OCI process

[charisma]

Hi guys,

This is bit off topic. I have a question about applying for visa for India. I am a Canadian citizen ...I have not yet surrendered my Indian passport. It is just that due to Covid, we didn't get a chance to visit BLS. I have not travelled anywhere since my citizenship. I am planning for a trip to India, my questions here are:

1. Is it necessary to surrender the Indian passport before travelling to India or any foreign country?

2. I want to apply for visa for India online but I do not know which visa it is, where and how to apply. I do not want to get OCI card since I do not frequently travel to India. Can anyone direct me to the website, guidelines, step by step process for visa? I have looked at CGI and BLS website but not able to find anything, it says that eTourist visa is currently suspended ........so I am not sure which visa is to be applied. If there is any recent post on this, please share it with me.

3. I haven't yet decided about the travel dates for India. Can anyone please tell that how long will the visa be valid for?

Thanks!

 

[amyn27]

Update

Passport Surrender
Mode: Walk-in
13-July: Submitted at BLS Brampton
14-July: BLS Tracking - Under process
16-July: BLS Tracking - Processing at Consulate General
26-July: BLS Tracking - In transit from consulate general to BLS centre
27-July: BLS Tracking - Ready for Pick up
Got my Indian passport with surrender stamp and surrender certificate

OCI
Mode: Walk-in
13-July: Submitted at BLS Brampton
14-July: BLS Tracking - Under process
16-July: BLS Tracking - Processing at Consulate General
20-July: Under process at ociservices.gov.in/statusEnquiry
10-Aug : Dispatched From MEA (OCI ) NEW DELHI
10-Aug : Document received At TORONTO
11-Aug : Ready for collection to BLS Centre after OCI stamping
11-Aug : Collected the OCI card in person

Process for passport surrender and OCI completed in less than a month. Good luck everyone.

 

[We rise by lifting others]

Hello Helping Angels,

I have a question about the online documents list.

In the list of documents to upload on OCI registration online, it says employment letter. Is it mandatory to upload employment letter. Called the BLS today and they say it is not.

Please share your experience.

thanks and regards

 

[cnonline]

Hello Helping Angels,

I have a question about the online documents list.

In the list of documents to upload on OCI registration online, it says employment letter. Is it mandatory to upload employment letter. Called the BLS today and they say it is not.

Please share your experience.

thanks and regards

That's right it is a default list of documents that show up online OCI system. It even shows for minor child. So it is not a required document. Good luck with your application.

 

[cnonline]

Update

Passport Surrender
Mode: Walk-in
13-July: Submitted at BLS Brampton
14-July: BLS Tracking - Under process
16-July: BLS Tracking - Processing at Consulate General
26-July: BLS Tracking - In transit from consulate general to BLS centre
27-July: BLS Tracking - Ready for Pick up
Got my Indian passport with surrender stamp and surrender certificate

OCI
Mode: Walk-in
13-July: Submitted at BLS Brampton
14-July: BLS Tracking - Under process
16-July: BLS Tracking - Processing at Consulate General
20-July: Under process at ociservices.gov.in/statusEnquiry
10-Aug : Dispatched From MEA (OCI ) NEW DELHI
10-Aug : Document received At TORONTO
11-Aug : Ready for collection to BLS Centre after OCI stamping
11-Aug : Collected the OCI card in person

Process for passport surrender and OCI completed in less than a month. Good luck everyone.

Thanks for this update. I am also looking to apply surrender and OCI for myself and family. I went today to Brampton BLS, and there was a long line for walkin so I went back home. Will go other time.

Since you were able to pickup the surrender and OCI in-person, what did say when BLS insisted you for getting it delivered by Purolator? I live in Brampton and can do the pick up. I don't want to spend $200 for purolator shipping for drop-off/delivery for family of 4 application. Thanks,.

 

[cnonline]

Hi guys,

This is bit off topic. I have a question about applying for visa for India. I am a Canadian citizen ...I have not yet surrendered my Indian passport. It is just that due to Covid, we didn't get a chance to visit BLS. I have not travelled anywhere since my citizenship. I am planning for a trip to India, my questions here are:

1. Is it necessary to surrender the Indian passport before travelling to India or any foreign country?

2. I want to apply for visa for India online but I do not know which visa it is, where and how to apply. I do not want to get OCI card since I do not frequently travel to India. Can anyone direct me to the website, guidelines, step by step process for visa? I have looked at CGI and BLS website but not able to find anything, it says that eTourist visa is currently suspended ........so I am not sure which visa is to be applied. If there is any recent post on this, please share it with me.

3. I haven't yet decided about the travel dates for India. Can anyone please tell that how long will the visa be valid for?

Thanks!

Not sure if I can answer 1, but for 2 & 3 see link below.
I was exactly in same boat as yours, but when I looked at Visas (which are faster), are suspended right now. Its eTrourist visa. Entry visa is another one I think (https://www.blsindia-canada.com/entryvisa.php) but when I checked the fees, it was only about $100 less then OCI card so I am now surrendering the passport and applying for OCI at the same time. Its just that the processing takes longer than visas but OCIs are lifelong (may have to update information as it changes).

In previous post by "amyn27" it took less than a month for surrender & OCI together. So I am hopeful it can be done.

