OCI process

[Thangappa]

How long will it take for you to receive your OCI?

I guess it will take at least 6 full weeks to receive the booklet if everything goes fine

 

[rajkamalmohanram]

checked with my uncle in London. he says one needs to quarantine if stepping out. I have also seen a link on BA, where Terminal 5 (BA's terminal) has a covid test centre, which one can use. Any source I ask gives another info. Just coz of that i dropped the DEl - LHR - YYZ idea and coming back direct.

You don't have to quarantine in London even if you are stepping out if you are fully vaccinated. The instructions are very clear. I am traveling in December and I have done copious amounts of research on this matter. While coming back from India, I have a long layover in London and I will be entering the country to get the test done.

Canadians can use the e-gates available to cross immigration and if you are able to do that, you don't even have to meet with an officer. However, if the e-gates aren't working, an officer should be able to allow you into the country if you tell them you are entering the country just to get the test done and show your onward ticket to Canada. The "Passenger locator form" you'll fill before you leave India to London has a text box where you can provide a reason as to why you are entering England. You can provide a detailed explanation that the only reason you are leaving the airport is to get a test and then continue your onward journey to Canada.

While leaving Canada and transiting via London to India, I have a shorter layover and I will NOT be leaving the airport. That is possible as well.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/travel-to-england-from-another-country-during-coronavirus-covid-19#if-you-are-fully-vaccinated

If you are fully vaccinated
This is what you need to do if you qualify under the fully vaccinated rules for travel to England.

Before you travel to England – fully vaccinated
Before you travel to England you must:

• book and pay for a COVID-19 test – to be taken before the end of day 2 in England
• complete a passenger locator form – to be completed in the 48 hours before you arrive in England

You can choose a lateral flow test or a PCR test.

You will need to enter your COVID-19 test booking reference number on your passenger locator form.

If you will be in England for less than 2 days you still need to book and pay for a day 2 COVID-19 test.

When you arrive in England – fully vaccinated
After you arrive in England you must take a COVID-19 test on or before day 2. The day you arrive is day 0.

You must book this test before you travel.

If the test result is positive – lateral flow test
If you booked a lateral flow test and the result is positive, you must take a PCR test to confirm the result. You must self-isolate until you get the result of the PCR test.

If the PCR test result is positive, you must self-isolate for 10 full days. The day you took the lateral flow test is day 0. Members of your household may also be asked to self-isolate.

If the test result is positive – PCR test
If you booked a PCR test and the result is positive, you must self-isolate for 10 full days. The day of the test is day 0. Members of your household may also be asked to self-isolate.

Check if you qualify as fully vaccinated
Fully vaccinated means that you have had a complete course of an approved vaccine at least 14 days before you arrive in England. The day you had your final dose does not count as one of the 14 days.

The vaccine must be administered under either:

• the UK vaccination programme
• an overseas vaccination programme with an approved proof of vaccination for travel to the UK

Check which vaccines are approved and the list of countries and territories with approved proof of vaccination.
Even if you are not fully vaccinated, the fully vaccinated rules apply if you are:

• under 18 and resident in the UK or a country or territory which has approved proof of vaccination
• taking part in an approved COVID-19 vaccine trial in the UK or the USA (US residents only for USA trials)
• unable to have a COVID-19 vaccination for a medical reason which has been approved by a clinician under the medical exemptions process, and you are resident in England

Read about applying for a medical exemption from vaccination using the NHS COVID Pass if you live in England.

Proving your vaccination status
If you are fully vaccinated under the UK vaccination programme, you can prove your vaccination status using either:

• NHS COVID Pass for England and Wales
• NHS Scotland COVID Status app
• COVIDCert NI in Northern Ireland

Paper certificates are also available.

There are different ways to prove your vaccination status if you were vaccinated outside of the UK.

Check what proof is required for the country or territory where you were vaccinated.

If you cannot prove that you qualify under the fully vaccinated rules, you must follow the rules for people who are not fully vaccinated.

Red list countries
There are different rules if you have been in a red list country in the 10 days before you arrive in England.

Check which countries and territories are on the red list and read the red list rules.



<<< - When you click on the " Check what proof is required for the country or territory where you were vaccinated. " link, you get more information>>>

Country or territory	Examples of proof of vaccination status

Canada

Vaccine certificate.

 

[snehagupta12us]

I applied last week (walk-in). Accepting only appointments, but they will allow few walk-in applicants (first come first) also. There are only 3 counters inside aka only 3 applicants at a time. Usually the walk-in waiting line starts early morning. I went at 5 AM, but I was 3rd in line already. By 8 AM (opening time), the number of walk-in applicants line grew to 25. You don't have to go at 5 AM, but it will improve the chances of going inside the office fast if you are first in line. Good luck.

