Indian passport renewal in NY

[njgcmar03]

I applied for a new passport(as my 10 year validity is expiring in Jan 2008) at CGI NY in person on 10/04/2007 along with my wife's passport. My wife's passport got renewed within 3 working days(She applied for name change in 2003) but mine did not. Apparently, CGINY needs to get clearence from India(Hyderabad) so that these guys can give me a new passport.

Long story short, the customer service people at CGINY are not quite helpful in getting me the information. These guys don't really know what is going on with my application. I could get some info from India. When I got my passport for the first time(Hyderabad), the records were not computerized and so, these guys at CGINY dont have any information about my passport records.

Passport offices in India will get a request for clearence from abroad if anyone applies for renewal(and the applying person's records are not computerized) and Indian office has to verify the records and send the clearence. It has been close to 2 months since I applied and I even went for an interview with the consular in NY. Even this guy doesn't want to give me any time line.

The funny thing is, whenever I call CGINY to request status, they always ask me to come for an interview. When I ask them what the interview is related to, then they always reply me that the consular can give more information like status. I am not sure why these people can't give out the info. Also, for every call, they ask me whether my status is legal in US or not. I have my VISA stamped until 2010 and I have EAD.

Has anyone experienced similar stuff? If so, how long did it take to get the passport? Will CGINY people call when the passport is ready or do we have to keep calling them to get status info?

Thanks,

[sammyb]

Originally Posted by njgcmar03

I applied for a new passport(as my 10 year validity is expiring in Jan 2008) at CGI NY in person on 10/04/2007 along with my wife's passport. My wife's passport got renewed within 3 working days(She applied for name change in 2003) but mine did not. Apparently, CGINY needs to get clearence from India(Hyderabad) so that these guys can give me a new passport.

Long story short, the customer service people at CGINY are not quite helpful in getting me the information. These guys don't really know what is going on with my application. I could get some info from India. When I got my passport for the first time(Hyderabad), the records were not computerized and so, these guys at CGINY dont have any information about my passport records.

Passport offices in India will get a request for clearence from abroad if anyone applies for renewal(and the applying person's records are not computerized) and Indian office has to verify the records and send the clearence. It has been close to 2 months since I applied and I even went for an interview with the consular in NY. Even this guy doesn't want to give me any time line.

The funny thing is, whenever I call CGINY to request status, they always ask me to come for an interview. When I ask them what the interview is related to, then they always reply me that the consular can give more information like status. I am not sure why these people can't give out the info. Also, for every call, they ask me whether my status is legal in US or not. I have my VISA stamped until 2010 and I have EAD.

Has anyone experienced similar stuff? If so, how long did it take to get the passport? Will CGINY people call when the passport is ready or do we have to keep calling them to get status info?

Thanks,

mine will expire in 04/08 and am planning to renew the same from CGINY soon ... don't know whats waiting ...

one of my friend from MA did renew his passport at CGINY and he got his done on the same day (if I am not wrong) ...

seems customer service is an acute problem with any of the CGI in US ...

[ravise]

i applied for my passport renewal (in person) on 19th nov and received it yesterday(28th).

[H1B-GC]

I renewed my Passport from CGI-NYC last Month.It was pretty straight forward - Posted my Passport 2 weeks before Expiry and got back my Passport in 10 Days by Certified USPS Mail.

The new passport looks so Cool now .Its Barcoded and all the details Printed and the Photograph Scanned and Placed on the passport.Earlier , everytime when i leave this country poor fellas at the Airlines had to type my name and other details.Not anymore....

[ravise]

at CIGNY

[thepaew]

Two years ago, I mailed in my passport for renewal at CGINY and went through an ordeal that I wouldn't wish up on my worst enemy.

After several weeks of waiting, I started calling them - but at that time nobody at the CGI returned calls or emails even if I called the emergency line. I live in Boston, and it is a hassle to go down to NYC on a working day. I did and was told that my passport was in the mail. Anyway, a few weeks go by and on another trip to NYC I refused to take their excuses as I needed to travel urgently to India. Then they admitted to me that they had lost my old passport with all my documents.

I was also told:
1. We rarely lose passports and can not help it if you are an "UNLUCKY" person
2. We can find it only if you know someone important at the Ministry.

I dealt with CGINY in 2001 on an unrelated matter and was given prompt service. Si I guess a lot depends on the caliber and integrity of the people they have posted.