 

[sg02]

Update

Passport Surrender
Mode: Walk-in
13-July: Submitted at BLS Brampton
14-July: BLS Tracking - Under process
16-July: BLS Tracking - Processing at Consulate General
26-July: BLS Tracking - In transit from consulate general to BLS centre
27-July: BLS Tracking - Ready for Pick up
Got my Indian passport with surrender stamp and surrender certificate

OCI
Mode: Walk-in
13-July: Submitted at BLS Brampton
14-July: BLS Tracking - Under process
16-July: BLS Tracking - Processing at Consulate General
20-July: Under process at ociservices.gov.in/statusEnquiry
10-Aug : Dispatched From MEA (OCI ) NEW DELHI
10-Aug : Document received At TORONTO
11-Aug : Ready for collection to BLS Centre after OCI stamping
11-Aug : Collected the OCI card in person

Process for passport surrender and OCI completed in less than a month. Good luck everyone.

Can you confirm which Passport Number to use for tracking purpose? Is it 'Canadian for OCI tracking' and 'Indian for Surrender application'? Or is it the other way?

Actually I am able to track both OCI and Passport applications on BLS website but its taking 'Indian for OCI tracking' and 'Canadian for Surrender'.

So just want to double check with you because I am worried that my applications are swapped even though I created separate folders. Anything is possible with BLS.

 

[rajkamalmohanram]

Can you confirm which Passport Number to use for tracking purpose? Is it 'Canadian for OCI tracking' and 'Indian for Surrender application'? Or is it the other way?

Actually I am able to track both OCI and Passport applications on BLS website but its taking 'Indian for OCI tracking' and 'Canadian for Surrender'.

So just want to double check with you because I am worried that my applications are swapped even though I created separate folders. Anything is possible with BLS.

Well, AFAIK, it should be Indian passport for Surrender and Canadian Passport for OCI.

 

[We rise by lifting others]

That's right it is a default list of documents that show up online OCI system. It even shows for minor child. So it is not a required document. Good luck with your application.

Hello CNonline
In the current passport, i am assuming that they are asking for Canadian passport ?

Thanks and regards

 

[Ani_Canada]

Finally done with OCI.. Long process..

OCI Application :
Mode: Postal
30-Jun-21: Sent via purolator.
02-Jul-21: Received at BLS.
09-Jul-21: BLS Tracking - underprocess
12-Jul-21: Processing at Consulate General
15-Jul-21: Under process at ociservices.gov.in
05-Aug-21: Document Printing Status: Processed
05-Aug-21: Dispatched From MEA(OCI) New Delhi
05-Aug-21: Document Received At Toronto
09-Aug-21: Counter Delivery to BLS Centre after OCI stamping
10-Aug-21: Passport Ready for Collection after OCI stamping
11-Aug-21: Purolator Tracking Number Updated under Additional Information.
12-Aug-21: OCI received.

Thank you & Good luck all..

 

[amyn27]

Thanks for this update. I am also looking to apply surrender and OCI for myself and family. I went today to Brampton BLS, and there was a long line for walkin so I went back home. Will go other time.

Since you were able to pickup the surrender and OCI in-person, what did say when BLS insisted you for getting it delivered by Purolator? I live in Brampton and can do the pick up. I don't want to spend $200 for purolator shipping for drop-off/delivery for family of 4 application. Thanks,.

I just told them I can come personally to pick up the passport and oci card before they gave me the option for Purolator shipping. Pick up is usually between 3.00 - 4.30pm from Mon-Fri

 

[amyn27]

Can you confirm which Passport Number to use for tracking purpose? Is it 'Canadian for OCI tracking' and 'Indian for Surrender application'? Or is it the other way?

Actually I am able to track both OCI and Passport applications on BLS website but its taking 'Indian for OCI tracking' and 'Canadian for Surrender'.

So just want to double check with you because I am worried that my applications are swapped even though I created separate folders. Anything is possible with BLS.

I was able to track with Indian passport number for Indian passport surrender and Canadian passport number for OCI.

 

[cnonline]

Hello CNonline
In the current passport, i am assuming that they are asking for Canadian passport ?

Thanks and regards

That's right.

 

[A019624]

Update

Passport Surrender
Mode: Walk-in
13-July: Submitted at BLS Brampton
14-July: BLS Tracking - Under process
16-July: BLS Tracking - Processing at Consulate General
26-July: BLS Tracking - In transit from consulate general to BLS centre
27-July: BLS Tracking - Ready for Pick up
Got my Indian passport with surrender stamp and surrender certificate

OCI
Mode: Walk-in
13-July: Submitted at BLS Brampton
14-July: BLS Tracking - Under process
16-July: BLS Tracking - Processing at Consulate General
20-July: Under process at ociservices.gov.in/statusEnquiry
10-Aug : Dispatched From MEA (OCI ) NEW DELHI
10-Aug : Document received At TORONTO
11-Aug : Ready for collection to BLS Centre after OCI stamping
11-Aug : Collected the OCI card in person

Process for passport surrender and OCI completed in less than a month. Good luck everyone.

Thank you so much for sharing the details. Can you please share your experience in the pick up process. As to how long it took in the line up and what documents to carried for identification? Appreciate your help.

 

[cnonline]

I just told them I can come personally to pick up the passport and oci card before they gave me the option for Purolator shipping. Pick up is usually between 3.00 - 4.30pm from Mon-Fri

Thqnks