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OCI process

Hot2Cold

Champion Member
Nov 16, 2014
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For the Surrender certificate what are the more recent processing timelines - Toronto or Brampton Applicants?

I am seeing a wide range of responses from 2 weeks to 2 months. It would be interesting to know if this differs by location.
Applied 26 Feb, Dispatched 31 March. So all told, it took me 34 days. This is BLS Brampton.
 
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sundeep_s_

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Jun 24, 2014
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I've read a lot on a lot of threads here. The info seems so confusing.. Can someone please answer these questions for me? I really appreciate it. Im mostly going to be submitting at Brampton in person.

1. Would I be able to apply for both Surrender and OCI at the same time or does it have to be separate?
2. Will I have to submit my original Canadian Passport along with Surrender/OCI? That will limit me from travelling so will have to plan properly for this step.
3. How long is it taking on avg for surrender/oci together?
4. Long shot question, but covering all ground here. If I apply for OCI, and then have to go to India on eVisa, and OCI arrives here in Canada, will I have to exit and enter India to adjust status?

Thanks in advance.
 

Craxyrider

Star Member
Nov 11, 2014
104
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Scarborough
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15-12-2017
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19-01-2018
For the Surrender certificate what are the more recent processing timelines - Toronto or Brampton Applicants?

I am seeing a wide range of responses from 2 weeks to 2 months. It would be interesting to know if this differs by location.
I applied walk-in with Appointment at BLS Brampton Office Location on 6th April for SC without Passport was told by the Person at the counter that it would be 35 days min. for processing. On May 11th Application status update was ready for Pick up at BLS Brampton location.

Please refer to my signature for more info.
 
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Craxyrider

Star Member
Nov 11, 2014
104
97
Scarborough
Category........
FSW
Passport Req..
15-12-2017
LANDED..........
19-01-2018
I've read a lot on a lot of threads here. The info seems so confusing.. Can someone please answer these questions for me? I really appreciate it. Im mostly going to be submitting at Brampton in person.

1. Would I be able to apply for both Surrender and OCI at the same time or does it have to be separate?
2. Will I have to submit my original Canadian Passport along with Surrender/OCI? That will limit me from travelling so will have to plan properly for this step.
3. How long is it taking on avg for surrender/oci together?
4. Long shot question, but covering all ground here. If I apply for OCI, and then have to go to India on eVisa, and OCI arrives here in Canada, will I have to exit and enter India to adjust status?

Thanks in advance.
@sundeep_s_ The below answers are from my experience with BLS Brampton I live in Western Part of GTA so close to BLS Brampton I did walk-in for Both SC and OCI. The suggestions are based on my exp. and my interactions with the people at BLS Brampton location counters. The staff were generally courteous and of course they do talk you into getting the postal service for return but I had politely declined in both the scenarios (SC and OCI). You can refer to my signature for further info.

1. Would I be able to apply for both Surrender and OCI at the same time or does it have to be separate?

They have to be separate you cannot do Surrender Certificate (SC) + OCI, You can only do SC + Entry Visa If you plan to travel anytime soon. My Advise is as soon as you receive your Canadian Citizenship Certificate apply for SC immediately as this will slowdown your entire procedure if you wait for your Canadian Passport instead. I have done the same applied for SC without Canadian Passport so would suggest the same to anyone applying for SC

2. Will I have to submit my original Canadian Passport along with Surrender/OCI? That will limit me from travelling so will have to plan properly for this step.

NOT Required to submit Canadian passport in both cases only copies required for OCI for Surrender not required at Brampton BLS

3. How long is it taking on avg for surrender/oci together?

For SC it was 35 days from Submission to Pick up. OCI is about 6-8 weeks after receiving SC as you will need to attach a copy of SC and Cancelled Indian Passport

Will update my signature once I receive OCI document

4. Long shot question, but covering all ground here. If I apply for OCI, and then have to go to India on eVisa, and OCI arrives here in Canada, will I have to exit and enter India to adjust status?

eVisa is not available to Canadian Nationals. You can only Apply for Entry Visa that would be 5-10 days for processing if you apply for 6 months duration anything more than that would take at least 4 weeks to process after getting your Canadian Passport you can apply with SC application receipt
 

sundeep_s_

Hero Member
Jun 24, 2014
332
139
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Visa Office......
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2174
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Pre-Assessed..
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Sent with Application
Med's Request
Jan 27 2015
Med's Done....
Jan 29 2015
Interview........
Waived
Passport Req..
Mar 18 2015
VISA ISSUED...
Mar 24 2014
@sundeep_s_ The below answers are from my experience with BLS Brampton I live in Western Part of GTA so close to BLS Brampton I did walk-in for Both SC and OCI. The suggestions are based on my exp. and my interactions with the people at BLS Brampton location counters. The staff were generally courteous and of course they do talk you into getting the postal service for return but I had politely declined in both the scenarios (SC and OCI). You can refer to my signature for further info.

1. Would I be able to apply for both Surrender and OCI at the same time or does it have to be separate?

They have to be separate you cannot do Surrender Certificate (SC) + OCI, You can only do SC + Entry Visa If you plan to travel anytime soon. My Advise is as soon as you receive your Canadian Citizenship Certificate apply for SC immediately as this will slowdown your entire procedure if you wait for your Canadian Passport instead. I have done the same applied for SC without Canadian Passport so would suggest the same to anyone applying for SC

2. Will I have to submit my original Canadian Passport along with Surrender/OCI? That will limit me from travelling so will have to plan properly for this step.

