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stuck with passport renewal process
Applied for my kid passport renewal in the month of November but still i didn't get any update on it. Can some one guide me whom should i reach out. I tried to call embassy but no one is Answering over phone/Email. its frustrating
All Replies (3)
Tatkal Passport Renewal - SFO (14 days total including weekends)
03/26/24 - Passport and application shipped
03/28/24 - Status update VFS - Received
03/28/24 - Photo rejected email VFS
03/29/24 - Digital photo updated through the link given by VFS
03/29/24 - Email acknowledgement of photo update VFS
04/02/24 - We have ‘Received’ your Application and your application is now ‘Under Process’ at San Francisco and will be submitted to the Mission for decision making.
04/03/24 - Your Application has been ‘Processed’ at the VFS India Consular application Centre and currently is ‘In-Transit‘ to the Embassy of India/Consulate General of India for decision making.
04/03/24 until today (04/06/24) on VFS tracking website - Your application has reached at the Embassy/Consulate and is currently under review process
04/03/24 (on Passport Seva tracking website) - Passport is printed and will be delivered shortly.
04/08/2024 - Received the old and new passport by FedEx.
To my surprise, the passport has my old photo which the VFS rejected saying the exposure is not good. Why did they ask me to send new photo then and I paid $7.99 + Tax for that.
But I am very satisfied with the speed of the overall process. 14 days total from the date of shipping the application to the date I received the new passport. This includes weekends and the rejection of my photo and sending new photo.

Notes:
1) Looks like after sending passport to Embassy, VFS tracking link simply says "Your application has reached at the Embassy/Consulate and is currently under review process". I was wondering why. Only then checked on passport seva tracking website. That has more up to date updates.
This is the link: https://portal3.passportindia.gov.in/Online/index.html
2) As you know for passport renewal we need to paste photos on the application and appearance form. Since my photo got rejected, I was worried I need to send the documents also. But the email from VFS states if you wish upload the photo on the link. I had to pay $ 7.99 though even though I have already paid 7.99 while submitting the application. I assumed it is for resubmission.
3) There are 2 forms. Appearance and signature change form & Annexure E. On the appearance change form, we can able to enter long names as the font size reduces itself. But on Annexure it does not happen. So i printed out empty forms and wrote with pen. One of my friend abbreviated the names (last names as initials) on Annexure E form. That got rejected as well. He had to resend. He uploaded a scanned copy and also send the original document as well. It is OK now.
4) I got notary signature at Chase Bank. The Notary stamped and signed on the same page on Annexure form, Appearance change form. Address proof copy he signed and stamped (my utility bill).
5) I am changing my US address on the passport that is what going to be printed on the passport. For Indian Address I have given my relatives address. I am going to send them my old passport copy, Aadhar card copy and a passport photo (same I used for the application).

This is the first time I am contributing in this forum after using this forum so long. Thought someone might find it useful.
Anything else you like to know please reply.

Thanks. I will update more after getting passport.
All Replies (6)
Passport Renewal at SFO
When checking my application at granular level I am getting this status "Grant On Hold Send to EO". Does any one know what it means? It has been with htis status for over a month now.
All Replies (6)
Passport Renewal at SFO | Normal
My passport application for renewal is received by VFS on 2nd February and sent to Embassy on 6th February. Since then no updates, granular updates are blank.
What could be the reason or is this a normal timeline for a renewal ?

