Indian passport surrender

[abbas.pasha]

Thanks.
Just to share my experience, I went to BLS center Brampton Today.IU see coupel of issues happened there - 1) BLS guy asked me to even show oroiginal canadian citizenship ceritificate but as per their checklist only phototcopy is required I didn't take the canadian citizenship ceritifcate original with me and had to go back home and get the oiriginal ceritifcates to show him, which was really a pain. I had to again the token and go back in line .
2) the guy at BLS center asked me to use courier drop off service. and in addition to courier service charges of appx $30 per applictaion. they did charge me some serive fee an dconsulr fee etc ewtc and on top of that I was also charged with additional $6 service fee per person and when I asked what is this additional service fee,he said it's CGI service fee which you have to pay. I notice on top of that reciept it's written as PPage fee receipt. No idea at all what are these additional service fee charges of $6 per person. Anyone else faced the same issue ? Seriously this is too much!!!!!

My advice to everybody applying in person at BLS, has always been to carry all originals with them.
EP services whtat BLS claims is a concerige service (which I call it as there chai paani service to keep their lights on)
I went with a plan when they pitched for courier, I said ke i to am shifting my house in 2 weeks , where will you send the courier..

Application Fee disclaimer on BLS website for surrender: https://www.blsindia-canada.com/toronto-jurisdiction/surrender-of-india-citizenship.php
Value added service fee: https://www.blsindia-canada.com/toronto-jurisdiction/vas.php

When you go for the OCI please keep the above issues in mind, and prepare better.

 

[2017CanadaHo!]

so, FINALLY my passport surrender application got accepted today. key points i can share.....

1 - i and my friend (both with 4 family applications each) went without appointment to Brampton. reached at 8, waited 5 min to be allowed to enter, we both left at 9!

2 - yes, all originals were taken by us, and asked by the BLS person

3 - CoPR not asked

4 - 2nd photo not sought

5 - they accepted my photos (clicked on phone, printed on my home printer)

6 - date behind the photo not checked (photos were pasted on the form) or even inquired about by the BLS person

7 - make sure your passports don't have any stickers (of travel agencies etc.) on the outside, remove them

8 - tried to sell me alerts; i avoided that

9 - but couldn't prevent courier service being sold to me. it was such gentle and polite persuasion, scaring me, telling me everyone has to come in person to collect, people have to come 2-3 times cos there's only a 1-hour window! i gave in. it was also to appease her cos if she'd not meet her cross-sell target, she could have acted more finicky about my applications. she anyway got (incorrectly) stuck onto one point that my postal code has an O (letter) instead of 0 (zero the number). she was wrong but i didn't want her to get upset and start finding more issues - page folded hai, aap ne form ek taang par khade ho kar nahi bhara etc. etc.

 

[2017CanadaHo!]

I visited Brampton BLS last saturday for a walk-in to surrender passport - expected long queues becoz' of weekend but the whole process was smooth and completed within 45 minutes - Reached there around 9:45 AM and out by 10:30. They accepted my photo as well...there is a separate building/office for passport & Visa services (this is within service canada building - 4th floor) - Regular day walk-in may be even faster...

COPR wasn't checked. You should carry all originals (CAN Passport, Address Proof, Citizenship Certificate) - they will check and give it back to you. I preferred courier service - one of my friend opted for pick-up; looks like there was only one counter and one individual to provide passports during pick-up schedule (it's only a 1-2 hour window)....long queues and he needed to go there multiple days just for pick-up...if u have pre-booked OCI appointments or other commitments in a tight schedule, best is to opt for a courier service....

yes, that's the reason (crowd n possibility of visiting more than once to collect in person) that i too opted for courier. losing a small battle to win the war.

 

[arlaadaa]

Sorry, i donno about the change of address ...can you pls lemme know if you applied for Entry/tourist visa at the same time of passport surrender or is it an e-visa? If it's e-visa, can u share your timeline (when did u apply and turnaround time for receiving approval etc.,) pls...

I applied for e-visa (online) and got it next morning around 10 AM EST. Its simple and straight forward, and no BLS involved

 

[sumitbajaj07]

so, FINALLY my passport surrender application got accepted today. key points i can share.....

1 - i and my friend (both with 4 family applications each) went without appointment to Brampton. reached at 8, waited 5 min to be allowed to enter, we both left at 9!

2 - yes, all originals were taken by us, and asked by the BLS person

3 - CoPR not asked

4 - 2nd photo not sought

5 - they accepted my photos (clicked on phone, printed on my home printer)

6 - date behind the photo not checked (photos were pasted on the form) or even inquired about by the BLS person

7 - make sure your passports don't have any stickers (of travel agencies etc.) on the outside, remove them

8 - tried to sell me alerts; i avoided that

9 - but couldn't prevent courier service being sold to me. it was such gentle and polite persuasion, scaring me, telling me everyone has to come in person to collect, people have to come 2-3 times cos there's only a 1-hour window! i gave in. it was also to appease her cos if she'd not meet her cross-sell target, she could have acted more finicky about my applications. she anyway got (incorrectly) stuck onto one point that my postal code has an O (letter) instead of 0 (zero the number). she was wrong but i didn't want her to get upset and start finding more issues - page folded hai, aap ne form ek taang par khade ho kar nahi bhara etc. etc.

How much they charged per application ? Did they also charged you extra $6 per person for some fee etc ?

