SF Travisa experience Apr-June 2011 and Checklist
Based on my recent experience (
Apr-June 2011) at Travisa SF, I am posting a Checklist for preparing the OCI application, with the hope that it will probably benefit other readers.
1. Follow the most current requirements/guidelines available on Travisa's website:
https://indiavisa.travisaoutsourcing.com/oci/display-requirements
2. Photograph specific: Take passport pictures with a light colored background e.g. light blue. You can submit regular passport photographs and hope that they work, as some folks have reported getting their OCIs with these, but the risk is greater. If the photographs with a white background get rejected there is no clear communication protocol defined and you will be chasing the travisa/consulate folks to get an answer.
3. If you live within commute distance drop of your OCI application in person and pick it up in person. You can save anywhere from a couple of weeks to 4 weeks by doing so.
4. If you choose to mail and receive your Passport/OCI by mail use a track-able method like FedEx or USPS priority mail. There are far too many stories that have been posted here which report that Travisa's mail room is sub par and they claim that they have mailed out documents when they are in fact sitting in their mail room.
5. Once your application is accepted by Travisa you can track the status of your application here:
https://indiavisa.travisaoutsourcing.com/oci/track-status
6. Once your application gets dispatched to the consulate/embassy, you should be checking your status at the MHA website:
http://passport.gov.in/oci/OnlineOCIenquiry.jsp as Travisa's website will not be reflecting the status during this time.
7. If you have the need to do any kind of follow-up about your application with the Consulate or Travisa, you will most likely get a better response by talking to someone at the Consulate. Emails are almost always ignored and not responded to, both by Travisa and the Consulate.
8. If you are in a time crunch and hoping to get the OCI back within the time-frame posted on Travisa's website, then you would probably be better off not applying or applying only when you have plenty of time to spare. The posted time-frame does not factor in for delays, and is no where near correct.
San Francisco Travisa office neighborhood specific info :
Parking: Fifth and Mission parking garage, nearest safe parking garage, charges 3.50 an hour
http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&r...ocal_result&ct=image&resnum=2&ved=0CCgQnwIwAQ
Travisa office is about 2 blocks down on Mission from this garage.
If you have time to kill or are waiting to pick up documents, you can use one of the following options -
1. Lobby of San Francisco Marriott Marquis. The plaza level has shops, Starbucks, free wifi, clean restroom facilities and you can easily kill time here. If you need to make copies or printouts or use a computer there is a FedEx Kinkos, on level B1, the basement.
http://maps.google.com/maps?rlz=1C1...ocal_result&ct=image&resnum=2&ved=0CD4QnwIwAQ
2. Metreon
http://maps.google.com/maps/place?c...ed=0CDIQ-gswAQ&sa=X&ei=vxHsTfbnIozkpATUqaDZCA
3. Yerba Buena Gardens
http://maps.google.com/maps/place?c...ed=0CBIQ-gswAA&sa=X&ei=VRLsTbSPKoHCpgTp8rzlCw