I tried calling them today and they are saying they dont take walk-in applications. Only with an appointment.

 

[rajkamalmohanram]

BLS told someone to wait until Nov 15. e-visa seems to be making a comeback. It's verbal, so can't fully trust it

Hmmm not sure about this one but I wouldn't take BLS's word as confirmation. Send an email or a DM on twitter to the consulate and ask them. That, IMO, is a more reliable source.

 

[hims0912]

Hey guys, I am submitting application for Passport surrender + OCI only for myself and not right now for my wife. She is born Canadian but do I need to submit her passport copy as well as her birth certificate copy with my application. I saw this in the BLS checklist, please advise.

 

[rajkamalmohanram]

Hi
Has anyone travelled recently from India to Canada via Heathrow ? Just wanted to know if it's possible.

I'm traveling in December to India and I have a transit in London. Yes, it is possible to travel this route.

I have Canadian Passport + OCI + I am fully vaccinated. You'll have to take a PCR test and submit a Air Suvidha application and upload all of these to the BA site during online check-in.

You most likely can't generate a boarding pass online or at the Kiosk - BA staff will check all this information and only then print the boarding pass for you.

 

[rajkamalmohanram]

Hey guys, I am submitting application for Passport surrender + OCI only for myself and not right now for my wife. She is born Canadian but do I need to submit her passport copy as well as her birth certificate copy with my application. I saw this in the BLS checklist, please advise.

Please carry your marriage certificate (duly notarized), her passport copy and her birth certificate copy, just in case they ask.

My friend recently applied for OCI but her spouse was born in India (and currently an Indian citizen) and he is not even in Canada yet (was never in Canada, no status in Canada). But she was still asked for her spouse's passport + marriage certificate.

 

[hims0912]

Please carry your marriage certificate (duly notarized), her passport copy and her birth certificate copy, just in case they ask.

My friend recently applied for OCI but her spouse was born in India and he is not even in Canada yet (was never in Canada). But she was still asked for her spouse's passport + marriage certificate.

Ok thank you, marriage certificate copy I had already included, but now I’ll include both her passport and birth certificate copy as well, will ask her to self attest it. Making all the docs ready for purolator pick up tomorrow

 

[rajkamalmohanram]

Ok thank you, marriage certificate copy I had already included, but now I’ll include both her passport and birth certificate copy as well, will ask her to self attest it. Making all the docs ready for purolator pick up tomorrow

Well, the OCI checklist says this :

- If married in Canada / Outside of India:
For those married in Canada, Marriage Certificate issued by the Ministry of the respective province to be further authenticated by the Provincial Government (for example- if married in Ontario- You may get it authenticated by Ministry of Services, Ontario: Link here: https://www.ontario.ca/page/authenticate-document-use-outside-canada#section-2 ) and then attested by the Consulate General of India, Toronto.
In case the Marriage Certificate is issued by other Foreign Governments, it should be authenticated by that concerned Diplomatic Mission in Canada then further attested by the Consulate General of India, Toronto.
 Once attested, only then upload the Marriage certificate online.
 Please note: Marriage licenses are NOT accepted.

I'm assuming you got married in Ontario, Canada. In that case, your marriage certificate should first be authenticated by the Ministry of Services, Ontario and then it needs to be attested by the consulate general of India, Toronto. Only then can you submit this marriage certificate (upload it on the OCI website and generate an application and submit the notarized versions to BLS).

I am not 100% on this so discuss it with the consulate and/or BLS before you proceed any further.

I'm just saying all this because I do not want your application to be returned.

 

[rohansekhri]

You don't have to quarantine in London even if you are stepping out if you are fully vaccinated. The instructions are very clear. I am traveling in December and I have done copious amounts of research on this matter. While coming back from India, I have a long layover in London and I will be entering the country to get the test done.

Canadians can use the e-gates available to cross immigration and if you are able to do that, you don't even have to meet with an officer. However, if the e-gates aren't working, an officer should be able to allow you into the country if you tell them you are entering the country just to get the test done and show your onward ticket to Canada. The "Passenger locator form" you'll fill before you leave India to London has a text box where you can provide a reason as to why you are entering England. You can provide a detailed explanation that the only reason you are leaving the airport is to get a test and then continue your onward journey to Canada.

While leaving Canada and transiting via London to India, I have a shorter layover and I will NOT be leaving the airport. That is possible as well.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/travel-to-england-from-another-country-during-coronavirus-covid-19#if-you-are-fully-vaccinated

India used to be on the red list. now its not. hence, no quarantine.

 

[rajkamalmohanram]

India used to be on the red list. now its not. hence, no quarantine.

