OCI process

[dakugandhi]

Guys please share your valuable knowledge/ ideas. I have my oath ceremony on Jan 4th. I need to travel to India in last week of January. I am anticipating that I wont be able to get my citizenship certificate, Canadian passport, surrender Indian passport and get visa in time to travel. What are my options? Can I travel on Indian passport and get Canadian passport from India since the Indian website provides 3 months grace period to travel on Indian passport if other passport is unavailable? My trip to India is for business and wont be there for more than 45 days.

My 2 cents!

You can get the citizenship certi in 10 days approx if you're in GTA/southern ON. you can apply for next day pickup passport for additional of 150 CAD...you can go to BLS right after that and apply for surrender certi and entry visa at the same time which would take around 7 days...if you haven't booked a ticket, book it for 1st week of Feb

 

[dakugandhi]

Hi @shafeeq87


Did you just provide a copy of the birth certificate, or was it attested by two authorities?


As per CGI Toronto:
If birth certificate is issued by Canadian government, it is required to be attested by Ministry of Consumer Affairs/government services (222 Jarvis Street, Toronto) and thereafter from the Consulate of India, Toronto.

But BLS checklist doesn't mention anything about attestation.

as long as you have the long birth certi, you don't have to worry about anything else, you're good!

 

[vijayprabhakar]

Hello,
I am new to this forum and apologies if someone has answered these questions already:
1) Is walk in option still available in Brampton BLS for OCI application? I looked to book an appointment and the earliest I see is March 2022.
2) Can we apply for the passport surrender and OCI all the same time?

I called them today and they mentioned walk in is currently not permitted. What did you go through?

 

[dakugandhi]

I called them today and they mentioned walk in is currently not permitted. What did you go through?

Hey if you're looking for an appointment for BLS Brampton, they open up slots every morning at around 8.30 AM for the same day. Don't go there walk in instead you book an appointment for either Passport/Visa which is OK for an OCI as well. Don't look to book appointment for OCI. I was just there on Friday 12/17.

 

[Dr kbknaidu]

Hey if you're looking for an appointment for BLS Brampton, they open up slots every morning at around 8.30 AM for the same day. Don't go there walk in instead you book an appointment for either Passport/Visa which is OK for an OCI as well. Don't look to book appointment for OCI. I was just there on Friday 12/17.

Not every time the same story, they not opening everyday

 

[dakugandhi]

Not every time the same story, they not opening everyday

Well you have to keep refreshing from 8.20 am to 9 am and you will get it for sure. I did ask and that's what they said. best time would be Saturdays...

 

[Dr kbknaidu]

ok let me check that, thank you

 

[KaurAB]

My 2 cents!

You can get the citizenship certi in 10 days approx if you're in GTA/southern ON. you can apply for next day pickup passport for additional of 150 CAD...you can go to BLS right after that and apply for surrender certi and entry visa at the same time which would take around 7 days...if you haven't booked a ticket, book it for 1st week of Feb

Thanks for your reply. I should have mentioned that I am in Edmonton. So, getting the passport is not an issue. I am aware there is express services available. It's just the surrendering Indian passport and getting visa in time to travel. I just called BLS Edmonton and they said surrendering passport takes 6-7 weeks and then getting visa is quicker. He recommended that I can send in my passport now so it gets done in time but can I do it as I haven't yet attended the ceremony.

Also, at one point the customer rep said that I don't have to surrender the passport to get 30 day entry visa initially which am doubtful of.

 

[dakugandhi]

Thanks for your reply. I should have mentioned that I am in Edmonton. So, getting the passport is not an issue. I am aware there is express services available. It's just the surrendering Indian passport and getting visa in time to travel. I just called BLS Edmonton and they said surrendering passport takes 6-7 weeks and then getting visa is quicker. He recommended that I can send in my passport now so it gets done in time but can I do it as I haven't yet attended the ceremony.

Also, at one point the customer rep said that I don't have to surrender the passport to get 30 day entry visa initially which am doubtful of.

You don't have to wait for surrender certi...you just apply for it and apply for entry visa at the same time...that works here in Toronto

Without citizenship certi, they won't let you surrender your passport unfortunately

 

[KaurAB]

You don't have to wait for surrender certi...you just apply for it and apply for entry visa at the same time...that works here in Toronto

Without citizenship certi, they won't let you surrender your passport unfortunately

The processing time for entry visa is 5-7 days. Is it possible to receive entry visa before receiving the surrender certificate? Can I fly without the later certificate?

 

[dakugandhi]

The processing time for entry visa is 5-7 days. Is it possible to receive entry visa before receiving the surrender certificate? Can I fly without the later certificate?

Yes that's possible and that's what I'm saying too

 

[KaurAB]

Yes that's possible and that's what I'm saying too

Awesome ! That would work !! Thank you

 

[VijayReddyTirupari]

Does anyone know how we can get an appointment for BSL Surrey?
Can we do Passport Surrender & OCI at the same time?

 

[Yen@5]

Hello experts,
Please advice when we can connect with BLS or CGI.
We have submitted OCI application through mail on 29th Oct. It was received on 1st Nov at BLs brampton and updated as 4th Nov. However, currently application date shows 15th Nov. So our timeline of OCI starts from 1st Nov or 15th Nov??

 

[annapatram]

Hello experts,
Please advice when we can connect with BLS or CGI.
We have submitted OCI application through mail on 29th Oct. It was received on 1st Nov at BLs brampton and updated as 4th Nov. However, currently application date shows 15th Nov. So our timeline of OCI starts from 1st Nov or 15th Nov??

Starts from Nov 15th. This was the case with my application as well. After the receipt of application, BLS take 8-10 business days to forward the application to CGI.So processing time for CGI starts from that point.
In your case it is Nov 15th.