Indian Passport Re-Issue via CKGS (not BLS)

[lazy 19]

Greetings It's April 30.

As of May 2, the Indian Embassy in India has changed outsourced companies who are handling Indian Passport renewals. The old company is BLS. The new company is CKGS.

As I go through the process of seeking a "Re-Issue" of a 10 year passport with the new company, I'll document here as a "guide" for others. Feel free to edit/correct as this is being done for the benefit of others.

CKGS is scheduled to provide info online starting Monday May 2, 2016. Applications are NOT to be mailed for delivery before May 9th, 2016.

[abhi_meli 150]

Where did you see "Indian Embassy" in INDIA?

[lazy 19]

Well,

My passport is on it's way back to me.

No, I didnt get a chance to add details on the steps along the way.

Will try to list the notable items I happen to remember.

- I chose the shipping payment to be handled by CKGS option instead of arranging for my own shipping. Thinking is that it would be less prone to mis-handling and delay given it's their 'streamlined' process vs me providing shipping return label. Besides it was $15 for overnight which I thought was cheap for FedEx. That's each way, so $15 x 2 = $30 shipping

- Speaking of fees, for regular re-issue of passport (expired within 6 months, standard number of pages), the fee was $97.95 (

• Passport Fee 75.00
• ICWF Fee 3.00
• CKGS Service Fee 19.95)

+ $30 shipping

+ $4.48 Convenience Fee if you wish to pay via credit card on their site ( I did)

=====

Total of $132.43

- You can track the status of your application process on their site when you login with your Temporary ID / Web Reference NumberThis number genrerally starts with USAXX123456Y. For me XX was WP (Washington?)

The steps for tracking are pretty granular = 9 steps. But mine jumped from "Under Process at CKGS" to "Sorting" in a matter of hours, Also it had stayed on "Under Processing at CKGS for 3-4 days when it should have moved on to other states. I'm guessing it did move but status did not update online.

- Final stage is "Delivered" and they provide the Fedex AWB Tracking number. No it is not a hyperlink to Fedex. You must cut and paste.

- Customer Service - I called at least 4-5 times between the time I was filling out the forms online and when it was "Sorting" and never had to wait more than 2 minutes, usually 30s. Staff was courteous and did not have a "get off the phone already" attitude.