OCI process

[rajkamalmohanram]

Finally got through BLS call centre, agent advised if I travel with Indian passport, I will have to pay a penalty/fine later when I surrender passport.

Agent also said passport surrender process and visa/OCI application is independent. I have to do both, but OCI will be processed in 5-7 weeks and won’t be delayed awaiting passport surrender process.

Yes, you can leave Canada with your Indian passport without issues. However, you can't come back to Canada without a Canadian passport. You can carry your citizenship certificate and apply for a Canadian passport in India. However, my comment was about entering the country with one passport and leaving with another.

What you can do is this (this was posted somewhere on the forum and pointed out to me by a friend of mine).

Travel to India on Indian passport > Do NOT reveal about your citizenship > Apply for a Canadian passport > Get a visa to Dubai on your Indian passport > Exit India with your Indian passport > On arrival in Dubai, show your Canadian passport and get a visa on arrival > Book a ticket from Dubai to Toronto (or any other Canadian airport) > Show your Canadian passport when leaving Dubai > Come back to Canada.

Once you are in Canada, you have to pay a penalty to surrender your Indian citizenship and can then apply for OCI.

 

[Abhishek901]

Are you looking for the process to authenticate the civil document issued in Canada ? I have experienced authentication of civil documents issued in Canada as well as other country.

As I got married in Canada (Ontario) and need to get the marriage certificate authenticated.

Just to confirm, if we both are now Canadian citizens, do we still need to get the marriage certificated authenticated? We are applying for OCI based on our own Indian identities.

 

[patel55]

I have applied for an OCI for my 9 month old Son on Sept 15 2021 at Vancouver jurisdiction.
Acknowledgement received- Sept 18, 2021.
I am planning to go to India on Oct 29, 2021. Does anyone know the estimate when I will get an OCI.
Or
Should I get an entry visa just to be on safe side.??
Any suggestions are welcome.. Thanks for reading.

 

[mohan99]

I have applied for an OCI for my 9 month old Son on Sept 15 2021 at Vancouver jurisdiction.
Acknowledgement received- Sept 18, 2021.
I am planning to go to India on Oct 29, 2021. Does anyone know the estimate when I will get an OCI.
Or
Should I get an entry visa just to be on safe side.??
Any suggestions are welcome.. Thanks for reading.

40 days is my understanding

 

[mohan99]

Does Montreal BLS Center take Debit card instead of draft for OCI?

 

[lifein360]

I have applied for an OCI for my 9 month old Son on Sept 15 2021 at Vancouver jurisdiction.
Acknowledgement received- Sept 18, 2021.
I am planning to go to India on Oct 29, 2021. Does anyone know the estimate when I will get an OCI.
Or
Should I get an entry visa just to be on safe side.??
Any suggestions are welcome.. Thanks for reading.

That could be very touch and go to be honest. Seems like you should keep atleast 2 full months now as processing time for OCI

 

[rajkamalmohanram]

I have applied for an OCI for my 9 month old Son on Sept 15 2021 at Vancouver jurisdiction.
Acknowledgement received- Sept 18, 2021.
I am planning to go to India on Oct 29, 2021. Does anyone know the estimate when I will get an OCI.
Or
Should I get an entry visa just to be on safe side.??
Any suggestions are welcome.. Thanks for reading.

It is usually 42 days from the date of acknowledgement. If you choose delivery, you might have to add another week (49 days) to be safe. If you can pick the document up, it would be 42 - 45 days. While there is a chance that you might receive the document "just in time" (if you choose to pick it up from BLS), it might end up being too close to the date of travel.

So yeah, apply for an entry visa, just to be safe.

 

[vishalv]

Submitted OCI application (walk-in) at BLS Brampton today, Was told to expect OCI within 6 weeks.

 

[lifein360]

Submitted OCI application (walk-in) at BLS Brampton today, Wad told to expect OCI within 6 weeks.

what time did you reach Vishal?

 

[maddy_m]

As I got married in Canada (Ontario) and need to get the marriage certificate authenticated.

Just to confirm, if we both are now Canadian citizens, do we still need to get the marriage certificated authenticated? We are applying for OCI based on our own Indian identities.

@snehagupta12us was following up on whether the marriage certificate needs to be authenticated from CGI Toronto. But personally I think that you have to get it authenticated by ODS and CGI. Even the custody document has to be authenticated from ODS and CGI.

 

[priteshhi]

I have applied for an OCI for my 9 month old Son on Sept 15 2021 at Vancouver jurisdiction.
Acknowledgement received- Sept 18, 2021.
I am planning to go to India on Oct 29, 2021. Does anyone know the estimate when I will get an OCI.
Or
Should I get an entry visa just to be on safe side.??
Any suggestions are welcome.. Thanks for reading.

Just sharing the timelines I was given by BLS. Although I am not sure about actual timelines.
I applied at Calgary for Vancover jurisdiction for Minor. the lady told me it will take 4-5 weeks. Also Entry visa takes 6-7days (although they way 15 days)

 

[priteshhi]

I have a similar situation . I think that would mean we can apply for surrender and entry visa together . Someone posted that they are issuing entry visa for 3-6 months only . Not sure how accurate this info is . I tried calling bls but unable to get through to validate this

Entry visa is only issue for 4 months. I was told by BLS.

 

[ajit90]

Entry visa is only issue for 4 months. I was told by BLS.

Thanks so much for the info.

 

[vishalv]

what time did you reach Vishal?

I reached there at 6:30am & was 4th in line. The office opened at 8am and I was done by 8:20am.

 

[mohan99]

Do i have to get a thumb impression for minor child on the form. The whole idea does not sound ok to me.