Indian Visa: Experience with BLS International?
Dec 28th, 2013, 02:32 PM
#141
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i am taking a group of 16 students on a travel abroad trip. We leave on Dec 30 and there is still one visa that is not back. After many useless phone calls, when you could get through, someone told me to file a form that would expediate the process for the last two that had not come back. This was on Dec 24. Both reported they were back from the consulate that night. One arrived yesterday, Dec 27, the other has not been updated since the 24th. i have called every number i can find (many are disconnected) and finally someone told us to go to Chicago on Monday and hope to get the passport. He said it could not be guaranteed. IF we can get the visa, this student can join us in Chicago and take the trip. If not, back to Wisconsin and she is out of luck (and a lot of money).
They claimed it took up to 48 hours to "review the visa" before sending it back. I fear this means that they have lostt he passport or stolen it. last year I took the same trip and Travisa worked seemlessly with our group. This has been a disaster. They claim there are " no phones" at their Chicago office. i half think we will get there and the address will be a closed building with all doors locked.
My student will need to get to the airport by 7:00 pm, wish us luck!
They claimed it took up to 48 hours to "review the visa" before sending it back. I fear this means that they have lostt he passport or stolen it. last year I took the same trip and Travisa worked seemlessly with our group. This has been a disaster. They claim there are " no phones" at their Chicago office. i half think we will get there and the address will be a closed building with all doors locked.
My student will need to get to the airport by 7:00 pm, wish us luck!
Dec 30th, 2013, 11:35 PM
#142
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Travisa was amazing, you could get a visa in the same-day. Tracking on line worked as well. Of course, India chose to switch to another company, probably because some corrupt government official gave the job to a family member or was paid off. BLS is awful!
I am US citizen of Indian origin and have been living in India for the past few years and see that corruption and ineffectiveness are endemic in India. It is so sad that they made the first encounter all potential US visitors have with India so extremely painful, but I guess one should see it as a warning of how the country works. I have met so many amazing Indians that it is deeply disappointing that the country can't seem to get anything right. And when they did have something that was working well (Travisa) they had to undo it, lest people start expecting other things in the country to work efficiently as well.
I am US citizen of Indian origin and have been living in India for the past few years and see that corruption and ineffectiveness are endemic in India. It is so sad that they made the first encounter all potential US visitors have with India so extremely painful, but I guess one should see it as a warning of how the country works. I have met so many amazing Indians that it is deeply disappointing that the country can't seem to get anything right. And when they did have something that was working well (Travisa) they had to undo it, lest people start expecting other things in the country to work efficiently as well.
Dec 30th, 2013, 11:55 PM
#143
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I had to deal with BLS when my daughter was born in the US and we were going to India. I applied for a 1 year entry visa. I am an American citizen, my husband is an American citizen, we were both born in the US. We also both have OCI cards as our parents (also American citizens) were born in India. We sent the application in and after 2 weeks they asked for more information. Copies of her grandparents old Indian passports, birth certificates, etc. None of this is required for a simple one year entry visa for a child born in the US with a US passport. We had paid a company to help us with the process and when they went to the NY office to ask why the additional documents were required (as they had never been asked for those documents in 20 years of acquiring Indian visas for clients) they were told to "go away and get the documents." We had no choice but to submit all the documents and finally got the visa after 2 more weeks. Every day someone would go to their office and check on the status and they were never once given an answer. What a ridiculous company. I have gotten my other children visa for India (through Travisa) in one day.
Dec 31st, 2013, 09:00 PM
#144
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it has been a complete waste of trying to get a visa through BLS. They sat on the application for 15 days before sending to consulate. I still have not received my passport back. There are hundreds if not thousands of people who had to change their plans or cancel their trips because incompetence of the agency and consulate. Why would anyone want to visit India. No wonder China and other countries growing better and India is still dragging their feet. I had to cancel my tickets last minute because after 4 weeks I still do not have my passport back. Sad day for India.
Jan 2nd, 2014, 09:39 AM
#145
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So, after reading a lot of reviews on many forums including Fodors, I was very nervous about sending US passports for visa stamping to BLS NY office. Not to mention horror stories of stolen, wrongly sent and missing passports when sent in via Fedex or UPS. So far I am happy to inform that the process has been smooth for me.
