OCI process

[OldH1B]

I just want to share something. I already applied for for my Daughters OCI. BLS acknowledgment date is 25th March and CGI acknowledgment date is 20th April. as I we have already booked our flight tickets for June 1st and I don't want any sleepless night due to OCI delay, We applied for entry VISA on Saturday (Walk in). Passport with VISA delivered by Purolator today May 5th. it took 5 days only. if anyone booked tickets and waiting for OCI please go ahead apply for entry VISA. (Up to you, a friendly suggestion). because it costs only $150 (including drop off) and compared to cancellation/changing dates of tickets it is cheap. Summer fairs are really high.

Can you please confirm if you got the entry visa at BLS or or CGI? Is there walkin for Entry visa in Toronto?

 

[razi94]

Good suggestion. What is your visa duration if I may ask? Because that is critical for those who are planning for a longer stint in India and intend to apply for OCI over there.

It is 6 month multiple entry visa.

 

[razi94]

Can you please confirm if you got the entry visa at BLS or or CGI? Is there walkin for Entry visa in Toronto?

applied through BLS walk in Service

 

[razi94]

Thanks for this info.
I am also with similar timelines, sent to BLS on 18 March, CGI under process on 20 April and still under process
I have my travel on June 7. I am wondering if I should wait till end of third week of May. That will give me 2 weeks buffer before the travel.
Only worry is if my oci comes after I have left for India, do they leave it in your mailbox or what do they do?

you can wait up to 2 more weeks as VISA will be processed in a week. if OCI comes after i leave I will have to call BLS change drop address to my friends address. that is what i am thinking.

 

[Tihompra01]

That's weird. They are supposed to keep only copy of surrender certificate not the original when you submit in-person. Did they tell you they're gonna return it? maybe they mistook orignal for a copy? both looks the same lol.....

No I asked the same to them and submitted a copy of the surrender certificate along with forms but the lady at the counter asked for original one. She gave me a form for wiring the address for return of original certificate marked for return.
She told me it will be returned in 10-14 days.

 

[delray55]

you can wait up to 2 more weeks as VISA will be processed in a week. if OCI comes after i leave I will have to call BLS change drop address to my friends address. that is what i am thinking.

Have you paid for the courier?. Is there a option for BLS to hold it?

 

[parygre]

Is there a timeline tracking sheet on this thread for OCI?
I sent my OCI application to BLS Surrey through Purolator.
Delivered MAY 02, 2022
BLS tracking Under Process: May 04, 2022

When can I expect the OCI enquiry to be Under process? does anybody has an idea?

Thanks

 

[razi94]

Have you paid for the courier?. Is there a option for BLS to hold it?

I already paid for the drop off service. i have no idea they have holding service.

 

[keypad]

This is what I filled -

- There are two fields, National Identification Number and Previous Passport Number. What do we need to fill in there? - Left both blank. No national ID and this is the 1st Canadian passport, so no previous passport.
- Also what should be uploaded for the Employment Letter? - I uploaded a letter from my employer.
- My father is deceased, how to fill in that? - Not sure about this. Probably put (Late) before his name. But check with BLS
- The applicant's passport details should be based on the Canadian passport, right? The sample form on the BLS website says it needs to be as per the Indian passport which creates confusion. - I entered Canadian Passport details here. Indian passport details will come under previous nationality.
- Can we use debit card to pay for the fee or the draft is mandatory? Mandatory Draft of $345 favouring the Consulate.. BLS fees can be paid by cash or debit.
- Do we need to self-attest documents before uploading? - Not required.. but physical copies should be self attested

@manu.yoganand Thanks for the reply. I don't have any letter from my employer and wondering what else can we use.
@vvarma as you went to the Surrey office, can you please share your thoughts on the above questions?

 

[delray55]

@manu.yoganand Thanks for the reply. I don't have any letter from my employer and wondering what else can we use.
@vvarma as you went to the Surrey office, can you please share your thoughts on the above questions?

You can use a self declaration letter about your employment details. that should be sufficient

 

[AKT]

No I asked the same to them and submitted a copy of the surrender certificate along with forms but the lady at the counter asked for original one. She gave me a form for wiring the address for return of original certificate marked ✔ for return.
She told me it will be returned in 10-14 days.

OK. Looks like BLS invented new trick to make people pay for courier. I have a feeling they won't even send original certificate to CGI and ship it back to you after a few days.

 

[delray55]

OK. Looks like BLS invented new trick to make people pay for courier. I have a feeling they won't even send original certificate to CGI and ship it back to you after a few days.

so you need to pay for courier twice ? once to deliver originals and one to deliver OCI?

 

[keypad]

You can use a self declaration letter about your employment details. that should be sufficient

Thanks @delray55 Is there any sample format for this? Do we need to address this to any particular authority?

 

[delray55]

Thanks @delray55 Is there any sample format for this? Do we need to address this to any particular authority?

Letter created by yourself stating your profession, company name and address, job title, full/part time, period - addressed to Consul General should be fine. If you can include latest paystub.

 

[Bains87]

How about going back to BLS and contact the staff (name should be on the receipt) and explain the situation. If they indeed charge twice (which it appears they have), it must have shown as surplus on their collections at the end of that day. Assuming they are honest, they would not know from where that extra payment came from. And if they want to cover this up, it's hard to do anything, except getting your bank to dispute and stop that payment (as someone suggested).

I will try that eventually, I am hoping this should be resolved in 5-7 business days.