OCI application in India vs in Canada

[hardnut]

Lots of posts about OCI here but it will be nice if people can
compare pros and cons of applying for OCI in India vs applying here in Canada.

 

[hardnut]

Nobody replied but I found some myself;

YOU CANNOT APPLY FOR OCI IN INDIA IF YOU GO THERE ON A TOURIST VISA.

https://mha.gov.in/PDF_Other/3OCIcardholder_FAQs_15112019.pdf

You may apply for OCI in India if:

You go there on a long term visa ( like ENTRY VISA) but NOT a tourist/missionary/mountaineering visa.
OR
You travel to India on your Indian passport under the 3 month grace period after obtaining Canadian citizenship ( but not getting Canadian passport) and you obtain your first Canadian passport in India, you may apply for OCI in India.

For those who may qualify under the above conditions , read on;

1. Cheaper to apply for OCI in India
* Passport surrender fee in Canada is CAD 250 . In India it is INR 5000
* OCI fees in Canada is CAD 425. In India it is INR 15000

2. Processing time;
* In India, people report receiving cancelled passport the same or next day .
* In Canada, BLS takes about 7 days to return cancelled passport.
* In India, OCI process with FRRO takes ( 8-12 wks) longer than Canada ( 5 wks)
* In Canada, OCI applications with BLS have become routine with many applying on a daily basis.
Not so in India. FRRO verifIies with Indian consulate in Canada Plus there is verification by home visit by passport personnel in India.

.

 

[21Goose]

Nobody replied but I found some myself;

YOU CANNOT APPLY FOR OCI IN INDIA IF YOU GO THERE ON A TOURIST VISA.

https://mha.gov.in/PDF_Other/3OCIcardholder_FAQs_15112019.pdf

If you go there on a long term visa other than a tourist/missionary/mountaineering visa.
OR
who obtain their first Canadian passport in India, you may apply for OCI in India. For the very few who may qualify under this , read on;

1. Cheaper to apply for OCI in India
* Passport surrender fee in Canada is CAD 250 . In India it is INR 5000
* OCI fees in Canada is CAD 425. In India it is INR 15000

2. Processing time;
* In India, people report receiving cancelled passport the same or next day .
* In Canada, BLS takes about 7 days to return cancelled passport.
* In India, OCI process takes ( 8-12 wks) longer than Canada ( 5 wks)
* In Canada, OCI applications with BLS have become routine with many applying on a daily basis.
Not so in India. Plus there is verification by home visit by passport personnel in India.

.

Thanks for the info!

 

[21685]

Thank you hardnut for starting a very useful topic for the Indians who are now becoming Canadians.

 

[hardnut]

Thank you hardnut for starting a very useful topic for the Indians who are now becoming Canadians.

Thanks for appreciating.

Though most newly minted Indian-Canadians have lives here, so they go for OCI with BLS Canada.
But a few may have circumstances necessitating Indian Travel/Stay after oath, so may find this info useful.

If others have inputs to share on this topic, please post.