Hi, I have 3 OCI applications. 2 submitted on Sep. 26 & other one on September 27 (ACK dates are OCT. 4 & 5) Walk-in Edmonton BLS. My travel date is December 7, for safe side do I need to apply for visa?
OCI process
- Thread starter blueshirt
- Start date
Within a week or two you will have OCI and your travel is still a month away. Entry visa is not needed.
I agree as well. You should be ok. I have similar travel date as well. Please see this tracker for estimated times from time of Ack to processing. https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1JhK4zYSgV9pRI6p_VKWIw-zPX9q5BCHvbmFbTCeIjNg/edit#gid=0
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All fresh OCI based on self PIO status or for minors based on parent's status? If so, Waiting for OCI looks safe to me. You can reconsider around Nov 15 if OCI doesn't get processed by then. Entry visa appears to be getting approved fast.
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@nitesh001 as per the tracker it is anywhere between 4-6 days. I am looking particularly at the alberta examples. Please see the column " processed to received"
Hi Everyone - Just received the OCI by mail. Following the standard reporting format:
Application submitted : 22nd September 2023
Mission : Toronto (Brampton)
OCI Tracker:
Acknowledgement : Oct 5
Processed: Oct 30
BLS Tracker
Oct 31- Counter Delivery to BLS
Nov 1: Purolator Tracking number shared
Nov 2: OCI card received
Thanks everyone for sharing all the information and helping each other out. Cheers!
Application submitted : 22nd September 2023
Mission : Toronto (Brampton)
OCI Tracker:
Acknowledgement : Oct 5
Processed: Oct 30
BLS Tracker
Oct 31- Counter Delivery to BLS
Nov 1: Purolator Tracking number shared
Nov 2: OCI card received
Thanks everyone for sharing all the information and helping each other out. Cheers!
And my honest feedback for BLS (this might sound very disrespectful and insulting - but if someone from BLS is reading this, my post is meant to be this way. If any BLS person feels insulted, the purpose of this post is fulfilled). No comments on the CGI as I never had any trouble with their part of the process.
I have travelled to multiple countries and applied for multiple visas over the last 10-12 years, but I never had to go through this level of pain. If I could define BLS' behavior in one word, I'll say "Harassment". The last 3 months dealing with BLS for the surrender of passport and OCI application were just insane. BLS tried its best to make money from the applicants and delay the process if the money was not paid upfront (trying to find errors in the application and the photographs - I have seen forms and photos getting rejected for reasons that a logical person will not be able to understand).
They will tell you there's an error in your form and will ask for $70 so they can fill your form in about 30 mins. If you say you can fill the form on your device and share it with them in less than 10 mins, they'll ask you to leave and take another appointment and repeat the whole "harassment" process). This is bloody insane and BLS should be ashamed - why are you reflecting a 4th world corrupt practice here in Canada?). And yes, you get a receipt for this saying you paid $70 for photo service (a service that you never availed).
If there's no way for them to find an error in the application, they will reject your photograph giving you stupid reasons. So, you gotto pay them more than triple the market price for a simple photograph. I read on one of the forums, they rejected the photograph and then took one at the BLS center. The photo that was printed on the OCI card was the photo that they had initially rejected. This actually left me speechless. They charged for a service which was never provided. I really hope the contract for filing and initial processing of the applications is given to another organization which is less corrupt and has more respect for people's time. If they want to continue their 4th world practices, they should find another country.
The only honest thing that I have heard from BLS is that BLS cannot help expedite the process. But yes, they can definitely delay the process by harassing you and asking you to come back on a later date to reapply in some cases (usually when you aren't paying them the fees which are not listed in the application process and requirements).
This was the most polite that I could get with my feedback for BLS and this feedback is not for the CGI or anyone helping us on this forum.
I have travelled to multiple countries and applied for multiple visas over the last 10-12 years, but I never had to go through this level of pain. If I could define BLS' behavior in one word, I'll say "Harassment". The last 3 months dealing with BLS for the surrender of passport and OCI application were just insane. BLS tried its best to make money from the applicants and delay the process if the money was not paid upfront (trying to find errors in the application and the photographs - I have seen forms and photos getting rejected for reasons that a logical person will not be able to understand).
They will tell you there's an error in your form and will ask for $70 so they can fill your form in about 30 mins. If you say you can fill the form on your device and share it with them in less than 10 mins, they'll ask you to leave and take another appointment and repeat the whole "harassment" process). This is bloody insane and BLS should be ashamed - why are you reflecting a 4th world corrupt practice here in Canada?). And yes, you get a receipt for this saying you paid $70 for photo service (a service that you never availed).
If there's no way for them to find an error in the application, they will reject your photograph giving you stupid reasons. So, you gotto pay them more than triple the market price for a simple photograph. I read on one of the forums, they rejected the photograph and then took one at the BLS center. The photo that was printed on the OCI card was the photo that they had initially rejected. This actually left me speechless. They charged for a service which was never provided. I really hope the contract for filing and initial processing of the applications is given to another organization which is less corrupt and has more respect for people's time. If they want to continue their 4th world practices, they should find another country.
The only honest thing that I have heard from BLS is that BLS cannot help expedite the process. But yes, they can definitely delay the process by harassing you and asking you to come back on a later date to reapply in some cases (usually when you aren't paying them the fees which are not listed in the application process and requirements).
This was the most polite that I could get with my feedback for BLS and this feedback is not for the CGI or anyone helping us on this forum.
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