OCI woes

[VAsuvius]

I applied for OCI for myself and my 2 children back in September 09. I have yet to get it. Needless to say, I am very disappointed with the process or rather a lack of process for this application. Every interaction with the Consular folks, be it on the phone or visits to the consulate results in dis-satisfactory responses and little action.

Here's my time line and sequence of events.

9/19/09 -- OCI Application Mailed
9/21/09 -- App received by Consulate (USPS confirmation)
10/24/09 -- App was returned to me for more documents. Specifically copies of passport (US and Indian) for my spouse. My spouse is NOT of Indian descent and there was NO application for her. Why did they need documentation for her ? No one at the consulate could answer this question. One person even acknowledged that they didn't really need any docs for my spouse.
5 weeks wasted so far
10/26/09 -- Mailed the app back to the consulate. they would not take if from me in person when I visited the consulate !!
11/27/09 -- Status changed to "Acknowledged" on the OCI Inquiry site
11/21/09 -- Photo Scanned
12/9/09 -- Online status changed to "Granted"

Radio silence after this for almost a month.

1/6/10 -- I finally managed to speak to someone at the consulate after trying to call for 3 days. I was told that my photos were rejected by the Computer, but, they could not give me any reason as to why and what I had to do different when I submitted a fresh set of photos
When photos are rejected, why do they not send any notification ? Why do they wait for the applicant to call ?
1/15/10 -- I went to the Consulate with a fresh set of photos - following the specifications in exact detail. The photos look exactly like the sample pics on the OCI Site -
But the gentleman I handed the pictures to at the Consulate was uncertain whether these would work.
I was told that I should check online status on Tuesday (1/19/10) and if the status was updated for "Printed", then the photos were accepted and if not, I would have to submit new pictures.
I was told that the entire shoulders needs to be visible in the photo - whereas the sample pics do NOT.

I am at a complete loss as to what I can do to get this process completed. I applied for the OCI in September with the intent that I would get it before December for a trip to India. Sadly, I had to get tourist visas for the trip to India (and pay for it)
And there is still no end to this saga.

Very very disappointed with the process (or lack thereof). All the people I've talked to at the Consulate are very nice and helpful but can't get anything done or provide responses !

They do not respond to emails at all and getting them on the phone requires days/hours of trying.

Will the govt/consulate wake up and fix these issues ?

-v

[immihelp]

Unfortunately, the attitude of the government is not going to change because there is no competition or shopping around for service.

I can only sympathize with you.

[a5p2010]

Same woeful story for me!

Hello V,

I can completely understand your frustration.

Any update to the photos situation?

I am in a worse situation:
Date of Acknowledgment: 04-Aug-2009
Status: Granted 25-Aug-2009
Dead silence after that! None of the other statuses is updated.

I tried calling but could not get through. Sent two emails with details - of course, no response! I had to go to India in Nov.; so, I got a visa, which will also expire soon. :-(

Another quick question: Did you apply at the NY office? If so, what was their contact #? Appreciate your help.


Regards,
A

[vcharan]

Hi,
my application procedure(applied in person and single) was as follows:-

1. Went to apply on 28th Dec 2009 for OCI at Toronto, ON, CA. Photo spec's on the online application instructions and the photo box where we glue the photo it says, 55x55 mm. The consular officer told me the photo should be 35x35mm as in the website, which is true as in http://www.cgitoronto.ca/OCI/ocichklist2.html website. She told me to write a letter, on blank white paper stating that i was not married and that none of my family members have accompanied me to Canada after my immigration.

2. Went back on 29th Dec 2009 and applied.
Submitted photocopies of Indian passport, Canadian passport, Landing papers, Citizenship certificate and OCI online application part A & B. All the above in 2 sets. Submitted originals of all the above photocopies.

3. Got acknowledgment date 31st Dec 2009. Showed online to collect passports on 4th Jan 2010. Collected My originals on 5th Jan 2010.

4. Photo Scanned 12th Jan 2010.

5. Granted and printed 15th Jan 2010.

6. Dispatched 19th Jan 2010.

7. Not yet arrived in Toronto, maybe this coming Monday?
Update:- Arrived in Toronto local office on 4th feb 2010.U striker and OCI card received 13th feb 2010


As I submitted the application personally, I think was saved from the trouble of resubmitting photo's, sending a letter stating not married etc...

That's my experience.
I know it wouldn't help you but, just sharing...

[VAsuvius]

It's been a week now since I went to the COnsulate and gave them new photos. No update on the OCI inquiry site yet. I think I need to go to the consulate again and maybe ask to speak to a Consular Official.

I wonder if I can just ask for a refund and get my money back, to hell with the OCI !!

[a5p2010]

Thanks Vasuvius for your reply. I couldn't agree with you more!

