I applied for Renewal of OCI for 2 of my children and a New OCI for my third one, all together. However, I had to (per CKGS & OCI rules) fill in separate application for each child and place those in separate shipping envelopes. I used fedex. MISSION - NY CGI
1 ---- RENEWAL OF OCI FOR MINOR ---- FYI- (on Govt of India website- use OCI Misc form Tab; its not explained on CKGS Website)
FEES --OCI Re-Issue for New Passport Fees25.00 ICWF Fee3.00 CKGS Service Fee17.00 SHIPPING-- From You to CKGS(1 Envelope x $15.00)15.00 From CKGS to You(1 Envelope x $15.00)15.00 Convenience Fee2.63 Total77.63
PROCESS / updates from CKGS website-----------------
Jan 25, 2017 – Wednesday-- 02:13 pm
Application ‘Received’ by CKGS and 'Not Verified'.
You will receive an E-mail advising you of the outcome of the verification process.
Feb 01, 2017 – Wednesday -- 11:27 am
Application Verification is ‘Complete’. Processing of your application will continue.
The Consulate may request for further documents over and above those already submitted as per the Document Checklist.
Please continue tracking your application status online.
Feb 7, 2017 –Tuesday -- I called CKGS that it’s been a week of application being ‘Complete’. The person (she was very nice & helpful on the phone ) said- it usually takes 1-2 business days only. She apologized and placed the application in ‘escalation process’ for CKGS team to look into it and process it ASAP.
Feb 07, 2017 – Tuesday--11:54 am
Application is ‘Under Process’ at CKGS.
Please continue tracking your application status online.
Feb 07, 2017 – Tuesday--05:59 pm
Application is 'In Transit' to the Consulate.
Please continue tracking your application status online.
Feb 08, 2017 – Wednesday--09:12 am
Application is 'Under Process' at Consulate for decision making.
Please continue tracking your application status online.
Feb 15, 2017 – Wednesday--02:31 pm
Application 'Reviewed' by Consulate and ‘In Transit’ to CKGS Application Centre.
Please continue tracking your application status online.
Feb 16, 2017 – Thursday--12:09 pm
OCI Card ‘Received’ at the CKGS application centre and is at the ‘Sorting Facility’ where it is being processed for delivery.
Please continue tracking your application status online.
Feb 16, 2017 – Thursday--04:51 pm
OCI Card picked up by FedEx.
Your AWB Number is ########
To track the ‘Progress of Your Shipment’, log onto the site of FedEx and enter your AWB Number.
Feb 17, 2017 – I received fedex shipment with old & new OCI card & Passport in it.
2 --- NEW OCI APPLICATION FOR MINOR ----
FEES - OCI $ 275 + ICWF $3 + CKGS service $17 + Shipping you to CKGS $ 15 & CKGS to you $ 30 + Online $11.90
PROCESS / updates from CKGS website-----------------
Jan 25, 2017, Wed - 2:13 pm Application ‘Received’ by CKGS and 'Not Verified'.
You will receive an E-mail advising you of the outcome of the verification process
Feb 1, 2017, Wed – 12:08 pm - Application Verification is ‘Complete’. Processing of your application will continue.
The Consulate may request for further documents over and above those already submitted as per the Document Checklist.Please continue tracking your application status online.
Feb 7, 2017 -- I called CKGS as its been a week of application being ‘Complete’. The person (she was very nice & helpful on the phone ) said- it usually takes 1-2 business days only. She apologized and placed the application in ‘escalation process’ for ckgs team to look into it and process it ASAP.
Feb 7, 2017 – Tues- 11:45 am - Application is ‘Under Process’ at CKGS. Please continue tracking your application status online
Feb 7, 2017 – Tues- 5:58 pm - Application is 'In Transit' to the Consulate. Please continue tracking your application status online
Feb 8, 2017 – Wed – 9:06 am - Application is 'Under Process' at Consulate for decision making. Please continue tracking your application status online
Feb 8, 2017 – Wed – 2:09 pm - Application 'Reviewed' by Consulate and ‘In Transit’ to CKGS Application Centre.
