Yes you can... or you can get your SC once OCI is granted..
OCI - Chicago Tracker
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Yes you can... or you can get your SC once OCI is granted..
What about if iam sending through mail. Can i send both Surrender certificate and OCI application ?. The information on website is not clear and iam not able to contact any person at consulate.
Is it best to send just application for surrender certificate through , once you get that. apply for OCI.
Please clarify. As i leave 6 hours from chicago.
Is it best to send just application for surrender certificate through , once you get that. apply for OCI.
Please clarify. As i leave 6 hours from chicago.
Joejoy,
Thank you for very detailed process and suggestions. It is very useful for people like me going there soon. Thanks again for taking time to write this much in detail.
If OCI counter opens at 11.00 then is it necessary to go there at 9.00?
Thanks.
Thank you for very detailed process and suggestions. It is very useful for people like me going there soon. Thanks again for taking time to write this much in detail.
If OCI counter opens at 11.00 then is it necessary to go there at 9.00?
Thanks.
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Later the better. OCI counter is open from 1100- 1230. Everyone inside the hall with a token will be attended to. .Even though i reached at 1100, as there were 40 people before me ( by token numbers), i was attended at 1315. There were at least a dozen after me. The up lift to 8th Floor is not available between 1300-1530. OCI counter reopens at 1600hrs sharp. They will call by names from the piles of passport. Depends on your luck - may be first or last.
For initial applicants. You can submit both Renunciation and OCI applications together in the morning. You can collect the Renunciation Certificate and canceled Indian PP in the evening after 16.00 hrs.
I found the personnel of Chicago consulate very friendly and helpful. Very professional and fast. The main delay is with applicants that too with the so called educated idiots. Most of the argument is about the photographs. Not proper size and not proper background color. Idiots argue that they got US passport with 2x2 photo and white background and hence same should be accepted for OCI. Despise cautioning idiots do not listen and want their applications accepted. Those very people will complain and talk/write ill of Indian Consulate later when their OCI is delayed.
Last edited by a moderator:
You will need surrender certificate ONLY when you are ready to collect your OCI after it is granted.. So if you have not applied to OCI yet... you can do one of the following..
1. Send you OCI application and you Indian Passport for cancellation and to get your surrender certificate.. And If you include correct postal $$ ( I think it is $20). They will mail the SC and canceled Indian passport back to you. You can include both these in a single package or send it differently.
2. You apply for OCI now. Once OCI status online shows a granted and documents received. Send your US passport and Indian passport ( w/ SC form filled) with correct $$. Indian Consulate will send back both your SC and OCI to you.
I have seen many people doing #2.
Hope that helps..
Agreed
later the better. OCI counter is open from 1100- 1230. Everyone inside the hall with a token will be attended to. The lift to 8th floor is not available after 1300hrs till 1530hrs. OCI counter reopens at 1600hrs sharp. They will call by names from the piles of passport. Depends on your luck - may be first or last.
For initial applicants. You can submit both Renunciation and OCI applications together in the morning. You can collect the Renunciation Certificate and canceled Indian PP in the evening after 16.00 hrs.
I found the personnel of Chicago consulate very friendly and helpful. Very professional and fast. The main delay is with applicants that too with the so called educated idiots. Most of the argument is about the photographs. Not proper size and not proper background color. Idiots argue that they got US passport with 2x2 photo and white background and hence same should be accepted for OCI. Despise cautioning idiots do not listen and want their applications accepted. Those very people will complain and talk/write ill of Indian Consulate later when their OCI is delayed.
only advantage going early and getting token is that you will called first at 11:00 AM and will be out soon...
Chicago temporarily stopped accepting oci as per website
Last night i was surprised to find in Indian consul Chicago web sitehttp://chicago.indianconsulate.com a notice that they have suspended receiving new OCI applications till further notice. There seems to be technical problem only at CHI and not at other 4 locations. Are reasons different?????
Last night i was surprised to find in Indian consul Chicago web sitehttp://chicago.indianconsulate.com a notice that they have suspended receiving new OCI applications till further notice. There seems to be technical problem only at CHI and not at other 4 locations. Are reasons different?????
OCI processing fee for minor US citizen
I'm confused with the description of fees given on the OCI site for chicago.
It is telling that for US citizen the fees is $25. But again for minor it is $145.
So if the child is US citizen and minor what is the fee? Can any one answer this. Thanks for your help.
Also my son is a PIO card holder.
I'm confused with the description of fees given on the OCI site for chicago.
It is telling that for US citizen the fees is $25. But again for minor it is $145.
So if the child is US citizen and minor what is the fee? Can any one answer this. Thanks for your help.
Also my son is a PIO card holder.
Here is something I enjoyed while visiting the Consulate - not only do the 'educated idiots' argue about the photos being correct, but do not follow basic instructions from the site. Do proof read the forms... else you will have to stop by a couple of time and it's not their fault.
Another one was that when the numbers are called, there always were about 6-10 folks around the counter asking questions. When my number was called, there were like 7 other guys asking questions. The staff member had to request them 3 times sternly to settle down and wait for the turn... And as I was trying to wiggle in to give my papers, this older gentlemen turned towards me and says "I have a simple question, this will just take 1 second". And goes on to argue with her for another 5+ mins. She was so frustrated.
Had to step in and requested him to wait his turn, guy was annoyed as if this was on his dime and took 1 step back but did not leave. Interesting experience.
I also found staff friendly and helpful, you do have to wait your turn. Though painfully slow at processing through the work. I am still waiting to see my OCI to come online, verdict still out...
