New PIO Card Application @ CKGS, NY

[kpurna]

Pio

Hi,

Iam applying for my daughter PIO application today and confused with few things. We are appling to CKGS ,NY Please can all who have gone through this process let us know few things.

1) In CKGS declaration and undertaking form , they mention the signature of applicant. Do parent can sign the document or we need to take an infant thumb impression?

2)Do we need to send the CKGS disclaimer form, to them?

3)I have taken $220(includes return shipping from CKGS thru fedex). after taking money order i found out that my city is not included CKGS online curier form. what are the options now?

4) I have taken notary on 3 page of PIO form, on parental authorization form, on copy of birth certificate.Is that enough?

kindly need all your suggstions.

thanks,
kpurna.

[mohank]

Pretty fast...cool...CKGS atlanta

Your application has been collected from the Embassy/Consulate and is being sorted. Your application will be ready for collection from our Application Centre within one business day. 09/18/2014
Your application has been received and will be submitted subject to verification. 09/15/2014
Your application has been submitted at The Indian Embassy for further processing. 09/16/2014
Your application is in process. Your tracking id is USAA00000000 09/15/2014

[mkeshari]

PIO Processing time and status update on website

@VandeMaataram:
Did you get any further update on the application status?
I had sent my son's application to Washington DC center on 09/04 which was received by them on 09/06. The status on the website was updated on the same day but there has been no update since then. Here is the last update as of today 09/15/2014 3:00 PM EST.

Application Status Date of Status
Your application is in process. Your tracking id is USAxxxxxxxx 09/06/2014
Your application has been received and will be submitted subject to verification. 09/06/2014

I spoke at the service desk and they have put a request for status update but did not confirm if the application has been submitted to Embassy or not. As per my knowledge and looking at your application status, my application should have been submitted to Embassy last week.

Can anyone share their experience on how much time it should take? We have a travel plan in first week of november so a bit worried about any delay.
Thanks for any feedback !!!

Just wanted to share my application experience. I mailed the application for my son's PIO via FedEx and it reached CKGS on Tue, 7/8 at 10am. Received an email with payment receipt and tracking number on Thu, 7/10 at 10am. Here is the current tracking status as of 7/10 6pm.

Application Status Date of Status Remarks
Your application has been submitted at The Indian Embassy for further processing. 07/10/2014
Your application is in process. Your tracking id is USAxxxxxxxxx 07/10/2014
Your application has been received and will be submitted subject to verification. 07/10/2014


Some notes/advice:
1) Document required page on CKGS website says "two sets of all documents" required. It was not clear if it is only two sets of PIO application forms or all supporting documents. I emailed CKGS and they promptly said send two sets of all documents. Just to be safe, I mailed 2 copies of everything (all forms and supporting documents).
2) Their website says only the third page of PIO form needs notarized, but in their email clarifying about documents above, they requested "parental authorization" and applicant's "birth certificate" also to be notarized.
3) My city is not on the list of CKGS FedEx service, so I sent a return envelope with a shipping label I created using my FedEx online account (I used this before when I applied for my older child's PIO application with Travisa and it worked out).
4) Though I did not use their value added courier service, their instructions and the online courier form are not intuitive. Just to be safe I filled and submitted the online courier form though I used my own modes to send the application and receive the PIO. Submitting the form submits data to them, there is no confirmation page to print and attach with the application.
5) I advice you guys to pay with Money Order instead of paying online with credit card. I say based on experience of others on this forum, CKGS payment system does not give you a confirmation page, you will need to send your credit card statement showing the charges as proof of payment.

Waiting with my fingers crossed for the process to complete without any headaches. I will provide updates as the process progresses. Good luck with your applications.

VandeMataram!

[manishyadav83]

@VandeMaataram - Thanks to the answers in this thread. It sure helped me and believe other people visiting this thread.

For anybody else wondering what to send for spouse(on H4) proof of residence (In case the spouse does not have utility/DL/Stateidentity) - I called CKGS and they said, we can send rental agreement with both parents name on it with Marriage certificate - both notarized. I have sent these as per their advise and hoping it will get through.

Also Any updates on the current processing time? Did you receive your PIO?

I just mailed the PIO forms yesterday for my 1 month old son and and wondering what could be the turnover time.

Any others, who have applied got their cards? Please let know to this thread - it would be helpful.

Thanks,
Raj

Hi Raj,
I am also facing same issue can you suggest if the document worked for you. I tried to call and drop mail to CKGS. But didn't heard any thing from them.
Please suggest.

[Greencardindian]

Hi All members, I am applying PIO for my son and I need your help regards below questions. Your comments helped me almost all the questions but still have below.

- At BankOfAmerica, they don't put stamp and sign on each paper. They attach one more additional paper and they sign and stamp on that. Will that be a valid notarization? I think we need to get stamp and sign on each required notarization form. please help.

Better to get the notarization on each photocopy, like the way it is done in India. Bank of America might not do this. Try to reach out to notaries in UPS etc. They might charge you a fee but you can get the sign and stamp on each page

[vamsivk]

Notarize Help

Hi All members, I am applying PIO for my son and I need your help regards below questions. Your comments helped me almost all the questions but still have below.

- At BankOfAmerica, they don't put stamp and sign on each paper. They attach one more additional paper and they sign and stamp on that. Will that be a valid notarization? I think we need to get stamp and sign on each required notarization form. please help.