Please continue tracking your application status online
Feb 10, 2017 - Fri – 4:23 pm - Original Passport ‘Received’ at the CKGS application centre and is at the ‘Sorting Facility’ where it is being processed for delivery. Your OCI Application will continue and take the pre-defined processing time. Please continue tracking your application status online. Please continue tracking your application status online
Feb 17, 2017 - Fri – 5:20 pm - Original Passport handed over to FedEx by CKGS in the Pre Paid Envelope provided by you. Your AWB Number is ########## . To track the ‘Progress of Your Shipment’, log onto the site of your Service Provider and enter your AWB Number. Your OCI Application will continue and take the pre-defined processing time. Please continue tracking your application status online
Feb 20, 2017 – Monday – I received the Passport by Fedex
Mar 1, 2017 – Wed – Status on Govt of India Website – OCI – Document Printing status – Processed, Dispatched ffrom MEA (OCI) New Delhi, Document received at NY CGI.
Mar 6, 2017 – Monday –- I called CKGS inquiring about OCI, the agent said that it can take about 1-3 weeks for it come to CKGS from NY CGI so just wait.. But later that day, on CKGS website- at 12:50 pm -- status changed to – OCI Card ‘Received’ at the CKGS application centre and is at the ‘Sorting Facility’ where it is being processed for delivery. Please continue tracking your application status online.
Mar 07, 2017, 4:05 pm - Application is 'DISPATCH'. OCI Card picked up by FedEx. Your AWB Number is YYYY YYYY XX. To track the ‘Progress of Your Shipment’, log onto the site of FedEx and enter your AWB Number.
Mar 08, 2017 – I received OCI by Fedex
COMMENTS ---
1- not sure whose pocket the ‘online fee’ belongs to, when I am already paying OCI fee & CKGS fee separately…
2- CKGS phone customer service- re: help for filing application – Looooooong wait time to get agent on phone… automated machine would say-you have less than 7 min but then 10 min later it would say you have less than 11 min & so forth—go figure!!! Example like this happened with me multiple times. In fact, a few time, when I called in afternoon—it would say- all circuits are busy, call back later. I tried a couple times but 5 sec later on calling back it will say the message like above for wait times……. Cant wrap my head around it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
NOW SOME OTHER EXPERIENCES WITH CKGS I HAD RE: SOME PROBLEMS ( NO FAULT OF MINE)
1 - Shipping – ‘CKGS to you’ – For the New OCI , I chose that shipping option and paid $30 but still upon completion & submission of the application; in ‘My Account section’ in Tab ‘Shipping/Extra services’ it said my option was ‘Walk In’. I called CKGS. Agent said that on their end it showed ‘shipping’ not ‘walk in’ and they could confirm that I paid the return shipping so I should ‘ignore’ that and they confirmed that documents (passport & OCI) will be returned to me by Shipping. Seriously!!!! They asked me to ignore their own website info after paying all those $$$…How Professional !!!
-- Moreover, when the NEW OCI was Dispatched to Fedex, I should be receiving the update email from CKGS but I did not. I happen to know about the dispatch only because I was tracking the CKGS OCI tracking webpage 4-5 times a day in my Google Chrome Pinned Tab.
2 - Feb 24 , 2017 – Fri – I called CKGS about the status of OCI, The agent said- it takes about 30-40 business days for CKGS to get OCI from date of acknowledgement on Govt of India website. Then CKGS can take upto 1-2 weeks to sort it and mail it to applicant.
On Feb 24, Just for my own sake, I also asked him that my daughter’s name is correct on the papers I submitted (I had scanned copies of everything) and on CKGS website….However, when I check her application status on Govt. of India website, it lists a wrong middle name. The agent (Suhail) was very helpful, talked to his fellow workers w/o success at definite answers so issued an escalation case number for the CKGS team to look into it. But here’s the problem….I had asked the same question to another agent from CKGS (Nelson) when I called CKGS about this on Feb 9. He said not to worry about it as the name on CKGS records is right. The Govt of India status inquiry web page is transient and will go away once OCI is issued and OCI is issued in the name that’s on passport. So ignore that web page…..
Anyways, I received the email from escalation case team on the evening of Feb 24---CKGS Wrote---‘“This is with regards to your query about OCI application and would like to inform you that we received the following reply from the concerned team. 'Details on OCI card would be as per what applicant filled in NIC form. Please advise her to wait till she get oci card and reapply under oci miscellaneous service'.
