OCI - Houston Tracker

[workhomes2003]

Thanks swami2100 for the tips. I live in houston, therefore I am planning to visit in person the next day after they receive the OCI.. Probably this Friday.

[longjourney]

Here is my latest update.

Delivered to Houston CGI: July 26, 2006
Date of Acknowledgement: August 4, 2006
Photo/Signature scanned:August 21, 2006
Registration Status Granted:
Documents Printed On
Documents Despatched From Delhi On:
Documents Received at HOUSTON:

[workhomes2003]

I received my OCI PP & U visa today. Thanks to everyone for sharing the info. Swami2100, did u receive your additional photo's back( mailed 5 photos).?




Application Status
Delivered to Houston CGI: July 5, 2006
Date of Acknowledgement: July 19, 2006
Photo/Signature scanned: Aug 02, 2006
Registration Status Granted: 18-AUG-2006
Documents Printed On:18 aug 2006
Documents Despatched From Delhi On:19-AUG-2006
Documents Received at HOUSTON: 24-AUG-2006
Received OCI PP & U visa - 25 - aug - 2006

[MOHSAN]

I read in this forum that people got acknowledgement about receipt of OCI application, but I didn't receive any e-mail from CGI. I am checking the online status and it is in 'APPROVED, PRINTED,'SENT TO HOUSTON' status. I am guessing I may not receive any e-mail from CGI. So my question is - can we send our passport to CGI, Houston once we see the 'RECEIVED at Houston' in online status? Or wait for some written communication? Comments will be appreciated.

[workhomes2003]

To answer your question, yes you should send your passport now for OCI. Along with US passport, you should also send your indian PP if you have any. Also you may have to send the printout of the online status page with your file/ack number. Hope I answered your question.

I asked a CGI-Houston emplyee about the procedure. They said once CGI-houston recevies the OCI documents from Delhi, they update the online status and simultanously you should receive an email as well.

[MOHSAN]

Thank you very much for your response. Is it necessary to send Indian PP along with US PP? When we receive (I don't know I will) the e-mail from CGI Huston, does it request for Indian PP too? Thank you in advance.

[dallasn400guy]

Applied on : 25-Jul-2006
Registration Status Granted On 25-AUG-2006
Photo/Signature Scanned On 21-AUG-2006
Documents Printing Status PRINTED
Documents Printed On 26-AUG-2006
Documents Despatched From Delhi On 26-AUG-2006
Documents Received at HOUSTON NOT YET

[dallasn400guy]

Date Of Acknowledgment 04-AUG-2006
Application Status
Registration Status Granted On 25-AUG-2006
Photo/Signature Scanned On 21-AUG-2006
Documents Printing Status PRINTED
Documents Printed On 26-AUG-2006
Documents Despatched From Delhi On 26-AUG-2006
Documents Received at HOUSTON On 31-AUG-2006

Do I send the passport directly to Houston Consulate now to get the stamping or will the consulate contact me? Thanks. Dallasn400guy

[dallasn400guy]

Date Of Acknowledgment 04-AUG-2006
Application Status
Registration Status Granted On 25-AUG-2006
Photo/Signature Scanned On 21-AUG-2006
Documents Printing Status PRINTED
Documents Printed On 26-AUG-2006
Documents Despatched From Delhi On 26-AUG-2006
Documents Received at HOUSTON On 31-AUG-2006
email Received from Houston CGI on 4-Sep-2006
Passports sent to Houston on 4-Sep-2006

[MOHSAN]

Online OCI docs received on 8/31 by CGI Houston. I sent my passport(s), self and my children on 1st, Sept. Received by CGI, Houston on 5th. I sent our Indian passports on 6th after I got an e-mail from CGI Houston. Not received stamped passports yet. Appreciate any info on the time it is taking now from date of receipt of US passports at CGI Houston to date of dispatch of OCI stamped passport.

[dallasn400guy]

I sent the US passports same time as you and still haven't received the passports back from CGI Houston. Waiting...........