NOT Required to submit Canadian passport in both cases only copies required for OCI for Surrender not required at Brampton BLS

3. How long is it taking on avg for surrender/oci together?

For SC it was 35 days from Submission to Pick up. OCI is about 6-8 weeks after receiving SC as you will need to attach a copy of SC and Cancelled Indian Passport

Will update my signature once I receive OCI document

4. Long shot question, but covering all ground here. If I apply for OCI, and then have to go to India on eVisa, and OCI arrives here in Canada, will I have to exit and enter India to adjust status?

eVisa is not available to Canadian Nationals. You can only Apply for Entry Visa that would be 5-10 days for processing if you apply for 6 months duration anything more than that would take at least 4 weeks to process after getting your Canadian Passport you can apply with SC application receipt
Thank you for the great info. Are you 100% sure that OCI and Surrender cannot be done together? I was really hoping that I can do that and be done with it!
 

sundeep_s_

Hero Member
Jun 24, 2014
332
139
Category........
Visa Office......
Ottawa
NOC Code......
2174
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
June 09 2014
IELTS Request
Sent with Application
Med's Request
Jan 27 2015
Med's Done....
Jan 29 2015
Interview........
Waived
Passport Req..
Mar 18 2015
VISA ISSUED...
Mar 24 2014

souvik126

Full Member
Apr 23, 2022
30
17
I've read a lot on a lot of threads here. The info seems so confusing.. Can someone please answer these questions for me? I really appreciate it. Im mostly going to be submitting at Brampton in person.

1. Would I be able to apply for both Surrender and OCI at the same time or does it have to be separate?
2. Will I have to submit my original Canadian Passport along with Surrender/OCI? That will limit me from travelling so will have to plan properly for this step.
3. How long is it taking on avg for surrender/oci together?
4. Long shot question, but covering all ground here. If I apply for OCI, and then have to go to India on eVisa, and OCI arrives here in Canada, will I have to exit and enter India to adjust status?

Thanks in advance.
Replying to Q.4 as per my thoughts
Your OCI arrives in Canada and yes you have to exit port with Visa status and enter India again with OCI status to get all the privilege's of OCI. It would be very costly process in my opinion.
 
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K310

Star Member
Apr 25, 2020
167
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India
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Thank you for the great info. Are you 100% sure that OCI and Surrender cannot be done together? I was really hoping that I can do that and be done with it!
Rules changed this year so you can not do both SC & OCI together
 

delray55

Hero Member
Apr 4, 2022
307
134
I've read a lot on a lot of threads here. The info seems so confusing.. Can someone please answer these questions for me? I really appreciate it. Im mostly going to be submitting at Brampton in person.

1. Would I be able to apply for both Surrender and OCI at the same time or does it have to be separate?
2. Will I have to submit my original Canadian Passport along with Surrender/OCI? That will limit me from travelling so will have to plan properly for this step.
3. How long is it taking on avg for surrender/oci together?
4. Long shot question, but covering all ground here. If I apply for OCI, and then have to go to India on eVisa, and OCI arrives here in Canada, will I have to exit and enter India to adjust status?

Thanks in advance.
You will have to travel on entry or tourist visa.
Adjusting status etc will be needed if you are planning to stay more than 6 months or beyond validity of your visa. Else you can use the visa to come back and use OCI for subsequent trips
 

K310

Star Member
Apr 25, 2020
167
81
India
Category........
FSW
Visa Office......
Warsaw
NOC Code......
0015
VISA ISSUED...
Nov 2017
LANDED..........
Feb 2017
You will have to travel on entry or tourist visa.
Adjusting status etc will be needed if you are planning to stay more than 6 months or beyond validity of your visa. Else you can use the visa to come back and use OCI for subsequent trips
If you have plan to stay in India for a long time I mean more than 2 months then you can apply oci in India. Once surrender certificate is issued travel on entry visa to India and then you can apply oci in India. One of the option but things may depends on individual requirements and conditions

 

delray55

Hero Member
Apr 4, 2022
307
134
If you have plan to stay in India for a long time I mean more than 2 months then you can apply oci in India. Once surrender certificate is issued travel on entry visa to India and then you can apply oci in India. One of the option but things may depends on individual requirements and conditions

I thought OP was asking about applying OCI here (in canada) and and mean while travel to India and not about applying from India
 

K310

Star Member
Apr 25, 2020
167
81
India
Category........
FSW
Visa Office......
Warsaw
NOC Code......
0015
VISA ISSUED...
Nov 2017
LANDED..........
Feb 2017
I thought OP was asking about applying OCI here (in canada) and and mean while travel to India and not about applying from India
I know but I shared if this could help not to OP but others also
 
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i6evx5e8

Star Member
Jan 20, 2022
167
74
If you have plan to stay in India for a long time I mean more than 2 months then you can apply oci in India. Once surrender certificate is issued travel on entry visa to India and then you can apply oci in India. One of the option but things may depends on individual requirements and conditions

In case application is submitted in India, copy of any type of Visa (other than Missionary Visa, Tourist Visa and Mountaineering Visa) / Residential Permit with 3 months validity as on the date of application.

After submission of the complete application online including documents, photograph and signature, the applicants are required to visit their jurisdictional FRRO/ Mission/ Post with the originals of the supporting documents uploaded with online application for prior verification.

In India to the Foreigners Regional Registration Officer (FRRO), Mumbai, Kolkata, Delhi, Amritsar, Chennai, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Lucknow, Kochi, Kozhikode, Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum) , Ahmedabad, and Goa.

Source: GOI
 

sundeep_s_

Hero Member
Jun 24, 2014
332
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VISA ISSUED...
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Thank you all for the great responses. Does anyone know how long it's taking for Surrender and OCI these days approx if submitted at brampton walkin?