For any further queries feel free to write us on Contact/Feedback.’”
FYI- there no way to reply to that email as it says ‘noreply’. You have to go toCKGS website and fill in auto-populated fillable fields feedback form all over again every time you have a question/reply…..anyways…
Now this became concerning. One, the instruction on CKGS website for filling out paperwork is not detailed/ explanatory. I had to call CKGS multiple times to clarify things, esp signature/thumbprint for minors etc. Secondly, after I have already done this much hard work of filling out forms (and enter same info twice-CKGS & Govt of India) CKGS then charges quite a hefty sum to do a simple task of checking and submitting paperwork to Govt of India (which is then a complicated process for the Govt) then CKGS raises all hands after that. Thirdly, we have two agents with different / conflicting information. They are playing games with such sensitive issues. What if I land in India and they question my daughter’s papers. Oh Boy!!! Imagine dealing with immigration agents in India trying to prove your kids is actually your kid !!!!… One gets the picture!!!!!..>> So I replied email back to CKGS asking how the mistake happened and who is to pay for OCI Misc form if OCI is printed in wrong name.......Never heard back from them, which was expected.
Same day, Feb 24,Fri, I emailed Consulate General, NY helpline email. I received email back on Feb 27, Mon, morning, asking to give some info to them, which I did right away. By afternoon, same day, I received the phone call from consulate. The lady was nice and said, she is not sure how the mistake happened but she will inform people up the chain and don’t worry about it and no matter what web page says, the OCI will be matched to the name in passport. Same night, I checked my dtr’s application status on Govt of India website and her name was now listed correctly. Phew!! Right!!
NY CGI Agent also said - Always write the Given/first Names as in US Passport even if passport mentions first and middle name together...not sure what to think of that!!!
FYI – that Status Inquiry webpage on Govt of India is NOT transient (as earlier claimed by CKGS customer serv reprsntv)…It still exists…So I am glad I called Govt of India NY CGI rather than replying on CKGS. And in fact I got better & more prompt help there than CKGS. Phone service of NY CGI was very prompt as well.
SO GOOD LUCK TO YOU ALL TRYING FOR OCIs…….
1 ---- RENEWAL OF OCI FOR MINOR ---- FYI- (on Govt of India website- use OCI Misc form Tab; its not explained on CKGS Website)
FEES --OCI Re-Issue for New Passport Fees25.00 ICWF Fee3.00 CKGS Service Fee17.00 SHIPPING-- From You to CKGS(1 Envelope x $15.00)15.00 From CKGS to You(1 Envelope x $15.00)15.00 Convenience Fee2.63 Total77.63
PROCESS / updates from CKGS website-----------------
Jan 25, 2017 – Wednesday-- 02:13 pm
Application ‘Received’ by CKGS and 'Not Verified'.
You will receive an E-mail advising you of the outcome of the verification process.
Feb 01, 2017 – Wednesday -- 11:27 am
Application Verification is ‘Complete’. Processing of your application will continue.
The Consulate may request for further documents over and above those already submitted as per the Document Checklist.
Please continue tracking your application status online.
Feb 7, 2017 –Tuesday -- I called CKGS that it’s been a week of application being ‘Complete’. The person (she was very nice & helpful on the phone ) said- it usually takes 1-2 business days only. She apologized and placed the application in ‘escalation process’ for CKGS team to look into it and process it ASAP.
Feb 07, 2017 – Tuesday--11:54 am
Application is ‘Under Process’ at CKGS.
Please continue tracking your application status online.
Feb 07, 2017 – Tuesday--05:59 pm
Application is 'In Transit' to the Consulate.
Please continue tracking your application status online.
Feb 08, 2017 – Wednesday--09:12 am
Application is 'Under Process' at Consulate for decision making.
Please continue tracking your application status online.
Feb 15, 2017 – Wednesday--02:31 pm
Application 'Reviewed' by Consulate and ‘In Transit’ to CKGS Application Centre.
Please continue tracking your application status online.
Feb 16, 2017 – Thursday--12:09 pm
OCI Card ‘Received’ at the CKGS application centre and is at the ‘Sorting Facility’ where it is being processed for delivery.
