I went to the Indian Consulate General in Chicago last week, and felt that I was back in India. The service was terrible. Stand in one line(for half an hour) at the receptionist for a number, then wait till yournumber is called at the service counter. 2 hours later, my number was called. After following all the instructions given on the Embassy website to the "T" for my PIO application, I was dismissed by the official at the single counter saying that I was not eligible for a PIO card. And there is no recourse or appeal. The Babu at the counter apparently has the last word. I saw others shouting at the lone official(referring to the detailed instructions on the Consulate's web page) to no avail. Makes me feel that I am right back in India where the concept of "service" is apparently non existent, and the "Civil" servants who man the counters are far from civil, and definitely do not consider themselves public servants but rather public bosses. Want a Visa ? The Consulate now refers you to a private contractor. So
getting a PIO card or OCI card or a Visa are not so easy. With all the fees that they charge, why can the Consulate not have more than one counter to serve the more than hundred people waiting to be served ?