zeal4thil

On 5/11/2021 at 8:12 PM, justwill said:

I wonder if this was still the case. I just completed my interview today and was told that the the Oath ceremony won’t be in the USCIS building on Ida B. Wells. Also, there’s no more InfoPass appointment form USCIS’ website.

Things may be different now .I did mid Dec 2020 when the ceremony happen in the USCIS office downtown Chicago where they were handling the info-pass appointments too . I didn't have any info-pass appointment and just walked to the counter as i was already in the building for the ceremony 

you can pay by personal cheq for both State and USPS  . I did it like that so i can easily track when they cash my cheq. 

unique situation .but i think u can continue to apply the OCI as its purely based on the indian origin and the fact that you already must have the renunciation and canceled indian passport should be sufficient enough to get the OCI . Once you receive the US Passport back you can correct it if u want 

You can and I did the same way . I filled out all the forms and kept everything ready ,even booked the appointment with USPS on the afternoon of the naturalization day . I got the NC in the morning 11 AM and submitted all the docs in the USPS 2 PM same day . No issues and received the passport in 3 weeks (paid for expedite and additional $ 17 for priority shipment back) 

22 hours ago, Charming12 said:

I just submitted passport application through USPS and to my surprise, USPS did not even give me tracking information of passport application package? All I got is receipt for $35 acceptance fees. Now I am freaking out that I should have expediated my application with extra bucks to get the tracking information for my passport package. USPS already lost my I751 Greencard last month and I hope that they wont messed it up with my passport application and original NC.

They won't give the tracking # for onward journey even if you paid expedite .there will be a 7-10 day from the time you applied in USPS to be able to track in the system . There is nothing I believe we can do in between to trace it .

48 minutes ago, HunnyBunny said:

Thanks for all the tips. It’s really helpful. But I already have finished submitting the application online. And just finished gathering all the prints of required documents. I did opt for VFS courier service. But when I tried to print labels, I could see only one label. For renunciation I remember getting two separate labels for sending n receiving. Did you also experience this?  Did you send your  original US passport? What about renunciation certificate? Copy only right?

VFS Changed the Process Feb 3 it seems and only one label is getting printed now .They will print the return labels for OCI & US Passport Return .This has been confirmed by a phone call to their CSR by some one's experience and posted in another forum .I also got only one label and had the same questions and got this info .So go ahead and ship it .

Yes WE have to send the original US Passport (this is listed in the Checklist of VFS docs ) and Copy of all other docs including Renunciation as copy.

On 2/5/2021 at 6:28 AM, HunnyBunny said:

Hi, I received my renunciation certificate yesterday. I didn’t track it at all. I almost had forgotten that I had applied for it!😅  Now journey for OCI card begins! Any suggestions?😃

I just completed all the process and mailed them last saturday for OCI .

Some tips before you even start anything .IT's a long process..

Scan and keep all the docs in pdf format less than 1000KB .(there will be ton of docs u need to scan and keep the soft copies)

Keep the photo image scanned or digital copy less than 500KB 

Keep the signature adjusted to 1:3 ration less than 500 KB.

Plan to get Notary if you applying for any minors 

Recommend to use VFS courier services for ease of completing the process .

if all the scans are ready each application should not take more than 30 mins to an hour to complete . 

It took few days for me collect and keep the docs organized in scanned format once thats done rest are ok to manage 

Don't worry guys .Looks like VFS changed the process from Feb 3 to print only one label and return labels and US Passport returns will be printed by them .This is confirmed via a phone call/email with them by some one in another discussion .As usual they didn't update their website on this change and we are all under confusion

4 hours ago, zeal4thil said:

Thanks for the response . But I believe the $ 17  Payment for express delivery is for the return of the passport faster not for faster passport application delivery to their processing center as per the note below from the state website. You are right irrespective of priority/expedite the onward journey of the passport application is same for all the applications the difference is on the return shipment . I wish they had a similar option for expedite for original back in faster manner not the regular mail . 

 

"1-2 Day Delivery Paid per application for 1-2 day delivery of an issued passport book from the Department of State to the customer. Only applies to mailing addresses within the United States. Not valid for passport cards"

I received the originals today in the ordinary mail . Happy that all originals are with me now  finally !!!! 

11 hours ago, NEW CITIZEN said:

What the USPS won't tell you:

 

You're at the "any town USA" USPS passport office, and pay Priority to send your application, right?

Im the next appointment in line behind you, and I DON'T pay Priority to send my application.

My application goes in the SAME bin that yours goes in, and sent to Texas that night. They both arrive at the same time.

Once your application arrives in Texas, yes, your $60 expedites processing.

 

When passports are processed, EVERYONE gets their passport back via Priority.

 

So don't pay for Priority.

Thanks for the response . But I believe the $ 17  Payment for express delivery is for the return of the passport faster not for faster passport application delivery to their processing center as per the note below from the state website. You are right irrespective of priority/expedite the onward journey of the passport application is same for all the applications the difference is on the return shipment . I wish they had a similar option for expedite for original back in faster manner not the regular mail . 