Please continue tracking your application status online.
Feb 16, 2017 – Thursday--04:51 pm
OCI Card picked up by FedEx.
Your AWB Number is ########
To track the ‘Progress of Your Shipment’, log onto the site of FedEx and enter your AWB Number.
Feb 17, 2017 – I received fedex shipment with old & new OCI card & Passport in it.
2 --- NEW OCI APPLICATION FOR MINOR ----
FEES - OCI $ 275 + ICWF $3 + CKGS service $17 + Shipping you to CKGS $ 15 & CKGS to you $ 30 + Online $11.90
PROCESS / updates from CKGS website-----------------
Jan 25, 2017, Wed - 2:13 pm Application ‘Received’ by CKGS and 'Not Verified'.
You will receive an E-mail advising you of the outcome of the verification process
Feb 1, 2017, Wed – 12:08 pm - Application Verification is ‘Complete’. Processing of your application will continue.
The Consulate may request for further documents over and above those already submitted as per the Document Checklist.Please continue tracking your application status online.
Feb 7, 2017 -- I called CKGS as its been a week of application being ‘Complete’. The person (she was very nice & helpful on the phone ) said- it usually takes 1-2 business days only. She apologized and placed the application in ‘escalation process’ for ckgs team to look into it and process it ASAP.
Feb 7, 2017 – Tues- 11:45 am - Application is ‘Under Process’ at CKGS. Please continue tracking your application status online
Feb 7, 2017 – Tues- 5:58 pm - Application is 'In Transit' to the Consulate. Please continue tracking your application status online
Feb 8, 2017 – Wed – 9:06 am - Application is 'Under Process' at Consulate for decision making. Please continue tracking your application status online
Feb 8, 2017 – Wed – 2:09 pm - Application 'Reviewed' by Consulate and ‘In Transit’ to CKGS Application Centre.
Please continue tracking your application status online
Feb 10, 2017 - Fri – 4:23 pm - Original Passport ‘Received’ at the CKGS application centre and is at the ‘Sorting Facility’ where it is being processed for delivery. Your OCI Application will continue and take the pre-defined processing time. Please continue tracking your application status online. Please continue tracking your application status online
Feb 17, 2017 - Fri – 5:20 pm - Original Passport handed over to FedEx by CKGS in the Pre Paid Envelope provided by you. Your AWB Number is ########## . To track the ‘Progress of Your Shipment’, log onto the site of your Service Provider and enter your AWB Number. Your OCI Application will continue and take the pre-defined processing time. Please continue tracking your application status online
Feb 20, 2017 – Monday – I received the Passport by Fedex
Mar 1, 2017 – Wed – Status on Govt of India Website – OCI – Document Printing status – Processed, Dispatched ffrom MEA (OCI) New Delhi, Document received at NY CGI.
Mar 6, 2017 – Monday –- I called CKGS inquiring about OCI, the agent said that it can take about 1-3 weeks for it come to CKGS from NY CGI so just wait.. But later that day, on CKGS website- at 12:50 pm -- status changed to – OCI Card ‘Received’ at the CKGS application centre and is at the ‘Sorting Facility’ where it is being processed for delivery. Please continue tracking your application status online.
Mar 07, 2017, 4:05 pm - Application is 'DISPATCH'. OCI Card picked up by FedEx. Your AWB Number is YYYY YYYY XX. To track the ‘Progress of Your Shipment’, log onto the site of FedEx and enter your AWB Number.
Mar 08, 2017 – I received OCI by Fedex
COMMENTS ---
1- not sure whose pocket the ‘online fee’ belongs to, when I am already paying OCI fee & CKGS fee separately…
2- CKGS phone customer service- re: help for filing application – Looooooong wait time to get agent on phone… automated machine would say-you have less than 7 min but then 10 min later it would say you have less than 11 min & so forth—go figure!!! Example like this happened with me multiple times. In fact, a few time, when I called in afternoon—it would say- all circuits are busy, call back later. I tried a couple times but 5 sec later on calling back it will say the message like above for wait times……. Cant wrap my head around it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
NOW SOME OTHER EXPERIENCES WITH CKGS I HAD RE: SOME PROBLEMS ( NO FAULT OF MINE)
1 - Shipping – ‘CKGS to you’ – For the New OCI , I chose that shipping option and paid $30 but still upon completion & submission of the application; in ‘My Account section’ in Tab ‘Shipping/Extra services’ it said my option was ‘Walk In’. I called CKGS. Agent said that on their end it showed ‘shipping’ not ‘walk in’ and they could confirm that I paid the return shipping so I should ‘ignore’ that and they confirmed that documents (passport & OCI) will be returned to me by Shipping. Seriously!!!! They asked me to ignore their own website info after paying all those $$$…How Professional !!!
