Hi did u send any refund request to vfs global or any mail ? Or u got the refund directly ? Please reply
Hello,
VFS has rejected my application due to the following reason:
Reason: “THE CONSULAR IS NO LONGER ACCEPTING YOUR APPLICATION BECAUSE OF THE FOLLOWING DATA ENTRY ERROR IN THE APPLICATION FORM: WRONG JURISDICTION FORM. PLEASE APPLY UNDER SAN FRANCISCO JURISDICTION. SEE REMARKS.”
Remarks: “PLEASE WAIT FOR YOUR DOCUMENTS TO BE RECEIVED BEFORE REAPPLYING. NEW APPLICATION WITH NEW PAYMENT IS REQUIRED.”
Kindly help me with reapplying for the application.
What should I choose for the following question:
“Have you ever applied for a passport, but not issued?” Yes/No
did you get a refund and how much please?
Hi, I am in the same step confused what to update. What did you do ?
This is not passport denial. You can choose ‘No’.
Yes. That’s what I too think… thanks…
I have the same issue of application rejection on the Passport SEVA portal where we apply for the government application form for a new passport re-issue. I received email and awaiting receipt of my returned package to reinitiate the process, and I have found out how to do the Embassy/Consulate change by creating a new login.
When paying the fees, VFS mentions that the sender need not ship a return label with the package and ask to utilize VFS courier and they sent contrasting notifications after my application was rejected.
When inquired directly to an agent via VFS helpline, they mentioned it would be refunded in 10 to 15 days, but when further pressed for information, they said the tracking for the returned package would only be updated in 24 to 48 hours after receiving the rejection email. I contacted them only 24 hours after the rejection, but still yet to receive the tracking information from either FedEx or from VFS.
Also, I created a new login (with the same email id that was tagged to my earlier account), just the login ID need to be changed. But I tried twice and had to wait for about an hour to receive the activation link (for the new login).
How much further should I wait to receive the tracking information and the package that is returned back to sender? Does the VFS helpline work on weekends?
There is no way to find out the status of a returned package (for a rejected application) on the VFS site post rejection. In this application tracking link, it is just mentioned at the bottom as follows:
Online Tracking
We recommend that you track status of your application on our website after 72 Business Hours and if you do not see any status, please contact us right away.
I have documented the steps clearly of how to avoid this Embassy/Consulate and application rejection happening due to being routed to wrong jurisdiction.
There are two Passport SEVA Portal Links available Portal 3 and Portal 4.
While both links list all the USA Consulates where the processing is done, choosing the right embassy is very critical. VFS does not communicate or correspond well about the workflow anywhere in any of the site pages or in FAQ section or even via chatbot which is the worst channel/mode when one tries to find out the correct steps to follow.
The dumb thing with VFS is that their website is not updated uniformly at all.
Found contrasting information in two different sections on the VFS website, when I started the postal process after drafting and submitting the Government application (for a new passport). The Tatkal information link only lists 6 centers – Washington, New York, Atlanta, Chicago, Houston and San Francisco.
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Also, the center information is confusing while initiating the postal process later, via this VFS Global Services link by choosing “I accept – Start Postal application Registration for OCI/Passport/GEP/PCC/Renunciation process now” as it lists only Seattle (while Postal labels are generated).
When we create a new application for postal services, and choose Montana as the state of residence, it lists only the center as Seattle as shown below, which is contrasting to what is mentioned in the previous/last screenshot.
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I have saved documented steps about this Embassy/Consulate fix that would avoid application rejection from happening. I would request the blog authors to elaborate the blog post link section that would help users to submit the application correctly without rejection by the VFS Global.
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Thanks @Sarang_P for your help and detailed steps.
Will try and update the blog.
Here is the notification that is being sent by the VFS regarding returned package after the Government application gets rejected.
The email with the FedEx tracking number (for the returned package) arrives from TrackingUpdates@fedex.com and not from pkginfo@fedex.com.
I followed up with VFS Global helpline again today about the return courier wait time in case of such rejections. Inquired with the agent about corresponding with VFS about returned packages or refunds. They provided the email ID for correspondence as info.ihcusa@vfshelpline.com.
Per what is mentioned on the VFS website (the 72-hour return processing deadline), the agents mention that in case of rejections, the refund would be automatically issued and only the Passport Fee + ICWF Fee would be refunded. But the VFS Service fee, 3.5% Convenience Fee and any Courier Fees would be debited from the amount paid. And this refund would be processed in 15 working days starting from the day after the the application was rejected. When I specifically inquired further about initiating any refund requests, they reveal that any refund requests can be initiated after the 3rd working day from the date of rejection. And the rejected package (being returned to sender) would be sent for processing at the VFS courier only the next day and will be queued up for processing. Likely it will be prepped for shipping only on the 2nd day and would be sent out by end of day and will be delivered to the sender the next day. The key thing to note here is applicants are not encouraged to send their own shipping labels; and the VFS generated label issued from Fedex is only a Standard Overnight shipping, so it works only on weekdays and non-public holidays. And all the shipping labels are processed based on the 72-hour deadline mentioned in the VFS website, as I highlighted in my earlier post.
