OCI process

[imm01]

Please drop your complaints to these email id's
cg.toronto@mea.gov.in
eam@mea.gov.in

Thanks a lot @csvinayak

I will write an email with all grievances, especially on the following points:
1.Forcing people to use their courier services, they also obtain signatures in a document thats says it is an "optional"service
2. Retain one original random document to bump up the courier charges (for example if COPR is missing, retain Citizenship cert). This is contrary to what is written in their website

After filing of the online OCI application and uploading the supporting documents, signature and photograph online, applicants must submit the originals of the supporting documents along with photocopies for Vancouver and Ottawa Jurisdiction and photocopies only for Toronto jurisdiction to BLS International (outsourced agency of High Commission/Consulate General of India) for necessary verification.

3. 3x courier charges fo OCI + Surrender
4. People who are reluctant to use their service face random rejections (typical example is photo not in proper background)
5. Checklists are incomplete, confusing and convoluted to make the process cumbersome. (Example: For an minor OCI applicant, nowhere is it mentioned that citizenship cert of both parents is required)



I would request members of this forum to add any other points that I may include in my email.

 

[ksn4u]

What's the process of applying OCI and surrender certificate

 

[Ryn_20]

Thanks a lot @csvinayak

I will write an email with all grievances, especially on the following points:
1.Forcing people to use their courier services, they also obtain signatures in a document thats says it is an "optional"service
2. Retain one original random document to bump up the courier charges (for example if COPR is missing, retain Citizenship cert). This is contrary to what is written in their website

After filing of the online OCI application and uploading the supporting documents, signature and photograph online, applicants must submit the originals of the supporting documents along with photocopies for Vancouver and Ottawa Jurisdiction and photocopies only for Toronto jurisdiction to BLS International (outsourced agency of High Commission/Consulate General of India) for necessary verification.

3. 3x courier charges fo OCI + Surrender
4. People who are reluctant to use their service face random rejections (typical example is photo not in proper background)
5. Checklists are incomplete, confusing and convoluted to make the process cumbersome. (Example: For an minor OCI applicant, nowhere is it mentioned that citizenship cert of both parents is required)



I would request members of this forum to add any other points that I may include in my email.

Need more people or few more offices. Applying in person is nightmare specially in winters who have to wait several hours. How are appointments not available and people can go in person with longer waits. Think about elderly people who are lining up. I will not choose postal services when I have questions.

 

[ajit90]

Hi guys,
Anyone who has applied entry visa while waiting for an OCI ? Wanted to know about the experience.
Have a couple of questions :
1. Do we need to upload the same digital photo as the physical photo ?
2. What to we need to fill in citizen/national id ?

 

[dakugandhi]

yes I did both together. got passport back in 2 weeks.

Did they take your Canadian passport as well?

 

[sharadsinha]

Did they take your Canadian passport as well?

No. BLS Brampton does not take any original document. They just take a copy. I have heard that BLS Toronto ask for original marriage certificate and return it later.

 

[sharadsinha]

Hi, hoping to get some guidance from you. Do you know if answer to the question 'if you hold any other passport' should be a Yes or No.? Since both surrender and visa applications are sent together, technically, you hold the Indian passport but for visa formality, can you say no?

Hope I answered your doubt. I didn't understood your this query " technically, you hold the Indian passport but for visa formality, can you say no?"

How you hold your Indian passport when surrender is done? They take it for 2 weeks and return with a "Cancelled" stamp and punched hole. That passport cannot be used anywhere.

IF you are travelling the following scenario may apply to you.

- if you hold Canadian passport you can simply apply for Indian visa.. no issue.

- if you hold Canadian citizenship but haven't applied for Canadian passport yet then you can travel to India on your Indian passport ( up to 3 months from the date of your Canadian citizenship). But in this case you will not have your PR card to return ( as that's cancelled as soon as you get citizenship). So you may need to visit Canadian consulate in India to get a document to travel back. They charge for it I believe.

- if you have Canadian citizenship ( And haven't surrendered your Indian passport yet) and want to travel to India as you cant get OCI on time. Then also you can apply for Indian Visa along with passport surrender application. Both can be done at the same time. Once you surrender you Indian passport is gone and will be returned later with cancellation letter.

 

[dakugandhi]

No. BLS Brampton does not take any original document. They just take a copy. I have heard that BLS Toronto ask for original marriage certificate and return it later.

Thanks...how long did it take for you to get OCI? when did you apply?

 

[sharadsinha]

Thanks...how long did it take for you to get OCI? when did you apply?

I applied by Walk-in on 6th October 2021. Got cancelled passport back in 2 weeks and OCI on 19th November 2021. Its almost 6 weeks.

 

[dakugandhi]

I applied by Walk-in on 6th October 2021. Got cancelled passport back in 2 weeks and OCI on 19th November 2021. Its almost 6 weeks.

that's great! right on timeline they have posted....did you receive the surrender certificate at the time?

 

[sharadsinha]

that's great! right on timeline they have posted....did you receive the surrender certificate at the time?

yes I got that in 2 weeks. But is there any use to surrender certificate? Someone in the forum was saying that going forward both OCI and surrender cannot be done at same time ( surrender first and OCI later). In that case you need surrender certificate. But earlier both application used to get submitted at same time.. so the use of surrender certificate was limited.

 

[jackbauer]

Anyone applied OCI from BLS Toronto, how long did it take to get you cancelled Indian passport back? I understand I will need to do a surrender application and OCI after getting surrender certificate.

 

[dakugandhi]

yes I got that in 2 weeks. But is there any use to surrender certificate? Someone in the forum was saying that going forward both OCI and surrender cannot be done at same time ( surrender first and OCI later). In that case you need surrender certificate. But earlier both application used to get submitted at same time.. so the use of surrender certificate was limited.

omg, that's not a good news for me! it means will have to wait in line twice!!

 

[sharadsinha]

omg, that's not a good news for me! it means will have to wait in line twice!!

I am not sure. someone posted on the forum I believe.

 

[sakshamsane]

Hope I answered your doubt. I didn't understood your this query " technically, you hold the Indian passport but for visa formality, can you say no?"

How you hold your Indian passport when surrender is done? They take it for 2 weeks and return with a "Cancelled" stamp and punched hole. That passport cannot be used anywhere.

IF you are travelling the following scenario may apply to you.

- if you hold Canadian passport you can simply apply for Indian visa.. no issue.

- if you hold Canadian citizenship but haven't applied for Canadian passport yet then you can travel to India on your Indian passport ( up to 3 months from the date of your Canadian citizenship). But in this case you will not have your PR card to return ( as that's cancelled as soon as you get citizenship). So you may need to visit Canadian consulate in India to get a document to travel back. They charge for it I believe.

- if you have Canadian citizenship ( And haven't surrendered your Indian passport yet) and want to travel to India as you cant get OCI on time. Then also you can apply for Indian Visa along with passport surrender application. Both can be done at the same time. Once you surrender you Indian passport is gone and will be returned later with cancellation letter.

Thanks. I currently hold both Canadian & Indian passports. I'll be applying for surrender and visa at the same time. My question is while i'm filling the visa form, i do have Indian passport so should i say Yes to having the Indian passport or should i say no considering that i am submitting the surrender request at the same time?