-- Moreover, when the NEW OCI was Dispatched to Fedex, I should be receiving the update email from CKGS but I did not. I happen to know about the dispatch only because I was tracking the CKGS OCI tracking webpage 4-5 times a day in my Google Chrome Pinned Tab.
2 - Feb 24 , 2017 – Fri – I called CKGS about the status of OCI, The agent said- it takes about 30-40 business days for CKGS to get OCI from date of acknowledgement on Govt of India website. Then CKGS can take upto 1-2 weeks to sort it and mail it to applicant.
On Feb 24, Just for my own sake, I also asked him that my daughter’s name is correct on the papers I submitted (I had scanned copies of everything) and on CKGS website….However, when I check her application status on Govt. of India website, it lists a wrong middle name. The agent (Suhail) was very helpful, talked to his fellow workers w/o success at definite answers so issued an escalation case number for the CKGS team to look into it. But here’s the problem….I had asked the same question to another agent from CKGS (Nelson) when I called CKGS about this on Feb 9. He said not to worry about it as the name on CKGS records is right. The Govt of India status inquiry web page is transient and will go away once OCI is issued and OCI is issued in the name that’s on passport. So ignore that web page…..
Anyways, I received the email from escalation case team on the evening of Feb 24---CKGS Wrote---‘“This is with regards to your query about OCI application and would like to inform you that we received the following reply from the concerned team. 'Details on OCI card would be as per what applicant filled in NIC form. Please advise her to wait till she get oci card and reapply under oci miscellaneous service'.
For any further queries feel free to write us on Contact/Feedback.’”
FYI- there no way to reply to that email as it says ‘noreply’. You have to go toCKGS website and fill in auto-populated fillable fields feedback form all over again every time you have a question/reply…..anyways…
Now this became concerning. One, the instruction on CKGS website for filling out paperwork is not detailed/ explanatory. I had to call CKGS multiple times to clarify things, esp signature/thumbprint for minors etc. Secondly, after I have already done this much hard work of filling out forms (and enter same info twice-CKGS & Govt of India) CKGS then charges quite a hefty sum to do a simple task of checking and submitting paperwork to Govt of India (which is then a complicated process for the Govt) then CKGS raises all hands after that. Thirdly, we have two agents with different / conflicting information. They are playing games with such sensitive issues. What if I land in India and they question my daughter’s papers. Oh Boy!!! Imagine dealing with immigration agents in India trying to prove your kids is actually your kid !!!!… One gets the picture!!!!!..>> So I replied email back to CKGS asking how the mistake happened and who is to pay for OCI Misc form if OCI is printed in wrong name.......Never heard back from them, which was expected.
Same day, Feb 24,Fri, I emailed Consulate General, NY helpline email. I received email back on Feb 27, Mon, morning, asking to give some info to them, which I did right away. By afternoon, same day, I received the phone call from consulate. The lady was nice and said, she is not sure how the mistake happened but she will inform people up the chain and don’t worry about it and no matter what web page says, the OCI will be matched to the name in passport. Same night, I checked my dtr’s application status on Govt of India website and her name was now listed correctly. Phew!! Right!!
NY CGI Agent also said - Always write the Given/first Names as in US Passport even if passport mentions first and middle name together...not sure what to think of that!!!
FYI – that Status Inquiry webpage on Govt of India is NOT transient (as earlier claimed by CKGS customer serv reprsntv)…It still exists…So I am glad I called Govt of India NY CGI rather than replying on CKGS. And in fact I got better & more prompt help there than CKGS. Phone service of NY CGI was very prompt as well.
SO GOOD LUCK TO YOU ALL TRYING FOR OCIs…….
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