YOUR India visa application experience with CKGS @USA
#301
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: LAX
Posts: 2,851
My regular India visa is in transit to the Embassy rather than the consulate. Only reasons I can think of is my one trip to Sri Lanka in 2016, US citizen naturalized , born in HK SAR, and many stamps in my passport including Tanzania, Myanmar, Malaysia and Indonesia. I only have 2 years left on my Passport.
Any chance I will be granted a 10 year visa and also why I am being processed at the Embassy instead of the Consulate?
Any chance I will be granted a 10 year visa and also why I am being processed at the Embassy instead of the Consulate?
#303
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: LAX
Posts: 2,851
Sent my Passport to CKGS on November 9th and received my visa November 20th. It took 2 days for the embassy to review my application form.
I received the Tourist 10 year multiple visa. The type of visa is "T-1". I understand that "T" means tourist but anyone know what the "1" means?
Thanks
I received the Tourist 10 year multiple visa. The type of visa is "T-1". I understand that "T" means tourist but anyone know what the "1" means?
Thanks
Last edited by metoo; Nov 21, 2018 at 8:27 pm
#304
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: IN, US
Programs: Mariott SE, HH, SPG SE, LT S, 9W BP
Posts: 63
You can try getting a 10 year visa if you are involved with businesses/startups in India or have family ties to the country. Other than that you will need to pull a few strings to get it processed. I don't see them issuing one otherwise.
#305
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: Detroit, Michigan, USA
Posts: 2
Date: 12/10/2018
Hi all!
I'm a US citizen who applied at the Chicago location consulate and CKGS online.
Happy today I got my Tourist Visa for 10 years back from CKGS. All in all it took only 4 days to get the Visa!!
GOOD JOB CKGS! SO QUICK!
My personal experience to be shared:
1. Have the application filled CORRECTLY and COMPLETELY. No gaps etc.
2. When it says...'in transfer from consulate to CKGS' ...it does not mean approved or disapproved. Just says it's on the way.
3. You will only know it's approved when you have your passport in YOUR HANDS back with the visa sticker inside.
4. There is no way to get information from CKGS about approval/rejection status other than WHERE your passport and application currently is at.
(I tried and called them! They won't tell!) Just wait until passport comes back.
5. I'm an ordinary guy in my early 50ies with no specific bonus. It seems not to matter if you have been in India before or not as opposed to a statement in here from someone.
6. There is no way to know real criteria of approval. Decision made according discretion of an officer - as in many countries (especially in the US)
7. And again...go first to CKGS page and fill in your data first. THEN with a code provided by CKGS go to the page of the Indian Consulate and fill in and complete the visa application - then you will be referred back to CKGS to proceed. NOTE: all email messages are solely sent from CKGS - and not from the Consulate!
Hope the information provided will help to figure out things faster!
Thx and Happy Days!
Alexander
Hi all!
I'm a US citizen who applied at the Chicago location consulate and CKGS online.
Happy today I got my Tourist Visa for 10 years back from CKGS. All in all it took only 4 days to get the Visa!!
GOOD JOB CKGS! SO QUICK!
My personal experience to be shared:
1. Have the application filled CORRECTLY and COMPLETELY. No gaps etc.
2. When it says...'in transfer from consulate to CKGS' ...it does not mean approved or disapproved. Just says it's on the way.
3. You will only know it's approved when you have your passport in YOUR HANDS back with the visa sticker inside.
4. There is no way to get information from CKGS about approval/rejection status other than WHERE your passport and application currently is at.
(I tried and called them! They won't tell!) Just wait until passport comes back.
5. I'm an ordinary guy in my early 50ies with no specific bonus. It seems not to matter if you have been in India before or not as opposed to a statement in here from someone.
6. There is no way to know real criteria of approval. Decision made according discretion of an officer - as in many countries (especially in the US)
7. And again...go first to CKGS page and fill in your data first. THEN with a code provided by CKGS go to the page of the Indian Consulate and fill in and complete the visa application - then you will be referred back to CKGS to proceed. NOTE: all email messages are solely sent from CKGS - and not from the Consulate!
Hope the information provided will help to figure out things faster!
Thx and Happy Days!
Alexander
Last edited by Alexander007; Dec 10, 2018 at 7:08 pm Reason: Addition
#306
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: LAX
Posts: 2,851
There is a phone number you can call for assistance. You have to press many options and listen to a bunch of stuff before you get a live person. I have called many times to ask for assistance on my application. Agent can tell you exactly how to fill out the application form , step by step.