Thanks everyone!
All Replies (6)
Passport Renewal/Tatkal/SFO
Documents sent to VFS (VFS UPS Label)- 02/05/2024
Documents received by VFS (According to UPS Tracking)- 02/07/2024
Receipt confirmation email sent by VFS- 02/10/2024 (They don’t touch received packages for a full 48 hours due to COVID policy. Details posted on their website)

All updates from here on were pulled from VFS and Passport websites using ARN.
Documents sent to the embassy by VFS for review and processing- 02/12/2024
Passport printing initiated- 02/13/2024
Printed and will be delivered shortly- 02/14/2024

Email and texts received for the next updates
VFS return UPS label generated- 12/15/2024
New and old passports received- 12/16/2024

Total processing time- 7 business days
Total time from shipping to receiving- 12 days
All Replies (0)
Tatkal - Indian Passport Renewal experience - SFO
1) Old Passport shipped out: 01/22/2024
2) Received by VFSGlobal: 01/24/2024
3) VFSGlobal sits on the application due to COVID (yes, its still a policy at SFO to make all packages wait for 48 hours, confirmed by their team on twitter)
4) VFS sends the application to SFO consulate: 01/26/2024

A full work week has passed by now, since shipping.

5) Application received by Consulate: 01/29/2024 (They DON'T communicate with you. All statuses were pulled from the website, they DON'T send ANY updates!).
6) Status started changing on consulate's website: 01/30/2024
7) Passport Received: 02/06/2024 (2nd Feb 2024)

Total days from shipment out to incoming delivery: 15 days. This was in Tatkal!!

Couple of pointers:
1) I paid for VFH Courier both ways.
2) I sent a physical photo, did NOT use their photo service.
3) Recieved an email from passport services India, that police verification has been initiated. No call in India yet.
4) The below json can be seen by:
        a. Click on 'Track Status' on the consulate website: https://portal4.passportindia.gov.in/Online/index.html
        b. Fill inthe ARN, DOB and captcha, BUT dont click "Track Application Status" yet.
        c. Right click on the "Track Application Status" button and click on 'Inspect'. F12 will also work
        d. Now click on the "Track Application Status". This will result in a request and response.
        e. Goto 'Network' tab in the 'Inspect' window.
        f. You will see an object called 'trackStatusForFileNoNew', expand the object.
        g. Now go to the 'Response' table, not the Preview tab.
        h. In the Response, find element "StatusId", expand it to find the detailed json status.
5) Application itself was a bit confusing. Especially the affidavits. This site helped a lot: https://www.***.com/renew-indian-passport-usa/#registration-steps
6) "Change of Appearance" affidavit is REQUIRED. I sent mine saying appearance and signature did NOT change. I reasoned with myself that they are looking for drastic, major change.
7) If, for any reason, you need a refund, VFS will retain $50 as 'customer service fee'. Someone's definitely getting rich on us!! :)

Rest of the updates as pulled from the tracking status on the website are below:

