OCI process

[captainarabiia]

Does anyone know how long it takes to receive the OCI card. The status has been

(Counter Delivery to BLS Centre after OCI stamping) since 2 months.

Email BLS and see what's going on?
Or you can email the consulate as well.

 

[nagarjun rao]

Hi All,

I am uploading my documents for OCI and noticed a field for Empoyment/work letter. Can anyone please tell if it is mandatory to upload my employment letter? I dont understand why they need employment letter specially when it is not mentioned in checklist.
Thank you

 

[shine1429]

My appointment experience at Brampton for OCI as below:-
1. Submitted OCI application without any issues
2. 345$ to be paid through Demand draft
3. Rest of BLS fees can be paid through debit card or cash.

 

[chenn2can]

Hello Everyone, BLS Brampton returned the OCI and Passport surrender applications of my wife and 2 kids (total 3 application sets) last week as the Draft amount was not correct. This is the 2nd time they are returning it. First time they returned it as the Passport expiry date in my daughter's OCI application was incorrect. Now, its been a week since I dropped off the package at the Purolator location in Scarborough and its not yet delivered back to BLS.
Looks like Purolator has lost the package with all the Original Indian passports, Bank drafts & Applications. They have assigned a tracing specialist who sent an email with the case number. That's it, no other response. This wouldn't be the case if BLS had reviewed the applications carefully so that it was not sent back 2nd time. Have anyone encountered this issue with Purolator/BLS before? what are the chances of retrieving the package?

 

[savarana]

Guys, I'm totally lost and clueless when it comes to surrendering our Indian passport and applying for OCI.

So far for all Canadian procedures I was more or less simply able to read what's on the websites and apply, but the Indian websites are not super clear.

A number of questions:

- Are we able to apply for surrender certificate and OCI at the same time?
- Is everything by mail now or are we still being given physical appointments?
- I don't see any available OCI or Passport-related appointments available at Toronto or Brampton, at all.
- During these lockdown times, where would I get my photos done?
- I see posts mentioning we must also maintain a soft copy of the photo to be uploaded online. Where?
- I've read this post which seems to be fully by mail. But the surrender form and OCI form seem to be submitted online. Where? Surrender here: https://embassy.passportindia.gov.in/ and OCI here: https://ociservices.gov.in/welcome ?

I've never been more lost. Please help!

 

[shine1429]

Guys, I'm totally lost and clueless when it comes to surrendering our Indian passport and applying for OCI.

So far for all Canadian procedures I was more or less simply able to read what's on the websites and apply, but the Indian websites are not super clear.

A number of questions:

- Are we able to apply for surrender certificate and OCI at the same time?
- Is everything by mail now or are we still being given physical appointments?
- I don't see any available OCI or Passport-related appointments available at Toronto or Brampton, at all.
- During these lockdown times, where would I get my photos done?
- I see posts mentioning we must also maintain a soft copy of the photo to be uploaded online. Where?
- I've read this post which seems to be fully by mail. But the surrender form and OCI form seem to be submitted online. Where? Surrender here: https://embassy.passportindia.gov.in/ and OCI here: https://ociservices.gov.in/welcome ?

I've never been more lost. Please help!

Hi Savarna,

Answers to your questions:-

- Are we able to apply for surrender certificate and OCI at the same time?
Yes you can apply to both together

- Is everything by mail now or are we still being given physical appointments?
You can book physical appointment. I did my surrender certificate and OCI both through physical appointment

- I don't see any available OCI or Passport-related appointments available at Toronto or Brampton, at all.
You have to keep on checking.

- During these lockdown times, where would I get my photos done?
Not sure about this

- I see posts mentioning we must also maintain a soft copy of the photo to be uploaded online. Where?
When you fill OCI form online you will find in steps to upload photo.

- I've read this post which seems to be fully by mail. But the surrender form and OCI form seem to be submitted online. Where? Surrender here: https://embassy.passportindia.gov.in/ and OCI here: https://ociservices.gov.in/welcome ?