Another one was that when the numbers are called, there always were about 6-10 folks around the counter asking questions. When my number was called, there were like 7 other guys asking questions. The staff member had to request them 3 times sternly to settle down and wait for the turn... And as I was trying to wiggle in to give my papers, this older gentlemen turned towards me and says "I have a simple question, this will just take 1 second". And goes on to argue with her for another 5+ mins. She was so frustrated.
Had to step in and requested him to wait his turn, guy was annoyed as if this was on his dime and took 1 step back but did not leave. Interesting experience. I also found staff friendly and helpful, you do have to wait your turn. Though painfully slow at processing through the work. I am still waiting to see my OCI to come online, verdict still out...
Here is something I enjoyed while visiting the Consulate - not only do the 'educated idiots' argue about the photos being correct, but do not follow basic instructions from the site. Do proof read the forms... else you will have to stop by a couple of time and it's not their fault.
Another one was that when the numbers are called, there always were about 6-10 folks around the counter asking questions. When my number was called, there were like 7 other guys asking questions. The staff member had to request them 3 times sternly to settle down and wait for the turn... And as I was trying to wiggle in to give my papers, this older gentlemen turned towards me and says "I have a simple question, this will just take 1 second". And goes on to argue with her for another 5+ mins. She was so frustrated.
I also found staff friendly and helpful, you do have to wait your turn. Though painfully slow at processing through the work. I am still waiting to see my OCI to come online, verdict still out...
Balyan, Madh4, and others,
Please be respectful of fellow citizens. Your experience being good does not necessarily translate to everyone's experience being good or positive.
My experience with consulate at best is rude and very unprofessional (yes, the same Chicago consulate). The reason people crowd at OCI counter is; no PA system to announce number nor display of number being processed. So, the "educated fools" try to be proactive in avoiding "oh, we called your number and you didn't show up" reason from consulate people. This consulate lady voice was so low (but rude when talking to people at the counter), only option is to stand close to counter, in order to not to miss "opportunity" of facetime.
The complaints are not about slow response; they are about consistency and trasnparency in process. If only Indian consulates across US can publish process for every service in plain english then many will not have issues.
Also, do you know that GOI publishes rules and each consulate can interpret the same rule but within the framework of original rule published by GOI?
Please do not pretend that world does not have issues because few do not have any issues in life. Also, do you know how many passports does this consulate misplaces every year causing lot of trouble to it's own people?
olddude,
i do not buy your argument to support crowding around the poor lady. She is calling the numbers serially. You know your number is still far away, then please take a seat and relax. How come no one is complaining in the evening when the very same lady is calling by names for returning passports and oci cards. You can hear better then !!!!!
When they are handling hundreds of passport each day some mishandling does take place. Do you know how many n-400 are wrongly rejected or kept pending for years ?? It is easy to find fault with Indian consulate. Try entering Belgium or other European consulates in Chicago and you will know how difficult to get anything there. Olddude never changes.
Madh4,
While jingoism works to an extent, that should not be end all.
US immigration process has steps to address any grievances; whether outcome is favorable to applicant or not. When a country has provisions to address potential immigrants (yes, prior to GC approval one is still potential immigrant), why not GOI have process to addres it's own citizens (current or former, OCI is again path to potential Indian citizenship).
you are comparing losing a passport Vs N-400/GC delays/denials, not sure how to interpret your statement here. They are apples and oranges.
Unless status-quo is questioned, no improvements can be made. for example, first amendament; without this you and I will not be able express on this forum freely.
I do not want to get into a debate on this forum into geo-politico-economic arguments but, would encourage you to understand what made you immigrate to another country.
By the way, my experience with most of european consulates is very pleasant (schengen as well as non-schengen countries); it does not mean anything, it's just my experience. That's the point I was making.
And olddude is my screen name, i could be a twenty year old.)
While jingoism works to an extent, that should not be end all.
US immigration process has steps to address any grievances; whether outcome is favorable to applicant or not. When a country has provisions to address potential immigrants (yes, prior to GC approval one is still potential immigrant), why not GOI have process to addres it's own citizens (current or former, OCI is again path to potential Indian citizenship).
you are comparing losing a passport Vs N-400/GC delays/denials, not sure how to interpret your statement here. They are apples and oranges.
Unless status-quo is questioned, no improvements can be made. for example, first amendament; without this you and I will not be able express on this forum freely.
I do not want to get into a debate on this forum into geo-politico-economic arguments but, would encourage you to understand what made you immigrate to another country.
By the way, my experience with most of european consulates is very pleasant (schengen as well as non-schengen countries); it does not mean anything, it's just my experience. That's the point I was making.
And olddude is my screen name, i could be a twenty year old.
)I did not see this about they stop accepting applicationand i sent the application last friday. What will happen to my application. Will it be rejected. The online inquiry says application not found. How long it will take for online status to be updated.
pl reply.
pl reply.
get_oci; I'm kinda in the same boat as you are; i was at the consulate on the 23rd of sep to submit the OCI application in person; that was the day they stopped accepting the applications; so i'm kind of wondering / waiting when they would start to accept the applications; on a second thought i was also thinking of sending the OCI packet by mail earlier last week; but was not confident that they would accept it. Are there anyone who had mailed their OCI applications in the last week or so; i know they have disabled the online application entry; well please post any information the reopening of the OCI applications.
Anyone has any updates on when the Chicago Consulate will start accepting OCI applications? Please post any information that anyone knows.
Nilgiri_hills
Registered Users (C)
IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT:
" Consulate General of India, Chicago will be accepting fresh OCI Applications in person as per specified timings and by mail from 11 October 2010".
This is on the CGI chicago web site.
" Consulate General of India, Chicago will be accepting fresh OCI Applications in person as per specified timings and by mail from 11 October 2010".
This is on the CGI chicago web site.