Hi Raj,
From your signature timelines I see that you received citizenship certificate next day of your oath date? Did you collect it in-person? If yes, how to collect it in-person?
OCI process
- Thread starter blueshirt
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From your signature timelines I see that you received citizenship certificate next day of your oath date? Did you collect it in-person? If yes, how to collect it in-person?
Submitted at BLS Toronto (Lawrence Ave office.) I even told the agent that BLS Brampton won't take any originals except passport. She replied that BLS Toronto need the Original COPR. I will go on Monday to get a copy of acknowledgment just to be on safe side. And because of this original COPR they charged extra 31$ for courier delivery. So its around $100 ($93 precisely) just for courier fees (Surrender + Original COPR + OCI). They told I will get three courier packages and $100 for all of them.
So much money. 
No. My application was processed urgently and so was my citizenship certificate. It was sent via express courier.
Yup, I've heard about another case where original COPR was collected at BLS Toronto.Submitted at BLS Toronto (Lawrence Ave office.) I even told the agent that BLS Brampton won't take any originals except passport. She replied that BLS Toronto need the Original COPR. I will go on Monday to get a copy of acknowledgment just to be on safe side. And because of this original COPR they charged extra 31$ for courier delivery. So its around $100 ($93 precisely) just for courier fees (Surrender + Original COPR + OCI). They told I will get three courier packages and $100 for all of them.
It seems like BLS Toronto is finding a way to make more money . It is just a scam. I went to BLS Brampton and they didn't ask me to show Original COPR. I had put a Copy of COPR in Application and They returned it to me at the same time while submitting in person application. They are just trying to steal money openly from people for Couriers even without letting people to allow pickup.Submitted at BLS Toronto (Lawrence Ave office.) I even told the agent that BLS Brampton won't take any originals except passport. She replied that BLS Toronto need the Original COPR. I will go on Monday to get a copy of acknowledgment just to be on safe side. And because of this original COPR they charged extra 31$ for courier delivery. So its around $100 ($93 precisely) just for courier fees (Surrender + Original COPR + OCI). They told I will get three courier packages and $100 for all of them.
Yah, I dont get why BLS toronto has this policy. I can get BLS's in different provinces having different rules, but these are literally 40 mins away from each other...
At least in BLS Toronto, they took only Original COPR for OCI. And Original Indian Passport for surrender certificate. And in Brampton (Based on others posts) just the original Indian passport for both surrender and oci together.
I am Canadian Citizen and so is my wife. I want to apply for OCI (Overseas Citizenship of India) for myself but they are asking my wife's Indian passport, landing papers etc. My wife was a refugee from India and she does not have old Indian passport or surrender certificate. Why can't I get OCI for myself if my wife was refugee from India? It is not her applying for it. What should I do? Should I just hide my marital status? Is there a way they can find out? I was not married in India.
1. Never lie on an immigration application. That should be the number 1 rule. "Hiding" isn't a solution IMO. If they eventually find out, they will revoke your OCI registration and you could be blacklisted from going back to India.
You have to talk this through with BLS and/or the consulate.
Visit the email/phone # of the consulate and contact them to understand what exactly is to be done in this case. Generally, if you are married (irrespective of whether you are married in India or not), you will be asked for your spouse's landing paper and/or visa and surrender certificate.
Generally, if someone 'loses' their Indian passport, they'll have to obtain a "deemed surrendered" certificate before they can apply for OCI. However, your wife's case is different. She didn't "lose" her passport in the traditional context of the word. She never had a passport in the first place because she fled India and registered as a refugee in Canada.
I did some searching to see any recent documents / sites that talk about this but no luck. There are some documents I noticed (probably old ones) where the contents seem to indicate that there might be some problem in case an applicant or an applicant's spouse registered in Canada as a refugee but I don't think these rules are in effect currently.
For example :
Look at this site => https://www.hciottawa.gov.in/pages?id=4&subid=26
And this document => https://mha.gov.in/PDF_Other/BROCHURE_OCI_New_11092018.pdf
Nonetheless, you are not a refugee and you should be able to apply for OCI for yourself.
Best way to go forward - Talk to the consulate or email them. Email them first because it would be good to get their response in writing. If they respond positively, you can print that email out and take it to BLS and ask them to accept your application.
@rajkamalmohanram hi Raj. It’s been 6 weeks since I applied surrender certificate. There is no update. I already have tweeted them and also emailed cgi, but no response.
What should I do in this case.
What should I do in this case.
There is nothing else you can do unfortunately. The consulate will respond in a few days either via email or on twitter. The processing time for surrender application has been updated to 8 weeks on the BLS website so you might have to give it 2 or 3 more weeks before you receive it.
| Ottawa Jurisdiction | Toronto Jurisdiction | Vancouver Jurisdiction |
| Minimum Processing Time is 3-4 weeks | Minimum Processing time is around 8 weeks | Minimum Processing time is 3-4 weeks |
Hi All,
Need some help on OCI and the surrender of my Indian passport, son, and wife. I read through the guidance but it seems contradictory and confusing.
1. I have 2 kids, one aged 5 (born in India), 23 months (born in Canada). Can someone share the list of documents needed to apply for OCI for them?
Any advice to get the photos for the kids?
2. It seems for the kids there needs to be a separate application and all cannot apply through one application? Also, it seems the appointments are all taken up, Are there certain times, that there are open slots?
3. Anyone who has had experiences in the recent past, can you please share insights and tips?
Need some help on OCI and the surrender of my Indian passport, son, and wife. I read through the guidance but it seems contradictory and confusing.
1. I have 2 kids, one aged 5 (born in India), 23 months (born in Canada). Can someone share the list of documents needed to apply for OCI for them?
Any advice to get the photos for the kids?
2. It seems for the kids there needs to be a separate application and all cannot apply through one application? Also, it seems the appointments are all taken up, Are there certain times, that there are open slots?
3. Anyone who has had experiences in the recent past, can you please share insights and tips?
Hi Ajit,
Can I know when did you apply for ur oci application ? I am also waiting for mine to change online. It is still under process…