OCI: - https://ociservices.gov.in/
Surrender Certificate: - https://embassy.passportindia.gov.in/

 

[savarana]

- I don't see any available OCI or Passport-related appointments available at Toronto or Brampton, at all.
You have to keep on checking.

Thank you.

Follow up question: Can I just use one appointment to get both OCI and Surrender done? Or do I need to pick two separate appointments? I ask because when I look for appointments, these are two separate dropdown options.

Do I need separate physical appointments for multiple applicants?

Also, I've been checking the appointments since a few days now, and haven't really spotted any openings.

How do I go about initializing a mail-in application? Do I need to call BLS up and have it arranged for a pickup?

Which process is quicker - mail-in or physical appointment?

EDIT: And are we allowed to choose a different courier for mail-in applications? Purolator is absolute trash.

 

[shine1429]

Thank you.

Follow up question: Can I just use one appointment to get both OCI and Surrender done? Or do I need to pick two separate appointments? I ask because when I look for appointments, these are two separate dropdown options.
Yes you can use one appointment to submit everything

Do I need separate physical appointments for multiple applicants?
Not really as one person can submit their family applications. I did it for my spouse.

Also, I've been checking the appointments since a few days now, and haven't really spotted any openings.
Yah you have to keep on checking.

How do I go about initializing a mail-in application? Do I need to call BLS up and have it arranged for a pickup?
Not sure about mail in as I have booked appointment.

Which process is quicker - mail-in or physical appointment?
Advantage of physical appointment is you dont have to submit any originals of course except Indian passport.

EDIT: And are we allowed to choose a different courier for mail-in applications? Purolator is absolute trash.

Not sure.

 

[pruser27]

Hi All,

I am uploading my documents for OCI and noticed a field for Empoyment/work letter. Can anyone please tell if it is mandatory to upload my employment letter? I dont understand why they need employment letter specially when it is not mentioned in checklist.
Thank you

Hello all, While uploading documents , do we need to self attest and upload the scanned copy or should we need to upload without self attestation

Thank You

 

[pruser27]

Thanks for the information but when you start filling the form , it says :

Photograph to be affixed on the application should be a square shape of size not less than 51*51mm (with 80% coverage of face). It should have plain light color background (not white) without the border with front view of person's head and shoulders showing the full face in middle of the photograph. It should not be stapled and not have any signature.

That's why I asked is white background allowed ?

Hello, Downloaded application has the picture that we uploaded online. Should we need to affix the physical photo on top off this picture?

 

[Derekview]

service arranged by bls (purolator) lost my package

 

[savarana]

Purolator has been garbage in my experience, which is why I want to know if we can choose a different carrier or ship it ourselves and pick it up from their office.

 

[Derekview]

Hello Everyone, BLS Brampton returned the OCI and Passport surrender applications of my wife and 2 kids (total 3 application sets) last week as the Draft amount was not correct. This is the 2nd time they are returning it. First time they returned it as the Passport expiry date in my daughter's OCI application was incorrect. Now, its been a week since I dropped off the package at the Purolator location in Scarborough and its not yet delivered back to BLS.
Looks like Purolator has lost the package with all the Original Indian passports, Bank drafts & Applications. They have assigned a tracing specialist who sent an email with the case number. That's it, no other response. This wouldn't be the case if BLS had reviewed the applications carefully so that it was not sent back 2nd time. Have anyone encountered this issue with Purolator/BLS before? what are the chances of retrieving the package?

They lost my package for surrender certificate too with original indian passports and draft. Did they find yours

 

[Ani_Canada]

Hello, Downloaded application has the picture that we uploaded online. Should we need to affix the physical photo on top off this picture?

No , we don't need to affix. Keep it seperately.

 

[Ani_Canada]

service arranged by bls (purolator) lost my package

this is bad.