BLS International Service

Review: I submitted my application for OCI card through BLS international. After waiting for over three months I was told by then that they will transfer my file to another company called [redacted] to complete the process as Indian Embassy removed them from the service. Instead of doing what they promised, they returned my file,but did not return my check of $1207.00. I requested the refund and send all the necessary documents as per their request, including copy of bank check as well as bank letter. After that I send several e mail communications, but they did not respond. I had to pay again [redacted] for the same application. So I am requesting for you to help me get refund of the money they took without providing the service. I believe they have done the same thing to many other people, as reported by [redacted].Desired Settlement: I would be happy to get the refund of the check paid to them. Although they caused serious stress and expenses beside the check, lied many times in the e mails, I would be happy to see that they can't get away with cheating many people like me.

Review: I have applied for OCI card which is type of visa to go to India on February [redacted] 2014 along with application I had sent cashier's checks. After few days I have received an email that there was a fee missing for $250. I had sent that out right away. They still showed the application pending. I had made so many attempts to try to get hold of someone even sent out an emails few times. Now they had sent me all the documents back because they no longer provide that service for indian consulate yesterday but it is missing my payments I had made so many phone calls to receive my payments back but there is no response. They had even cashed the last certified check on just may [redacted] 2014. I am going to attach copy of the check that was cashed by Bls International without providing the services.I would like to get my refund back asap so I can re apply again.Desired Settlement: I would like to get my deposits back asap as my application was not processed at all.

Review: I have done everything possible to try and get it touch with them about my sisters passport. they never pick up their phone, their mailboxes are all all full at all their offices in the states. I sent them everything they need and paid an exorbitant price for a passport and yet they emailed me Just once to tell me that If I don't send the missing document in 21 days they'll ship my documents back that I paid for. These people are the most incompetent workers ever.Desired Settlement: I want them to apologize to every single one of their customers since I have never heard anything good about this place. I want them to call me and pay for the documents they need or else I'll be suing them since I think they are committing a fraud.

Review: I applied for Overseas Citizenship of India for me - [redacted] my wife - [redacted] my son - [redacted], my daughter - [redacted]. I, my wife and my son received OCI in early December 2013. I communicated for [redacted] several times to BLS international with no contact or updates from them.

[redacted] US passport [redacted] Date of Birth: Nov [redacted] 2004

Address: [redacted]Desired Settlement: I want OCI to be processed and be informed to us.

Business

Response:

Passing along complaint to the proper parties to resolve

Review: BLS International provides service to file "[redacted]" application for Indian Americans who intend to visit India. BLS International has received my application and has encashed the money order that was sent as a fee. After encashing BLS doesn't pick up calls or responds to any email enquiries. BLS has custody of my documents such as passport copies and social security number.Desired Settlement: I want BLS International to refund my fee and also process my application.

Business

Response:

We have contacted applicant via email. Our records show this was sent via courier on Nov **, 2013 and the matter is closed on our end.

Review: BLS International is the company that handles all passport & visa services for the Indian Embassy here in the US. They replaced another company called Travisa (back in July 2013). I have sent 12 or more requests to BLS International over the past 6 months for information about my Indian Passport Renunciation Certificate application & fee which was submitted to Travisa on 6/**/13 but am unable to get any information about the status of this application. They are not even acknowledging if they have the application or if the Renunciation Certificate has been issued by the Indian Consulate in NYC. My US Passport No. is [redacted] and the Fedex Tracking # is [redacted]. This application was sent to Travisa and received by them on June **, 2013. As per Travisa records this application was processed & handed over to BLS when the transition took place in late June. BLS was supposed to send me the certificate which I never received and so far have been unable to track or get any information about. All attempts to get any details about this application have failed. I am not sure how I can get this problem resolved.And for the last 5 weeks there is absolutely no way to contact BLS. Their phones don't work and they are not responding to any e-mail queries (I created a ticket on their website on Jan ** and there is no response posted there either). They keep sending back generic responses about having received my e-mail and that they are looking into the matter but I never receive any actual information about the status of my application.Here are the details of the ticket I created on the BLS website and never received any response. Ticket No#[redacted]; Applicant Name-[redacted]; Application Type-Renunciation ; BLS Center-New York Visa ; Email ID - [redacted] ; Order Form# [redacted]; Passport # - [redacted] ; Applicant TypePostal ; Carrier Fedex ; Airway Bill # - [redacted] ; Ticket Reason- Others; Current Status - Open ; Ticket Date 2014-01-**Desired Settlement: There is only one possible resolution that would be acceptable and that is : I need to get my Renunciation Certificate from BLS International. I sent an application, paid the fee and should now get what I requested & paid for. Certainly it does not take 6 months to let me know what has happened to my application. The company has been acting deplorably and are criminally negligent in their behavior.