For me it has been 5 months since I got "Granted" status, and then dead silence after that. Everything is in a black hole. I monitored each stage carefully (Photos scanned, photos printed, etc.) until I saw the Registration status as "Granted" on 25-Aug-2009. But then dead silence. Some friends told me that it could take 3-4 months. For family emergency I had to go to India in Nov. - so I just took a visa.

I am going to send a certified letter (asking for clarification) next week, and send a copy to their D.C. office (main Consulate). All I want is the "status" and what they plan to do with my application. I have to conserve my vacation days - so I will keep following up with them via snail mail. At least I will have a paper trail. They can easily add a couple of fields on their web page and provide the status accordingly, but looks like they are bent on making this harder for the applicants.

Question:
By the way, did you call 212-774-0605?

I have tried calling this number between 11 AM and 4 PM on weekdays; I get either a busy tone, or weird messages like "please call the customer service #", "please check your number and dial again". However, after 4 PM, I get the message, "OCI services ... please call during business hours". :-(
Maybe it's a test to see who is most persistent? Unbelievable!

If I hit a wall, I will demand my money back.



Thanks vcharan for posting the details. It looks like applications from Canada are processed at super speed.

[VAsuvius]

The second set of pictures have now been rejected. The Consulate surprisingly called and left a message about. But there is no information on why the photos are rejected, making it difficult to send in more photos.
Both the sets rejected so far were printed to the spec. Something is wrong with the system that scans and approves the photos.

Calling the 212 774 0605 number is a total waste of time. It's usually busy and when it actually rings you get a recorded message.
I am quite lucky in that I work in mid-town Manhattan and my office is about a 20 minute walk from the Consulate (or a 10 min cab ride).
I will walk over to the Consulate on Friday and demand a refund. Let's see how that goes.

-v

[VAsuvius]

Today I went to the consulate and handed in a new set of photos. I asked if they could tell me what was wrong with the 2 previous sets that caused them to be rejected and the lady could not respond.
She did indicate that she thinks this set of photos will definitely be accepted.

I asked whether I could get a refund if these were rejected and I was tired of the process and apparently, at this stage one cannot get a refund !!

Keeping my fingers crossed.

-V

[VAsuvius]

And finally, progress has been made.
The photos I submitted on Feb 5, were uploaded on Feb 6. The online status was updated to "PRINTED" on Feb 8 (today).
Still waiting for it to be dispatched

[oakman]

Good luck

I just got my documents returned in the mail -- said I didn't include the proof of residence address. Silly me. You would imagine that all else was well? Your email shattered my hopes. Who knows if the photos will pass etc etc. Anyway -- sent it back in with drivers license copies. Looks like they are keen to reject the applications. Their unit of time is one month. I wonder why. ( Once I was waiting at a rail-way enquiry in India and I could see the phone ringing but the person was chatting. Upon asking, he said "if I pick up each call on the first ring I have to do more work every day". So getting to each application after a month means -- less work for people I bet!)

How would you vote between US INS and India CGNY? Its a toss-up.

Update 03/27/2010: Documents sent to CGNY. Passport sent to CGNY for "Collection of OCI Documents" a week ago. So far things went smoothly after the initial glitch.

This afternoon I received my OCI documents by express mail. My passport was received at CGNY on Monday and sent back on Friday. Quite efficient, I would say. Now I have to see what documents are needed for travel -- do I need to carry the registration card as well as the U visa -- shouldnt be hard to find out.

[knol4]

OCI sent by delhi, not received by chennai

folks

documents were posted on nov-5 2009

chennai Office has not received yet;

anybody has seen similar issues

i tried calling chennai no., it is not working
is there a number to call in delhi

any other suggestions

--
thanks
knol4

[jayhou]

OCI Process

IT boom or No boom!
Some attitudes are built into the culture and no amount of IT advancement can change that.

[VAsuvius]

finally, 5 months to the day, and the saga ends.
Picked up the OCI card today alongwith the 'U' visa stamp in the passports.

I dropped off my passports at 10:00 am and was told that I could pick-up between 12:30 and 1:00 pm. I asked if I could come later and was told till 4:00
When I got there at 2:15 pm, I was told that they're closed now and I should have come between 12:30 and 1:00 !! and alternatively between 4:30 and 5:00 !
Upon some pleading, I was handed the passports and the OCI cards.

Truly a sad and disappointing experience. But, glad that it is now over !

[whatthehack]

OCI card..

Same Saga ...I do not know all other status that changes on the inquiry page..
4/5/2010 - Registered application
6/7/2010 - This case is not yet acknowledged by mission.

I do not know what else can be done other then wait !!!!

D.

[nahsay]

I am in a worse situation:
Date of Acknowledgment: 04-Aug-2009
Status: Granted 25-Aug-2009
Dead silence after that! None of the other statuses is updated.

I can beat that! I submitted my application in July, 2008 and finally received OCI in mail in May, 2010. Took 22 months!