[
    {
        "EVENT_DESC": "QC Accepted and Dispatch Initiated: Passport No. <new passport number> of type Ordinary-Normal",
        "EMP_ACTION": "Dispatch Initiated",
        "STATUS_TRACKING_PK": "<status pk>",
        "LAST_MODIFIED_DATE": "2024-02-03T00:00:00",
        "STATUS_DESC": "Dispatch Initiated",
        "STATUS_ID_FK": 334,
        "FILE_NO": "<new passport file number>"
    },
    {
        "EVENT_DESC": "Printed: Passport No. <new passport number> of type Ordinary-Normal",
        "EMP_ACTION": "Printed",
        "STATUS_TRACKING_PK": "<status pk>",
        "LAST_MODIFIED_DATE": "2024-02-02T00:00:00",
        "STATUS_DESC": "Printed",
        "STATUS_ID_FK": 103,
        "FILE_NO": "<new passport file number>"
    },
    {
        "EVENT_DESC": null,
        "EMP_ACTION": "Print Initiated",
        "STATUS_TRACKING_PK": "<status pk>",
        "LAST_MODIFIED_DATE": "2024-01-30T00:00:00",
        "STATUS_DESC": "Print Initiated",
        "STATUS_ID_FK": 364,
        "FILE_NO": "<new passport file number>"
    },
    {
        "EVENT_DESC": "",
        "EMP_ACTION": "Print and PV Intiated",
        "STATUS_TRACKING_PK": "<status pk>",
        "LAST_MODIFIED_DATE": "2024-01-30T00:00:00",
        "STATUS_DESC": "Print and PV Intiated",
        "STATUS_ID_FK": 1156,
        "FILE_NO": "<new passport file number>"
    },
    {
        "EVENT_DESC": "Granting Status Set as 'Clear'",
        "EMP_ACTION": "Clear",
        "STATUS_TRACKING_PK": "<status pk>",
        "LAST_MODIFIED_DATE": "2024-01-30T00:00:00",
        "STATUS_DESC": "Application Granted on post police verification basis",
        "STATUS_ID_FK": 1103,
        "FILE_NO": "<new passport file number>"
    },
    {
        "EVENT_DESC": "",
        "EMP_ACTION": "Sent To Go",
        "STATUS_TRACKING_PK": "<status pk>",
        "LAST_MODIFIED_DATE": "2024-01-30T00:00:00",
        "STATUS_DESC": "Granting Initiated",
        "STATUS_ID_FK": 5099,
        "FILE_NO": "<new passport file number>"
    },
    {
        "EVENT_DESC": null,
        "EMP_ACTION": "Application Form Submitted",
        "STATUS_TRACKING_PK": "<status pk>",
        "LAST_MODIFIED_DATE": "2024-01-30T00:00:00",
        "STATUS_DESC": "Submitted",
        "STATUS_ID_FK": 1,
        "FILE_NO": "<new passport file number>"
    }
]
All Replies (8)
Indian Passport Renewal Timeline - Indian Consulate in Atlanta
Type: Ordinary Passport
Pages: 36-Page
Scheme: Normal
Consulate: Atlanta, GA
Processing Time: 3 days
-----------------------------------------
I renewed my 36-page passport under the Normal scheme. No changes in name or address. I am impressed by the speed and efficiency of the Atlanta Consulate for how swiftly they reviewed and approved the application!

Timeline:
2024-01-08 - Created account on Indian Govt Passport portal and submitted application passport renewal application
2024-01-11 - Created VFS Global account and paid fees including courier (Total fees were around $140)
2024-01-12 - Dropped package with required documents at UPS (1. Documents were arranged in an order mentioned in the checklist, 2. I had sticky notes pasted on my documents indicating their purpose, for example, SN7: US Address Proof - Driving license 3. Used a transparent L-type pocket folder for documents 4. Don't forget to check documents before shipping, I almost missed to fill out information in Annexure E related to length of stay at current address)
2024-01-13 to 01-15 - Long Weekend
-----------------------------------------
2024-01-16 - 2 pm - VFS Global received package
2024-01-17 by 10 am - VFS Global processed application and submitted to consulate for further review
2024-01-17 by 1 pm - Application reached at consulate and under review, received new file number
2024-01-17 by 6 pm- Print has been initiated for passport,
2024-01-18 by 11 am - Passport has been printed,
2024-01-18 by 6 pm - Handed over to outsourced service provider (OSP) executive for further dispatch
2024-01-18 by 11 pm - Received email for initiation of police verification request
2024-01-19 - VFS Global shipped passport, Parent received call for police verification in India
-----------------------------------------
2024-01-23 - Package received with both passports (delayed due to weekend and inclement weather)

Current Status - Passport application is under review at Indian Embassy/Consulate (I believe this is because they are waiting on police verification report)

Total processing time:
Actual processing time: 3 days
From shipping to receiving: 11 days

It was a pleasant surprise to have the application processed within this time-frame and that too without opting for the Tatkal but the Normal scheme.
All Replies (0)
Indian Passport Renewal at Houston
My passport renewal application is at a standstill. Documents were received by Consulate on Jan 12, and it’s still under review. Granular status shows sent to VO on Jan 25 and no update after that. It’s already 3 weeks and I am nervous looking at other folks timeline where even after print initiated takes 10 days to get passport on hand. No police verification yet.

Can anyone guide me on what to do? Did anyone have luck getting in contact with consulate?

Will I be able to walk in to the consulate?

