OCI process

[dushyant2809]

mine timeline is for oci

Date Of Acknowledgment 25-MAY-2022

Registration Status at MissionTORONTO

Documents Printing Status PROCESSED On
15-JUN-2022
Dispatched From MEA (OCI )NEW DELHI
16-JUN-2022
Document received AtTORONTO on
16-JUN-2022

Nothing after that how long it should b more

There wont be any update after this on OCI site.

Check on BLS site now.

 

[sundeep_s_]

mine timeline is for oci

Date Of Acknowledgment 25-MAY-2022

Registration Status at MissionTORONTO

Documents Printing Status PROCESSED On
15-JUN-2022
Dispatched From MEA (OCI )NEW DELHI
16-JUN-2022
Document received AtTORONTO on
16-JUN-2022

Nothing after that how long it should b more

When did you actually apply for OCI? which office?

 

[sundeep_s_]

@dushyant2809 exactly as you said. My entry visa has arrived today, and SC has been shipped and is arriving tomorrow! love these timelines.
One last battle of the war left! OCI!
Gearing up to put in the application at Brampton office Monday morning via Walkin!

 

[Nav89]

There wont be any update after this on OCI site.

Check on BLS site now.

Checked it says (Passport ready For Collection after OCI stamping) What should b next

 

[dushyant2809]

Checked it says (Passport ready For Collection after OCI stamping) What should b next

Phir se line mein lago...what else.....lol...

But Congratulations...... if its Brampton.....line up in Advance.....or check for waiting times on other locations.

There is a limited time only for pickup.

 

[anirudhap]

Sharing my experience on dealing with BLS a few days ago. Finally was able to apply for my family's (5 of us) surrender certificates!

Did a lot of research to see why quite a few photographs are rejected by BLS. It's a simple case of revenue generation. Basic math says that even if 30-40 applicants are made to take their photos everyday, the monthly salary of at least two employees are recovered. They will also sell you the idea of using Purolator for pickup and drop off. God help you if there is a mistake on your form. You will have to pay for courier again.

I was determined to not pay the exorbitant charges for photos for the 5 of us. I do professional photography so it riles me even more. Took my own photos, resized them as per their specs including the size of the face and got them printed at Staples for under $5. Out of 5, they accepted 4 and declined to use one (shirt was light coloured! My mistake totally). They objected to another photo, I showed them the specs and asked them to take a ruler and measure it and then reject. I wasn't rude, just firm and had my evidence, so I guess they had no choice but to accept. If anyone needs advice on how to do photos, please send me a PM. Happy to share what I know.

Once the surrender certificate application was submitted, my spouse and I gave applications for tourist visa. The agent said, that we would have to go back to the walk in queue and take a fresh token. I questioned that as well so one of their colleagues stepped in and said it was ok, because we were submitting only 2 visa applications and not 5.

The gentleman informed me that the 'gratis' single entry tourist visa was suspended. I am not sure of this, because CGI Toronto website says it was introduced in Nov 2021 and there is no notification of its suspension. If any one has applied for it or has more info, please share. I have written to CGI to verify this and will update if they respond. So, they made us apply for one year, multiple entry tourist visa, even though I would have been happy with a single entry 30 day tourist visa.

The best part is that for one application, the photo that worked for surrender certificate, did not work for tourist visa! So much so for standardization and we were made to take another photo. All in all, as against paying for 5 photos, we paid for 2 so I am happy with this minor victory. I am certain each agent has a target for the number of photos and photocopies of documents they have to generate. An applicant on the next counter had a BW copy of DL as proof of residence. He was told that it wasn't clear enough, even though standing a few feet away, I could read his DL - not because my eyesight is great, but because it was large enough and totally legible.

Also, to apply for a tourist visa, you don't need to have a surrender certificate. You can apply for SC later; just don't use your Indian Passport for travel. It is ok to surrender your Indian Passport upto three years after becoming a Canadian. There's no penalty for that, if you haven't used it for travel.

Since 4 of us are adults, we will have to go in person to pick up our documents. Even for a family, I cannot pick up as a group. While this is certainly an inconvenience, I am not willing to pay $300+ as courier charges. It's a shame that a sub-standard operation like BLS is allowed to make money like that. Unfortunately, there is not much choice since this is with the blessings of the Ministry of External Affairs, GOI, who would have approved the contract with BLS and their exorbitant charges.

