How to renew Indian passport in USA, BLS India

I have recently renewed my Indian passport in USA at Houston location. I will share my case and procedure which I followed to renew my Indian passport here in USA.


Case:
Passport: Valid but about to expire soon
Visa : Expired
I 94 : Valid
Applied through : POSTAL

Overall experience level at BLS:
I didn't faced any issue in renewing my passport but still I feel BLS need to improve in the area of on process and communication.

Total Turn Around time ; 5 Weeks 1 day.

Document submitted by me as follows:
Original:
1 current Passport
2 Money order

Along with below below requested documents in order mentioned below:

1 Document checklist
2 Passport Application
3 BLS Order form
4 Nationality Verification form
5 Passport copy 1-5 pages and last page including observation page
6 Copy of Approved I 797
7 Copy of Visa
8 Driver License
9 Utility Bill
10 Marriage certificate
11 passport copy of spouse first and last page including visa copy
12  Affidavit of change in appearance and signature
13 Return shipping label
14 Degree Certificate
15 Copy of Money order
16 Copy of Spouse DL
17 Additional Spouse passport copy
18 Copy of Spouse's I 797
19 Electricity Bill India
20 Copy of Parents Passport 1st and last page

Please find below dates for your reference and Patience :)
Status from Fedex
Document sent: Jan 05(Day 0)
Document Delivered: Jan 06 (Day 1)
Application Accepted at BLS : Jan 19 (After 10 Working days)
Application Processed : Jan 19 (1 Business Day)
Application processed and submitted to Consulate: Jan 20 (1 Business Day)
Passport Received at BLS Center : Feb 3 (After 10 working days)
Passport Dispatched : Feb 3 (Same day)
Passport Received by me: Feb 10(after  7 days)

BLS Tracking update:

BLS Receipt Number => USAH000XXXXX

Current Aplication Status : Dispatched via Courier Using your Prepaid Envelope.AWB XXXXXXXXXXXX

Application accepted by BLS:19-01-2016 , 16:29

Application Processed on Date : 19-01-2016

Application Processed and submitted to Consulate : 20-01-2016 , 12:17

Passport received at BLS Center : 03-02-2016 , 13:49

Passport handed over to Applicant : -

Passport Dispatched to Applicant :03-02-2016 , 16:41

Frequently Asked question:
1 No of copies required of Nationality Verification form?
Ans: 3 copies

2 Do I need Affidavit of No status sign by green card holder ?
Ans: If you have valid visa or approved I 797 then No else yes.

3 From where I can generate Shipping label ?
Ans : UPS, FedEx or USPS.
Strongly recommended : Call BLS and generate label from them(currently they have tie up with UPS).
Reason; If you look at tracking update for my application you can see they accept document after 10 days and dispatched document to me after 7 days. Its means extra time took 17 days just because of I choose FedEx.

4  is Affidavit of change in appearance and signature mandatory ?
Ans: Yes. For Houston its mandatory.

5 How to count number of pages on passport for photocopies 
Ans : Look for Page Number mentioned. BLS need those 1-5 pages copies.

6 Do I need to include return shipping label?
Ans : Yes, If you are sending application through Postal and want home delivery.

7 Do I need to submit photo copy of Degree Certificate?
Ans: Yes,

8 Can I get my Indian address printed on new passport?
Ans: Yes, If you need same address need to be printed on new passport as old then you don't have to provide any additional document. In application form mentioned "address to be printed on passport " as you old passport.

9 What if I want to print new address from India?
Ans : Mentioned new address in the application form in section  "address to be printed on passport " and need to provided notarized address proof as mentioned on BLS site.

10 What about old passport ?
Ans : BLS will return old passport along with your new passport.

11 New passport will have same number as old passport?
Ans : No. New passport will come with new number and they will marked old passport as cancelled(using stamp)

12 How my old and new passport will be linked ?
Ans : New passport will be having old passport number and issue date mentioned. Which you can find on last page below address section.

13 Where can I do notarization ?
Ans : Walmart, Bank, or now a days every office have one notary officer.

14 How to generate shipping label from BLS?
Ans: Contact BLS through phone call and have your Debit/Credit Card ready to make payment.

14 How much it cost to generate shipping label from BLS?
Ans: Approximately $15 per label. Total $30 including return label.



Do you still have any question in your mind then please feel free to ask through comment or contact form.

New PIO/OCI Card - Minor USA

Applying for PIO card? It's very easy I recently applied it for my new born baby(New PIO Card -Minor). Its very easy and hassle free, I did received PIO card within 2 weeks of time.

