OCI process

[gappy31600]

On what days Walkin is allowed for BLS Ottawa?

I applied from BLS Montreal which is under Ottawa jurisdiction. I believe walkin is allowed on all days but you need to go early. Mine was a walkin with appointment though but i saw many people who were there without an appointment.

 

[nrc1978]

I think walk in should be there on Sat as well, but number people in the queue will be more on Sat compared to weekdays.
If you need to pick up your documents i.e. SC/OCI etc that needs to be during the weekdays only between 3:00 - 4:30 pm.

Just my 2 cents

Even though Bls website says walking are allowed don't go with it. It is always a chance that applicants without appointment will be allowed inside.
(Had to stand in freezing cold with others who did not had an appointment for almost an hour convincing Security)

I applied for my Surrender certificate last Friday @ Toronto location and was stopped by Security for not having appointment.
Since mine was for Surrender certificate i booked the appointment for the same day afternoon under VISA category and submitted my application.

The Security guard was very particular about having specific appointments based on purpose and for OCI it's a must. But if you are in hurry (as appointment for OCI category is not available for next month) you can try your luck. All the best

Also I was told pick up option is available only for emergency situations and Surrender certificate (in my case) will be sent via post only.

 

[softwaretesting]

Also I was told pick up option is available only for emergency situations and Surrender certificate (in my case) will be sent via post only.

I think we should ask them to give it in writing if they make any such claim.

Also, can you please confirm when you submitted your application? Rules for walk-in are changing frequently these days.

 

[abbas.pasha]

Just my 2 cents

Even though Bls website says walking are allowed don't go with it. It is always a chance that applicants without appointment will be allowed inside.
(Had to stand in freezing cold with others who did not had an appointment for almost an hour convincing Security)

I applied for my Surrender certificate last Friday @ Toronto location and was stopped by Security for not having appointment.
Since mine was for Surrender certificate i booked the appointment for the same day afternoon under VISA category and submitted my application.

The Security guard was very particular about having specific appointments based on purpose and for OCI it's a must. But if you are in hurry (as appointment for OCI category is not available for next month) you can try your luck. All the best

Also I was told pick up option is available only for emergency situations and Surrender certificate (in my case) will be sent via post only.

Yeah from your experience and our friend's experience who submitted there OCI at BLS Toronto location is the pick up of documents is not allowed and only option is courier.
at BLS Brampton in our experience we picked up the SC (in Dec 2022) and when we submitted the OCI application we also opted to pick up option for OCI.
Although they asked us to submit the cancelled Indian passport at the OCI application time and said return of original Indian passport will only be done through courier...

 

[abbas.pasha]

OCI application submitted today at BLS Brampton office.

https://ociservices.gov.in/statusEnqury

OCI-Application Status Details (as on 19/01/2023 09:01 PM IST)

File Reference Number xxxxxxxxxx
Date Of Acknowledgment 19-JAN-2023
Registration Status at Mission TORONTO
OCI Application Status UNDER-PROCESS

 

[pgupta8]

Applied for OCI in person at Brampton for 3 ppl and the lady at the counter insisted as per "new guidelines" I'll need to submit our surrendered Indian passports and Surrender Certificates in original, despite clearly mentioning on the site that Walk-in Applications don't need to submit any originals, just carry them for verification. Anyhow, today the documents are received by Toronto CGI after a month.

Any idea when should I expect my originals back from the date of CGI acknowledgement date?

 

[abbas.pasha]

Applied for OCI in person at Brampton for 3 ppl and the lady at the counter insisted as per "new guidelines" I'll need to submit our surrendered Indian passports and Surrender Certificates in original, despite clearly mentioning on the site that Walk-in Applications don't need to submit any originals, just carry them for verification. Anyhow, today the documents are received by Toronto CGI after a month.

Any idea when should I expect my originals back from the date of CGI acknowledgement date?

In about 2 weeks. BLS website under Track Application will update with the Purolator tracking#
A friend of our submitted there OCI application at BLS Toronto and were asked to submit the Indian Passport on Dec 12. The passports were dispatched on Jan 9 through Purolator. They received the acknowledgement on OCI website was I think on Jan 5

 

[softwaretesting]

Applied for OCI in person at Brampton for 3 ppl and the lady at the counter insisted as per "new guidelines" I'll need to submit our surrendered Indian passports and Surrender Certificates in original, despite clearly mentioning on the site that Walk-in Applications don't need to submit any originals, just carry them for verification. Anyhow, today the documents are received by Toronto CGI after a month.

Any idea when should I expect my originals back from the date of CGI acknowledgement date?

I suggest start checking Purolator with reference number as tracking ID.

 

[Jetrocker]

Applied for OCI in person at Brampton for 3 ppl and the lady at the counter insisted as per "new guidelines" I'll need to submit our surrendered Indian passports and Surrender Certificates in original, despite clearly mentioning on the site that Walk-in Applications don't need to submit any originals, just carry them for verification. Anyhow, today the documents are received by Toronto CGI after a month.

Any idea when should I expect my originals back from the date of CGI acknowledgement date?

So do we need to submit originals for Indian passport and Surrender Certificate as per new guidelines, whether it's walk in, appointment or postal application?

 

[Jetrocker]

Hi, for the photo, does it need to have plain light colored background or white colored background? On the checklist, it says white and the instructions before doing OCI registration strictly says photo needs to be plain light colored background and not white without the border.

Can anyone who has already gone through the process please help me cut through the noise of these conflicting messaging by BLS?

It would be greatly appreciated if someone responds by today as I'm planning to take the photograph tomorrow.

 

[abbas.pasha]

Hi, for the photo, does it need to have plain light colored background or white colored background? On the checklist, it says white and the instructions before doing OCI registration strictly says photo needs to be plain light colored background and not white without the border.

Can anyone who has already gone through the process please help me cut through the noise of these conflicting messaging by BLS?

It would be greatly appreciated if someone responds by today as I'm planning to take the photograph tomorrow.

White background.

 

[abbas.pasha]

So do we need to submit originals for Indian passport and Surrender Certificate as per new guidelines, whether it's walk in, appointment or postal application?

If you plan to submit your application in person the original Indian passport submission is selective and also it differs from BLS centers as well. So keep an open mind, kuch bhi ho sakta hain
For postal applications you need to only send copies of your supporting documents which was self attested. Originals are not required.

 

[srinivasa]

Here's my OCI timeline.

walk in - BLS Calgary	14-Dec-22​
Date Of Acknowledgment	16-Dec-22​
Registration Status at Mission	VANCOUVER
OCI- Number	XXXXXX
Documents Printing Status	PROCESSED	On	17-Jan-23​
Dispatched From MEA (OCI )	NEW DELHI	On	19-Jan-23​
Document received At	VANCOUVER	On	19-Jan-23​

 

[abijithmartin]

Hello guys oci timeline for my kid

Postal sent to BLS brampton: 28 th november 2022
Bls received: 29th November 2022
Bls acknowledment : 3rd december
Date Of Acknowledgment 22-DEC-2022

Documents Printing Status PROCESSED On 14-JAN-2023
Dispatched From MEA (OCI ) NEW DELHI On 16-JAN-2023
Document received At TORONTO On 16-JAN-2023
Bls counter to delivery 18th jan 2023
Oci delivered purolator 19 th jan 2023

 

[AMR2011]

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