Renouncing Indian citizenship using VFS, a frustrating and broken experience!!!

[actblue]

Ok. So, let me start this post by saying that I'm extremely frustrated. So if it sounds like i'm pissed off in this post... it's because I am.

Mainly because I feel like few, if any, people that work at VFS seem to understand written ENGLISH. I've reached out to customer service multiple times and asked the same questions multiple times. Every time I get a response, it's either an incorrect response (for example, they'll respond with instructions for re-issue of Indian passport instead of renouncing Indian citizenship), or a confusing response.

I've uploaded a picture of the VFS global form that needs to be filled out. According to VFS global, in that little section that asks for "Passport No.", I have to fill in my INDIAN passport number. Yet, in the nationality section... there is no option to select INDIA as a nationality. This is conflicting information: If I can't select INDIA as a nationality, doesn't that mean that I'll need to input my US passport details instead of my Indian passport details?

VFS Global has been slow to respond, and lethargic at best with the quality of their responses.

Also, on the document checklist, it states the following:

• The physical photo must be affixed on the physical application form and the digital photo must be uploaded on Govt. form online. The physical and uploaded photograph must be identical
• The digital signature must also be uploaded on the Govt. portal. Upload signature must match with the signature on the physical form.

NO SUCH OPTION EXISTS ON THE GOV WEBSITE. I was never given the option to upload photograph and signature, which means that the VFS document checklist is likely incorrect. If this was a requirement, i'm sure I wouldn't have been able to fill out and submit my application on the gov website without being able to complete these steps.

So, I'm turning to the people of this forum for clarification, and to vent my frustration. I initially filled out a full application (and made a payment too) using my US passport number. But then customer service told me that I needed to fill in my Indian passport number here. And now the entire process is stalled as I wait for them to cancel out my application and refund my payment.

Have you gone through this process? Was it as frustrating for you as it is for me? I'll post updates if I make any progress.

[Donald_Trump]

You are not alone in frustration. I am also in the same boat. You can ignore the digital photo upload requirements as there is no such functionality. Treat this as typical Indian government process (though VFS is a private company)- No clear instructions, broken system. We Indians are not the only ones who are frustrated with VFS. VFS handles visa applications of other countries and those applicants are equally frustrated. Just search VFS reviews online on sites like Yelp etcetra and you will see how VFS is messed up and yet it handles millions of applicants.

On that error of "Indian passport expiry date cannot be future date", it was advised by VFS themselves that applicants can put current date and proceed.

Today (11/22), I was trying the current date and it still kept throwing that error so I put 21/11/2020 in the indian passport expiry date and it went through.

Ok. So, let me start this post by saying that I'm extremely frustrated. So if it sounds like i'm pissed off in this post... it's because I am.

Mainly because I feel like few, if any, people that work at VFS seem to understand written ENGLISH. I've reached out to customer service multiple times and asked the same questions multiple times. Every time I get a response, it's either an incorrect response (for example, they'll respond with instructions for re-issue of Indian passport instead of renouncing Indian citizenship), or a confusing response.

I've uploaded a picture of the VFS global form that needs to be filled out. According to VFS global, in that little section that asks for "Passport No.", I have to fill in my INDIAN passport number. Yet, in the nationality section... there is no option to select INDIA as a nationality. This is conflicting information: If I can't select INDIA as a nationality, doesn't that mean that I'll need to input my US passport details instead of my Indian passport details?

VFS Global has been slow to respond, and lethargic at best with the quality of their responses.

Also, on the document checklist, it states the following:

• The physical photo must be affixed on the physical application form and the digital photo must be uploaded on Govt. form online. The physical and uploaded photograph must be identical
• The digital signature must also be uploaded on the Govt. portal. Upload signature must match with the signature on the physical form.

NO SUCH OPTION EXISTS ON THE GOV WEBSITE. I was never given the option to upload photograph and signature, which means that the VFS document checklist is likely incorrect. If this was a requirement, i'm sure I wouldn't have been able to fill out and submit my application on the gov website without being able to complete these steps.

So, I'm turning to the people of this forum for clarification, and to vent my frustration. I initially filled out a full application (and made a payment too) using my US passport number. But then customer service told me that I needed to fill in my Indian passport number here. And now the entire process is stalled as I wait for them to cancel out my application and refund my payment.

Have you gone through this process? Was it as frustrating for you as it is for me? I'll post updates if I make any progress.

[Donald_Trump]

Found this article about the founder of VFS

They should also write on how VFS is a shitty vendor.

[mojoshtudd]

I am in a similar boat. How did you apply for a refund? I go to this site - https://visa.vfsglobal.com/usa/en/ind/refund-policy. There is a link to the refund request form but no link to submit it. The link goes to a fillable PDF form. Did you fill it out and physically mail it somewhere?