[RajVas]

Its the same address. I didn't find any other contact details.

I had visited CKGS center today. seems like they have lost the original envelope I sent them, they sent the passport and PIO card using a new envelope.. while doing this they created the shipping label with wrong address.

They took 2 hours to figure this out ! luckily at least one of them was competent enough to figure out the problem and now I am following up with FEDEX and positively will get the package by tomorrow.

[manojkk]

Its the same address. I didn't find any other contact details.

Hi manojkk,

No luck for me, still the same status. but thanks for letting me know. Did you mail to [email protected] or another id ?

[RajVas]

No luck yet !

Hi RajVas,

I received a reply to my email this morning that they will sort out the issue and send the pio. An hour later, track status is updated that the application has been sent via a courier. Its now on the way. I can see that FedEx received the shipment.

Check your status again... may be the person who posts the return application might be on vacation last few days.

Hi manojkk,

No luck for me, still the same status. but thanks for letting me know. Did you mail to [email protected] or another id ?

[manojkk]

Finally received an update

Hi RajVas,

I received a reply to my email this morning that they will sort out the issue and send the pio. An hour later, track status is updated that the application has been sent via a courier. Its now on the way. I can see that FedEx received the shipment.

Check your status again... may be the person who posts the return application might be on vacation last few days.

[RajVas]

Manojkk, RajVas

Just curious if you guys filled the online courier service form. Though you sent your own return envelopes, you are required to submit the form.

They are usually prompt if you send email to [email protected] with tracking ID, applicant name and passport number.

You have the option to collect them in person. If you decide to collect them in person, make sure you get an online appointment.

I didnt fill up the online courier form, Helpline personnel said it isn't required unless you avail the Fedex service from them.

I was planning to collect the PIO card later today during their collection timing (3PM - 5PM), again helpline said no appointment required ! and their seems to no appointments are available until 9/4/2014.

I booked a slot anyway, and even the appointment confirmation letter states that appointments are for application submissions ! not sure whether to try once today by visiting them or not. Did you collect the pio card in person during their collection timings ?

seems like embassy/consulate is more efficient than these guys ! their is no accountability from CKGS !

[VandeMaataram]

Manojkk, RajVas

Just curious if you guys filled the online courier service form. Though you sent your own return envelopes, you are required to submit the form.

They are usually prompt if you send email to [email protected] with tracking ID, applicant name and passport number.

You have the option to collect them in person. If you decide to collect them in person, make sure you get an online appointment.

[RajVas]

RE: New PIO stuck at NY

Hi All,

I applied for my son's PIO card with CKGS NY center. Everything seems to have gone smooth until the last step. I sent the return FedEx envelop in the application packet itself and mentioned in the application form as well. However the PIO seems to be stuck with CKGS. Below is the status.

Your application has been collected from the Embassy/Consulate and is being sorted. Your application will be ready for collection from our Application Centre within one business day. 08/24/2014
Your application has been submitted at The Indian Embassy for further processing. 08/19/2014
Your application is in process. Your tracking id is USAN YYYY X 08/19/2014
Your application has been received and will be submitted subject to verification. 08/19/2014

Its been 3 days and no updates yet. I tried to email the NY CKGS address (http://www.in.ckgs.us/application-centres/newyork.shtml) and haven't got any reply yet.
Neither of the phones listed on their contact page works. Do you guys know of any other contact/way I can reach CKGS NY?

Same status here I applied with enclosed Fedex return shipping label, since 08/22/2014, its seems to be struck at CKGS NY. Neither they helpline nor contacting them via email helped me, they have been giving me inconsistent replies, I work close to NY, wondering whether I can visit them in person for document collection. :-(

Your application has been collected from the Embassy/Consulate and is being sorted. Your application will be ready for collection from our Application Centre within one business day. 08/22/2014
Your application has been submitted at The Indian Embassy for further processing. 08/11/2014
Your application is in process. Your tracking id is USAN YYYY 08/11/2014
Your application has been received and will be submitted subject to verification. 08/11/2014

[manojkk]

New PIO stuck at NY

Hi All,

I applied for my son's PIO card with CKGS NY center. Everything seems to have gone smooth until the last step. I sent the return FedEx envelop in the application packet itself and mentioned in the application form as well. However the PIO seems to be stuck with CKGS. Below is the status.

Your application has been collected from the Embassy/Consulate and is being sorted. Your application will be ready for collection from our Application Centre within one business day. 08/24/2014
Your application has been submitted at The Indian Embassy for further processing. 08/19/2014
Your application is in process. Your tracking id is USAN YYYY X 08/19/2014
Your application has been received and will be submitted subject to verification. 08/19/2014

Its been 3 days and no updates yet. I tried to email the NY CKGS address (http://www.in.ckgs.us/application-centres/newyork.shtml) and haven't got any reply yet.
Neither of the phones listed on their contact page works. Do you guys know of any other contact/way I can reach CKGS NY?

[VandeMaataram]

Hi Aasha,

In your reply, you have mentioned about return airway bill no? can you pls clarify where do you see this column in the order form? I am going to select the 15$ fedex return in the order form and i will be sending the documents myself and send a self addressed envelope. I don't see the AWB bill no column anywhere in the form? Can you pls explain if i am missing anything. Thanks a lot

I will be applying PIO for my 5 week old son

Hello Subramaniam - Just checked the form. Looks like it was changed from a month back. They are no longer asking the airway bill number in the order form.