OCI process

[forw.jane]

Please advise for new application for Adult. I am sending a postal application (through Canada Post).

Q1. What is the amount that I have to send in the form of draft? Per my reading it should be:
a) $376 drawn on "The Consulate General of India - Toronto"
b)$1.70 drawn on "BLS International Services Canada Inc."

Is this correct? The BLS draft details are not clearly mentioned on the website.

Q2. For return courier - can I send a prepaid envelope? What is it that is normally used by others (BLS's services are expensive - what have others used in the group?)

My apologies if these queries have been answered previously.

1,2 - Yes

 

[Illusionchafe]

Picked up today in Bramp. Both parents mandatory for minor. Driving licenses were enough. Same process as Surrender cert pickup. No one. I mean no one was there. Only us when we went there . . Yup that $2.40 and $0 extra for surrender were my victories as well. Over and out with BLS hopefully.

Awesome congratulations! What was your time line?

 

[Illusionchafe]

Hello everyone! I wanted to share my experience with the OCI application process at BLS Mississauga and get some guidance on the pickup process.

Date: November 6, 2024
Location: BLS Mississauga

We booked our appointment a week in advance through the BLS website and completed all the necessary paperwork. We found the YouTube channel *Canada Tried and Tested* very helpful.

A Few Tips to Keep in Mind:

1. Employment Letter: Ensure your employment letter includes a clear address. The agent was particular about this detail. Ours included it, and she seemed disappointed not to find any issues.

2. New Voter ID Declaration: Make sure to have this declaration printed, signed, and uploaded to the OCI portal. There’s no specific upload section for this, so just use any available document header and upload it there. The agent initially insisted I pay to re-upload it, but I managed to upload it on-site and took responsibility for any risk.

3. Courier Service: We declined the BLS courier service (over $60) and noticed the agent seemed unhappy with our choice. She tried persuading us by emphasizing the inconvenience of picking it up in person, She placed arguements like, it's first come first serve basis. You have to stand in line. It's only open for 1 hour per day, but we politely declined.

In the end, we only paid $2.40 per application.

Somehow, feels like a moral victory in times when BLS is in a habit of sending people back, and charging exhorbitant fee.



My Question:
For those who opted for in-person pickup, can you share your experience? We’re planning to pick up in mid-January, and I’d like to know if there’s any flexibility around picking up both my and my wife’s documents, considering we’ll have a newborn at home. Any insights would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you!

What is the process to surrender voter id card from outside India?

 

[ajay.ece90]

Any one applied for OCI in Ottawa in Sep/ OCT 2024? Wondering what is the process time these days. We applied on Oct 10th. Acknowledgement Oct 12th. No other updates after.

 

[forw.jane]

Any one applied for OCI in Ottawa in Sep/ OCT 2024? Wondering what is the process time these days. We applied on Oct 10th. Acknowledgement Oct 12th. No other updates after.

You should see progress first or second week of Dec. Vancouver and Ottawa processing is slow compared to Toronto.

 

[vishal128901]

hey folks - what is the current approximate timeline for OCI filed at Vancouver BLS. My ackonlwedgment date is 21st Sept and the status is still "under processing". I would like to visit India in December and am getting nervous .
Please can you share your thoughs/experience? Why is Vancouver so slow as compared to Toronto?

 

[forw.jane]

hey folks - what is the current approximate timeline for OCI filed at Vancouver BLS. My ackonlwedgment date is 21st Sept and the status is still "under processing". I would like to visit India in December and am getting nervous .
Please can you share your thoughs/experience? Why is Vancouver so slow as compared to Toronto?

It used to be 10-12 weeks but last somebody messaged in the forum that it's slowed down further because of staff shortage.

 

[Prateek710]

hey folks - what is the current approximate timeline for OCI filed at Vancouver BLS. My ackonlwedgment date is 21st Sept and the status is still "under processing". I would like to visit India in December and am getting nervous .
Please can you share your thoughs/experience? Why is Vancouver so slow as compared to Toronto?

My timeline is same to same. Acknowledgment date 21st September. Vancouver jurisdiction under process. Keep me posted. I am expecting some movement by 30 November

 

[Pankajrathi]

Hello Folks,

Does anyone know how to contact high commissioner of India at Ottawa Jurisdiction? Email addresses would suffice.

Secondly, does anyone know how to book an appointment at HCI, Ottawa for OCI / miscellaneous purposes ? I know BLS handles OCI applications. However, in my case, I need to get approval from HCI.

Thanks in advance!!

 

[forw.jane]

Hello Folks,

Does anyone know how to contact high commissioner of India at Ottawa Jurisdiction? Email addresses would suffice.

Secondly, does anyone know how to book an appointment at HCI, Ottawa for OCI / miscellaneous purposes ? I know BLS handles OCI applications. However, in my case, I need to get approval from HCI.

Thanks in advance!!

Can you please elaborate why you need approval from HCI?

 

[Pankajrathi]

Can you please elaborate why you need approval from HCI?

I was born in india. However, my parents were born in Pakistan and they migrated to India in late 80s and became citizens in 90s.

While filing the OCI form,I put yes for the question on if applicant/their parents/grand parents are from Pakistan / Bangladesh background. BLS did send my documents for pre-approval to HCI but they rejected it. However, I want to contact HCI and try to explain them once again.

Hope this answers your question.

 

[forw.jane]

I was born in india. However, my parents were born in Pakistan and they migrated to India in late 80s and became citizens in 90s.

While filing the OCI form,I put yes for the question on if applicant/their parents/grand parents are from Pakistan / Bangladesh background. BLS did send my documents for pre-approval to HCI but they rejected it. However, I want to contact HCI and try to explain them once again.

Hope this answers your question.

Try this
For OCI oci[dot]ottawa[at]mea[dot]gov[dot]in

If no response try direct ones -
https://www.hciottawa.gov.in/pages?id=2&subid=8

 

[ani486]

Mine changed to (Passport ready For Collection after OCI stamping) .

Congratulations!! So it changed to Ready for Collection in 2 days?

Regards,
Aniruddha

 

[ani486]

Thanks for reply, unfortunately when I selected Other it didnt open any other field where I can write any information about his death.

Well, in such a case, the last held profession is the ideal choice. And you can always tell them in person about the demise. In this way you are being completely honest and not hiding anything from them.

Regards,
Ani.

 

[VB14]

Location Mississauga (opted for courier)

Documents Printing Status	PROCESSED	On	07-NOV-2024
Dispatched From MEA (OCI )	NEW DELHI	On	08-NOV-2024
Document received At	TORONTO	On