OCI process

[Mr. E]

Hi guys,

I have received my OCI finally. I had my application sent back twice. First was a mistake on my application as one of the questions in Form B was answered Yes instead of No. The second time it was a fee revision, so here's my detailed timeline:

Application Type: Postal, BLS Brampton

First Time: Documents delivered on: March 4, 2024

BLS took their own sweet time to look at my application. I persistently called them every day to inquire my status, and escalate the issue to update my status. After about 3 weeks later, they sent back citing the error on: March 27, 2024. I was charged another $62 for the courier.

Second time: Documents delivered on: March 28, 2024. This time I forgot to include the new checklist form, so I contacted them to which they said I have to email cccanada@blsinternational.net | I never received a response from them.

Nevertheless, on April 1, the Fee was revised for OCI application. Although my application was sent before that date, their office was closed on March 29, 2024 so on April 10, 2024 they updated my status as returned due to fee revision.

BLS didn't charge me this time around, since it was the consulate that made the fee revision. The guy on the call was a money minded thief. He said the courier will only be free for sending the documents, and I would have to pay for the return of my OCI. I didn't react at that time, but I was angry. I said okay, send me over the prepaid link for sending the documents at that time. Link for the purolator was received, and I said to myself, I'll fight with them after the consulate processes my application.

After persistent calls to escalate the issue and return my documents for about 2 weeks, they returned the documents on April 15, 2024. I sent the documents back the same day with a revised Bank cheque, and a new Checklist.

Third time: Documents delivered on April 16, 2024. Again, I know for a fact that OCI process at BLS Brampton is so slow, so I kept making calls every other day to force them to escalate the issue to update my status since this whole process was going on for 3 months now. So here's how all the events unfolded with regard to my actual OCI timeline.

https://www.blsindia-canada.com/toronto-jurisdiction/track-application.php :
Courier sent: April 15, 2024
Reached BLS: April 16, 2024
BLS tracker updated to: Processing at Consulate General on April 30, 2024

https://ociservices.gov.in/statusEnqury :

Date Of Acknowledgement	04-MAY-2024
Registration Status at Mission	TORONTO
Documents Printing Status	PROCESSED	On	28-MAY-2024
Dispatched From MEA (OCI )	NEW DELHI	On	29-MAY-2024
Document received At	TORONTO	On	05-JUN-2024

https://www.blsindia-canada.com/toronto-jurisdiction/track-application.php :
BLS tracker updated to: (Passport ready for collection after OCI Stamping) on June 7, 2024 with a Purolator tracking number
(I guess the guy I spoked to was just messing with me to see if I would agree to pay the return courier charge or not. Glad I never agreed nor disagreed to pay the courier fee)

OCI delivered: June 10, 2024

Lessons to be learned from my experience:

1. Fill the application correctly. Check on YouTube on how to fill out the application. Make sure to thoroughly check every single page of your document. BLS tend to nitpick every single error to charge you. If in doubt, always post on this forum, which is of great help. If still unsure, call BLS directly to verify.
2. In form B for almost all of you, all the questions the answer should be 'NO'. If you think the answer could be 'YES', then you need to submit the proof, which makes your application complex, This is where I made the mistake first time around. So be careful. Call BLS if in doubt. For ref: https://www.blsindia-canada.com/toronto-jurisdiction/pdf/OCI-Form-Filling-Instructions.pdf | https://www.blsindia-canada.com/toronto-jurisdiction/pdf/OCI-Sample-form-with-common-errors.pdf
3. If the BLS guy tells you that you have to pay extra money, don't agree or disagree, just focus on the matter that is important. In my case, it was getting the purolator link for shipping the documents.
4. The process is smooth after it reaches consulate. For Brampton, they honoured the 6-8 week timeline. Checking the document twice, thrice even 10 times is worth the effort really!!

The people in this forum have been of great help, really. Thanks a ton, guys!!
And, thanks for reading this long post! Good luck with your application!!

 

[adstarscream732]

Pt 1 Name change - My wife had her new post-marriage surname on both the last held Indian Passport and the Canadian Passport. We had entered YES to the question have you ever changed your name. But per BLS Halifax the correct answer is NO in this situation, so they re-did her application ( with a new Application reference number) for a charge of CAD 26. So the safer answer to this question is NO.

