Hello Nishanj.
1).Pls see the link posted by IRCC on twitter. IRCC has confirmed that they will automatically allow an additional 90 days for passport submission due to COVID-19. So please ignore the 30 days expiry printed on your passport submission letter.
2) VFS will not agree/accept all addresses as serviceable for 2-way courier, especially from Kerala. You need to be prepared to provide a few alternative addresses (friends/family/business) with a PIN CODE for VFS to confirm serviceability. They may not accept address with P.O, a V.P.O, Tehsil, and village address.
3) You can also check the serviceability of an address (need PIN CODE) on
www.bluedart.com. Click on location finder. Enter your PIN CODE, select it from the pulldown menu. It will display the nearest bluedart location. More importantly it will display all available services at that particular blue dart location, including ‘Pickup’ and ‘Delivery’. If you have a bludart location within your pincode with all services available, it is most likely that VFS will authorize that location. Having said that sometimes VFS will refuse an address with no explanation as well!!
4) Another things is that when you provide those alternative addresses. Pls mention the following that ‘In case the courier service is unable to pick up/drop off’ passport at your local address, you are willing to pickup/drop off’ it to the
nearby bluedart location.
5) Personally I can confirm that they will accept any addresses within Pin code of Kottayam (Kerala) 686001 or Kochi (Kerala) 682020
6) Once they accept any of your addresses as serviceable, they will sent you the payment link. Once paid they will then sent the AWB. It is important that you need to pay within 10 hrs of VFS activating your personal payment link! The courier person will call your mobile number for pick up or you can go to the blue dart location to drop it on the day they allot you in the e-mail.
7) I can see that, in your e-mail from VFS, they have mentioned that blue dart locations in Kerala is not authorized to accept passport and suggesting to submit the passport to blue dart in VIZAG! This is a common statement that they always make to all applicants (especially for south/Kerala). Please ignore it. You will get a serviceable location if you follow the above steps.
8) Mind you they are very busy and it may take up to two weeks for them to process it (even though they promise to respond within 48 hrs!). Keep sending reminders and if it is delayed unreasonably, you can contact them on twitter @vfsglobalcare. They will respond to your concern
I have just gone through all these painful processes and learned all these lessons from many of these good peoples' sharing their experiences. Finally, I got my payment link after 14 days! Hope this helps. Wish you all the best.
PS: This is from my own personal experience, lets see if others would like to add/share any other tips.