I am really nervous, not sure what to do next?

Can they hold your passport for months?
All Replies (19)
Passport renewal timeline from Houston
Location : Houston Texas

vfs 12/19/2023 Application Sent using UPS.
vfs 12/20/2023 We have ‘Received’ your Application and your application is now ‘Under Process’ at Houston and will be submitted to the Mission for decision making.
vfs 12/21/2023 Your Application has been ‘Processed’ at the VFS India Consular application Centre and currently is ‘In-Transit‘ to the Embassy of India/Consulate General of India for decision making.
vfs 12/21/2023 Your application has reached at the Embassy/Consulate and is currently under review process.
gov 12/21/2023 passport application along with fee details have been received. the same is under processing at the embassy/consulate.
gov 01/10/2024 Your application is under review at Indian embassy/consulate.
gov 01/15/2024- (Morning) Print has been initiated for passport.
gov 01/15/2024- (Evening) Your application is under review at Indian embassy/consulate.
              - Received email for Police verification in India.
gov 01/17/2024 Passport is printed and will be delivered shortly.
gov 01/18/2024 Your passport has been printed and being forwarded to Embassy/Consulate. The Embassy/Consulate will contact you once they receive the passport for dispatch.
gov 01/23/2024 Passport has been handed over by the Embassy/Consulate to the OSP executive for further dispatch to the applicant.
vfs 01/23/2024 Your Application has been reviewed by the Embassy of India/ Consulate General of India & will be dispatched using the courier service you had opted.
vfs 01/24/2024 Your document(s) is dispatched using the return label purchased or sent by you.
     01/25/2024 Received both the passports.
All Replies (5)
Passport Renewal from SFO
Here are my timelines for passport renewal:

"EVENT_DESC": "QC Accepted and Dispatch Initiated: Passport No. XXXXX of type Ordinary-Normal",
                "EMP_ACTION": "Dispatch Initiated",
                "STATUS_TRACKING_PK": 1843163061,
                "LAST_MODIFIED_DATE": "2024-01-23T00:00:00",
                "STATUS_DESC": "Dispatch Initiated",
                "STATUS_ID_FK": 334,
            },
            {
                "EVENT_DESC": "Printed: Passport No. xxxxxx of type Ordinary-Normal",
                "EMP_ACTION": "Printed",
                "STATUS_TRACKING_PK": 1843158919,
                "LAST_MODIFIED_DATE": "2024-01-23T00:00:00",
                "STATUS_DESC": "Printed",
                "STATUS_ID_FK": 103,
            },
            {
                "EVENT_DESC": null,
                "EMP_ACTION": "Print Initiated",
                "STATUS_TRACKING_PK": 1843010715,
                "LAST_MODIFIED_DATE": "2024-01-20T00:00:00",
                "STATUS_DESC": "Print Initiated",
                "STATUS_ID_FK": 364,
            },
            {
                "EVENT_DESC": "Granting Status Set as 'Clear'",
                "EMP_ACTION": "Clear",
                "STATUS_TRACKING_PK": 1843010713,
                "LAST_MODIFIED_DATE": "2024-01-20T00:00:00",
                "STATUS_DESC": "Application Granted on No verification basis",
                "STATUS_ID_FK": 1104,
            },
            {
                "EVENT_DESC": "",
                "EMP_ACTION": "Sent To Go",
                "STATUS_TRACKING_PK": 1842622363,
                "LAST_MODIFIED_DATE": "2024-01-16T00:00:00",
                "STATUS_DESC": "Granting Initiated",
                "STATUS_ID_FK": 5099
            },
            {
                "EVENT_DESC": null,
                "EMP_ACTION": "Application Form Submitted",
                "STATUS_TRACKING_PK": 1842622353,
                "LAST_MODIFIED_DATE": "2024-01-16T00:00:00",
                "STATUS_DESC": "Submitted",
                "STATUS_ID_FK": 1
            }
All Replies (7)

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