Issues with Indian Passport renewal via VFS Global

USA Indian Passport Renewal
972

Here is my experience and time line for a passport renewal for a 5 year Old at Newyork - Regular processing

11/10 - Shipped the Application Package
11/11 - Application delivered at VFS
11/12 - Acknowledgement from VFS of receival of the application
11/18 - VFS completed review and sent it to Indian Embassy
11/23- VFS asked for a notarized version of Annexure D( In checklist it is not mentioned to be notarized)
11/24 - Emailed the document to VFS
12/9 - Application on Govt site Changed to reviewing the application
12/13 - Initiation of Police Verification email received
12/14 - Passport Print initiated
12/15 - Passport Printed & handed over to VFS
12/18 - VFS acknowledgement of receiving the passport from Embassy and shipping
12/19 - Fedex tracking enabled with a duplicate tracking number
12/22 - Received Passport

Over all 6 weeks time is good enough even in case where embassy asks for more documents

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973

Here is my timeline to help others:

11/18: Sent application under Normal processing to Chicago consulate
11/20: Acknowledgement of the receipt of package
11/23: In transit to embassy for decision making
12/3: Initiation of police verification (There was a 2 week delay here which was due to the delay in police verification and not the delay in VFS or consulate)
12/19: Print Initiated
12/19: Passport has been printed
12/20: Passport handed over to VFS
12/22: Passport returned via fedex
12/24: Passport received

974

Interesting post. Seems that the Chicago consulate worked efficiently. VFS also took relatively less time compared to VFS in NYC. VFS NYC is responsible for the longest delays in handing over the application to the consulate, with delays ranging between a 10 to 30 days. I am still trying to learn about the delays by VFS in dropping in the passports to FEDEX from the time of receipt from embassy/consulate.

975

Fedex was in business all of those days. Minor delay for a day by Fedex is possible. In this case, it looks like VFS failed as I read in many others cases.

976

I received my renewed passport from NYC consulate and noticed that the photo printed on it is really unclear and blurry, even though I submitted a clear photo. Anyone else facing the same situation? I am not sure if I can even travel with this Passport. Any help is appreciated.

977

i think you can expect VFS NY will process the passport for a week while it is en route between fedex and consulate, both ways

978

i noticed that too. anyone here ever experienced this with their old before? I have had some countries closely inspect my previous passport at point of entry before, particularly for this reason.

979

I do not think there is any processing that needs to be done after receiving the passports. If SFO and CHI centers can send it in within 24 hours, why can’t VFS in NY ?

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980

Got a message saying the “Print has been initiated for passport.” Another few days and I should receive it

981

same problem with NY Consulate

982

Have you raised any ticket or reached out to them?

983

Hi, since how long you are able to see this status message.
I have applied to SFO consulate. My Police Verification was done on Dec 13. and status changed to " Print has been initiate for the passport" . It has been 15 days , there is no change. Did you get any update.

984

It’s been 7 days. Nothing has changed since then.

On VFS it says Passport has reached the embassy

985

i was in same boat, today I called VFS them , then got an email stating We have “Received” your Application. Your document is dispatched via courier.
Your Tracking ID is 20-200xxx

try to call them.

986

I haven’t seen “Police Verification done” at any point. Is that strange

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989

I haven’t reached out to VFS. It is at SF consulate

991

12/3 Package Sent (late evening so missed the last pickup)
12/5 Package Received
12/11 Under Process
12/15 Package in transit to Embassy

Since then VFS shows " Your application has reached the Embassy and the government passport application site says “Print has been initiated”.

How does yours look?

994

As far as “Print is initiated”, you do not need to worry about documentation issues.

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995

We have been seeing that VFS is the biggest source of inconvenience and delays. In my case it took more than 15 days for them to pass the application to the consulate.

To the dismay of customers, they charge 20 dollars for convenience charges for creating all these delays and inconveniences. They do not like to answer emails, so that people get forced to call them over phone. Contact over phone is charged hefty amounts (normally 20-30 dollars per call), despite most of the applicants have to call them due to the inefficient processing of applications. I find it as government-authorized rip off by this company.

Besides, outsourcing to third party company is extremely risky and it exposes people to the possibility of ID theft using their extremely private information (PAN, Aadhar, passport copies), for which Government of India would never take accountability.

I hope this third world style process changes in public interest.

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996

This is nothing less than a scam ! Interestingly NY Indian embassy is the worst of all. Looks like all are in this game of extorting money from people through these forced $$$$ calls and creating anxiety among people for no reason.

It’s a shame the NY Indian embassy instead of addressing the grievance of people who are raising this issue repeatedly is turning a blind eye to this whole inefficient and fraudulent VFS Global process. It took 5 weeks for mine to reach consulate considering it was Tatkal. VFS global and NY embassy must be ashamed of themselves for running such a racket. Both of these have zero accountability for the fundamental public service of passport renewal. If this is the inefficient and corrupt situation with Indian Embassy NY, God bless the other public services in our great country. Jai Hind !

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