OCI process

[jj_ind]

Shit! I did not include the IND part after the name of the city. Did anybody else have an issue with the application being returned for not including IND after the place of birth?

Ohhh man, mine I just submitted. But I went through some of the recommendations made earlier in this forum and thought of putting IND.

 

[OldH1B]

Update---

Submitted OCI appointment on 23rd March, BLS Brampton
BLS- Processing at consular general
OCI enquiry April 15th- No records found -
OCI- Changed on April 18th to Under Process
Today 9th May- Changed to Printed , dispatched and arrived in Toronto
BLS Still shows Processing at consular general.

Thanks, this gives me some hope.
Mine was submitted much earlier to BLS, 19 March and it is still under process in OCI website.

Once the status in OCI updates to printed = how long does it take to get to our residence? Do we need to call BLS and ask them to start the dispatch?

 

[nskatcv]

In the OCI application, one needs to mention

Country of Birth : _____ (Select)
State (Birth): _____ (Select)
Place of Birth: ______ (Fill)

So, one only needs to write the actual City/Village/Town of birth.
The State and the Country (here India) shall automatically populate in the correct manner when the form is printed.

 

[Cp2711]

anyone facing issue with online application website? passport seva at Indian embassies?

 

[prash42]

By now it should be clear to anybody who's on this thread, that BLS staff use different reasons to force us to pay for "optional" services. In my case (BLS Toronto), I was told CGI needs to verify my original canceled Indian passport. It was very clear to me this was the usual bullshit from BLS, and this was a transparent money grab. Idiotic to think CGI needs to see the same passport, that they saw just a few weeks back to issue surrender certificate.

Pretty clear to me that this separation of SC and OCI is to double the number of interactions we are forced to have with BLS, and double the number of opportunities to get people to pay for "optional" services.

There was also an implied threat from the lady at the counter that she would only accept 1 OCI application since I had only 1 appointment, and make me come back for remaining 3 OCI applications of family. Having been in these situations back home in India, I subtly indicated to her that I was open to upselling. She then instantly become super helpful. I paid for OCI courier, canceled Indian passport courier, $5 status update service, for 4 applications. Grease the right palm, get your work done. Works every time. Sad.

No I asked the same to them and submitted a copy of the surrender certificate along with forms but the lady at the counter asked for original one. She gave me a form for wiring the address for return of original certificate marked ✔ for return.
She told me it will be returned in 10-14 days.

 

[SHVM]

Thanks, this gives me some hope.
Mine was submitted much earlier to BLS, 19 March and it is still under process in OCI website.

Once the status in OCI updates to printed = how long does it take to get to our residence? Do we need to call BLS and ask them to start the dispatch?

Will Update once I receive it at home.

 

[TiredOfPaperwork]

Hello Everyone,

I recently applied for OCI of my infant daughter from Halifax via Postal application (Toronto Jurisdiction)

Below is my timeline:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
28 March : Application Sent via Purolator
06 April : Application shows as "Processing at Consulate General"
.
.
.
.
=> No change in status as of 09 May
=> I still haven't received my originals back.
=> OCI-Services Status enquiry says "No Record Found"

I called BLS last week, they said it takes 4-5 weeks for OCI process to complete. (How I wish)
Does anyone else have a similar experience / timeline ?

 

[dushyant2809]

Hey Guys, Has anyone tried complaining to the Consulate/Madad portal about the harassment at the BLS center so far ?

 

[canadamaple]

In the OCI application, one needs to mention

Country of Birth : _____ (Select)
State (Birth): _____ (Select)
Place of Birth: ______ (Fill)

So, one only needs to write the actual City/Village/Town of birth.
The State and the Country (here India) shall automatically populate in the correct manner when the form is printed.

I noticed that too. I think it was automatically printed in the correct manner. I will have to wait and find out, I guess. Cheers!

 

[canadamaple]

By now it should be clear to anybody who's on this thread, that BLS staff use different reasons to force us to pay for "optional" services. In my case (BLS Toronto), I was told CGI needs to verify my original canceled Indian passport. It was very clear to me this was the usual bullshit from BLS, and this was a transparent money grab. Idiotic to think CGI needs to see the same passport, that they saw just a few weeks back to issue surrender certificate.

