Maybe we were lucky. We completed the Visa application online-and it is true that the website is not user friendly! DH dropped completed applications at BLS in person. He did not have a proper photo so they took one for him. Eight days later he went back to the BLS office to pick up our visas. There was a small problem because he arrived before the scheduled pick up hours, but he was firm and BLS handed over the passports with our Visas. We applied in Vancouver and I was very nervous after reading so many negative posts about BLS. Like I said, we were lucky. We have other friends and family that have had significant problems in obtaining their Visas. It all seems so random and unfair!

I sent my passport for matchup 3-4 weeks back and I am waiting for information regarding my passports. I sent for the mtachup with the OCI card. I am leaving India in 2 weeks and I am really worried. I called BLS call center like 10 times and they dont have any information for me.
I am in Ohio and I am wondering if I need to fly to new york. Any experiences if we go to office. I had a valid visa and I didnt know its so messy with BLS.

@Jacketwatch, you get 2 things with the OCI. First you get a lifelong visa put into your passport and the second is a separate passport looking document that is the OCI registration. You MUST bring both docs with you when traveling to India or they will turn you back (it happened to someone we know). Also once your passport expires it is not mandatory to have your lifelong visa transferred to a new passport, you can just carry your current passport, old passport and OCI registration document. That part is the hassle, having to carry around 3 separate passport size books just for one person!

I'm currently applying for a visa. My first application was rejected for a missing signature on the second page of the form (my fault) and a missing return waybill number, so I'm paying much closer attention this time. I got new postage printed for my application and the return envelope, and I entered the tracking numbers into the BLS order form, but I can't for the life of me get the return tracking number to print on the printable order form. Since one of the rejection reasons on my initial application was a missing return tracking number (even though the return envelope with the tracking number on it was in the packet), I assume the return tracking number needs to appear on the BLS Order Form. Has anyone else run into this issue? Am I missing something obvious?

Thanks!

So far the experience have been a nightmare. Some guy sitting in UAE is reviewing my son's application, which is fine only if they were efficient. This guy has poor English, poor grammar and on top of that only emails once a day! He has requested to send the same document 3 times now in different format and when I asked to process things fast I didn't even hear back from him!! I need to escalate this or I won't be able to fly with my son outside country on the 16th and I am moving countries which is a stressful event in itself!!

Another hopeless agency to deal with.... BLS is being managed by a man who doesn't know what he is doing.... Completely lost... what do you expect ?
I think the Embassy of India should start doing this work at 2536 Mass Ave... like before... they can do a better job and save money....
There is a girl by name shirley who looks like just came out of High School... well, you get what you pay.... has a bad attitude and treat you like s...t.
What ever BLS does that reflects the Embassy of India ...

I have been getting run around and no ine has an answer or update as far as where is my sin's visa or passport. I tried contacting ratan but I received out of office notification, and calling call center is hopeless. All they do is put you back in queue without even letting you know. I am escalating this to US authorities at this point. If anyone from BLS is reading this please reach out to me asap! Theu guy handling my son's visa has completely stopped respnding. Raghu duindi is unprofessional brat who is misuing his position to play around with my son's visa nd passport. How are these people hiring someone in UAE and getting thimgs done? This is a nightmare!!!

Tibet?

Which office?

Sorry. saw it in the last sentence.

These last 2 testimonials sound all the world like the notorious Gate 1 "reviews" to me. Maybe, considering everything else we've heard, just a bit too good to be true.

My husband and I sent both our applications and passports to BLS Int'l (Atlanta.) Since day one, I received confirmation they received my husbands documents, but every time I try to track my application on the website it says "No Records Found." Both applications and passports were sent in the same FEDEX envelope. He received his tourist visa yesterday November 20, 2013 and mine did not arrive in the envelope. I have sent several e-mails to the contacts provided above and have called dozen times. Nobody is calling me back and at this point I do not know if my passport is lost. I travel for work and I need to know who has my passport. Can someone please help me. Please provide me of a contact in the Atlanta office (a real person I can speak to.) Your help is greatly appreciated.

PDNBossa: Try emailing your concern on [email protected]. I received faster response through that email add.

Hello! I've been on this site for a few weeks now and I have to say, makes me feel slightly better cause I'm not the only one with problems with BLS. I sent my application via fedex to Houston office on Oct 23. Called them on Nov 20th cause I couldn't check status on website as it said "no record found". I called them three times and was told every single time to wait for a call in 48 hours. I have emailed just about every email I can find just to receive a promise that someone would call me in 48 hours. Several 48 hours later, here I am with absolutely no idea what's happened. My husband is planning a long drive to Houston on Dec 5th to figure out where the passport it. It's been nightmarish.
Anyone know a better way to get hold of someone in Houston? Is there a travel agency or a lawyer we can contact to expedite the process? I just need to know....
I've emailed rattanw as well as [email protected].
but to no avail.
please help someone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If somebody has lost(?stolen?) US passport at BLS, please make sure to tip FBI and Local police. Be sure to mention where was it lost/stolen i.e. BLS office

https://tips.fbi.gov
http://www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field

Can I use Travis Visa (and the extra $60) to apply for an Indian Passport Renewal?

Why not just ask them?

Here's contact phone & email: http://travisa.com/contactinfo.htm

Yes, you can use Travisa. They will still have to go through BLS, but you will have an intermediary to deal with BLS.

I assume Travisa is who you are referring to... I've never heard of Travis Visa.

OK , seems like I am another victim of BLS whose US passport and PIO are lost stolen while in BLS custody, as they claim over he phone, but not willing to give in writing.

Now what ? how can I get US passport ( new), without having police report for the first lost passport? How can I file police report unless BLS confirms me in writing it's lost or stolen ? I am stuck! any advise from experience is appreciated. I am in NY.

Thanks.