What about marriage certificate? That is got to have your wife's maiden name did they still accept it?

 

[Imran1990]

What about marriage certificate? That is got to have your wife's maiden name did they still accept it?

Yes, the marriage cert had her maiden name, as is almost always the case. They accepted the marriage cert. But they said we should have answered NO to the question whether name was ever changed.
They re-did the form and we got the OCI in hand in about 6.5 weeks.

 

[listerine]

This is also a silly mistake selecting Professional and then mentioning address as Unemployed.

That's why I keep reiterating, Double-Triple Check the OCI application, and if possible try and create 2(or even 3 if required) applications to cover yourself for scenario like Marriage Date vs Marriage Registration Date, etc
Try and include all details marked with asterisk* or not e.g. if you are married you should include your spouse information even if its not mandatory.

I did a little research on the forum, and lot of people seem to be recommending selecting Professional for unemployed people. So it's natural to be confused by the advice here.

My natural reaction would be to select - Others, and then Unemployed. But with all the advice to select Professional on the forum, I am just more confused.

 

[harish21jun]

Applying for OCI in Canada and getting it delivered through someone traveling to India and handing over to you and then requesting through FRRO convert the status of your residency from eVisa to OCI should be possible. But this has to be confirmed through FRRO

One related question if someone can guide..

I am travelling to India with my kid (3 months) who holds Canadian passport and has evisa. My question is that do I need to have her return ticket while travelling? If yes, Can the ticket be only for father and her (as I will be coming back and will cancel her ticket) Also what document required to support financial part?

 

[abbas.pasha]

One related question if someone can guide..

I am travelling to India with my kid (3 months) who holds Canadian passport and has evisa. My question is that do I need to have her return ticket while travelling? If yes, Can the ticket be only for father and her (as I will be coming back and will cancel her ticket) Also what document required to support financial part?

This is what eVisa site mentions in their FAQs https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/evisa/tvoa.html
The foreigner should have return ticket or onward journey ticket, with sufficient money to spend during his/her stay in India.

 

[2017CanadaHo!]

Thank you so much for the answer! I appreciate it.

Except marriage certificate there are no other documents that have my wife's maiden name!!! And I find it funny that we have not required an affidavit until now for anything at all.

I will ask my wife to get an affidavit just in case because we are going to need it for our newborn OCI as marriage cert is a document required for minor applicant born in Canada.

marr cert - guess what, in my case (Delhi Govt system generated) the certificate didn't state my wife's maiden name! so it was like wife kapoor marrying husband kapoor, whereas wife kapoor was wife chopra before the marriage!

all the best!

 

[2017CanadaHo!]

Hello there, this is a little bit of a question well in advance as I am even yet to apply for my surrender. I have my job contract ending during the end of July and I am certain I won't get my surrender cert by then even if I applied next week. Now, it says I need to provide employment letter/professional details for OCI application. Though I am actively seeking my next employment, worst case scenario, how can I provide my professional details should I not get hired by then? Is it better to wait till I secure a job or is it possible to get through a former employer? Please advise if anyone had similar experiences so I can introspect and prepare. TIA!

rude, unpleasant - but just say unemployed if that is still the case at the time of applying.

while i say the above, it is weird that the OCI booklet which is a lifetime valid document shows the occupation! ssttrraannggee! ok fine you've taken that info from me as an applicant, but what purpose does it serve showing on the document?!

 

[2017CanadaHo!]

Thanks for the replies.
One last query regarding Occupation. Being in IT as a software developer, do I need to select "Professional" or "Private Service". Heard they only consider professional for Doctors/Lawyers?

private service is the right option for most of us unless we hold a truly professional title/degree - doctor, lawyer.

 

[2017CanadaHo!]

https://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/threads/oci-online-form-queries-pls-help.848959/post-10853115
@amit191083
Lets try and help you get your queries answered here..

You can refer this document as well to fill up your application form https://www.blsindia-canada.com/toronto-jurisdiction/pdf/OCI-Sample-form-with-common-errors.pdf This is just a sample so you still need to apply common sense

2) National Identification Number
--- What goes in this field? - Mention either Not Applicable or None

3) Previous Passport Number
--- Do I need to provide last held surrendered Indian Passport number in this field? - Mention either Not Applicable or None. This is only for people who renewed there old Canadian passport

4) Marriage Registration Date?
--- Should this be the marriage registration certificate date or the actual marriage date? - Marriage Registration Date. If you wanna keep your application fool proof, prepare 2 applications, one with actual marriage date and the other with marriage registration date.

