OCI Card

just started this process and boy it is so #$@#@ up. Just like everything back home ! They just don't get it with their head in the sand.

Date/Time Action
05/06/2011 11:33am EST Service order form completed online
05/06/2011 3:43pm EST Order form and supporting documents received, payment processed
05/09/2011 4:00pm EST Documents prepared to go to Embassy.
05/10/2011 9:22am EST Documents dispatched from Travisa Outsourcing Office to Consulate
05/10/2011 9:47am EST Documents received by Consulate
05/10/2011 2:59pm EST Application is pending.
05/10/2011 6:13pm EST Documents prepared to go to Embassy.
05/12/2011 9:36am EST Documents dispatched from Travisa Outsourcing Office to Consulate
05/12/2011 10:02am EST Documents received by Consulate
05/17/2011 2:00pm EST Pending approval of the Government of India
06/17/2011 10:49am EST Travisa Outsourcing has checked the status of your application with the Government of India. Your application is pending approval.
06/22/2011 11:10am EST Travisa Outsourcing has checked the status of your application with the Government of India. Your application is pending approval.
07/28/2011 6:41pm EST Passport prepared to go to Consulate
07/29/2011 9:44am EST Documents dispatched from Travisa Outsourcing Office to Consulate
07/29/2011 10:22am EST Documents received by Consulate
08/01/2011 9:07am EST Outsourcing office has verified the OCI is processed correctly. Ready for pickup between 4:30pm and 6:00pm. If mail back, waiting for FedEx pick up and is likely to be mailed out tomorrow.
08/02/2011 5:08pm EST Passport picked up in person

hope this helps you. plz remember, its BUSINEsS DAYS & not CALENDER DAYS. I was looking at this sort of a detail when I was applying and could not get a ehole lot. Hope this helps you guys!

I made the mistake of starting this process, have spent nearly $600 in fees, sent the application or other materials to either the Indian embassy or travisa four times. The reason they return the documents without processing? not that anything is missing, they just decided to levy a fine for not returning passport, even though when I became citizen (24 years ago) there was no such requirement. Application processing is taking so long that the US passport used for application expired and I got a new passport. so now the new passport cannot be used for OCI and the old passport is invalid-result-no visa. My advice, as much as possible avoid India, if you must travel to India, just get a visa for one visit, I doubt you will ever wish to go again.

Pictures with white back ground are acceptable for OCI card. I Emailed travisa outsourcing,chicago about the background color for pictures, they informed me white background is acceptable.

When you send your OCI application to CGI New York they just don't bother to acknowledge via mail or e-mail at all. The online status check tool sucks.
If you just enter the Online Registration Number alone it always says your application has not been ackwldge yet or wrong passport number. YOU HAVE TO ENTER THE PASSPORT No. & THE ON-LINE REG. #. Then only the tool works. I found that my OCT was ready for pick-up months after by fluke. Its just a tip for people (over 5000) waiting for OCI cards at NewYork Indian Consulate. Good luck to whoever waiting.
SP

I have heard that OCI is taking longer than 3-4 months these days. So is it better to apply for the quicker PIO initially (it's good for 15 yrs anyway) and then switch to OCI at a later date? If it's done that way, will the fees really be high since I will have paid for PIO and then I will be paying for OCI? If any one has experience with this situation, please help.

We had mailed our applications Via USPS priority mail on Nov.3rd 2010 and was received by Indian Consulate Houston on 11.5th 2010. The Cashiers check has not yet been cashed nor any sign of receipt of our application is showing in their web site. We have been trying to reach them by phone for weeks but no luck. We will like to know the status of our applications

IS THIS FEE IS JUSTIFIED? IF YOU WANT TO APPLLY, AN OCI STATUS, INITIALLY YOU HAVE TO PAY $275 AS AN APPLICATION FEE, BESIDES $20 AS A MAILING CHARGES . UPTO THIS LEVEL IT IS OKEY. NOW, ACCORDING TO NEW RULES you have to pay a Fee for Renunciation of Indian citizenship $ 175 - more. Is this fee is justified? Service Penalty Total : Fee for Renunciation of Indian citizenship $ 175 - $ 175 Passport lost/damaged or surrendered to foreign government $ 175 - $ 175 Indian passport retained without cancellation beyond 3 years subsequent to acquiring foreign nationality $ 175 $ 250 $ 425 Indian passport retained beyond January 1, 2005 & Passport got re-issued $ 175 $ 625 $ 800 Indian passport retained & used for travel subsequent to acquiring foreign nationality $ 175 $ 1250 $ 1425 Indian passport retained, reissued & used for travel subsequent to acquiring foreign nationality $ 175 $ 1875 $ 2050 Indian passport retained & if any miscellaneous service availed thereon subsequent to acquiring foreign nationality $ 175 $ 250 each time