OCI process

[nkansal]

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.)

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.

Thank you! This is helpful.

 

[nkansal]

If you staying long in India applying for entry visa and then OCI in India makes sense

Thanks !

 

[nkansal]

One last question in continuation to my previous doubts, especially for those who have recently applied for the OCI in person at the Mississauga/Brampton BLS Centre - Is OCI/BLS/Consulate fees accepted using a debit card or are they still accepting only Demand Drafts. Thanks you all in advance!

 

[anilch]

https://www.cgitoronto.gov.in/page/oci-fee/
https://www.blsindia-canada.com/toronto-jurisdiction/ocihome.php
It seems like we can pay with debit card or cash or demand draft including both consulate fee and BLS service fee in favor of BLS International.. Two months ago we got separate demand draft for consulate general for $376 fee and BLS fee with debit card. Still it is like that in Ottawa Indian High Commission.

 

[Sindv1]

Brampton BLS Application timelines
Premium Lounge OCI application- family of 4 - October 25(Saturday)
Status changed to Under Process - 22 November(Saturday)
Status changed to Granted - 13 December(Saturday)
Awaiting the next steps up to dispatch

Experience: Was informed that BLS processing has changed with new rules for them which has made it slower. Was warned of longer waiting times for the initial application submission. Took the slots 10:30 to 12:30 for 4 applicants. Finished the submission process around 3:30. They were transparent about it and suggested we take a break and come back when they called. Convenient for a family with kids - no hangry moments.

 

[Anirban Das]

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.)

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.

just cite your circumstances in your own language and provide all necessary information - it works

 

[Anirban Das]

Brampton BLS Application timelines
Premium Lounge OCI application- family of 4 - October 25(Saturday)
Status changed to Under Process - 22 November(Saturday)
Status changed to Granted - 13 December(Saturday)
Awaiting the next steps up to dispatch

Experience: Was informed that BLS processing has changed with new rules for them which has made it slower. Was warned of longer waiting times for the initial application submission. Took the slots 10:30 to 12:30 for 4 applicants. Finished the submission process around 3:30. They were transparent about it and suggested we take a break and come back when they called. Convenient for a family with kids - no hangry moments.

could you tell me how long it remained "under process" in the government of India OCI portal?
how many weeks or specific number of days?
It would help me plan my travel - I haven't been home in a very long time - I want to get my tickets done

 

[Anirban Das]

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!

processing time is 6-8 weeks according to BLS - but to ensure that you end up with complications - try to give it a 3 months window.

 

[Sindv1]

could you tell me how long it remained "under process" in the government of India OCI portal?
how many weeks or specific number of days?
It would help me plan my travel - I haven't been home in a very long time - I want to get my tickets done

Exactly 3 weeks in Under process. Nov 22 to Dec 13. Now with holidays we will need to wait and watch when we will get it in hand.

 

[Anirban Das]

Exactly 3 weeks in Under process. Nov 22 to Dec 13. Now with holidays we will need to wait and watch when we will get it in hand.

In the government of India OCI portal - my application has been "under process" since 25th November - is it reasonable to expect some progress by the end of the coming week?

 

[Sindv1]

In the government of India OCI portal - my application has been "under process" since 25th November - is it reasonable to expect some progress by the end of the coming week?

Usually they take 3 weeks as I see with Toronto applications. I did notice the timelines vary based on which office jurisdiction you fall under. If it’s Toronto for you as well, l would expect yours to change to granted in this week provided they do not need any additional information/docs from you.

 

[abab2022]

OCI Timeline: Toronto Jurisdiction

• Application Date: 10 October 2025 (Postal) – as per BLS tracker
• OCI Issue Date: 3 December 2025 – as per OCI tracker
• OCI Dispatched from Printing Cell: 4 December 2025
• OCI Card Received at Mission/FRRO: N/A
• OCI Card Delivered to Applicant: N/A
• OCI Received: 15 December 2025
  (To track the postal delivery, BLS added a comment in their tracker containing the tracking ID, although it was not explicitly labeled as such.)

Documents Uploaded:
Canadian Passport, Citizenship Certificate, Cancelled Indian Passport, Surrender Certificate, COPR, Employment Letter, Marriage Certificate, Name Change Certificate with Affidavit(if applicable), Self-Declaration, Spouse’s Passport, Driving Licence. ( self attested photocopies of all these documents were sent in postal mail)

Additional Notes:

• Form 7 was not uploaded, and no additional documents were requested.
• During the process, I managed to cancel my voter ID by requesting a relative residing in the same assembly constituency to do so.
• If you have any doubts during the process, consider calling BLS or referring to YouTube videos for clarification on specific steps.

Tools Used to Merge and Compress PDFs:

• PDFsam Basic
• PDF Compressor

Total Processing Time:

• 67 calendar days
• 46 working days