I havent received the passports in hand but looks like BLS has shipped it (fedex still doesnt show any activity)
One Key for smooth transaction: PROPER PAPERWORK when filling out the APPLICATION. double, triple, quadruple check your application before sending it in. I was also applying visa for a minor and that really throws a wrench in the whole process.
Hope this will help calm some nerves for people who are applying for visa through BLS NY Office. Also I only got reply from US consulate in NY that visas were stamped enroute to BLS to ship back to me. All inquiries to BLS are still unanswered. Good luck.
Application mailed to BLS: 19-12-2013
Application recieved by BLS: 20-12-2013
Application accepted by BLS:23-12-2013
Appliication Processed on Date : 23-12-2013
Application Processed and Ready to be submitted to Consulate : 26-12-2013
Application submitted at Consulate :31-12-2013
Application processed by Consulate : 31-12-2013
Application received at BLS Center : 31-12-2013
Application Dispatched to Applicant :02-01-2014
I havent received the passports in hand but looks like BLS has shipped it (fedex still doesnt show any activity)
One Key for smooth transaction: PROPER PAPERWORK when filling out the APPLICATION. double, triple, quadruple check your application before sending it in. I was also applying visa for a minor and that really throws a wrench in the whole process.
Hope this will help calm some nerves for people who are applying for visa through BLS NY Office. Also I only got reply from US consulate in NY that visas were stamped enroute to BLS to ship back to me. All inquiries to BLS are still unanswered. Good luck.
Application mailed to BLS: 19-12-2013
Application recieved by BLS: 20-12-2013
Application accepted by BLS:23-12-2013
Appliication Processed on Date : 23-12-2013
Application Processed and Ready to be submitted to Consulate : 26-12-2013
Application submitted at Consulate :31-12-2013
Application processed by Consulate : 31-12-2013
Application received at BLS Center : 31-12-2013
Application Dispatched to Applicant :02-01-2014
Jan 3rd, 2014, 09:18 AM
#146
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still waiting. No reply from consulate for all the inquiries. It seems to be with UPS now on 1/2/14.It took four days to deliver to UPS from BLS. And we have a storm now so just waiting again for UPS. That might be another long wait.
Saga continues. Why did BLS sit on the application for 20 days before sending on 12/30/13 to consulate. Are they really thinking about their role in this mess? Why can't consulate just take of these matters on their own as they used to? It must be costing them some heartache, I hope.
Saga continues. Why did BLS sit on the application for 20 days before sending on 12/30/13 to consulate. Are they really thinking about their role in this mess? Why can't consulate just take of these matters on their own as they used to? It must be costing them some heartache, I hope.
Jan 3rd, 2014, 11:39 AM
#148
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Someone please help:
Our application with BLS was delievered to BLS on December 19 at 9 am as per UPS website tracking info.
We sent so many emails / phone calls to BLS - no reply.
(website tracking would not show any activity)
Then we went to BLS yesterday - to be told by BLS that they had forgotten the application in a corner, and that they were "sorry" and they will send to Consulate today.
(after we were told this; the tracking on the website showed that application was sent to Consulate).
They have told us to pick up passport / visa early next week.
Anyone knows if I can trust them or do I need to go earlier or do I need to contact Indian Consulate and if so in person or by email to whom?
Thanks in advance for your replies.
Our application with BLS was delievered to BLS on December 19 at 9 am as per UPS website tracking info.
We sent so many emails / phone calls to BLS - no reply.
(website tracking would not show any activity)
Then we went to BLS yesterday - to be told by BLS that they had forgotten the application in a corner, and that they were "sorry" and they will send to Consulate today.
(after we were told this; the tracking on the website showed that application was sent to Consulate).
They have told us to pick up passport / visa early next week.
Anyone knows if I can trust them or do I need to go earlier or do I need to contact Indian Consulate and if so in person or by email to whom?
Thanks in advance for your replies.
Jan 3rd, 2014, 11:57 AM
#150
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Hi Sanjayp
I emailed [email protected] and got a response from the consulate within 2 days.
BTW- My visas finally arrived. All checked out. Specially double check the name, expiry, Visa type (mine was T- tourist)and match the passport numbers with the one on the visa page.
