SFO consulate, and so should all of you guys as well. Raise it up on Twitter and email to your local consulates. There is no reason for such nightmare to continue.

[sholay]

I feel for you guys as well, this is a recent addition to ask for notarized copies of US passport. I lodged a protest on the twitter handle of SFO consulate, and so should all of you guys as well. Raise it up on Twitter and email to your local consulates. There is no reason for such nightmare to continue.

I completely agree, I will do the same.

The process is laughable. that you have to provide the ORIGINAL as well as the Notarized copy.

"They return original and send the notarized to the Consulate" - Why do you want ORIGINAL only to return it and why even asking it when they are asking for NOTARIZED ?

I wish these officials should GOOGLE the meaning of NOTARY.

[Donald_Trump]

sholay You are right. It is not laughable but highly pathetic. This requirement of notary of passport copy was introduced recently. We are sending original passport so what is the sense of sending notarized copy. But hey, we are trying to find sense and logic in highly bureaucratic Indian government's system and processes which is basically useless! What can be worse than thumb printing new borns on application forms.

I completely agree, I will do the same.

The process is laughable. that you have to provide the ORIGINAL as well as the Notarized copy.

"They return original and send the notarized to the Consulate" - Why do you want ORIGINAL only to return it and why even asking it when they are asking for NOTARIZED ?

I wish these officials should GOOGLE the meaning of NOTARY.

[sholay]

sholay You are right. It is not laughable but highly pathetic. This requirement of notary of passport copy was introduced recently. We are sending original passport so what is the sense of sending notarized copy. But hey, we are trying to find sense and logic in highly bureaucratic Indian government's system and processes which is basically useless! What can be worse than thumb printing new borns on application forms.

Well i went ahead and tweeted my suggestion and even got a reply from vfsglobalcare

"we appreciate your suggestion and have shared it with our concerned team for future consideration."

Hopefully they will simplify it for the future generation.

[Ankit_1987]

Hi Everyone,
Today's Update
Date of Ack- 26 Feb
Document printing Status- 30 March
Dispatched From MEA- 1 April
Document received at San Francisco - 9 April


How soon should I expect it at my doorstep now ?

[PeterGriffin]

Another SFO data point (my timeline):

New OCI-Minor

Delivered to VFS: February 10
US Passport returned: Feb 25
OCI application submitted to SFO Consulate: March 6

No other updates since. Based on others' experiences hopefully I will hear something here soon.

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Edit April 12. Based on this info the expected turn-around is now approaching 3 months.

Thank you for contacting the VFS Indian Visa, Passport & OCI Application Center Help Desk in the United States.

We understand that you wish to know the status of the OCI application.

We would like to inform you that, your application is in process with the Embassy / Consulate since 08th March 2021, from this date it takes 5-6 weeks for the New OCI Card.

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Edit April 24. Tracking shows OCI was received by SFO today.

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Edit April 27. OCI delivered today. Just about three months from start to finish.

[sholay]

I submitted the application on 04/06, delivered on 04/07 and I received this one 04/08th (Positively surprised )

Dear Customer,

your package has been received at the VFS application Centre. Our current processing times are longer than usual. Your application will be reviewed with 48-72 business hours. You are requested to track the status of your application after 2-3 business days. Average processing time is 4-6 weeks except for Tatkal cases.



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Now the actual wait starts