New requirement of notarizing US passport copy for OCI

[Donald_Trump]

It seems there is this new requirement of notarizing US passport copy.

My question is do we notarize just the photo page or also the endorsement pages (that would be 2 additional pages).

I don't understand this need for notarizing US passport copy as we send the original passport to VFS. So what's the need of notarizing it.

[arkaa]

You are trying to find reason and logic in Indian govt process - that is futile, my friend.

Just make a copy of the photo page. You only need the endorsements pages if there are not blank - i.e. you have one or more endorsements. But, if you want to play safe, go ahead and attach them too. Then on a cover page type "I, <your name as on passport> , hereby declare that the attached documents are true copy of my US Passport" and get that notarized.

If you copy only the photo page, then you can have the declaration and notary on the same page - "I, <your name as on passport> , hereby declare that this is a true copy of my US Passport"

Good luck.

[Donald_Trump]

Thanks arkaa for your response. I just got all pages (including blank endorsement pages) notarized. Notary was kind enough to stamp and sign all of them. Got it done for free at a Statefarm insurance office. Got my application form and parental auth notarized at Chase bank but that notary didnt notarize passport copy. I then went to BOFA where I have an account who then directed me to Statefarm office. Better throw ******* sink at them than to get delayed due to some unreasonable paperwork demand later on.

And yes, you are right. It is futile to expect logic and sense with Indian govt authorities. I mean, what can be worse than getting thumb print of minors on forms. Lol who does that in 2021.

You are trying to find reason and logic in Indian govt process - that is futile, my friend.

Just make a copy of the photo page. You only need the endorsements pages if there are not blank - i.e. you have one or more endorsements. But, if you want to play safe, go ahead and attach them too. Then on a cover page type "I, <your name as on passport> , hereby declare that the attached documents are true copy of my US Passport" and get that notarized.

If you copy only the photo page, then you can have the declaration and notary on the same page - "I, <your name as on passport> , hereby declare that this is a true copy of my US Passport"

Good luck.

[eclipsed]

I just applied for my wife's new OCI and I only notarized the 1st page (page with picture and info) and was accepted w/o any issue. It's hard to understand the need for notarization when you're sending the original.

[sln]

The reason they ask for notarized copy as that's the one is sent to the consulate as your passport is returned

[Donald_Trump]

Lol, they ask for original US passport for verification which VFS does. VFS is the official vendor of Indian government authority. Why do they ask for original then. We have to pay for extra shipping to get that back. This is the limits of Indian bureaucracy and red-tape.

The reason they ask for notarized copy as that's the one is sent to the consulate as your passport is returned

[bloxer]

I am happy to provide them notarized copy of my great-great-grandfather's birth & marriage certificate. In return, I only seek faster processing from their side.

[Donald_Trump]

The Indian Consulates are usually pretty fast to process applications. Covid related restrictions may have introduced delays The VFS centers at some places like SFO and New York are very backlogged. VFS Chicago and Houston are known to process much faster. I have had smooth and faster experience earlier with VFS Houston. Hoping to get same experience with a couple of pending OCI applications.

I am happy to provide them notarized copy of my great-great-grandfather's birth & marriage certificate. In return, I only seek faster processing from their side.

[bloxer]

The Indian Consulates are usually pretty fast to process applications. Covid related restrictions may have introduced delays The VFS centers at some places like SFO and New York are very backlogged. VFS Chicago and Houston are known to process much faster. I have had smooth and faster experience earlier with VFS Houston. Hoping to get same experience with a couple of pending OCI applications.

How do you know SFO/NY are backlogged? Any idea, how long (days) are their backlog queues? It would be nice if they show real-time backlog data on their website per application type...

I do agree VFS (Very F Slow) is the bottleneck...

[Donald_Trump]

Well NY VFS has been closed for sometime due to Covid restriction and will open tomorrow (3/30) as per note on their site (See screenshot).

Even SFO VFS was closed earlier so they are highly backlogged. Also SFO VFS and Consulate are the only ones on the West Coast that cater to a larger number of Indian diaspora who live on the West Coat. Whereas Midwest/South (Houston and Chicago) and East coast (D.C, New York, and Atlanta) have several of them.

How do you know SFO/NY are backlogged? Any idea, how long (days) are their backlog queues? It would be nice if they show real-time backlog data on their website per application type...

I do agree VFS (Very F Slow) is the bottleneck...