Sometimes from CKGS to the Government website and back to CKGS doesn't work as information is not saved. If you call CKGS, an agent can merge the two applications for you.
NO mistake when transferring information from your passport to your application or you will be denied.
Number- 516-206-1483
Sometimes from CKGS to the Government website and back to CKGS doesn't work as information is not saved. If you call CKGS, an agent can merge the two applications for you.
NO mistake when transferring information from your passport to your application or you will be denied.
Number- 516-206-1483
#307
Join Date: Feb 2019
Posts: 1
SOLUTION : Information requested does not matchup with criteria.
For all those who are struggling with this error like I did, I created three accounts to finally find out how this works.
Guys there is this blue ribbon at bottom of the page that says :
Enter CKGS Temporary ID / Web Reference Number to continue
Write your web reference number there, it will work.
For all those who are struggling with this error like I did, I created three accounts to finally find out how this works.
Guys there is this blue ribbon at bottom of the page that says :
Enter CKGS Temporary ID / Web Reference Number to continue
Write your web reference number there, it will work.
#308
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 19
Visa approved?
Dropped off passport and application for visa (San Francisco) yesterday. It got to consulate this morning. Receive text that ‘Application 'Reviewed' by Consulate and ‘In Transit’ to CKGS Application Centre.’ Since this was in red with a backwards arrow I’m thinking maybe I won’t get the visa. Advice? My flight is in 10 days. Thanks!
Last edited by lisajuly; Mar 2, 2019 at 1:55 am Reason: add photo
#309
Join Date: Apr 2019
Posts: 2
this is 2019 and I still can't login my account on CKGS website. I am entering correct information but still getting "Information requested does not matchup with criteria."
ANYBODY, knows how to login my account on CKGS website to track passport renewal status?
ANYBODY, knows how to login my account on CKGS website to track passport renewal status?
#311
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP, Hyatt Glob, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Plat, Total Wine & More Reserve
Posts: 4,523
Got my passport back with visa inside (took less than 1 week) but noticed that they also put a rather large sticker on the back cover with a barcode and some other information.
I assume this was just for internal use while the visa was being processed? Is it needed for travel?
Normally, I might be inclined to just leave it there, but they placed it over an existing barcode sticker that I sometimes need to use.
I assume this was just for internal use while the visa was being processed? Is it needed for travel?
Normally, I might be inclined to just leave it there, but they placed it over an existing barcode sticker that I sometimes need to use.
#312
No Indian family background, received a 10 year tourist visa recently. CKGS received passport in a Thursday, shipped out to me the next Tuesday. Including shipping it took around a week. Relatively painless process, even if the website was a bit awful.
I did visit India on eVisa twice in the past year and listed an Indian friend as my reference, but I'm not sure what impact that had.
Looks like it's used to track the status of the visa application. Should be fine to remove.
Thursday - Application Received by CKGS
Thursday - Application Verified by CKGS
Thursday - Application Under Process by CGKS
I did visit India on eVisa twice in the past year and listed an Indian friend as my reference, but I'm not sure what impact that had.
Thursday - Application Received by CKGS
Thursday - Application Verified by CKGS
Thursday - Application Under Process by CGKS
Thursday - Application In Transit to Consulate
Friday - Application Under Process by Consulate
Monday - Application Reviewed by Consulate
Monday - Passport Received by CGKS
Tuesday - Passport Received by FedEx
Friday - Application Under Process by Consulate
Monday - Application Reviewed by Consulate
Monday - Passport Received by CGKS
Tuesday - Passport Received by FedEx
#313
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP, Hyatt Glob, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Plat, Total Wine & More Reserve
Posts: 4,523
#314
Join Date: Aug 2019
Posts: 1
Fix
Here's the fix if someone else is stuck. Or here from google
Enter your web reference in the input text box located at the bottom of the page.
[PIC]imgur.com/uwdNqRq
#315
Join Date: May 2015
Location: ATL/MCO
Programs: Costco Executive, RaceTrac Sultan of Soda, Chick-fil-A Red
Posts: 5,663
Do they treat natural born US citizens differently from naturalized ones?
For example if a citizen from a Nordic country gets their first US passport and having never made any trip to India on their previous passport, will this impact if they issue the 10 year visa or not?
For example if a citizen from a Nordic country gets their first US passport and having never made any trip to India on their previous passport, will this impact if they issue the 10 year visa or not?