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(US) OCI processing changes
Cox & Kings only accepting OCI applications from people residing in the jurisdictions of the Atlanta and Houston consulates.
https://www.in.ckgs.us/oci/ New York consulate accepting OCI renewals and miscellaneous consular services applications directly. (No other visa applications, apparently.) https://www.indiainnewyork.gov.in/wh...=1&pagecount=2 |
its not surprising that no visa applications are being considered since the lockdown is still in effect & there is no real timeline for when international flights will start....
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Per the latest message on CKGS website, San Francisco will start accepting applications from 6/1 and Chicago from 6/3. We submitted my wife's OCI application in early Feb in Chicago and hoping to travel to India in August. Not booking anything until I have the document in hand. Hope airfares continue to stay low. They are definitely inching up from mid-march.
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OCI processing has resumed (at least in Chicago) and my wife's OCI arrived last week
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New rules of OCI - http://www.airindia.in/images/pdf/OC...12.06.2020.pdf
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The problem is more to find a flight into India... my father is 80 and if something urgent would come up I don't know how to get to CCU and see him with no flights and this stupid 7 day lock in (which is also waived when you have a family emergency).
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Originally Posted by oliver2002
(Post 32486250)
The problem is more to find a flight into India... my father is 80 and if something urgent would come up I don't know how to get to CCU and see him with no flights and this stupid 7 day lock in (which is also waived when you have a family emergency).
The quarantine, you agree to, is 14 days. But in practice 7 days are imposed. This being India everything is "negotiable" But you really need good "connection" to bypass quarrantine completely. They will insist on at least 2 nights as that wil ensure that transport, hotel, doctor, labs, catering - everyone gets paid. (With Vande Bharat con game in full swing, hotels are getting enough business) May be we need a wiki to collect and report ever changing "rules" and situation on the ground. |
Originally Posted by desi
(Post 32575070)
As an OCI (without sposal or minor children exceptions) you can travel only in case of family emergency (unless that has changed AGAIN(.
The quarantine, you agree to, is 14 days. But in practice 7 days are imposed. This being India everything is "negotiable" But you really need good "connection" to bypass quarrantine completely. They will insist on at least 2 nights as that wil ensure that transport, hotel, doctor, labs, catering - everyone gets paid. (With Vande Bharat con game in full swing, hotels are getting enough business) May be we need a wiki to collect and report ever changing "rules" and situation on the ground. |
Since yesterday even that has been waived to a pcr test that is not older than 96 h ;)
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i think rules are going to change on a pretty regular basis....there were a bunch of things announced last week that are no longer required now....
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Two big changes for OCIs in the US
OCI holders from countries with bubbles with India can enter India https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...w/77416898.cms Copy of the MHA order OCI books may be printed in the US soon, just like passports https://indicanews.com/2020/08/03/oc...neral-assures/ |
Yes, this is a big improvement for the OCI's in these countries.
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Originally Posted by oliver2002
(Post 32577475)
Since yesterday even that has been waived to a pcr test that is not older than 96 h ;)
Indian Visas and OCI Card Information:
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I always use the BoI website, the CGI Munich for example always refers to it.
https://boi.gov.in/ https://boi.gov.in/content/advisory-...ted-covid-19-1 Vide MHA Order No. 25022/24/2020-F.V / F.I dated :17 August, 2020 In addition to the categories of foreign nationals who are permitted to enter India it has been decided foreign nationals who are holding Journalist (J-1) and their depends who are holding J-1X visa are permitted to enter India. If they have J-1 or J-1X visas, which have been suspended, such visas shall stand restored with immediate effect to facilitate their entry into India. However, if the validity of such visas has expired, they may obtain a fresh J-1 or J-1X visa, as the case may be, from the Indian Missions/ Posts concerned. Revised Guidelines of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare for international arrivals (in supersession of guidelines issued on the subject dated 24th May 2020) to be operational from 00.01 Hrs, 8th August 2020 Dated 02.08.2020 Before Planning for Travel: i. All travelers should submit self-declaration form on the online portal (www.newdelhiairport.in) at least 72 hours before the scheduled travel. ii. They should also give an undertaking on the portal that they would undergo mandatory quarantine for 14 days i.e. 7 days paid institutional quarantine at their own cost, followed by 7 days isolation at home with self-monitoring of health. iii. Only for compelling reasons/ cases of human distress such as pregnancy, death in family, serious illness and parent(s) with children of the age of 10 years or below, home quarantine may be permitted for 14 days. iv. If they wish to seek such exemption under para (iii) above, they shall apply to the online portal (www.newdelhiairport.in) at least 72 hours before boarding. The decision taken by the government as communicated on the online portal will be final. v. Travelers may also seek exemption from institutional quarantine by submitting a negative RT-PCR test report on arrival. This test should have been conducted within 96 hrs prior to undertaking the journey. The test report should be uploaded on the portal for consideration. Each passenger shall also submit a declaration with respect to authenticity of the report and will be liable for criminal prosecution, if found otherwise. The test report could also be produced upon arrival at the point of entry airport in India. |
Any recent experiences about submitting the negative PCR test and being able to walk out of the airport? I am considering visiting India to check-in on family since with a negative test I can at least be home - the main purpose of my visit.
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CKGS is being removed as the processing agent for Indian OCI/Visa in the US. No word on the replacement.
https://www.in.ckgs.us/news-notices CKGS contract with the Government of India is ending on October 31st, 2020. Thus, applicants only with the compelling reason are requested to contact the Indian Mission/post directly to apply for the OCI, Renunciation, and Indian Visa. CKGS website will not allow applicants to fill out any new application, w.e.f. October 14th, 2020 at 5pm EST. Incomplete applications currently waiting for the missing documents shall be returned to the applicant on October 16th, 2020, evening using their shipping payment or a prepaid envelope if the requested documents are not received on or before October 16th, 2020. Processed documents without a return shipping label or the return shipping payment shall be submitted to the Indian Mission/post on October 19th, 2020 morning. Applications/documents without a return shipping label or the return shipping payment shall be submitted to the Indian Mission/Post on October 19th, 2020 morning. New Postal applications will not be accepted by CKGS, w.e.f. October 19th, 2020. Applications/Mission documents received on or before October 16th, 2020, shall be accepted and processed by CKGS. The applicant, with a compelling reason only, would need to contact the Indian Mission/Posts for further information. The applicant will be able to track their application status on the CKGS website, which is already under process at CKGS or Indian Embassy/Consulate even after October 31st, 2020. https://www.in.ckgs.us/news-notices |
VFS Global will be the replacement, as reported on a few news sites. They are to begin operation from November 2.
https://www.newsindiatimes.com/india...vice-provider/ |
I just hope the new provider is more tech savvy and responsive, and especially gets rid of the useless and confusing options on purchasing our own prepaid envelopes to send to them. Just charge $30 for shipping and let them handle it
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Too bad the Indian government didn't just change course and take all this activity back in-house instead.
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Originally Posted by GUWonder
(Post 32746583)
Too bad the Indian government didn't just change course and take all this activity back in-house instead.
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In Germany the OCI stuff is still handled in house and only the visa was outsourced. When the visas went electronic they tendered the contract for visa, and now its handled by two companies.
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Originally Posted by garykung
(Post 32746635)
Many countries outsource support services elsewhere to save costs.
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Especially since the OCI process is entirely online and only the verification of uploaded documents is done by the consular staff. They basically login to the system and confirm that whatever you uploaded was seen and is a true copy.
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