And now the entire process is stalled as I wait for them to cancel out my application and refund my payment.

Have you gone through this process? Was it as frustrating for you as it is for me? I'll post updates if I make any progress.

[molags]

Friends, I am in the same boat.

I am working on renunciation of my Indian passport. The vfsglobal site is confusing when filling out the form. Could you please help me answer the below?

I am in the vfsglobal website and need help with these following.

2nd Line "Passport Number" - Should I enter Indian Passport #?
4th Line "Date of Expiry" - Is it Indian passport expiry?
5th Line "Select Nationality" - It has only option to select United States (Not India)

After I am done with it, it is asking for the following fee. Is this right? It should be around $230 right? Not sure if this is for courier service or something else.

	1 service USD 73.90	Fee Charged	Additional Services
		Total Amount (incl. Convenience Fee @ 3.50 %)	USD 76.49

[Donald_Trump]

Answered inline. Looking at all the posts here from applicants, I so wish CKGS was still around. They were very efficient and smooth. I had done renunciation through CKGS earlier and end to end process took less than 8-10 days. And their online system was smooth and forms were all clear with clear instructions.

The reason they lost contract was due to the fraud done by their founder -

Friends, I am in the same boat.

I am working on renunciation of my Indian passport. The vfsglobal site is confusing when filling out the form. Could you please help me answer the below?

I am in the vfsglobal website and need help with these following.

2nd Line "Passport Number" - Should I enter Indian Passport #?
I had written US passport number and on the printout, wrote Indian passport number also by pen.

4th Line "Date of Expiry" - Is it Indian passport expiry?
I think, this is Indian passport expiry (As that is relevant in renunciation) - US passport expiry date has no relevance in renunciation

5th Line "Select Nationality" - It has only option to select United States (Not India) - That's correct. After your naturalization, your nationality is USA and not India and that's the premise of all this renunciation process.

After I am done with it, it is asking for the following fee. Is this right? It should be around $230 right? Not sure if this is for courier service or something else.

	1 service USD 73.90	Fee Charged	Additional Services
		Total Amount (incl. Convenience Fee @ 3.50 %)	USD 76.49

No, the total fee should be $230 as you have mentioned. I had got the right fee. Don't know why you are getting the lesser amount.

[devenr]

HI - I am also in the same boat with VFS. They are asking me to resubmit. Can anybody clarify if you guys were able to submit fresh application and also process to get the refund for old one.

[Daisy_Libran]

Oh no! I did the exact same thing. when they ask nationality and don't give India as an option, I chose USA and provided US passport number. Also because on the same page below, they specify do you have your most recent "Indian Passport" with you? That makes me think, the other passport is other nationality passport....
I haven't sent in my application yet, I completed and was looking at "digital" photo upload place and that's when I found your post.
Any updates on if you got your refund? Any advice on how should I go about it - ask to cancel and refund now then submit fresh application or should I just sent it then let them ask to resubmit?

[Daisy_Libran]

While I am waiting on guidance from other users who have had similar experience, I wanted to share to all those who are wondering where to submit the refund request form, you can directly apply for refund through this link.

https://visa.vfsglobal.com/usa/en/ind/contact-us

Once there, you can click to "For Visa & OCI" or "For re-issuance of passport & Fresh Passport, GFP, Renunciation of Indian Citizenship". Once of the options, in the form will be refund request.
Hope this helps someone.

[zazaralcazar]

I fully expected this to be a frustrating experience, and boy, I'm not disappointed. I'm sure others have figured this out by now, but I'm including information that I've found out so far.

Friends, I am in the same boat.

I am working on renunciation of my Indian passport. The vfsglobal site is confusing when filling out the form. Could you please help me answer the below?

I am in the vfsglobal website and need help with these following.

2nd Line "Passport Number" - Should I enter Indian Passport #?

The "i" next to the field indicates that it should be a US passport # for renunciation applications (see attached screenshot). Now this does bring the problem that for people who don't have a US passport, there's no good way to proceed. But of course, where's the fun in that?!


Note that there's another field below that asks for the Indian passport number now.

4th Line "Date of Expiry" - Is it Indian passport expiry?

US, see above.

5th Line "Select Nationality" - It has only option to select United States (Not India)

Yup, United States is correct.

After I am done with it, it is asking for the following fee. Is this right? It should be around $230 right? Not sure if this is for courier service or something else.

	1 service USD 73.90	Fee Charged	Additional Services
		Total Amount (incl. Convenience Fee @ 3.50 %)	USD 76.49