Indian Passport

Took almost 1.5-2 months from the time I sent the application to the time I got back both passports..

2/4 : Fedex Delivered package to VFS
2/11: [VFS] We have ‘Received’ your Application and your application is now ‘Under Process’ at New York.
2/12: [VFS] Your Application has been ‘Processed’ at the VFS India Consular application Centre and currently is ‘In-Transit‘ to the Embassy
2/15: [Embassy] Passport application is under review at Indian Embassy/Consulate.
2/24: "Initiation of Police Verification Request" email
3/2 : Police called and my parents and they went to the station to get the documents verified.
3/4 : [Embassy] Status changed to "Print has been initiated for passport."
3/10: [Embassy] Passport has been printed
3/15: [Embassy] Passport handed over to VFS
3/16: [VFS] Your Application has been reviewed by the Embassy of India/ Consulate General of India & will be dispatched within 24 – 48 business hours provided you had purchased or sent the return label
3/16: [VFS] Your document (s) is dispatched using the return label....
3/18: Fedex Delivered both my old and new passport

Hi,
For US legal status proof, I sent following documents, It is gonna get delivered on Monday 03/22.
1. EAD copy - Notarized
2. I-797A - Not Notarized

I don't have the visa stamped (but my H1B extension is approved).
I have a couple of questions:
1. Do I need to send the notarized I-797A? If so how do I do it now?
2. Does marriage certificate also needs to notarized?

Thanks,
Paras

My parents came to the US in 2020 and due to COVID decided to push back the return trip. We applied for the B2 extension(I-539) and got the receipt notices but no movement on that.

My father's passport is expiring soon and wants to get that renewed here. Does anyone have any experience renewing their passport while on B2?

Thanks in advance.

It has been 11 days since I sent my application and I am still not able to track the application. Called VFS and was told, they can't find the status of my application either.

Package mailed: 3/8/21
Confirmation of package received from VFS: 3/9/21 6:20 AM

No updates since then. My biometrics appointment is very soon, is there any way to expedite the process?

Renewal timeline (normal) for the spouse at Houston application center. Not registered for SMS notification

02/27/2021: (Fedex) Dropped at FedEx
03/02/2021: (Fedex) Delivered at VFS Houston application center
03/05/2021: (VFS Email) We have ‘Received’ your Application and your application is now ‘Under Process’ at Houston.
03/08/2021: (VFS Email) 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.

03/09/2021: (Gov portal) Passport application along with fees have been received. The same is under processing at the Embassy/Consulate
03/12/2021: (Gov portal) Passport application is under review at Indian Embassy/Consulate
03/15/2021: (Gov portal) Print has been initiated for passport
03/16/2021: (Gov portal) Passport has been printed
03/16/2021: (Gov portal) Passport is printed and will be delivered shortly
03/16/2021: (Gov portal) Passport has been handed over by the Embassy/Consulate to the OSP executive for further dispatch to the applicant.

03/17/2021: (VFS Email) Your Application has been reviewed by the Embassy of India/ Consulate General of India & will be dispatched within 24 – 48 business hours provided you had purchased or sent the return label.
03/17/2021: (VFS Email) Your document(s) is dispatched using the return label purchased or sent by you.
03/17/2021: (Fedex Email) Got email notification from Fedex about shipment along with tracking number.
03/18/2021: (Fedex) Delivered old and new passport

1) I only notarized documents that were mentioned in VFS checklist.
2) I prepaid shipping in VFS website. There was no police verification (moved to US 2 years ago).
3) Mentioned US address in the passport.
4) Govt website doesn't print all the details of the application when you take a printout. Lots of information was missing.
5) Applied for renewal 11 months before expiry.

Great smooth experience while renewing passports for my two kids under TATKAL with Washington DC consulate.
Received both passports within 9 days of dropping off. Here is the brief timeline ...

3/8 - Dropped off at Fedex
3/9 - Received at VFS
3/10 - We have ‘Received’ your Application and your application is now ‘Under Process’ at VFS India Consular Application Centre
3/11 - 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.
3/11 - Passport application along with fee details have been received. The same is under processing at the Embassy/Consulate
3/12 - Passport application is under review at the Embassy/Consulate
3/12 - Print has been initiated
3/12 - Passport has been printed
3/13 - Saturday
3/14 - Sunday
3/15 - Passport has been printed
3/16 - Your Application has been reviewed by the Embassy of India/ Consulate General of India & will be dispatched within 24 – 48 business hours provided you had purchased or sent the return label.
3/16 - Your document(s) is dispatched using the return label purchased or sent by you
3/16 - FedEx Shipment Notification
3/17 - Passports delivered mid-day

I would really like to thank this forum for sharing valuable experience and tips.
My tips ...
1. When in doubt, always submit more documents
2. When in doubt, notarize the documents
3. As a reminder, you will only get ONE shipping label that will need to be put on package you ship. For return, VFS will download/print the label for you. Of course this is assuming you are buying courier services from VFS.

Anyone on the same timeline in SFO?

**** **VFS Tracking **** *

Feb 24th - Application Received
March 4th - Application is in Process
March 5th - Sent to embassy

**** **GOVT Website***
March 5th - Application Received along with fee details
March 12th - Application is in Review

Here is the timeline for my Indian passport renewal (normal) at NY application center.
1/19: Dropped application package at FedEx
1/20: Package was delivered to VFS NY application center

VFS Site (Email and SMS)
1/21: Your package has been received at The VFS application center. Our current processing times are longer than usual. Your application will be reviewed with 48-72 business hours. You are requested to track the status of your application after 2-3 business days.
1/28: We have received your application and your application is now Under Process at New York
1/30: Your application has been processed at the VFS India Consular application center and is in transit to the embassy/consulate for decision making

Indian Embassy website (https://portal4.passportindia.gov.in/Online/index.html)
2/3: Passport application along with fees have been received. The same is under processing at the Embassy/Consulate
2/8: Passport application is under review at Indian Embassy/Consulate
2/15: Print has been initiated for passport
2/15: Passport has been printed
2/17: Passport is printed and will be delivered shortly
2/17: Passport has been handed over by the Embassy/Consulate to the OSP executive for further dispatch to the applicant.

VFS Site (Email and SMS)
2/18: Your application has been reviewed by the CG of India and is ready for collection at the ICAC or will be dispatched within 24 business hours.
2/18: Your document(s) is dispatched on 18-02-2021 using the return label purchased or sent by you.
3/9: Received old and new passport

Comments: Overall it took more than one and half months for getting the old and new passport. The process was smooth, until VFS New York didn’t dispatch the passport for over two weeks. It was an extremely frustrating experience to deal with VFS new York.
If you need your passport renewed quicker, tatkal might be the best option. Last time I renewed my passport in Chicago, I got my passport in 2 weeks under normal processing. Of course, it was pre-COVID era and the things were handled by BLS International.
I hope this helps others who are waiting for their passport. Good luck!

I received email today from VFS saying that "your document dispatched using the return label purchased or sent by you". Now a days VFS team is creating return label and sending the passport right? But they did not provide me the FedEx Tracking number. How I will get the FedEx tracking number for tracking purpose?

Anyone on the same timeline? It seems like they are processing slow.