This means that even if applicants opted for Tatkaal services, VFS Global will likely only issue Standard Overnight shipping labels. I was unable to confirm this though. Request someone to verify this specifically before adding the information to the blog.
I received the returned package on the third business day with standard overnight shipping. The FedEx courier took one whole day to be delivered. Despite package status changing to “out for delivery” by 8.45 AM in the morning, I only received it by 5:45 PM in the evening. So, despite dropping off the corrected new package again by 7 PM, could not send it back to VFS the next day.
When I tried generating new shipping labels, the VFS allows to use only the Courier Label for Incomplete Application option to generate new shipping labels to send back the incomplete application.
The returned package contains a note titled UNACCEPTABLE APPLICATION (see screenshot below) along with a verification sheet marked using a highlighter about what was incorrect in the application (see the 2nd screenshot in the next continuing post).
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The returned package contains a note titled UNACCEPTABLE APPLICATION along with a verification sheet marked using a highlighter pen about what was incorrect in the application (see the screenshot below).
As mentioned in the UNACCEPTABLE APPLICATION sheet, they mention the amount refunded and VFS agents mentioned that this refund will be automatically processed.
I encountered further issues while shipping the corrected package again back to VFS, I will describe it further.
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The rejection email from VFS is stated below (note the highlighted sentence in the screenshot).
The option 2 in the VFS mail to submit the pending application doesn’t work. For Tatkaal applications, for generating a new shipping label to ship the package (which is not allowed by option 1) we must start a new application and choose “Passport” as the main category instead of “Incoming Courier Label for Incomplete Application”.
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To generate the shipping label do not try following this steps or the steps described in the blog link (as described in the section titled VFS Global Website – Fee Payment & Shipping).
Even using the option “Incoming Courier Label for Incomplete Application” as in the email instructions fails and it does not accept any new payment. Instead, the previously generated shipping label is issued back to you once again.
So, to regenerate the shipping label to send the corrected package, the sender must start a new application and note that the below note stated in the email does not work.
Alternatively, use your own courier to send the documents to the application centre where you have submitted the application. Write “MATCH UP” on the external submission label. Failure to do so will result in processing delays. In case you have received any alternate instructions along with the list of incomplete documents, then follow alternate instructions provided.
The sender must remit a new payment. The existing payment will be refunded automatically (via the same payment mode used) and will be handled by VFS separately.
In the courier package sent to VFS, the sender must include a copy of the rejection email and the new Application Confirmation Letter containing details of the payment with the Transaction ID. VFS will once again acknowledge the new payment, and will send a notification of acknowledgement cum payment receipt from VFS after the new package is received by them.
As mentioned in the note I received from VFS titled UNACCEPTABLE APPLICATION, I did not send my corrected application and package to Seattle VAC. Instead, under Tatkaal category, I started a new application and sent my corrected package to San Francisco, as the Seattle center does not entertain Tatkaal processing. The available options to resend the package are via UPS or USPS. I had to buy two shipping labels myself and send the return label along with the corrected package.
VFS sends another note (see below) once the corrected package is received.
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My revised application package for passport renewal was delivered to VFS on August 23 and VFS sent an acknowledgement on August 26. The application was sent to the consulate/embassy by the end of the same day. I was expecting delays with the processing of my Tatkaal application as there was a scheduled maintenance of the Passport Seva portal. However, my application was processed by the consulate within 4 business/working days.
Tatkaal applications are usually processed within 5 working days from the date of receiving the application at the Consulate, subjected to ‘CLEAR’ Police Verification Report. Check link here.
There are two modes of police verification done for passport renewal as mentioned in the Passport Seva FAQ section. Check the section titled Other Police Verification (PV) Related Queries (at the bottom).
I also checked the following Citizen Charter link to confirm about it once again. I have already asked my relative in India to contact the police station and be on the look out for their visit/verification to complete. It is still pending.
The courier from VFS was sent out on Aug 27 via UPS (the package was shipped out around 5.10 PM PT), and they sent the new passport back using the same UPS 2nd Day Air® return label that I had sent along initially. However, UPS has not delivered the package on Saturday, (though they usually do deliver packages on weekends), probably owing to the long weekend for Labor day.
Expecting the package to be delivered by UPS on Sep 3, 2024 (Tuesday).
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Any luck with the resolution? I am stuck with the same issue here.
Hi Trisha, Where do you look at to confirm the correct jurisdiction on the submitted form. I’m not sure about if I selected correct jurisdiction when creating a new account, so I’m trying to figure out how to confirm the correct jurisdiction on the submitted form. Thank you.
Hey,
Unfortunately I dont thik it was something I selected when I was filling out the form. I think it is selected when you create the account that you log in to BEFORE filling the form. I cant remember exactly what it said now but you can see what is the default address on the very top of the form. the location should match the location where you need to submit this form now.
So, if you think you created that account while you were living in another state, i’d recommend recreating the account with the correct location
Thank you
Sincerely,
Trisha Singh