PIO Application for South African Indians

Hello. Can anybody give me their feedback and experiences on applying for a PIO in South Africa. I have been waiting for close to three months with no feedback.

All my documentation was in order from colonial numbers to birth certificates and so on but the consulate seems to be taking very long and is not helpful with updates. They just don't seem to care.

Any valid input would be greatly appreciated, especially from South African Indians who have successfully acquired a PIO.

Applied in January 2012 and still no response. Did any of you go through a third party or directly to the consulate?

SA Indian, what third party?

Go pay a visit to the consulate and inquire.

I went through the SA Indian Archives in Pietermaritzburg. No definitive answers. No document numbers. No status updates. Often nobody even answering the phone on most attempts. So much for this process being easier.

I am extremely frustrated and I am now thinking (many months later) that I should have just dealt with consulate in Durban from the outset. I had all my documents from my first ancestor who landed here, birth certificates, and so on clearly mapping my lineage. I just thought it would be easier going through an intermediary who is well versed in these matters as we all know how abrupt the consulate can be. Looks like it was my mistake. Best to go to the consulate directly and just get the facts, your document number and status updates directly from them.

SA Indian, I have heard about the SA Indian Archives but went directly to the consulate. Never dealt with the SA Indian archives myself. I did get some help initially. The person who originally was helping me turned out to be incompetent. In the end I decided it to do it myself.

Yes, a document number is essential. If they have not given you a document number then you don't have any proof that they submitted the application on your behalf. I hope you haven't paid them anything for this application.

I found that this thread on India Mike by SaffaSusie to be one of the most helpful threads for South Africans applying for a PIO.