[MOHSAN]

Just received my OCI stamped passports and cancelled Indian Passports in FedEx.
Date US Passports sent : 1st Sept
Date Indian Passports sent (due to late e-mail from CGI) : 6th Sept
Date received all passorts back : 15th Sept.
Lession learnt : Send your Indian passport along with US Passport for OCI stamping. Per e-mail from CGI, Houston - it is now mandatory to check Indian passport and Cancel it before putting OCI stamp on US Passport.

[achintyask]

How long before Ack from CGI.
Can you go directly with PPs after OCI receipt to stamp in PP
Regards-SK

[SA-SRINI]

Date OCI Apps sent : 18 August
Date Houston CGI received: 22 August
Date Acknowledged: 8 Sep
Date Scanned: 11 Sep

Next steps??????

CGI Houston is terrible in the customer service with no phone calls answered and with an always full mail box. Talking to a live person.....FORGET IT.....Keeping up the Indian tradition!!!????

Folks, If there is something wrong with the photos, how long will it take for us know? I might be flying to India next month. If something screwes up, I would have to apply for a tourist visa from CGI.

[SA-SRINI]

Date OCI Apps sent : 18 August
Date Houston CGI received: 22 August
Date Acknowledged: 8 Sep
Date Scanned: 11 Sep
Date OCI Granted: 15 Sep
Date Printed: 16 Sep
Date Despatched:
Date Received by Houston:
Date Houston emailed of OCI stamping:
Date Passports sent:
Date stamped Passports received:

5 more steps to GO!!!!

[longjourney]

Here is my latest update.

Delivered to Houston CGI: July 26, 2006
Date of Acknowledgement: August 4, 2006
Photo/Signature scanned:August 21, 2006
Registration Status Granted: August 26, 2006
Documents Printed On: August 26, 2006
Documents Despatched From Delhi On:August 26, 2006
Documents Received at HOUSTON:August 31, 2006
Passport mailed to Houston Consulate: Sept. 4, 2006
Passport Received from Houston: Sept. 15, 2006

[achintyask]

U know how difficult to get a 3 year to have finger print - do they ask for redo if it is not clear -

[SA-SRINI]

U know how difficult to get a 3 year to have finger print - do they ask for redo if it is not clear -

Don't worry. I fingerprinted my 7 month old daughter and that was very unclear to me. Her OCI is granted. Make sure your 3 yr old's fingerprint is inside the box.

[SA-SRINI]

Date OCI Apps sent : 18 August
Date Houston CGI received: 22 August
Date Acknowledged: 8 Sep
Date Scanned: 11 Sep
Date OCI Granted: 15 Sep
Date Printed: 16 Sep
Date Despatched: 18 Sep
Date Received by Houston: Sep 22
Date Houston emailed/Called of OCI stamping: Sep 22
Date Passports sent: Sep 21
Date stamped Passports received:

Tip: Send your Indian PP with the US PP. It takes 4 business days for the documents to reach from Delhi. So calculate and send your PPs ahead of time to the CGI without waiting for their call. Tuck in the status sheet from the OCI status enquiry page with the PPs.

[dallasn400guy]

I got the passports with stamped U visa yesterday. I want to thank every one on the board for their help. My timeline is as follows

Date Of Acknowledgment 04-AUG-2006
Application Status
Registration Status Granted On 25-AUG-2006
Photo/Signature Scanned On 21-AUG-2006
Documents Printing Status PRINTED
Documents Printed On 26-AUG-2006
Documents Despatched From Delhi On 26-AUG-2006
Documents Received at HOUSTON On 31-AUG-2006
email Received from Houston CGI on 4-Sep-2006
Passports sent to Houston on 4-Sep-2006
Date Passports received from Houston by FEDEX: 20-Sep-2006

[SA-SRINI]

Date OCI Apps sent : 18 August
Date Houston CGI received: 22 August
Date Acknowledged: 8 Sep
Date Scanned: 11 Sep
Date OCI Granted: 15 Sep
Date Printed: 16 Sep
Date Despatched: 18 Sep
Date Received by Houston: Sep 22
Date Houston emailed/Called of OCI stamping: Sep 22
Date Passports sent: Sep 21
Date stamped Passports received:

I talked to the CGI employee and she opined that if you are sending the PPs by mail, it will take 10-12 business days, from the date they receive the US and Indian PP, to issue the OCI sticker. If you are in Houston, it just takes a trip to the CGI to get the sticker affixed to you US PP on the same day.