I was also deeply disappointed to see that on a visa application, Government of India asks you to declare your religion. Not sure how or why that is important for a visitor to India. My religious beliefs (or the lack of them) are for my personal consumption and not for Government of India to monitor. I have written to the Ministry of External Affairs in India to ask why this information is important enough for a visa application. Will share, if I hear back from them.

hey, any link where it says we have 3 years to surrender Indian passport? TIA!!

 

[delray55]

mine timeline is for oci

Date Of Acknowledgment 25-MAY-2022

Registration Status at MissionTORONTO

Documents Printing Status PROCESSED On
15-JUN-2022
Dispatched From MEA (OCI )NEW DELHI
16-JUN-2022
Document received AtTORONTO on
16-JUN-2022

Nothing after that how long it should b more

Which jurisdiction?
have you opted for courier?. some have reported that the status did not change much in bls but got their documents

 

[dushyant2809]

@dushyant2809 exactly as you said. My entry visa has arrived today, and SC has been shipped and is arriving tomorrow! love these timelines.
One last battle of the war left! OCI!
Gearing up to put in the application at Brampton office Monday morning via Walkin!

That's awesome..Congratulations..

Yes OCI is one big task. I know its hard to find appointment since its all booked till Aug end.

You will have to wait for your cancelled passport to get in hand before going for OCI since it will be deposited again.

Monday's and Fridays are usually busy due to weekend effect and many people going on Fridays due to less work load at work place.

Try Tue-Thur and line up early

Fill up all the fields in OCI and carry all the originals even from 20-30 years ago. They have a habit of asking out of the syllabus documents.
Cancelled Indian passport will be again deposited though you just cancelled it. Extra courier for this....Just refuse it and insist on picking up.

On the upload docs section....upload everything even the one's not required including spouse details if applicable.

 

[sundeep_s_]

That;s awesome..Congratulations..

Yes OCI is one big task. I know its hard to find appointment since its all booked till Aug end.

You will have to wait for your cancelled passport to get in hand before going for OCI since it will be deposited again.

Monday's and Fridays are usually busy due to weekend effect and many people going on Fridays due to less work load at work place.

Try Tue-Thur and line up early

Fill up all the fields in OCI and carry all the originals even from 20-30 years ago. They have a habit of asking out of the syllabus documents.
Cancelled Indian passport will be again deposited though you just cancelled it. Extra courier for this....Just refuse it and insist on picking up.

On the upload docs section....upload everything even the one's not required including spouse details if applicable.

Okay got it.
About the cancelled passport, I was assuming that it'll come back to me tomorrow along with the SC, no? Do I have to wait for it separately?

I am hellbent on getting this process done soon, I'll go stand in line at 7 am on Monday (even earlier if possible).

I'll come back here for questions when I fill in the OCI app . Thanks for the support as always.
Also I hope I won't need a birth certificate for OCI. I don't have one .

 

[dushyant2809]

Okay got it.
About the cancelled passport, I was assuming that it'll come back to me tomorrow along with the SC, no? Do I have to wait for it separately?

I am hellbent on getting this process done soon, I'll go stand in line at 7 am on Monday (even earlier if possible).

I'll come back here for questions when I fill in the OCI app . Thanks for the support as always.
Also I hope I won't need a birth certificate for OCI. I don't have one .

Keep checking BLS site for status on SC
Also passport site if it has been printed or not.
Indian passport is sufficient for birth certificate. I meant just carry whatever you have. It may be not required but just in case they ask you will have it handy and you wont need to come back again.

 

[immigrant7]

Finally, Received the other 2 OCI cards as well. Thank God.

 

[Nav89]

When did you actually apply for OCI? which office?

April 28

 

[Nav89]

Which jurisdiction?
have you opted for courier?. some have reported that the status did not change much in bls but got their documents

I'm from Winnipeg sent papers to Toronto via purolater

 

[sundeep_s_]

Keep checking BLS site for status on SC
Also passport site if it has been printed or not.
Indian passport is sufficient for birth certificate. I meant just carry whatever you have. It may be not required but just in case they ask you will have it handy and you wont need to come back again.

Yes I meant SC is printed already and posted out as per the BLS site. I have the tracking number. Expected delivery is tomorrow.
so my Cancelled Indian passport would be returned in the same envelope right?
sure I’ll carry everything I have for OCI application. Hopefully things have sped up a bit for OCI as well.

 

[akbardxb]

hey, any link where it says we have 3 years to surrender Indian passport? TIA!!

I didn’t find a link on HCI, Ottawa, but I googled and found a link from some Indian embassy in Africa.