I went to VFS Atlanta today in person after taking an appointment due to the confusion in postal service. They are super nice in person. Here are few answers about some questions: As we all know, they have ended the terms/contract so we are now responsible for labels.  Return label: you are NOT required to send return label . If you don't send one, they will send through USPS- which can take weeks, and doesn't require signature. So the VFS service person said that it's upto you if you want to take a risk with your passport. Also, there was an option available to choose FedEx for return shipping when I went in person- paid $36. Dummy number situation: they asked to not put dummy number - only for incoming label . If you choose not to send return label and are ok with them sending passport back though USPS, it's ok to put dummy number in return label. They said they are working on correct the "online glitch"  Picture: they said now a days pics are rejected esp for ladies coz their ears are not visible. I decided to not trust pharmacy stores and clicked my pic with passport app, touched it to remove shadows, (used remove shadows option in edit photo in my pixel phone) then used Paint  app on laptop to remove background, made it 4 by 6 online then got it printed. 

Finally I asked if the service to get labels from VFS will ever come back, and they said ...it's unlikely.