Your mileage may vary. Good luck.

Originally Posted by njgcmar03

I applied for a new passport(as my 10 year validity is expiring in Jan 2008) at CGI NY in person on 10/04/2007 along with my wife's passport. My wife's passport got renewed within 3 working days(She applied for name change in 2003) but mine did not. Apparently, CGINY needs to get clearence from India(Hyderabad) so that these guys can give me a new passport.

Long story short, the customer service people at CGINY are not quite helpful in getting me the information. These guys don't really know what is going on with my application. I could get some info from India. When I got my passport for the first time(Hyderabad), the records were not computerized and so, these guys at CGINY dont have any information about my passport records.

Passport offices in India will get a request for clearence from abroad if anyone applies for renewal(and the applying person's records are not computerized) and Indian office has to verify the records and send the clearence. It has been close to 2 months since I applied and I even went for an interview with the consular in NY. Even this guy doesn't want to give me any time line.

The funny thing is, whenever I call CGINY to request status, they always ask me to come for an interview. When I ask them what the interview is related to, then they always reply me that the consular can give more information like status. I am not sure why these people can't give out the info. Also, for every call, they ask me whether my status is legal in US or not. I have my VISA stamped until 2010 and I have EAD.

Has anyone experienced similar stuff? If so, how long did it take to get the passport? Will CGINY people call when the passport is ready or do we have to keep calling them to get status info?

Thanks,

[testsite]

The NY consulate received my passport on Jun 6 2008 and I got my passport back on Jun 21 2008 through US Express mail. I tried to call in between but none of my phone calls or email were answered. I looked up one of the consul generals online and directly called him and got my passport info with tracking number. He was very nice, polite and helpful. I recommend you using express mail because its got a tracking number and you know when and where your passport is. Good luck!

[snathan]

Originally Posted by testsite

The NY consulate received my passport on Jun 6 2008 and I got my passport back on Jun 21 2008 through US Express mail. I tried to call in between but none of my phone calls or email were answered. I looked up one of the consul generals online and directly called him and got my passport info with tracking number. He was very nice, polite and helpful. I recommend you using express mail because its got a tracking number and you know when and where your passport is. Good luck!

What is the number you have called up. I need to renew my passport in NY next month. I am planning to go to the consulate directly.

Also let me know which form to fill and fee

[new2guitar]

I am screwed, its almost one month and I have not recieved my new passport, I have my gmat exam in Dec and I can't cancel or postpone it. I need passport for GMAT.

I got hold of passport services after dialing multiple times, the answer I got is its waiting for some stupid bureaucrat to approve in Hyderabad.

one of my friend was denied passport renewal here with response that he was issued passport 10 years back with out police clearance and they are questioning how he managed to get it.

[milsz]

I had a similar problem a year back... sent PP for renew(after 10 years pp) and then nothing...waited for 2 months...after that tried to contact cginy...
no replys to voicemail, fax and emails... very difficult to get hold of someone...Once I got answer that they don't have my pp...
After 3 months waiting and still no pp, I had to travel, so thought I will go personally...after going their personally, got a pp with 1 year validity...

Ofcourse, this 1 year expiry created a problem on re-entry..got I-94 only till that date...

So, if your pp application is stuck in the process, just go to CGI ny in person...at least you will get 1 year short term validity pp to use....

[hope_4_best]

I need to renew the passports of wife and kid from Indian Consulate New York by mail.
May I please know the list of documents that needs to be notarized?

[k_usa]

Originally Posted by hope_4_best

I need to renew the passports of wife and kid from Indian Consulate New York by mail.
May I please know the list of documents that needs to be notarized?

Only the status document (I-797 of H1 / H4 / EAD) need to be notarized

[u.misc]

Does anyone know what is the photograph size requirement.

The online application form that is printed out say "stick 2" X 2" in here" but the instructions for the form clearly says 3.5 cm X 3.5 cm. Why everything that has with word "india" in it is so confusion and cumbersome.

[raj727]

njgcmar03,

I have submitted my passport for renewal at NY and its been two months now, I have valid visa stamped and I have submitted my passport 6 months before expiring date, went to consoling service to find out the cause of delay and found clearance not received from India.

[raj727]

they will accept indian passport size photo or standard US visa photo size