Note:
PIO Scheme has been stopped. 
Now applicant can apply only for OCI card, and existing PIO card will be considered as OCI cards.

As per CKGS official site applying for an OCI card in lieu of PIO card is optional till further instruction. However, PIO cardholder is encouraged to apply for OCI card in lieu of PIO card
31st March, 2016 will be the last day to apply for OCI card in lieu of PIO card.

I will share what all step I did followed to get PIO card without any issue or delay in processing in August 2014.



I started PIO card process once I received US passport for my Baby. I visited CKGS website, which is present third party vendor who processed PIO card.

http://www.in.ckgs.us/
Please read the instruction provided on this site as they keep updating it.

Please find below attached sample form which I filled for Houston Location;
1 order-form-pio 
a. provide the applicant details
b. provide the return address same as mentioned in application form
c. I selected option for returned of document by courier service fedex and hence paid $15.00
    in this case you don't have to provide any return shipping label in envelope

2 Houston-application-form
a. make sure that you fill this form correctly with all required details
b. make sure you provide correct US and India address at requested places.
c. Baby(minor) thumb impression will be required at three places on this form
     1 On first page below photo
     2 & 3 thumb impression will be on page 3 under two additional specimen signature requested        section

Make sure you thumb impression not touching box.
This form needs to notarized in two copies. I did notarization from by bank at no cost. All banks do notarization at free of cost for their customers.

3 additional-particular-form

4 checklist-parental-authorization-form

I did submitted set of 2 copies of all documents
1 order-form-pio
2 Houston-application-form
3 additional-particular-form
4 checklist-parental-authorization-form
Attached Supporting documents as follow:
1 Original US passport along with photo copy(preferred in color )
2 Photo copy of father & mother passport
3 Photo copy of grand parents passport(not mandatory but I did attached so that they can verify address in India easily)
4 Copy of driving license  mother and father
5 Electricity bill of address mentioned in India


Once document received by CKGS office and they entered your details in their system you will get first notification email as mentioned below:

Subject: Payment Receipt for your Application
Cox and Kings Global Services LLC
A Cox and Kings group Subsidiary
CKGS Houston
Suite 550, The Binz Building, 1001 Texas Avenue
Toll Free Number:1-866-978-0055
E-mail: enquiriesusa@ckgs.com
Website: www.in.ckgs.us
(Customer Receipt)
Tracking ID: USAH12345678
Web File No:-
Postal
Applicant’s Name: Applicant Name
Passport Number: Applicant_Passport_Number
Nationality: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Submission Date: 9/8/2014 9:25:54 AM Time: 9:02 AM
Service Category:- PIO
Service Type:- New PIO-Minor
Payment Type (USD)
New PIO-Minor 185.00
ICWF Fees 3.00
Service Charges 17.00
Courier 15.00
Total Fee 220.00
Payment Mode USD
Demand Draft 220.00
Documents will be returned only after presentation of this receipt and identity proof.
Collection time: 16:00 to 18:00 only
Disclaimer:
Please note that granting / rejection of visas, OCI, PIO and Renunciation is the sole discretion of embassy / consulate. We only act as a facilitator for obtaining these services. Further, note that the CKGS would not be liable in any manner for any delay, deficiency, injury, death, loss or damage as a result of delay on the part of the concerned embassy or transmission delays or loss of passport or documents due to act or default of the concerned courier company. Please go through the website www.in.ckgs.us for any further details. Passport, if collected, will only be returned once the application process at the Embassy / Consulate of India in United States of America has been completed. In case of emergency and if you want to withdraw your application, please write an email to centermanager_hs@ckgs.com




Below are the various statuses of your application which you can track using your tracking ID :

When you see status as "Your application has been submitted at The Indian Embassy for further processing." it means there are no errors in application form and CKGS submitted your documents to Indian embassy.

Once they approved your application and Dispatched you will get another mail as mentioned below :

Subject: Your Application Status
Dear Applicant full name,

Your application has been despatched by post/courier on  9/20/2014 4:54:47 PM.

Your AWB No. is  FedExTrackingNumber.

Kindly note the Tracking ID of your application USAH12345678. You can track your application using this number on our website www.in.ckgs.us.

With Regards,
CKGS Team




Whenever I was having any question or doubt I used to send an email enquiriesusa@ckgs.com and I did received prompt response.

To inquire visit Contact and Feedback page on CKGS site http://www.in.ckgs.us/

Contact and Feedback page:: http://ww1.in.ckgs.us/feedback/

Please feel free to ask question and all the best for you!

Note:
Please visit CKGS site as it is continuously getting updated with latest information to Process OCI.