Consumer

Response:

At this time, I have been contacted directly by BLS International Services US regarding complaint ID [redacted], however my complaint has NOT been resolved because:

The documents I require from them are not traceable so I have been asked to resubmit my application. I will now have to submit a fresh application and pay the fee again for BLS to process the paperwork again.

In order for the Revdex.com to appropriately process your response, you MUST answer the question above.

Sincerely,

Business

Response:

We have been trying to assist the applicant through our escalations department and have had several phone and email conversations - the latest being yesterday - in which we have addressed and, hopefully, resolved her situation

Consumer

Response:

I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID# [redacted], and have determined that my complaint has NOT been resolved because:

First, there has only been ONE phone conversation with BLS (not several as stated in their response) and my issue has still not been resolved. I am in the process of re-applying for the service that I had originally applied for in June 2013 and I am still trying to get the problem resolved. The matter is still ongoing and certainly not resolved.

In order for the Revdex.com to appropriately process your response, you MUST answer the question above.

Sincerely,

Business

Response:

Original application (and fees) were submitted to a different company that turned over most of their open files to us nine months ago. We have been working with the applicant to try and help resolve their issues but recently found that the applicant is not eligible for the process applied for and must wait another six months.

Review: I applied for my daughter's OCI to BLS International in Oct 2013 and paid around $400 in fees and all submitted all required documentation. Now it is about 6 months and they are saying they do not have the status of the application. They do not have a working phone number and after repeated emails the only thing I got from them is "Issue Escalated to New York team but no response yet". I am fed up with this they should refund the fees that I paid or they should provide the OCI for my daughter ASAP.Desired Settlement: Provide OCI or Refund the fees.

Business

Response:

Left voice messages and sent email to notify applicant that they needed to supply some documents that were needed to process their application.

Consumer

Response:

I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted], and find that they are now making some effort to resolve this issue. Please keep this case open till the issue is full resolved. I will keep Revdex.com updated on the progress made from time to time.

Appreciate your service.

Sincerely,

Review: My Daughter [redacted]'s OCI VISA application was returned back to us since Indian Consulate changed the outsourcing company from BLS International to [redacted] and therefore BLS International instead of transferring the application/documents along with Money order worth 282.70 to [redacted] they returned the application to us and en-cashed the Money Order (it was from Bank of America). Since they returned the application to us in May of 2014 we have followed up with them through toll free phone and email complaint box but to no avail.Desired Settlement: Since they did not provide us any service and withheld our money I want $282.70 to be refunded back to us.

Consumer

Response:

At this time, I have not been contacted by BLS International Service regarding complaint ID [redacted].

Sincerely,

Review: Applied for a visa to India with required documents and passport sent via FedEx overnight on 12/**/2013. BLS International and FedEx confirmed documents were received morning of 12/**/2013. Application took 11 business days to get approved, which is not what is stated on their website. I was supposed to travel to India for a wedding from 12/**/2013-12/**/2013. Tried multiple times to contact the agency by phone and email, and no one can answer my questions about where my visa application/passport is. I spoke to a [redacted] on the phone when someone finally let me speak to someone, who said he would return my phone call and never called back. The "888" phone number on BLS International's website is a non-working phone number as well. I also tried looking up and contacting the Indian Consulate in NY, however, the phone numbers on the website are inaccurate (non-working phone numbers) and you cannot talk to a live person.Desired Settlement: I would like to get my visa application fee refunded back and get my passport back as well.

Consumer

Response:

At this time, I have been contacted directly by BLS International Service regarding complaint ID [redacted], however my complaint has NOT been resolved because:

[Your Answer Here]

I have not received my passport back yet and they did not specify which courier they used to send my passport back. They contacted me by email to let me know they sent the passport, but I have not received it yet. They tried to contact me by phone, however, I was unable to take the call due to working hours.

In order for the Revdex.com to appropriately process your response, you MUST answer the question above.

Sincerely,

Review: We had submitted applications for OCI (Overseas Citizen of India) and Renunciation of Indian citizenship back in March 2014 to BLS, with a total processing fee off $924.00. BLS returned our applications in May 2014 indicating that they no longer provide this service, and indicated we will receive a refund from them. However, we still have not received the refund.Desired Settlement: Refund of complete processing//application fee off $924.00.

