OCI process

[snehagupta12us]

I read the previous 15 pages before making that post and I didn't see anyone talking about this. I was hoping this was some outdated gibberish not applicable to us.

Am I the only married person here and is everyone else still enjoying their bachelorhood?

Do you know the process of validating these? I mean where do I begin? Filling those OCI forms and standing in line at BLS at 7 am is enough torture.

Edit - Is this the right place to begin the authenticating process - https://www.ontario.ca/page/authenticate-document-use-outside-canada

I am in the same boat as you. I was very sincerely trying to get my documents ready for OCI but came across this requirement and have lost all the motivation to work on this further. But your post reminded me that i need to work on this. There whole process is crazy. I also got married in canada and i think getting it attested by CGI is where I am stuck as they are asking to send it out to them in post for attestation.

 

[Abhishek901]

@snehagupta12us was following up on whether the marriage certificate needs to be authenticated from CGI Toronto. But personally I think that you have to get it authenticated by ODS and CGI. Even the custody document has to be authenticated from ODS and CGI.

Thanks Maddy.

 

[Abhishek901]

I am in the same boat as you. I was very sincerely trying to get my documents ready for OCI but came across this requirement and have lost all the motivation to work on this further. But your post reminded me that i need to work on this. There whole process is crazy. I also got married in canada and i think getting it attested by CGI is where I am stuck as they are asking to send it out to them in post for attestation.

I honestly don't feel good about sending any original documents to them on mail given how unorganized they are. The language on their website looks like it was written by a fifth grade student. If I knew about this, I would have set the ball rolling much sooner instead of waiting for the Canadian passport.

We just need to keep spending time and money on this process. Issuing Canadian passport costs $160 and cancelling Indian passport costs $250. I am sure, printing a new passport booklet would be more cost intensive than stamping "Cancel" on an existing passport.

 

[lifein360]

I honestly don't feel good about sending any original documents to them on mail given how unorganized they are. The language on their website looks like it was written by a fifth grade student. If I knew about this, I would have set the ball rolling much sooner instead of waiting for the Canadian passport.

We just need to keep spending time and money on this process. Issuing Canadian passport costs $160 and cancelling Indian passport costs $250. I am sure, printing a new passport booklet would be more cost intensive than stamping "Cancel" on an existing passport.

Cancelling Indian passport is around $160 including courier charges (still a ridiculously high fee I have to say to just stamp cancel)

In total, expect to pay around $550 total for OCI + surrender if you choose the courier delivery route.

 

[snehagupta12us]

As I got married in Canada (Ontario) and need to get the marriage certificate authenticated.

Just to confirm, if we both are now Canadian citizens, do we still need to get the marriage certificated authenticated? We are applying for OCI based on our own Indian identities.

Well, you might not need authentication from ODS but you will need attestation from CGI. Try sending out an email to CGI to confirm as it doesnt matter what BLS or anyone says, CGI can still reject the application for any goddamn reason. Atleast if we have an email confirmation from CGI will help if any issues in application review by CGI.

 

[snehagupta12us]

I honestly don't feel good about sending any original documents to them on mail given how unorganized they are. The language on their website looks like it was written by a fifth grade student. If I knew about this, I would have set the ball rolling much sooner instead of waiting for the Canadian passport.

We just need to keep spending time and money on this process. Issuing Canadian passport costs $160 and cancelling Indian passport costs $250. I am sure, printing a new passport booklet would be more cost intensive than stamping "Cancel" on an existing passport.

I feel the same. I am very skeptical about sending originals in post but we dont know when will they start in-person attestation service and u tried to email them and ask for a waiver of CGI attestation but CGI emailed me saying that they dont require the marriage certificate to be authorized by ODS but they need attestation from CGI which is a bigger pain.

 

[snehagupta12us]

Cancelling Indian passport is around $160 including courier charges (still a ridiculously high fee I have to say to just stamp cancel)

In total, expect to pay around $550 total for OCI + surrender if you choose the courier delivery route.

Yeah thats right. They have put unnecessary authorization and attestation requirements which all requires a fee and time. For everything they are asking lawyer affidavit. Even applying for PR and citizenship is easier than getting a small document from CGI. I only want to apply for OCI so that i dont have to go to BLS for visa application multiple times when i plan to visit india. I highly recommend meditation lessons before you start the surrender and OCI process. It will help deal with BLS and OCI without losing our minds

 

[Abhishek901]

Well, you might not need authentication from ODS but you will need attestation from CGI. Try sending out an email to CGI to confirm as it doesnt matter what BLS or anyone says, CGI can still reject the application for any goddamn reason. Atleast if we have an email confirmation from CGI will help if any issues in application review by CGI.

How soon do they normally reply on email?

 

[snehagupta12us]

How soon do they normally reply on email?

They replied to me in a day or two. Cant remember as i sent email a while back but it dint take time receive response. If you get a reply from them for any waiver then include that email copy in the application.

 

[maddy_m]

I feel the same. I am very skeptical about sending originals in post but we dont know when will they start in-person attestation service and u tried to email them and ask for a waiver of CGI attestation but CGI emailed me saying that they dont require the marriage certificate to be authorized by ODS but they need attestation from CGI which is a bigger pain.

I did the authentication of the custody document and civil document from ODS/Australian Embassy and CGI. It is straightforward process if you could get the appointments but definitely a time consuming process. It took time to figure out the steps to follow. I had to search online for detail steps and how to get appointments.

 

[snehagupta12us]

I did the authentication of the custody document and civil document from ODS/Australian Embassy and CGI. It is straightforward process if you could get the appointments but definitely a time consuming process. It took time to figure out the steps to follow. I had to search online for detail steps and how to get appointments.

Getting it authenticated from ODS is straightforward process. But getting attestation from CGI is a pain as they have suspended in person attestation service and they are asking to send originals along with the fee in demend draft with application and return envelope. After all this they will attest the marriage certificate (which is issued by service canadaand authenticated by ODS) back to us. I dont even understan what is the whole point of all this run around.

 

[maddy_m]

Getting it authenticated from ODS is straightforward process. But getting attestation from CGI is a pain as they have suspended in person attestation service and they are asking to send originals along with the fee in demend draft with application and return envelope. After all this they will attest the marriage certificate (which is issued by service canadaand authenticated by ODS) back to us. I dont even understan what is the whole point of all this run around.

I did the CGI authentication in the month of August. It was probably last week of August. I took the appointment. It might have changed now.

 

[lifein360]

Yeah thats right. They have put unnecessary authorization and attestation requirements which all requires a fee and time. For everything they are asking lawyer affidavit. Even applying for PR and citizenship is easier than getting a small document from CGI. I only want to apply for OCI so that i dont have to go to BLS for visa application multiple times when i plan to visit india. I highly recommend meditation lessons before you start the surrender and OCI process. It will help deal with BLS and OCI without losing our minds

Haha thankfully I got married in India. I just submitted my OCI and surrender application today without any issues - fingers crossed.

Fingers crossed for you and the others with all the attestation hassle

 

[snehagupta12us]

Haha thankfully I got married in India so I didn't have these issues. I just submitted my OCI and surrender application today without any issues - fingers crossed.

Fingers crossed for you and the others with all the attestation hassle

This is how lame their process and requirements are, as they trust marriage certificate issued in india more than issued in Canada . They are asking authentication and attestation for canadian issued documents.

 

[Mumbai_Maratha]

For OCI online document upload, do we need to upload employment letter ?