Meeting follows complaints from community.
AB Wire
WASHINGTON, DC: Cox and Kings Global Services, the contractor that processes Indian visa and other consular services applications, met with a delegation of local GOPIO leaders and Indian American community activists on April 17.
GOPIO’s Metro Washington chapter sought the meeting after it received many inquiries and complaints from the community about delays in getting visa and OCI cards, and also about difficulties in following directions in completing online application forms, its president Zafar Iqbal told the American Bazaar.
CKGS is the only authorized service provider for the Embassy of India and Indian consulates inthe United States.
The 19-member delegation consisted of local representatives of various Indian American groups, besides GOPIO.
At the meeting, held at CKGS’ downtown Washington office, its officials made a presentation explaining requirements and procedures for filing applications, Iqbal said. The delegation also met with CKGS staff handling applications, he said, adding that members were satisfied with the answers they provided.
Iqbal said more such meetings with Cox and Kings officials and representatives from the embassy “would be very helpful in resolving some of the problems and issues applicants have.”
The delegation also discussed the difficulties faced by Americans of Pakistani and Bangladeshi origin in obtaining Indian visas. CKGS officials told the delegation that their applications are processed in India and the embassy is only instructed about the outcome,” he said. “The decisions are made case by case and CKGS acts only a middleman.”
On an average it takes anywhere from four to six months for such visas, which are valid for three months.