India was in amber list before October 4th I think. It was in the red list several months back.

Currently, there are no countries on the red list. Also, UK no longer has Red/Amber/Green system. It only has a single red list.

Also, important to note, Indian nationals (citizens) who are Canadian PR CANNOT travel From India -> London -> Canada. This is according to the air bubble arrangement with the UK, Indian citizens (Indian Passport holders) can only travel from India -> UK if they have a valid visa for the UK and they cannot connect to any other destinations outside the UK (unless they have a spouse who is a foreign citizen). However, foreign citizens (including Canadian Passport Holders) can travel from India -> UK and then connect from UK to Canada.

Here's more information on BA website for travel to India =>

https://www.britishairways.com/en-in/information/incident/coronavirus/entry-requirements#india

India

Travel eligibility
Only customers meeting the criteria below, can travel between India and the UK on a British Airways flight. Please make sure you qualify before travel:


Outbound flights from India:
You must check if you are eligible to travel from India. You will not be allowed to board your flight if you do not meet these requirements.
Indian nationals
Due to India’s air travel agreement with the UK, please be aware that Indian nationals can only travel with British Airways from India to the UK, Ireland and Cayman Islands and must hold a valid visa.
India nationals, regardless of foreign residency status, are not allowed to travel further to any other countries, unless their spouse is a foreign national or they are a seaman travelling with authorised documentation from the Ministry of Shipping.
Nationals of the UK and other countries
UK nationals, UK residents (excluding Indian nationals), nationals of other countries and spouses of these groups, can travel from India to the UK, and connect onwards to other countries.
You can also find out more by reviewing the travel requirements by country with our map.
If you are eligible to travel
1. You must complete a passenger locator form to board a flight to London.
2. A COVID-19 RT PCR negative result may be required depending on your vaccination status and destination country requirement. Check the requirements. Please ensure your test report meets the detailed requirements and has a QR code.


Inbound flights to India (eligibility):

• Indian nationals.
• All Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholders and Person Of Indian Origin (PIO) cardholders, holding passports of any country may enter India. This is regardless of their passport or travel route.
• Any passenger (not holding an Indian passport) who hold an appropriate visa, excluding those who hold a tourist visa
• All currently suspended visas are restored from 21 October 2020, except electronic visas, tourist visas and medical visas
• Any passenger not holding an Indian passport, travelling to India for emergency medical treatment may be granted a medical visa. Find out more.

Pre-departure COVID-19 testing requirements
We need to verify proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours of departure before you can travel. We also have to make sure you’ve completed all mandatory travel declarations.
The quickest way to do this is by adding your proof of test and completing all documents in Manage My Booking before checking in.
How it works:

1. Sign in to Manage My Booking within 72 hours of your flight and follow the instructions underneath your flight details to open our form.
2. Enter your details and add proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR test taken within 72 hours of your departure.
3. Open the link on the form to the Government of India’s self-declaration and enter all required details before submitting
4. The process takes up to 6 hours so please ensure you allow enough time.
5. Make sure you have physical copies of your proof of test and the Government of India self-declaration when you travel.
6. All passengers need to do this process individually.

Please ensure you have completed the following requirements as per the Government of India mandate:

• Submission of a self-declaration form via online portal – Air Suvidha at www.newdelhiairport.in
• Upload of a negative COVID-19 RT-PCR test result (taken within 72 hours prior to undertaking of your journey) on the Air Suvidha Portal.
• Download the Arogya-Setu App on your mobile devices.

For out more details (including details of testing on arrival)

 

[hims0912]

Came across another thing just now, the BLS website says bank draft addresses to “The consulate general of India - Toronto” and that’s what I have got on my draft now, I just noticed on CGI website it says “Consulate general of India a Toronto “ which one is correct ?

 

[rajkamalmohanram]

Came across another thing just now, the BLS website says bank draft addresses to “The consulate general of India - Toronto” and that’s what I have got on my draft now, I just noticed on CGI website it says “Consulate general of India a Toronto “ which one is correct ?

The former is correct. I got my draft based on the OCI checklist.

 

[hims0912]

The former is correct. I got my draft based on the OCI checklist.

The BLS Achecklist says “Consulate General of India, Toronto” and BLS website says “The Consulate General of India - Toronto”. I will go ahead with my draft, it says “The Consulate General of India - Toronto”, hopefully it will be accepted.

 

[rajkamalmohanram]

The BLS Achecklist says “Consulate General of India, Toronto” and BLS website says “The Consulate General of India - Toronto”. I will go ahead with my draft, it says “The Consulate General of India - Toronto”, hopefully it will be accepted.

I don't think the hyphen or the comma matters. As long as it has all the 'words', you should be good.