Hi,
I would like to share my experience with Indian Consulate and VFS in getting the PCC hoping that it would ppl wanting or planning to apply for PCC
I had applied for Australia's PR and as part of the process i had to get India's PCC. I had applied for the same in Dec 2012. The time mentioned by Consulate was 4 weeks and that by VFS is 4-6 weeks. So considering that i thought i would be getting my PCC by end of January. I had to travel back to India in month of february we were expecting our first baby and my wife was in India.
I applied for PCC through mail and sent my passport and workpermit via mail to vfs toronto. i started inquiring on the status after 3 weeks. But everytime VFS helpdesk guy has the same reply..saying that i have to wait for the lead time of 4 week.After a month of applying there was no update and the status was still showing "in process". It was around in mid of Jan 2013 that my wife had some medical conditions considering which i neeed to travel urgently to India.
I applied for withdrawal on 15th Jan and i was told by VFS that i will get my passport back in 2-3 days. I called them everyday and mail them twice a day. For any questions that i asked in the mail, they only have fixed template which they seem to copy paste in the reply. there was literally no help from VFS. As far as consulate is concerned they are every worst.. no phone or no email replies at all. Totally zero transperancy. I was literally blank and did not know where the process is and whats going to happen. I just kept on mailing to VFS mailing address that i got from the telephone helpline -info.intoronto@vfshelpline.com. This is suppose to be the helpdesk number of toronto. They always have the same answer that
they have forwarded the issue to the concerned department but have not got any reply from the consulate.
After following up daily on phone and by mails for 1 week to time, i decided that i will personally go to consulate. Although i was told by VFs that they will not entertain me directly, still i wanted to go and puss the matter if it was possible as i wanted to get the passport.
Also, the hepline person told me that if its urgent to go to Brampton VFS office and meet the officers there and they might help me. I asked if i can get their phone number so that i can call them, but i couldnt get any number from them.
Finally, after waiting for almost a week without any clue on whats happening and without any proper correspondance i booked my tickets to toronto. On the same day, by GODs grace there was a spark of light in the dark. I got a call from a number which i couldnt answer as i was busy.
When i called up again, it was from VFS brampton office. He told me that he had checked in their database for my withdrawal form but seems that they dont have it. Also he has talked to consulate officer on this matter and asked the consulate to keep my passport aside. He told me to fill up another form which was for complete case withdrawal. I filled up and scanned and send it to him immediately. He told me that i shall get the passport in 2 days. I checked with him yesterday and it seems that they have got the passport and today them have couriered back to me. Hoping to get it by tomorrow
.. well i have to say that i am more happy to get my passport and work permit back more than getting the PCC. ..
Well my experience with VFS is kind of mixed..The helpline guys are just dummies .. they cant be of any help so dont waste time in speaking to them.. they just check the status in the database and will update you the same as if we done know. Indian consulate is a black box. No email replies no phone numbers that work...But if its very urgent and if you have to go, you can go there with relevant proof and your tickets (booked on the same day), in that case they may help you. But still i suggest you go and talk to VFS brampton office or the vfs office where you applied. They dont provide their phone numbers... but i got the one of the person who helped me.. for me he was an angel who came at the right time and saved me.. I will always be grateful to that person.. His name is Shusheel..
The contact number of VFS brampton office is 905-453 6353
Last but not the least, if you have plan to travel outside country then think 10 times before giving you passport for any purpose. The timelines for gettingthe work done here is unknown except if you are lucky..
