I downloaded the form 7 - filled it out in paper and ink - attached pertaining documents - and sent it to Election registrar's office in India with DHL - expensive but this counts as submitting the voter's card according to chat gpt
OCI process
- Thread starter blueshirt
- Start date
I had requested for collection even though I submitted premium. They haven’t responded to my email query. Going to go in person tomorrow to collect it and hopefully should be okay.
May be try using VPN or take a remote access through system in India to complete the application. Might work.
Application progress BLS Toronto Walk In (Premium)
BLS Application Submission : Sep 26
BLS Tracker - Sep 29 - Processing at Consulate General
OCI portal
Oct 30 - Under Process
Nov 21 - Granted Nov 24 - Issued
Nov 25 - Dispatched from printing cell
BLS tracker
Dec 3 - In transit from consulate general to BLS
Dec 4 - Ready for collection / courier
Dec 10 - collected OCI in person from BLS Toronto
BLS Application Submission : Sep 26
BLS Tracker - Sep 29 - Processing at Consulate General
OCI portal
Oct 30 - Under Process
Nov 21 - Granted Nov 24 - Issued
Nov 25 - Dispatched from printing cell
BLS tracker
Dec 3 - In transit from consulate general to BLS
Dec 4 - Ready for collection / courier
Dec 10 - collected OCI in person from BLS Toronto
according to chatgpt - it is permissible to apply for visitor visa to India while OCI is being processed -
Hello, I need to apply for the OCI but need to go to India after applying for the OCI. I understand that going to India on an e-visa is not an issue while my OCI is being processed here. However, my concern is I am not planning to return to Canada for a minimum of one year.
- Can someone on my behalf receive my OCI while I am in India. Courier or pick up? And if the answer to this is yes - it can be sent over to India to me and then I go to FRRO and have my status converted to OCI from visitor visa.
- Is it a better idea to just apply for OCI from India - issue with this as I read online is, I can't apply for OCI while in India if I am on a visitor e-visa and the processing time is way too long which can exceed my 180 days of limited stay.
- What is the current processing time for OCI if applied from BLS Mississauga?
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Yes — but only if the BLS jurisdiction you apply through allows “Courier Return” OR allows someone else to pick it up with an authorization letter.
In Canada:
- Most BLS centres allow courier return (Purolator).
- If you choose Courier Return, once your OCI is printed and sent to the Consulate, BLS will courier it to the Canadian address you provided.
- Anyone at that address can receive it — you don’t personally need to be present.
If you choose self-pickup, then:
- Some centres allow authorized pickup where your representative carries:
- A signed authorization letter from you
- Their own ID
- A copy of your passport
But courier is safer and simpler.
Yes. Once your friend/family receives the OCI booklet in Canada, they can courier it to you in India (FedEx, DHL, etc.). The OCI booklet itself is not a passport, so there is no restriction on mailing it.
This part is tricky.OCI is not activated by FRRO.
You do not need any “conversion” at FRRO.
But — to actually use OCI benefits — your next entry into India must be on OCI.
Meaning:
- You can receive the OCI card in India.
- You can stay inside India on your current visa (e-visa or regular tourist visa) until it expires.
- But OCI does NOT automatically change your visa status during that stay.
- When you next exit India and re-enter, you can use the OCI card.
What the FRRO can do:
- Update your address or passport in OCI records
- Handle emergency situations
What the FRRO cannot do:
- Convert a tourist visa into OCI status
- Activate OCI while you remain inside India
OCI becomes valid only from your next entry using the card.
So what
Scenario:
- You apply for OCI in Canada
- Travel to India before it is granted
- Someone receives your OCI in Canada, then couriers it to you in India
- You stay in India for 1 year on your existing entry visa (e-visa or regular visa)
- When you next exit India and come back, you can use OCI for entry
Thank you for the detailed answer to all my questions. I really appreciate your time and effort. I maybe overthinking but I have heard and read that for OCI specifically, the Purolator delivery agent asks for the respective person and if they are not available, they take the parcel back for them to come and pick. But, I will not in the country so here is where this question has come up. And, what is the current processing time for the OCI as per your knowledge. I know this is approximate and varies case by case. Thank you!