Good luck to all. BLS needs to get better for sure. Hopefully all the negative responses can rattle some cages with the Indian embassy in the US
B.
I emailed [email protected] and got a response from the consulate within 2 days.
BTW- My visas finally arrived. All checked out. Specially double check the name, expiry, Visa type (mine was T- tourist)and match the passport numbers with the one on the visa page.
Good luck to all. BLS needs to get better for sure. Hopefully all the negative responses can rattle some cages with the Indian embassy in the US
B.
Jan 4th, 2014, 10:59 AM
#151
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My family and I are travelling on Jan 10th. I sent in mine, my 2 kids and wife passports on Dec 16th. via usps and BLS NY center received the passports on Dec. 19th. 3 passports were accepted and processed by BLS on 24th and sent to consulate on 27th.
But my wife's passport was not moving when checking the status it kept saying "..passport received...pending documentation check". I called the helpline but always kept getting "..all circuits are currently busy. Please try again later.." message before it disconnects the line. I raised an escalation support ticket on their website, but to no avail. The ticket was never updated by BLS support.
On Dec 30th, decided to goto BLS center to see what is going on. The walkin hours are from 1:30p to 2p. I got there at 12:45p ish and there was a line outside. The walkin are there for various reasons such as hand in there application, enquire about visa status, hand in missing documentation, etc. I stood outside and the line moved very slowly. At 2p, while I was outside, the security guard made an announcement that the walkin hours are done and we have to comeback tomorrow. People were mad but the security guard did not care. He has instructions from BLS to not anyone in so technically its not really his fault. He said come back at 9a the next day and he will let us in but I pointed out that time is only for appointments and he said he will let us in regardless.
I went and stood by corner and waited till the crowd left and than went back and told the security guard I came from Pittsburgh and for me to go back home and come back is very hard. I was being very nice and friendly. He must have felt bad because he let me in.
Once I got into the BLS office around 2:15p, I was required to sign in so a representative can work with me. All the walkin which were there to apply for visa and hand in their application are taken 1st and do not need to sign in. Once that is done all the walkins which are there for enquiry are helped. There were 2 BLS representative there that work on all enquiry cases. Each representative hears your case and than go gets your application from back office. Each case takes about 10-20 mins. I was called at 4:30p.
I explained to representative that my wifes passport is not moving through the system. He went into back office came back with my unopened postal application. I asked why this specific package didnt move with the other 3 I had sent in. He response was he doesnt know. I asked if he can check the application and process it right away so it can be sent to consulate in the next scheduled delivery. He was more than happy to do so. I also asked him if he can make a note to not sent the passport back via mail because I was affraid it wont get back to me in time so I suggested I will come pick it up when done. He told me no problem and he made the note.
I cheeked the application status next day and saw it had been sent to consulate on Dec. 31st and I saw in the comment section that passport was to be held at BLS once back from consulate.
I figured 1st Jan the consulate was closed and kept checking the status but nothing yet. I finally sent an email to consulate. I found the email address on the consulate website ([email protected]). I sent email on Jan. 4th, Saturday, and received a response in 3 hours informing the passport was stamped and sent back to BLS. The BLS website does not reflect this info yet, but will wait till Monday Jan 6th or 7th before I go back there.
I learned few things while I was there, if you want your visa back quickly then apply in person because your application will get to consulate the next business day. If you apply via postal than it take anywhere from 5 to 10 days before consulate gets it. The passport pick up starts at 4p, but the line starts forming outside around 3p.
In my opinion, BLS seems to be under staffed for amount of people they have coming which explains the long lines and wait. Make sure if you are visiting them you give yourself the whole day. Representative are helpful as long as you remain calm and nice.
But my wife's passport was not moving when checking the status it kept saying "..passport received...pending documentation check". I called the helpline but always kept getting "..all circuits are currently busy. Please try again later.." message before it disconnects the line. I raised an escalation support ticket on their website, but to no avail. The ticket was never updated by BLS support.
