OCI process

[OCIapplicant28]

try using another mobile# and email id and see if it works

Tried it but didn’t work. Any other suggestions/ alternatives? I will be calling BLS tomorrow to see if they can somehow book it on call

 

[OCIapplicant28]

actaully if existing appointment in place. it will take 3 weeks to disappear. call to them, they will give premium lounge appointment

Thanks for your response. It was a premium lounge appointment but my son was unwell that day hence had to skip it. When I tried to cancel it using the reference number then also it was throwing technical error. My wife and son are traveling to India in first week of March so e-visa is the only option left now. But they want to stay for more than 6months hence we want to apply OCI for my son. Can e-visa be extended to stay for more than 6months? If yes then how to get the extension for another 6months? Do you know? Or does any one know?

 

[forw.jane]

Thanks for your response. It was a premium lounge appointment but my son was unwell that day hence had to skip it. When I tried to cancel it using the reference number then also it was throwing technical error. My wife and son are traveling to India in first week of March so e-visa is the only option left now. But they want to stay for more than 6months hence we want to apply OCI for my son. Can e-visa be extended to stay for more than 6months? If yes then how to get the extension for another 6months? Do you know? Or does any one know?

E-visa will not allow you to do that. Better apply for OCI and once you get it make a short trip outside India and re-enter using OCI. Additionally as it's for a kid, once you get OCI check if FRRO allows you to change the status from e-visa to OCI without leaving India. For adults they are not allowing it.

 

[mnukkiral]

My OCI journey has concluded successfully. I won't be checking the threads regularly but I will answer to any queries sent through DMs.

Applicant Name	XXXXXXXXXXXX
File Reference Number	XXXXXXXXXXXX
Date Of Acknowledgment	05-DEC-2024
Registration Status at Mission	TORONTO
OCI- Number	XXXXXXXXXXXX
Documents Printing Status	PROCESSED	On	27-DEC-2024
Dispatched From MEA (OCI )	NEW DELHI	On	30-DEC-2024
Document received At	TORONTO	On	09-JAN-2025

A few pointers:

1. The 'document received at' section was blank. I checked my status on BLS website and it showed Passport Ready for pickup after OCI stamping (shown on 09 Jan 2025). The 'document received at' changed to the date after I came back from BLS (~4pm). So the OCI website updates a bit later in the evening. Useful for those who are in a tight crunch as this may save them 1 day.
2. BLS Toronto insisted on courier delivery and also mentioned about long queues for passport/OCI pickup. I showed up 3:30pm and there wasn't anyone queued up. Picked up my document in under 5mins. It could also be attributed to the cold weather so it really depends on the situation; YMMV.
3. Please submit the PASSPORT CANCELLED STAMP page, THE CANCELLED PASSPORT BIO PAGE, THE INDIAN ADDRESS AND PARENTS' NAME PAGE. My Postal application was returned because it did not submit the last page. Make sure the punched holes in the Cancelled Passport copy is visible.
4. If you have any concerns about names, middle names, Parents' names, you can fill out an additional OCI application, get it printed and submit it (if in person) should the agent at the BLS counter tell you it is not acceptable. If you ask them/agree to them making minor changes (spelling/phone/email etc.) they will charge you $100+ for premium processing. This is just to let everyone know that there are ways to avoid paying hefty fees if one has flexibility of a few days.
5. The voter ID/Ration card cancellation declaration has to be uploaded online under the previous India visa section ( as per information provided by BLS all center).
6. For in person submission at BLS, the team does not accept bank drafts for BLS fees ($1.70) so please do not bring a bank draft for those fees. Only debit or cash is accepted.
7. For in person submission, in the event if BLS staff states that think your documents are sufficient even though it is as per the checklist provided by CGI (and BLS) please stand your ground and mention (repeatedly if required) that you are willing to risk it being sent back by CGI. In my case the BLS agent did not think my photo was acceptable even though the online upload was fine, the tried to scare me by saying it won't be accepted. I had to put my foot down and insist that I will deal with it should CGI deem in unacceptable.
8. The BLS call center gives you misleading information about in person submission. I was told I needed to submit my original documents when submitting OCI application in person and I would still have to pay for 2 envelopes (one for returning original docs, another for returning OCI). This was done to discourage me from applying in person by stating that the postal and in person application will eventually cost the same - THAT IS A BIG LIE! When submitting OCI application in person, they verified my original docs and returned to me, and I insisted to pick up my OCI once ready. It saved me ~$120. This is for people who may be a bit tight on the budget/for people who do not want to spend additional money on Purolator.

 

[dazzlingdia2020]

You can put that in https://www.purolator.com/en/shipping/tracker and try.
But that's not the tracking number. When you search on BLS, the tracking number is also populated in some cases when it goes to "Ready for Collection/Dispatch"

It takes time for things to pop up on Purolator side.

The Purolator tracking number is not there at the BLS website. IS there any other way to find it?

 

[harryguns]

My OCI journey has concluded successfully. I won't be checking the threads regularly but I will answer to any queries sent through DMs.