[SA-SRINI]

In the Frequently asked Questions section of the OCI page, the Questions 6 and 7 clearly answers that kids of Indian citizens are not eligible for OCI. Atleast one parent should be a US citizen in order for the kid to be eligible for OCI. I think when the OCI was first issued months back, couple of my friends got OCI for their kids without either parent being a US citizen. Now the MHA is rejecting the apps if the guidelines are not followed. So, folks don't take a chance and loose the $25 processing fee. Better apply for PIO card.

[v1v1v1]

I was one of them. My daughter got her OCI while I and my wife were Indian Citizens. We had sent both our original Indian passports and CGI had no issues.

Now I am a US Citizen and my wife will be one soon. So, in effect we ourselves cannot apply for a OCI because both OUR parents are Indian citizens ? This sounds MUCH TOO STRANGE AND BIZARRE. Someone has been misinformed. I looked at the FAQ on Houston's website and I don't interpret the rules to say that.

Can anyone post a real experience in this matter. So far, I just see this to be a speculation. Thanks

[suriyan]

Couple of my friends had applied for OCI for their sons/daughters. They were by themselves Indian citizens. The application was returned as is, including the uncashed cashier's check. They dont cut the processing fee. But, its a waste of time. They applied @ SFO.

[v1v1v1]

I do now agree that I was unaware of this detail. Nonetheless, they did approve and grant my daughter the same in CGI-Houston back in April. I still say it is a very strange and bizarre rule, even if they are strictly implementing it in all Indian Missions. So, a minor somehow cannot be a overseas Indian Citizen if their parents are still Indians ? so , i could have waited 6 months and now that I am a non-citizen, somehow she would have become eligible ? this is craziness. I don't think even they fully understand why such a rule exists...

[achintyask]

Someone say - you can collect the OCI in person - Do you know what time they service this requiest.
Thanks -

[alt]

I was one of them. My daughter got her OCI while I and my wife were Indian Citizens. We had sent both our original Indian passports and CGI had no issues.

Now I am a US Citizen and my wife will be one soon. So, in effect we ourselves cannot apply for a OCI because both OUR parents are Indian citizens ? This sounds MUCH TOO STRANGE AND BIZARRE. Someone has been misinformed. I looked at the FAQ on Houston's website and I don't interpret the rules to say that.

Can anyone post a real experience in this matter. So far, I just see this to be a speculation. Thanks

v1v1v1, You and your wife can apply for OCI since you are not minors. This rule of parents being eligible applies only to minors. For you, since you yourself are a "foreign national person of Indian decent", therefore are eligible for OCI in your own right.

[SA-SRINI]

Someone say - you can collect the OCI in person - Do you know what time they service this requiest.
Thanks -

Normal Consular business hours. You might need to drop the PPs in the morning and collect them in the evening at Houston CGI. My friend got it this way.....

[SA-SRINI]

Couple of my friends had applied for OCI for their sons/daughters. They were by themselves Indian citizens. The application was returned as is, including the uncashed cashier's check. They dont cut the processing fee. But, its a waste of time. They applied @ SFO.

You are right. Now they don't encash the checks if the application is ineligble. For my friend's daughter in Los Angeles, at @SFO they cashed the check and returned only $250. This was about 2 months back. I think now the CGIs might have a clear instruction on how to deal these types of cases.

[v1v1v1]

Does anyone know if we still need to send 5 photos with OCI ? AND if all of them need to be identical ? Thanks.