"1-2 Day Delivery Paid per application for 1-2 day delivery of an issued passport book from the Department of State to the customer. Only applies to mailing addresses within the United States. Not valid for passport cards"

1 hour ago, NEW CITIZEN said:

They will come First Class(Snail ) Mail from one of the 26 passport centers that processed it. No tracking.

Usually a week later than the PP, which came Priority.

 

You didn't pay Priority, you paid to expedite process, everyone gets Priority to and From.

I paid for Priority(additional 17-19 bucks i think ) and expedite (60) .but it looks like that Priority is only for the Passport and not for the NC certificates 

On 1/14/2021 at 11:32 AM, zeal4thil said:

Received the Passport for the entire family today .(glad i paid for priority during the application itself . )

 

Yes .Applied in Vernon Hills ,IL  Post office .4 weeks end to end .

 

Hopefully the original docs sent 

Still not received the NC original copies . Any idea how long it will take to get the originals back will they send any tracking info for that ?

10 hours ago, JHFGNDVQ said:

Just to clarify, I meant this type of copy that they provide for free (not a second certificate):
https://www.uscis.gov/tools/how-do-i-guides/how-do-i-guides-for-us-citizens/how-do-i-obtain-certified-true-copies-of-a-certificate-of-naturalization

 

It requires scheduling an InfoPass appointment, so I was wondering if anyone asked to get a copy after the ceremony.

I did and got it . I got my naturalization ceremony in Chicago and just after the event directly went to the infopass counter and asked for a certified copy and got it in 15 mins . But when applied in post office they didnot accept that certified copy and wanted the original

8 minutes ago, Egy said:

Congratulations!
 

Congratulations!

 

Where did you apply in Illinois? Chicago

 

Received the Passport for the entire family today .(glad i paid for priority during the application itself . )

Yes .Applied in Vernon Hills ,IL  Post office .4 weeks end to end .

Hopefully the original docs sent 

On 1/11/2021 at 8:09 PM, zeal4thil said:

Out of curiosity ,I called the customer service no as its almost completing three weeks since i applied (I understand it will be 4-6 weeks for expedited) .

 

• It was a long wait (like an hour before some live person came in the call )  
• CSR has no new information other than what's in the online system except  where the application is getting processed 
• In my case though i applied from IL ,the application is getting processed in charleston 
• CSR told me the 4-6 week lead time start from the date they received the application. In my case the count stat from 29 th Dec and not the 16 th Dec when i applied in Passport office .
• I asked him to check the policy again and he double checked and confirmed the lead time start from the day they receive the application in their (state department )system and not from the day they post office mailed them

Not sure what to believe but now  i know its not going to come in Jan and will be some time in Feb only ,

Update :

1/13 - I got an email that my passport is being shipped and should expect the delivery by 1/16 .

This is a surprise as just few days ago the CSR told me it will take 4-6 week from the day they received in their system . 

On 1/11/2021 at 8:09 PM, zeal4thil said:

 

 

 

On 12/30/2020 at 7:04 AM, zeal4thil said:

I got naturalized on 16 th Dec 2020 and applied passport same day afternoon in a nearby post office with expedite . Application got in their system for tracking on 29 the Dec late night .

 

Will the 4-6 week expedite count from the day we apply in the post office or from the day the state received the application in their system ?

 

 

Out of curiosity ,I called the customer service no as its almost completing three weeks since i applied (I understand it will be 4-6 weeks for expedited) .

• It was a long wait (like an hour before some live person came in the call )  
• CSR has no new information other than what's in the online system except  where the application is getting processed 
• In my case though i applied from IL ,the application is getting processed in charleston 
• CSR told me the 4-6 week lead time start from the date they received the application. In my case the count stat from 29 th Dec and not the 16 th Dec when i applied in Passport office .
• I asked him to check the policy again and he double checked and confirmed the lead time start from the day they receive the application in their (state department )system and not from the day they post office mailed them

Not sure what to believe but now  i know its not going to come in Jan and will be some time in Feb only ,

36 minutes ago, Egy said:

USPS office is an acceptance facility.

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/how-apply/where-to-apply/af-info.html

 

What is a Passport Acceptance Facility?

A Passport Acceptance Facility is a public sector office that is designated to accept and execute passport applications on our behalf. Passport Acceptance Facilities verify the information of applicants using Form DS-11, which includes all first-time applicants and all minors. You then send these verified applications to us, and we process the paperwork and issue the passport, if the customer is eligible.

 

I got naturalized on 16th too and sent my application on 17th through USPS and still my application is not trackable yet [Not Found].

 

Did they sent you an email for status?

Yes .I got an email notification around 10 PM CST yesterday

I got naturalized on 16 th Dec 2020 and applied passport same day afternoon in a nearby post office with expedite . Application got in their system for tracking on 29 the Dec late night .

Will the 4-6 week expedite count from the day we apply in the post office or from the day the state received the application in their system ?