Consumer

Response:

At this time, I have not been contacted by BLS International Service regarding complaint ID [redacted].Sincerely,

Review: I can not get ahold of the company by phone to find out whats going on with my passport and visa. The phone doesn't go anywhere, they are dead. They have had my passport for over a month now and there is no way to find out whats going on with the passport. There e-mail help line is useless it takes them 3 or more days to respond with the same old stuff, more information on the information they already have.Desired Settlement: I NEED my passport back NOW alone with the money I sent to them. I don't understand what is going with this company and their inability to handle this problem.

Review: BLS International is supposed to provide visa services for the Consulate of India. I sent my application to this office by Fed Ex on the [redacted] January. The company provided no responses to enquiries made by me at their web site which is the only way to contact them. They provide no telephone numbers were they can be contacted to address any questions one may have. Repeat attempts to contact them are not responded. In an e.mail to me to contact them they provided a non working telephone number. I sent a telephone number tocontact me to the e.mail address from where I received the wrong number to call. I got a call from a person who could barely speak English, who refused to connect me to a [redacted] or give me any telephone contact # to someone in BLS to whom I could speak. I am concerned for my passport with this company. Please advise how I may resolve my problem with BLS. I suspect I am not the only person in this situation with this company.

Thanks

[redacted]Desired Settlement: Get my pssport back and the checks made out to BLS for services that have not been provided

Business

Response:

Passing along to escalation for resolution

Review: I applied for a new OCI (overseas citizen of India) card for myself and my infant daughter, for which I had to send our passports to BLS in New York. The online tracking on the BLS website said (and still says) that the OCI cards and passports were ready for dispatch from their end on January **2014, and that it would take a maximum of 2 business days for the package to be mailed out and for the status to be updated. Today is January [redacted]and the status has not changed and I have not recieved the OCI cards or passports. I have also not recieved any communication from them about why the package is delayed. I have tried to call them every 15 minutes for the past two working days, but have not been able to get through to the New York office becuase the message says that all agents are busy at this time...for two entire days. This experience is representative of the horrific experience I have had with this company throughout this application process.Desired Settlement: I would like my passport and my daughter's passport along with the OCI cards mailed to me as soon as possible.

Consumer

Response:

complaint ID [redacted]. I drove 5 hours to their NY office because this company was unresponsive for weeks. I have picked up my documents and do not need anything else from them. I am however very unsatisfied with how they operate and treat their customers. They did not even check my ID while handing me over my wife and daughters passports!

Sincerely,

Review: I have sent OCI application by FEDEX tracking mail. Tracking number [redacted] on May **, 2014. That office received it on May [redacted], 2014. BLS never sent me any confirmation. New Agency took over on [redacted] May, 2014. They never received that package. I requested BLS to track and find out where is that application package. I provide all information but BLS never check in detail about that mail.

Nobody answer any phone call any time, and [redacted] reply email that "No record found" other employee replied " gave that application to new agency". One of them is not telling the truth.

They should have manifest of transition. which files are included in this process.

That application package has original Indian passport.Desired Settlement: FEDEX delivered that package, new agency did not received it, so BLS has it. Need to find that package with original passport, and $2000.00 expense +your fees, with apology for me and you going through all this trouble.

Review: In July of 2013, I had submitted my passport, along with all required documentation, including a pre-paid FedEx return envelope to BLS international for an Indian visa. After more than FIVE months, I receive an email notification on December **, 2013, that my processed passport had been received from the Indian Consulate in New York, and that it was ready to be returned to me. As of December [redacted], 2013, I have STILL not received my passport, even though the return envelope with for overnight delivery. Hundreds of phone calls to the two numbers provided on the BLS New York website have gone unanswered. The lines are always busy and disconnect me automatically, or I get a message saying the number is no longer in service. I've sent numerous emails to the company, and I get automated replies saying the matter is under investigation, and someone will get back to me shortly. My concern is that BLS may have lost my passport, in which case, someone needs to let me know so I can do what needs to be done to recover it. I've read reviews on other websites about the incompetence of the business, and how they have passports strewn around the office. Being that I'm in Ohio, I can't just make a trip to New York to find out what this company did with my passport.Desired Settlement: I just want my passport returned to me as soon as possible. If the company lost my passport, then I need to know that as well.

