We, the undersigned Indian-origin citizens, Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) applicants, and Indian-American community members residing in the United States, submit this mass petition to express our collective concern regarding the current OCI application process administered through third-party service provider VFS Global under the Embassy of India, Washington DC.

The present system has resulted in:

Repeated application rejections without explanation
Inconsistent and non-standard document requirements
Requests for documents that Indian-origin individuals cannot realistically obtain
Financial exploitation through forced use of VFS-linked premium services
Emotional distress, delays, and loss of trust in the OCI process
We firmly believe that:

OCI is a privilege rooted in Indian origin, not a commercial transaction
No third-party company should have unchecked authority over OCI eligibility
All applicants must be evaluated using one universal checklist
Rejections must include clear written reasons and appeal mechanisms
Therefore, we collectively demand:
Immediate establishment of a Universal OCI Checklist for all applicants
Transparent rejection and clarification procedures
Removal or strict regulation of third-party service providers
Direct OCI processing under the Embassy / Consulates of India
Accountability and grievance redressal mechanisms for applicants
This petition reflects the unified voice of Indian-origin Americans seeking fairness, dignity, and transparency in the OCI process.

The current state of services provided by VFS Global for the processing of Indian Passports, OCI, and visas is unacceptable. Numerous Indians across the United States are struggling with their application processes due to glitches in online forms, Not delivering email verification,don't have proper checklist, poor service, incompetent staff, and a lack of customer service. These issues are further exacerbated by the exorbitant fees charged by VFS Global - $15 per application and an additional $3 per minute for call center services. SMS service $5 (Optional),Shipping cost $16x2=$32,Plus Convince fee (not correctly showing on the receipt)  This petition calls on the Indian government to reconsider its contract with this company due to its incompetence and unfair pricing structure. We urge you 

The current state of VFS Global's services for processing Indian Passports, OCI, and visas is unsatisfactory. Many Indians in the United States are facing difficulties with their applications due to online form glitches, subpar service, inefficient staff, and a lack of customer support. These challenges are compounded by the high fees imposed by VFS Global, including a $15 application fee, an additional $3 per minute for call center services, a $5 optional SMS service, a $32 shipping cost, and an unclear convenience fee.

This petition urges the Indian government to reconsider its contract with VFS Global due to the company's incompetence and unfair pricing. We call on you to demand improved service quality from VFS Global or explore alternative providers that can offer reliable services at reasonable prices. If you believe in equitable treatment and efficient service for all applicants, please sign this petition.

Issues include applications being withdrawn without an agreed-upon time within the SLA agreement with the Embassy, failure to receive refund checks from VFS, damage to Indian passports during processing, prompting additional costs exceeding $300. Application statuses are not updated in the system even after delivery, and visa appointments are unavailable for booking.

We recommend that the Government of India implement surveys for each application to assess the performance of VFS service centers in fulfilling their responsibilities. Applicants should be given a reasonable timeframe of 30 business days to submit missing documents, considering that many individuals are working and value their time. For comparison, the Department of States allows 180 days for incomplete applications to be completed.