From 17th of November 2014,
OCI applications in Birmingham are received
only by appointments which most of the people who were there on the day we applied didn't know due to the fact that this one line information was displayed only on the landing page (
http://cgibirmingham.org/) of the website and not yet on the OCI Information page (
http://cgibirmingham.org/page/display/10/67).
Application made in Person to HCI Birmingham(2 Adults) :
23 Dec 2014
Received by HCI :
23 Dec 2014
Originals verified and returned :
23 Dec 2014
Date Of Acknowledgement (on website) :
23 Dec 2014 (
https://passport.gov.in/oci/statusEnqury)
Registration Status at Mission :
BIRMINGHAM
Documents Printing Status :
UNDER-PROCESS
Dispatched From MOIA (OCI) NEW DELHI :
Document received At BIRMINGHAM On :
Passport sent to BIRMINGHAM Via Royal mail SD :
Passport Received by HCI BIRMINGHAM :
OCI stamped passport received :
Documents submitted
1) Photocopy of the photo page in UK Passport - 2 Adults
2) Photocopy of Naturalisation Certificate - 2 Adults
3) Photocopy of Surrender Certificate - 2 Adults
4) Form A filled in online and Form B filled by hand - 2 Adults
5) 1 Photograph pasted on Form A - 2 Adults
6) 1 Additional Photograph handed in - 2 Adults
Notes
1. All the original documents were verified
2. Though got the appointment booked, the security staff asked me to show him a print out of it which i denied as I didnt have one printed but had it on my phone.
3. Security guard then let me in asking me to switch off the phone
4. Another entry check by the person who had a list of people's name and appointment timings asking for the same printout, for which I said I have an appointment booked giving him the time and name, He wasnt happy to go through the list, even though i had the first appointment for the day.
5. Appointment was delayed only by 5 minutes which was amazing and didnt expect it to be that quick.
6. The application submission process took less than 2 minutes excluding half an hour time taken for me to go out to a local bank to get the application fee as they didnt take card payments. Could have used an ATM but my cash withdrawal limit was only £300 and i had to apply for 2 applicants.
7. The staff was chatting a lot while receiving the application and made a crucial mistake by giving 1 of us an incorrect acknowledgement id, lucky i cross verified it, for which she smiled and said she always does such mistakes whenever she speaks to applicants. She also asked us not to check anything online at least for 3 weeks as no data will be found including our reference number.
8. Without having enough confidence in the advised process, I did check and well found all the expected information which I have posted above.
9. Pathetic CAPTCHA questions on the status enquiry page like,
natural colour of sun,
natural colour of an apple,
add 0 in 15.
10. As a whole, this appointment service would get better on the long run avoiding unnecessary queuing system like the ones followed by an embassy of a neighbour country close to this location.