Consumer

Response:

At this time, I have not been contacted by BLS International Service regarding complaint ID [redacted]. The New York Office (where my passport is being held) cannot be reached at all.

Sincerely,

Review: About 1 year ago I filed my application to become an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) with BLS International, a contracting firm employed by the government of India. The application I sent to BLS included a cashier's check in the amount of $282.70 (processing fee and services). BLS International cashed this check. In the meantime, the government of India replaced BLS International as the service provider for OCI. Therefore BLS International returned my application packet, minus the fees (cashier's check). For the last one year I have been writing to BLS, requesting the refund for my fees. Upon request, I have sent them proof of the cashier's check being cashed by BLS International. I have even received e-mails that my refund is being processed. Since that last e-mail in January 2015, I have not yet received my check.Desired Settlement: I would like BLS International to refund my processing fees, $282.70, for the service they did not provide at the earliest. I would like to receive a refund check through mail.

Review: I HIRE BLS TO GET OCI CARD FOR MYSELF AND MY FAMILY. I PAID $1130.08 FOR THIS SERVICE AND BLS FAILD TO GET OCI CARD THEY RETURN APPLICATION BACK AND DID NOT RETURN THE MONEY I PAID THEM FOR THIS SERVICE.THEY DO NOT PICK UP PHONE WHEN I CALL THEM AND DID NOT ANSWER MY EMAIL.Desired Settlement: FULL REFUND

Review: Documents & money orders were sent to BLS International for getting OCI card(For India) & renunciation of Indian passport. Total fee paid was $748.10. BLS International returned all the documents & kept the fee money. I have been sending emails to them from the last 2 months But no response. I did send them all the details they had asked for.Please help me in getting my money back. Thank you.Desired Settlement: Please help me in getting my money back. Thank you.

Review: I submitted my passport to BLS for an Indian Travel Visa on Thursday, January **, 2014, telling the company that I needed my visa urgently. They told me I would have my passport on the following Tuesday and that I could check its progress on the website. Tuesday, January ** came along, and the website was still unchanged, so I attempted to call the office. For hours I tried both numbers, and received not a single reply. I went into the office the following day, 1/**/2014, to see if they could provide any additional information. I was told that I'd have to wait 48-72 hours, as my request was still being processed. I desired my passport back, if they could not issue the Visa in time, and I was told the cancellation would take the same amount of time so I should just wait. The same day, I went to the Indian Consulate, to see if they had any information. I was told they hadn't even received my passport and there was no record of me in their system. Two days later, I returned to BLS for answers, and they had me wait for an inquiry. After several hours, I was told that my passport was misplaced and they allowed me to speak with a [redacted]. I was given two personal numbers to contact them regarding more information. Again, the following day, I tried calling both numbers for several hours to no avail. I received a call from their [redacted], on Monday, January **, in which he confirmed that my passport was missing and that they'd reimburse the costs for a new passport. I returned to the office on Wednesday, February **, requesting a letter from the company claiming responsibility for my lost passport. They made me wait 6 hours and refused to give me the letter, after speaking with three different employees. They insisted that I get my new passport without any notice on their end. Again, throughout my thousands of calls to any telephone number I was given, I received not a single answer.Desired Settlement: I require a letter stating their responsibility for this incident. Also, I request reimbursement of all of my travel costs, and other associated money lost in the process of this company's failure, beyond my new passport cost.

Review: I submitted all of the documents required for my visa. BLS International is holding my passport hostage and providing very little information about my application. BLS International has had my application for 15 business days, far more than the quoted 7-9 business day turnaround time. I cannot speak with anyone on the phone. One out of five emails are answered, and they are just generic responses. I have gone two times to the physical location and was forced to wait outside the office for at least 2 hours in the cold even when I had an appointment. When I entered the office, I had to endure another line. The person who I spoke with had no further information on my application. My flight is scheduled about a week away, and I do not know whether I will get my visa on time. BLS International, on their website, claims to be proud that they are an Indian company but this is America and they should be held to the same standard of companies in this country.Desired Settlement: I just want my visa and passport in my possession so that I can travel to India. I would also love for BLS International to be shut down, but I guess that is asking for too much.

Business

Response:

Complaint received via postal mail. I looked through our system and find no record under the name supplied. I called the phone number on the complaint for additional information and left a message requesting further information and followed it up with an email. Waiting for response.

Consumer

Response:

I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted], and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me and the matter has been resolved.

Sincerely,