OCI process

[dazzlingdia2020]

For a walk-in appointment, for OCI do we need to carry+upload a copy of the India passport surrender certificate or just show them the original for verification? Mine is stapled to my passport and I dont want to remove it. :'(

 

[Illusionchafe]

For a walk-in appointment, for OCI do we need to carry+upload a copy of the India passport surrender certificate or just show them the original for verification? Mine is stapled to my passport and I dont want to remove it. :'(

Upload and show both.

 

[dazzlingdia2020]

Hi team,

Wanted to post my OCI time lines:

Date Of Acknowledgment 07-NOV-2024
Registration Status at MissionTORONTO
OCI- NumberXXXXXXX
Documents Printing StatusPROCESSEDOn 28-NOV-2024
Dispatched From MEA (OCI )NEW DELHIOn <blank>
Document received AtTORONTOOn <blank>

When can I expect the OCI to reach BLS Mississauga? When does BLS send a message to pick it up from their office( I chose pickup)?

Did you show proof of surrendering your ration card as well? or only voter id?

 

[Illusionchafe]

Did you show proof of surrendering your ration card as well? or only voter id?

I submitted it before the voter id submission rule.

 

[Prateek710]

Date Of Acknowledgment 21-Sep-2024
Registration Status at Mission Vancouver
OCI- Number XXXXXXX
Documents Printing Status PROCESSED On 23-NOV-2024
Dispatched From MEA (OCI )NEW DELHI On 26-NOv-2024
Document received At Vancouver on 26-Nov-2024

Received On 29-Nov-2024 via Purolator at home
Signing off now. Thank you everyone and @Marie_Cute

 

[dazzlingdia2020]

What all should be included in the employment letter aside from start date and designation? Should the office address be specified?

 

[Prateek710]

What all should be included in the employment letter aside from start date and designation? Should the office address be specified?

Start date position and for how long you are working there and office address should be same as your payroll address or head office address

 

[Chauhan1223]

Date Of Acknowledgment 21-Sep-2024
Registration Status at Mission Vancouver
OCI- Number XXXXXXX
Documents Printing Status PROCESSED On 23-NOV-2024
Dispatched From MEA (OCI )NEW DELHI On 26-NOv-2024
Document received At Vancouver on 26-Nov-2024

Received On 29-Nov-2024 via Purolator at home
Signing off now. Thank you everyone and @Marie_Cute

hey once you submitted the application to BLS after how many days were you able to track it on the OCI portal?

 

[Prateek710]

hey once you submitted the application to BLS after how many days were you able to track it on the OCI portal?

Applied on 15th September walk in at surrey office and was able to track on 21st September after acknowledgement on Portal

 

[Chauhan1223]

Applied on 15th September walk in at surrey office and was able to track on 21st September after acknowledgement on Portal

Ok. I submitted the application via walk-in at BLS regina on 25th Sep. The status on BLS website says processing at consulate but when I try tracking on OCI portal it says application not found.

 

[Prateek710]

Ok. I submitted the application via walk-in at BLS regina on 25th Sep. The status on BLS website says processing at consulate but when I try tracking on OCI portal it says application not found.

Make sure you are putting correct file number and passport number or ask bls that means your file has still not received by MEA in Delhi

 

[Illusionchafe]

Hi folks!

Wanted to post my OCI time lines:

Date Of Acknowledgment 07-NOV-2024
Registration Status at MissionTORONTO
OCI- NumberXXXXXXX
Documents Printing StatusPROCESSEDOn 28-NOV-2024
Dispatched From MEA (OCI )NEW DELHIOn 29-NOV-2024
Document received AtTORONTOOn <blank>

When can I expect the OCI to reach BLS Mississauga? When does BLS send a message to pick it up from their office( I chose pickup)?

 

[Illusionchafe]

Date Of Acknowledgment 21-Sep-2024
Registration Status at Mission Vancouver
OCI- Number XXXXXXX
Documents Printing Status PROCESSED On 23-NOV-2024
Dispatched From MEA (OCI )NEW DELHI On 26-NOv-2024
Document received At Vancouver on 26-Nov-2024

Received On 29-Nov-2024 via Purolator at home
Signing off now. Thank you everyone and @Marie_Cute

Interesting, document sent from India and received in Canada on same day? Super charged delivery?

 

[deepika_bohra]

Which passport details are entered in step 1 of form - Canadian or Indian?

Location/Jurisdiction : Toronto

Application centre: BLS Mississauga

Date of Application: 25th October 2024

Date of Acknowledgment: 4th November 2024

Processed on : 26th November 2024

Those looters at BLS had told me that my application may be rejected saying that my photo needs to be retaken. I declined and insisted on going with the photo I had taken from a studio with the specifications on the CGI website and even showed them the photo sample/specifications on CGI website/the one that came with the application form. They said that the specifications on the CGI website is outdated and needs more shoulder visible in the picture. I fought politely and refused. They even had a photo of an applicant pinned near the counter with a different specification(extra shoulder), contrary to the “uncle”’s photo shown on the CGI checklist

Pro tip: Have the CGI checklist page with the photo specifications ready and also get your photo stamped in the back with the date it was taken by the photographer. Then, if you are confident, decline their “loot”/offer. They will try to persuade you saying that they can send the application at your risk and that you may have to come back if it’s rejected. Relax and tell them, “that’s ok” and ask them to send the application.

Then the next thing they tried was insisting on getting my spouse’s passport copy though I am getting OCI based on my origin and the spouse passport is not even mentioned on the checklist. I didn’t fight much on that and sent them the spouse’s passport by email to them and they printed that in low quality black and white and charged me some money.

Pro tip: If you are married, get hard copies of your spouse’s passport/OCI even of you are getting OCI based on your previous Indian passport.

Also, pro tip: there are different versions of the BLS checklist available if you Google “BLS OCI checklist”. If you are confused, print all of them and fill them if you have a printer rather than paying the BLS looters extra.
I saw a lot of applicants making mistakes with “Previous passport number” field where the entered the Indian passport number. You are required to enter your old Canadian passport number here if you have one, else leave this field blank.

Pro tip: Watch enough YouTube tutorials/guide videos on OCI before you apply to avoid these costly mistakes.

Bonus pro tip:
If your appointment is at 12 PM/noon, they will let you in at 11:45 AM with a token number and will take you another 1-2 hours for your token number to be called on the screen. You might be wondering, “then, what is the purpose of the appointment then?”. Welcome to BLS, where they deliver the Indian SBI experience, even if you are thousands of miles away. So, don’t expect to walk out by 12:20 PM, if your appointment is at 12 PM. You may be only able yo walk out by 1:30 PM. Plan your day accordingly! Also, use your Canadian passport number for booking your appointment, not your Indian passport number.

 

[Chauhan1223]

Make sure you are putting correct file number and passport number or ask bls that means your file has still not received by MEA in Delhi

Sorry i accidentally wrote 25th Sep. I submitted my application at BLS on 25th Nov 2024 and got a text message from BLS on 26th Nov that application is at the consulate for processing .