Pretty clear to me that this separation of SC and OCI is to double the number of interactions we are forced to have with BLS, and double the number of opportunities to get people to pay for "optional" services.

There was also an implied threat from the lady at the counter that she would only accept 1 OCI application since I had only 1 appointment, and make me come back for remaining 3 OCI applications of family. Having been in these situations back home in India, I subtly indicated to her that I was open to upselling. She then instantly become super helpful. I paid for OCI courier, canceled Indian passport courier, $5 status update service, for 4 applications. Grease the right palm, get your work done. Works every time. Sad.

These people have lost all shame and dignity in life. All they can do is scam fellow Indians left, right and center. The sad reality of the start of affairs. The worse part is that if we criticize them openly, we stand the risk of having our OCI cancelled. I don't intend to go into politics because each one of us has a different belief (and I respect that), but we are expected to keep our mouth shut and put up with all the nonsense that these imbeciles throw at us. I bet the foreign minister knows all about the abysmal services offered by BLS and VFS worldwide. I have given up hope that anything will change with the Indian administration. We will all get through this. Stay strong fellow OCI applicants!

 

[canadamaple]

Hey Guys, Has anyone tried complaining to the Consulate/Madad portal about the harassment at the BLS center so far ?

Nothing ever works. These are Indian Gov babus that we are dealing with. They only language they understand is chai-pani

 

[canadamaple]

Hello Everyone,

I recently applied for OCI of my infant daughter from Halifax via Postal application (Toronto Jurisdiction)

Below is my timeline:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
28 March : Application Sent via Purolator
06 April : Application shows as "Processing at Consulate General"
.
.
.
.
=> No change in status as of 09 May
=> I still haven't received my originals back.
=> OCI-Services Status enquiry says "No Record Found"

I called BLS last week, they said it takes 4-5 weeks for OCI process to complete. (How I wish)
Does anyone else have a similar experience / timeline ?

I am an Ottawa applicant. Its been a month and I have not received my originals either. Today when I called I was told that 'verification' of originals takes about 1.5 months. Not sure what the hell they are doing (or shall I say not doing).

 

[Krishna1989]

Hello Everyone,

I recently applied for OCI of my infant daughter from Halifax via Postal application (Toronto Jurisdiction)

Below is my timeline:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
28 March : Application Sent via Purolator
06 April : Application shows as "Processing at Consulate General"
.
.
.
.
=> No change in status as of 09 May
=> I still haven't received my originals back.
=> OCI-Services Status enquiry says "No Record Found"

I called BLS last week, they said it takes 4-5 weeks for OCI process to complete. (How I wish)
Does anyone else have a similar experience / timeline ?

Same here mine is processing in Consulate general since 8th April . I called them and they said to email the consulate. Which I did on friday and no reply . I'm v concern as same is needed for my marriage in July (and I plan to live for 6months )

 

[theRavAgg]

Wait!
Reading some comments which say, you need to provide two separate drafts, one for BLS's $7.40 and one for CGI for $345

BLS's website says: "Kindly Provide Demand Draft/Money order only in favor of BLS International Services Canada Inc., which includes CGI fee + consular fee + BLS Service charges + Return courier fees, to send back your processed application."


I already paid the return courier fee, and sending one draft for $352.40 addressed to BLS International. Can somebody confirm which is the right way?

Two demand drafts seem like a unreasonable ask. If I was to go for a walk-in, I would be paying those fee in one transaction anyways. So, why the need for two demand drafts?

 

[K310]

Wait!
Reading some comments which say, you need to provide two separate drafts, one for BLS's $7.40 and one for CGI for $345

BLS's website says: "Kindly Provide Demand Draft/Money order only in favor of BLS International Services Canada Inc., which includes CGI fee + consular fee + BLS Service charges + Return courier fees, to send back your processed application."


I already paid the return courier fee, and sending one draft for $352.40 addressed to BLS International. Can somebody confirm which is the right way?

Two demand drafts seem like a unreasonable ask. If I was to go for a walk-in, I would be paying those fee in one transaction anyways. So, why the need for two demand drafts?

The statement which says bls + cgi + return courier fees only applicable to services other than oci, like passport renewals, surrender certificate, pcc, visa etc.

For OCI you need separate draft one for CGI and other BLS.