@forw.jane @2017CanadaHo! kya khayal aap dono ka ye 2 queries ke baarein main?

1) Have you ever changed your name? If yes, click the box and give details.
--- My wife's surname changed post marriage but both her Canadian Passport as well as last help Indian Passport's has new name.
--- Do I still need to mention the old surname in this field or just say NO?

5) Marriage Registration Date showing up as 01\/MAY\/2010
--- I tried entering it many times but still everytime on final page it shows up like above. Adding additional forward slashes "\"

@amit191083
1. national id field blank. i have my OCI
2. blank. do not mention IN PP details here. i have my OCI
3. marr regn date. dang! 1 BLS officer said mention actual date of marriage, the other asked for date of registering the marriage. so i guess both are right, depending on your BLS officer. best way fwd - make 2 applications, and jo maange de do. i finally used the ACTUAL marriage date wali application. i have my OCI
4. name change. ditto in my case; except for one IN PP which she never used, my wife didn't have any other travel document in her maiden name. strangely, even our marriage cert doesn't have her maiden name. instead of going the affidavit route about name change, BLS person made us select 'no' to the qn about her having held any other name. she has her OCI
5. computer glitch. it is their system (they validate your application with what they see on the screen).

 

[abbas.pasha]

@amit191083
1. national id field blank. i have my OCI
2. blank. do not mention IN PP details here. i have my OCI
3. marr regn date. dang! 1 BLS officer said mention actual date of marriage, the other asked for date of registering the marriage. so i guess both are right, depending on your BLS officer. best way fwd - make 2 applications, and jo maange de do. i finally used the ACTUAL marriage date wali application. i have my OCI
4. name change. ditto in my case; except for one IN PP which she never used, my wife didn't have any other travel document in her maiden name. strangely, even our marriage cert doesn't have her maiden name. instead of going the affidavit route about name change, BLS person made us select 'no' to the qn about her having held any other name. she has her OCI
5. computer glitch. it is their system (they validate your application with what they see on the screen).

Kapoor sahab aren't you repeating your too much here "i have my OCI"
Ye bhi batado zara kitni baar main pass kiya tha OCI test

 

[2017CanadaHo!]

Kapoor sahab aren't you repeating your too much here "i have my OCI"
Ye bhi batado zara kitni baar main pass hue thai OCItest main

kapoor nahi hu. random surname use kiya for illustration purpose only!
i have my oci - bhai, questions ke answers de raha hu aur bata raha hu in answers ke saath pass hua, ye sirf views/opinion nahi hain.
kitne attempts - mat poocho. khoon jalta hai. on an average 2/application.

 

[ay1993]

Date Of Acknowledgment	16-MAY-2024
Registration Status at Mission	TORONTO
Documents Printing Status	PROCESSED	On	06-JUN-2024
Dispatched From MEA (OCI )	NEW DELHI	On	07-JUN-2024
Document received At	TORONTO	On

Any Idea how long till I receive the OCI? Where should I contact in case of further delay?

 

[natrajs35]

Date Of Acknowledgment	16-MAY-2024
Registration Status at Mission	TORONTO
Documents Printing Status	PROCESSED	On	06-JUN-2024
Dispatched From MEA (OCI )	NEW DELHI	On	07-JUN-2024
Document received At	TORONTO	On

Any Idea how long till I receive the OCI? Where should I contact in case of further delay?

I have the exact same timeline and my status in BLS site changed to "Counter delivery to BLS center after OCI stamping" just yesterday and I am expecting the tracking number soon.

 

[jananicmouli]

rude, unpleasant - but just say unemployed if that is still the case at the time of applying.

while i say the above, it is weird that the OCI booklet which is a lifetime valid document shows the occupation! ssttrraannggee! ok fine you've taken that info from me as an applicant, but what purpose does it serve showing on the document?!

Wait, what is rude and unpleasant? Is it my query that you are referring to? I hope not so lol..

Anyways, I am going to go with what @abbas.pasha has advised me as that makes more sense should the situation arise. That way it doesn't show "unemployed" in my lifetime document.