Applicant Name	XXXXXXXXXXXX
File Reference Number	XXXXXXXXXXXX
Date Of Acknowledgment	05-DEC-2024
Registration Status at Mission	TORONTO
OCI- Number	XXXXXXXXXXXX
Documents Printing Status	PROCESSED	On	27-DEC-2024
Dispatched From MEA (OCI )	NEW DELHI	On	30-DEC-2024
Document received At	TORONTO	On	09-JAN-2025

A few pointers:

1. The 'document received at' section was blank. I checked my status on BLS website and it showed Passport Ready for pickup after OCI stamping (shown on 09 Jan 2025). The 'document received at' changed to the date after I came back from BLS (~4pm). So the OCI website updates a bit later in the evening. Useful for those who are in a tight crunch as this may save them 1 day.
2. BLS Toronto insisted on courier delivery and also mentioned about long queues for passport/OCI pickup. I showed up 3:30pm and there wasn't anyone queued up. Picked up my document in under 5mins. It could also be attributed to the cold weather so it really depends on the situation; YMMV.
3. Please submit the PASSPORT CANCELLED STAMP page, THE CANCELLED PASSPORT BIO PAGE, THE INDIAN ADDRESS AND PARENTS' NAME PAGE. My Postal application was returned because it did not submit the last page. Make sure the punched holes in the Cancelled Passport copy is visible.
4. If you have any concerns about names, middle names, Parents' names, you can fill out an additional OCI application, get it printed and submit it (if in person) should the agent at the BLS counter tell you it is not acceptable. If you ask them/agree to them making minor changes (spelling/phone/email etc.) they will charge you $100+ for premium processing. This is just to let everyone know that there are ways to avoid paying hefty fees if one has flexibility of a few days.
5. The voter ID/Ration card cancellation declaration has to be uploaded online under the previous India visa section ( as per information provided by BLS all center).
6. For in person submission at BLS, the team does not accept bank drafts for BLS fees ($1.70) so please do not bring a bank draft for those fees. Only debit or cash is accepted.
7. For in person submission, in the event if BLS staff states that think your documents are sufficient even though it is as per the checklist provided by CGI (and BLS) please stand your ground and mention (repeatedly if required) that you are willing to risk it being sent back by CGI. In my case the BLS agent did not think my photo was acceptable even though the online upload was fine, the tried to scare me by saying it won't be accepted. I had to put my foot down and insist that I will deal with it should CGI deem in unacceptable.
8. The BLS call center gives you misleading information about in person submission. I was told I needed to submit my original documents when submitting OCI application in person and I would still have to pay for 2 envelopes (one for returning original docs, another for returning OCI). This was done to discourage me from applying in person by stating that the postal and in person application will eventually cost the same - THAT IS A BIG LIE! When submitting OCI application in person, they verified my original docs and returned to me, and I insisted to pick up my OCI once ready. It saved me ~$120. This is for people who may be a bit tight on the budget/for people who do not want to spend additional money on Purolator.

Awesome thank you. I had a doubt on upload the mandatory declaration but you answered it under point 5.
Are they pointing out trivial mistakes like "in address it should be ON and not Ontario and vice versa", "comma/hyphen/space is missing" etc.

 

[forw.jane]

The Purolator tracking number is not there at the BLS website. IS there any other way to find it?

You can call BLS and they can give it to you.

 

[sandeep667]

Hi all,

I applied for reissue of my OCI, but I got status today as incomplete/incorrect data. No reason provided. When Can I get details of my application?

 

[mnukkiral]

Awesome thank you. I had a doubt on upload the mandatory declaration but you answered it under point 5.
Are they pointing out trivial mistakes like "in address it should be ON and not Ontario and vice versa", "comma/hyphen/space is missing" etc.

Make sure it is as per your ID document (Driver's license/Photo card)

 

[dazzlingdia2020]

You can call BLS and they can give it to you.

No, that reference number starting with "CAN...." can be used for tracking. I used that and its showing up in the Purolator tracking for me now.

 

[forw.jane]

No, that reference number starting with "CAN...." can be used for tracking. I used that and its showing up in the Purolator tracking for me now.

That's what I told you before but its not the tracking number from purolator. Some lucky ones do get that too as part of BLS tracking.

 

[abbas.pasha]

That's what I told you before but its not the tracking number from purolator. Some lucky ones do get that too as part of BLS tracking.

Gussa nahin karte

 

[Piyushagr21]

I am getting below error message when I try to fill the form 7 on Voters service portal. I have also filled the form 8 to update/change the mobile number but no luck.

"User does not have Epic No. in his/her profile . Cannot proceed to Form7 / Form6B."

Please help on how to resolve this.

 

[payal8502]

Hi,
Anybody has recently applied for oci from Ontario? What's the approximate time taken processing? The bls officer told 2 months. Is that accurate?
Also can I simultaneously apply for evisa if I need to travel to India for a month?

 

[pw0032239]

Hi,
Anybody has recently applied for oci from Ontario? What's the approximate time taken processing? The bls officer told 2 months. Is that accurate?
Also can I simultaneously apply for evisa if I need to travel to India for a month?

2 month sounds reasonable, i applied on december 21st, still waiting.
Yes you can apply for evisa meanwhile