Few questions on OCI process (SFO consulate)

Almost there.

Folks,
Can we ask for 'US Postal return receipt' acknowledgement (the green colored return receipt card) when we send it(OCI appln) to SFO office? Will someone there (SFO) sign/stamp and we can keep it as proof of them receiving our OCI app by US mail?
 
CrossHairs said:
Almost there.

Folks,
Can we ask for 'US Postal return receipt' acknowledgement (the green colored return receipt card) when we send it(OCI appln) to SFO office? Will someone there (SFO) sign/stamp and we can keep it as proof of them receiving our OCI app by US mail?
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Yes, that can be done. But a better option would be to use USPS online 'print a shipping label' service - if you pay by credit card, for Priority mail (costing under $5), you get an online tracking # that will give you a record of when it was delivered to CGISF. I used it without any issues when I mailed my OCI application.
 
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akgarg said:
Yes, that can be done. But a better option would be to use USPS online 'print a shipping label' service - if you pay by credit card, for Priority mail (costing under $5), you get an online tracking # that will give you a record of when it was delivered to CGISF. I used without any issues when I mailed my OCI application.
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akgarg,

Even if you go to the post office physically and ship it (without using the online service), then I believe you can get(purchase) a tracking# that you can check with online. The green physical return receipt card is additional $2 or so, on top of that tracking# - the tracking# is for my own tracking.

The return receipt (if SFO mailroom person stamps it) - is a further proof that the Consulate received my application. Not necessary, just supplemental since peace of mind can be worth that extra couple of dollars :)

Thats how I thought of it.
 
CrossHairs said:
akgarg,

Even if you go to the post office physically and ship it (without using the online service), then I believe you can get(purchase) a tracking# that you can check with online. The green physical return receipt card is additional $2 or so, on top of that tracking# - the tracking# is for my own tracking.

The return receipt (if SFO mailroom person stamps it) - is a further proof that the Consulate received my application. Not necessary, just supplemental since peace of mind can be worth that extra couple of dollars :)

Thats how I thought of it.
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I have found CGISF to be very professional. Personally I don't think anything more than a tracking# is necessary, but if you want to buy this extra peace of mind, it's your choice.
 
If one of you dont mind, can you point me to a Cover Letter Sample that I can use to draft my cover letter to submit my OCI application?

Thanks!
 
CrossHairs said:
If one of you dont mind, can you point me to a Cover Letter Sample that I can use to draft my cover letter to submit my OCI application?

Thanks!
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AFAIK, no cover letter is needed for submitting the OCI application. However, a cover letter mentioning the file #, name ,address etc is required for sending your passports for the U visa. Let me know when you reach that stage and I Can send you mine.
 
sv786 said:
AFAIK, no cover letter is needed for submitting the OCI application. However, a cover letter mentioning the file #, name ,address etc is required for sending your passports for the U visa. Let me know when you reach that stage and I Can send you mine.
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That's correct - no cover letter is needed for the OCI application submission.
 
A silly question, but asking just to be sure:

We can STAPLE the OCI part-A + part-B + self attested copies of Indian passport, US passport etc while mailing it correct?

Or is there something that we should not STAPLE all of this together, and we should just use paper clips so they can separate the stuff out.

I thought I'll have two stapled sets (one set for Copy-1 and another set for the Duplicate copy they ask for).
 
CrossHairs said:
A silly question, but asking just to be sure:

We can STAPLE the OCI part-A + part-B + self attested copies of Indian passport, US passport etc while mailing it correct?

Or is there something that we should not STAPLE all of this together, and we should just use paper clips so they can separate the stuff out.

I thought I'll have two stapled sets (one set for Copy-1 and another set for the Duplicate copy they ask for).
Click to expand...

Yes, staple all the sheets of copy/set 1 together and do the same for copy/set 2 - that's what I did.
 
This is not really a question. More an FYI note, since I was just making sure for my own purpose I understood this.

There are two different things:
1. Online Registration Number
2. File(Acknowledgment) No

Seems like #1 is generated after you print out the form part-A.
#2 is generated around 60 days :eek: after you mail the application (as per CGISF website at: http://www.cgisf.org/oc/onlinestatus.html )

CGISF website said:
You will find this File(Acknowledgment) No number only after your application is acknowledged , this will take around 60 Days after you mail your application .
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By the way, what is this "REFERENCE NO" ? Is it the "#1 Online Reg num"::
https://passport.gov.in/oci/OCI_DupApplForm.jsp
 
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CrossHairs said:
This is not really a question. More an FYI note, since I was just making sure for my own purpose I understood this.

There are two different things:
1. Online Registration Number
2. File(Acknowledgment) No

Seems like #1 is generated after you print out the form part-A.
#2 is generated around 60 days :eek: after you mail the application (as per CGISF website at: http://www.cgisf.org/oc/onlinestatus.html )



By the way, what is this "REFERENCE NO" ? Is it the "#1 Online Reg num"::
https://passport.gov.in/oci/OCI_DupApplForm.jsp
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Yes, Reference No. in the DupAppl page is the Online Registration Number. The 60 days you mentioned in the earlier part of your post is, running at about 2-3 weeks these days (as gathered from recent time lines).
 
akgarg said:
Yes, Reference No. in the DupAppl page is the Online Registration Number. The 60 days you mentioned in the earlier part of your post is, running at about 2-3 weeks these days (as gathered from recent time lines).
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The online registration number is so that they can track them by application. This may not be in sequence as people may fill but do not bother to mail them. Or they made a mistake and created another registration (I did :-)
The File # is sequential and is used to assign one number to a registration. Each consulate probably have their naming conventions. For eg SFO is USAS, I am guessing. Somebody can correct me if they have mailed to a different consulate and can comment on that. The File # is generated when the application is acknowledged.
 
sv786 said:
The online registration number is so that they can track them by application. This may not be in sequence as people may fill but do not bother to mail them. Or they made a mistake and created another registration (I did :-)
The File # is sequential and is used to assign one number to a registration. Each consulate probably have their naming conventions. For eg SFO is USAS, I am guessing. Somebody can correct me if they have mailed to a different consulate and can comment on that. The File # is generated when the application is acknowledged.
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For a 'primer' on how the the online and file #s are assigned, see my earlier post http://boards.immigration.com/showthread.php?p=1889066#post1889066
 
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