On Dec 30th, decided to goto BLS center to see what is going on. The walkin hours are from 1:30p to 2p. I got there at 12:45p ish and there was a line outside. The walkin are there for various reasons such as hand in there application, enquire about visa status, hand in missing documentation, etc. I stood outside and the line moved very slowly. At 2p, while I was outside, the security guard made an announcement that the walkin hours are done and we have to comeback tomorrow. People were mad but the security guard did not care. He has instructions from BLS to not anyone in so technically its not really his fault. He said come back at 9a the next day and he will let us in but I pointed out that time is only for appointments and he said he will let us in regardless.
I went and stood by corner and waited till the crowd left and than went back and told the security guard I came from Pittsburgh and for me to go back home and come back is very hard. I was being very nice and friendly. He must have felt bad because he let me in.
Once I got into the BLS office around 2:15p, I was required to sign in so a representative can work with me. All the walkin which were there to apply for visa and hand in their application are taken 1st and do not need to sign in. Once that is done all the walkins which are there for enquiry are helped. There were 2 BLS representative there that work on all enquiry cases. Each representative hears your case and than go gets your application from back office. Each case takes about 10-20 mins. I was called at 4:30p.
I explained to representative that my wifes passport is not moving through the system. He went into back office came back with my unopened postal application. I asked why this specific package didnt move with the other 3 I had sent in. He response was he doesnt know. I asked if he can check the application and process it right away so it can be sent to consulate in the next scheduled delivery. He was more than happy to do so. I also asked him if he can make a note to not sent the passport back via mail because I was affraid it wont get back to me in time so I suggested I will come pick it up when done. He told me no problem and he made the note.
I cheeked the application status next day and saw it had been sent to consulate on Dec. 31st and I saw in the comment section that passport was to be held at BLS once back from consulate.
I figured 1st Jan the consulate was closed and kept checking the status but nothing yet. I finally sent an email to consulate. I found the email address on the consulate website ([email protected]). I sent email on Jan. 4th, Saturday, and received a response in 3 hours informing the passport was stamped and sent back to BLS. The BLS website does not reflect this info yet, but will wait till Monday Jan 6th or 7th before I go back there.
I learned few things while I was there, if you want your visa back quickly then apply in person because your application will get to consulate the next business day. If you apply via postal than it take anywhere from 5 to 10 days before consulate gets it. The passport pick up starts at 4p, but the line starts forming outside around 3p.
In my opinion, BLS seems to be under staffed for amount of people they have coming which explains the long lines and wait. Make sure if you are visiting them you give yourself the whole day. Representative are helpful as long as you remain calm and nice.
Jan 4th, 2014, 02:24 PM
#152
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Babu 007 thanks again for your reply.
In few previous posts, I saw that people are emialing to the following two emails and getting their work done.
[email protected], [email protected]
Can someone tell me if these emails are good for NY BLS?
Please reply.
Thanks in advance
In few previous posts, I saw that people are emialing to the following two emails and getting their work done.
[email protected], [email protected]
Can someone tell me if these emails are good for NY BLS?
Please reply.
Thanks in advance
Jan 4th, 2014, 02:38 PM
#153
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rattanw's email was "closed" when I tried. But then, I ended up not needing further intervention. Because we live in NC, we had to go through the DC office. I do hope you are rewarded for your patience when you go in. I'm still wondering about the student who was supposed to leave on Dec 30. I'm guessing that poster is now traveling in India with the rest of her students.
Jan 9th, 2014, 08:53 AM
#156
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Hi
I have fulfill all the forms in order to apply for my visa by mail, but I haven’t be able to finish with the Order Form ( I already have a application reference) the system keep saying that is missing information ,I checked the box where I agree to all the terms and also typed the confirmation code, does anybody else having the same problem
I have fulfill all the forms in order to apply for my visa by mail, but I haven’t be able to finish with the Order Form ( I already have a application reference) the system keep saying that is missing information ,I checked the box where I agree to all the terms and also typed the confirmation code, does anybody else having the same problem
Jan 9th, 2014, 06:48 PM
#157
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Helplful -- we look forward to your trip report when you get back. When is your trip? It looks like were are a couple of folks new to Fodor's posting on this thread -- I hope we can also see trip reports from you as well!
Jan 10th, 2014, 02:45 PM
#158
All these visa complaint/praise threads are weird. If you look, the vast majority of the posters are first time-only timers. Many registered w/i a few minutes of each other or the same day. Happens on every thread about visas for India. Bizarre . . .