 

[sumitbajaj07]

My advice to everybody applying in person at BLS, has always been to carry all originals with them.
EP services whtat BLS claims is a concerige service (which I call it as there chai paani service to keep their lights on)
I went with a plan when they pitched for courier, I said ke i to am shifting my house in 2 weeks , where will you send the courier..

Application Fee disclaimer on BLS website for surrender: https://www.blsindia-canada.com/toronto-jurisdiction/surrender-of-india-citizenship.php
Value added service fee: https://www.blsindia-canada.com/toronto-jurisdiction/vas.php

When you go for the OCI please keep the above issues in mind, and prepare better.

LOL, that was good. I did tell them about extra fee, But he said some CGI services fee as well $6 per person - didn't want to fight for in total $18 unncessarrily - as these guys have the full control on our files.

 

[2017CanadaHo!]

How much they charged per application ? Did they also charged you extra $6 per person for some fee etc ?

$160 all incl for me
she didn't add $6 for me but my friend paid $166

 

[yaml]

Is paying for courier mandatory when opting for appointment service? Can one not just collect the passport via walk-in or appointment? Or is this the courier fee for BLS to Consulate and back?

They will try to push you for courier service, courier fee is for sending document from BLS to your address. You can request them to collect in-person.

 

[sumitbajaj07]

$160 all incl for me
she didn't add $6 for me but my friend paid $166

LOL...so this $6 is kind of on spot charges for few customers only

Did she tell why she charged this addional $6 ?

 

[2017CanadaHo!]

LOL...so this $6 is kind of on spot charges for few customers only

Did she tell why she charged this addional $6 ?

am unable to find out any related charge on BLS or CGI website!

worst part is that BLS is charging more than what CGI has authorized. see this link and tell me how much you paid for courier. i paid $26.55 + HST whereas BLS is authorized to collect $20 for this
https://www.cgitoronto.gov.in/page/bls-service-charges/

for photos they are supposed to charge $15 and give 4 photos. i don't think they're giving 4, but only 2.

OUTRIGHT LOOT. just multiply $6 or courier charges imposed with numbers they process and see the kind of money they're making. using that money they are keeping mouthes, ears and eyes shut of those who should be scrutinizing them.

 

[Dec2014NY]

hey folks - @abbas.pasha @arlaadaa and others who have applied for evisa - can you pls lemme know what did you select for the following question:

"Have you ever visited india before? - Yes or NO" under the section "Previous Visa/Currently valid visa".

I am thinking to select No, because i didn't had any visa to india before..If we choose yes, application is expecting visa number and other details like type of visa etc.,

Can you pls share ur thoughts

 

[abbas.pasha]

hey folks - @abbas.pasha @arlaadaa and others who have applied for evisa - can you pls lemme know what did you select for the following question:

"Have you ever visited india before? - Yes or NO" under the section "Previous Visa/Currently valid visa".

I am thinking to select No, because i didn't had any visa to india before..If we choose yes, application is expecting visa number and other details like type of visa etc.,

Can you pls share ur thoughts

Although I did not apply for visa, but the answer to your question is No
Applicants who have travelled to India before on a foreign passport need to select Yes

 

[jsjaspreet93]

Hello everyone, sharing my experience for SC submitted in person on March 8th at BLS Brampton. I had an appointment for 8:40 and reached by 8:35 . Everything looked good until this gem of a lady named Shweta said the photographs were not ok and me being such a nice person went all guns blazing and asked her to get something to measure the dimensions . She got even more nicer and I became more friendly with her when she said she wont provide service to me. Then some other guy came up to me and asked about the matter and after knowing everything he said the pictures are good. upon checking today my status on the passport website says that "Surrender certificate has been granted and is available for issuance". and while leaving i told this Shweta lady that she needs to be less friendly with the people coming for any service to which she nodded yes.

How much time it would take to get the SC reach to me ? any idea guys?

 

[arlaadaa]

hey folks - @abbas.pasha @arlaadaa and others who have applied for evisa - can you pls lemme know what did you select for the following question:

"Have you ever visited india before? - Yes or NO" under the section "Previous Visa/Currently valid visa".

I am thinking to select No, because i didn't had any visa to india before..If we choose yes, application is expecting visa number and other details like type of visa etc.,

Can you pls share ur thoughts

Have you ever visited India before? I answered Yes, I dont think they validate this info for indian passport.

Previous visa: Enter indian passport details

 

[abbas.pasha]

Hello everyone, sharing my experience for SC submitted in person on March 8th at BLS Brampton. I had an appointment for 8:40 and reached by 8:35 . Everything looked good until this gem of a lady named Shweta said the photographs were not ok and me being such a nice person went all guns blazing and asked her to get something to measure the dimensions . She got even more nicer and I became more friendly with her when she said she wont provide service to me. Then some other guy came up to me and asked about the matter and after knowing everything he said the pictures are good. upon checking today my status on the passport website says that "Surrender certificate has been granted and is available for issuance". and while leaving i told this Shweta lady that she needs to be less friendly with the people coming for any service to which she nodded yes.

How much time it would take to get the SC reach to me ? any idea guys?

Next updated on the Passport Seva website you will see is “Surrender certificate has been printed”.
After this expect 1 week for the BLS tracker to be updated
Usually the surrender certificate prices should be completed within a months time from the date of submission