Yes — but only if the BLS jurisdiction you apply through allows “Courier Return” OR allows someone else to pick it up with an authorization letter.
In Canada:
- Most BLS centres allow courier return (Purolator).
- If you choose Courier Return, once your OCI is printed and sent to the Consulate, BLS will courier it to the Canadian address you provided.
- Anyone at that address can receive it — you don’t personally need to be present.
If you choose self-pickup, then:
- Some centres allow authorized pickupwhere your representative carries:
- A signed authorization letter from you
- Their own ID
- A copy of your passport
But courier is safer and simpler.
Yes. Once your friend/family receives the OCI booklet in Canada, they can courier it to you in India (FedEx, DHL, etc.). The OCI booklet itself is not a passport, so there is no restriction on mailing it.
OCI is not activated by FRRO.
You do not need any “conversion” at FRRO.
But — to actually use OCI benefits — your next entry into India must be on OCI.
Meaning:
- You can receive the OCI card in India.
- You can stay inside India on your current visa (e-visa or regular tourist visa) until it expires.
- But OCI does NOT automatically change your visa status during that stay.
- When you next exit India and re-enter, you can use the OCI card.
- Update your address or passport in OCI records
- Handle emergency situations
What the FRRO cannot do:
- Convert a tourist visa into OCI status
- Activate OCI while you remain inside India
OCI becomes valid only from your next entry using the card.
Scenario:
- You apply for OCI in Canada
- Travel to India before it is granted
- Someone receives your OCI in Canada, then couriers it to you in India
- You stay in India for 1 year on your existing entry visa (e-visa or regular visa)
- When you next exit India and come back, you can use OCI for entry
All these are good really points from chatGPT. (would you mind sharing your prompt for this query? or what information did you input in chat GPT. TIA.)
Yes — but only if the BLS jurisdiction you apply through allows “Courier Return” OR allows someone else to pick it up with an authorization letter.
In Canada:
- Most BLS centres allow courier return (Purolator).
- If you choose Courier Return, once your OCI is printed and sent to the Consulate, BLS will courier it to the Canadian address you provided.
- Anyone at that address can receive it — you don’t personally need to be present.
If you choose self-pickup, then:
- Some centres allow authorized pickupwhere your representative carries:
- A signed authorization letter from you
- Their own ID
- A copy of your passport
But courier is safer and simpler.
Yes. Once your friend/family receives the OCI booklet in Canada, they can courier it to you in India (FedEx, DHL, etc.). The OCI booklet itself is not a passport, so there is no restriction on mailing it.
OCI is not activated by FRRO.
You do not need any “conversion” at FRRO.
But — to actually use OCI benefits — your next entry into India must be on OCI.
Meaning:
- You can receive the OCI card in India.
- You can stay inside India on your current visa (e-visa or regular tourist visa) until it expires.
- But OCI does NOT automatically change your visa status during that stay.
- When you next exit India and re-enter, you can use the OCI card.
- Update your address or passport in OCI records
- Handle emergency situations
What the FRRO cannot do:
- Convert a tourist visa into OCI status
- Activate OCI while you remain inside India
OCI becomes valid only from your next entry using the card.
Scenario:
- You apply for OCI in Canada
- Travel to India before it is granted
- Someone receives your OCI in Canada, then couriers it to you in India
- You stay in India for 1 year on your existing entry visa (e-visa or regular visa)
- When you next exit India and come back, you can use OCI for entry
I want to add my experience:
My friend was in India when his OCI was delivered at home. There was no one to pick up. So delivery guy stick a note on door mentioning that you have a package. please pick up at X location... bring one piece of Id + this notice ... etc... all instructions.
I went to my friend's home --> pick up notice --> went to pick up location --> showed my friend's ID --> he let me pick up OCI on behalf of my friend.
But this can vary... depends on how strict or easy delivery people are at that particular location.
I think if no one can pick up OCI, then they will send it back to BSL.
good luck.
If you staying long in India applying for entry visa and then OCI in India makes sense
