This isn’t a small matter. Do your own research and not rely on this forum alone
OCI process
- Thread starter blueshirt
- Start date
Helloo! Similar situation here - can we walk into BLS anytime to pick up the OCI? Also, is there a crazy line up for pick up as well just like there is for walk in submissions ? Thank youu in advance
@rajkamalmohanram had made a post here - https://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/threads/oci-process.254662/page-285#post-9836015
I had made a post here : https://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/threads/oci-application.679369/post-9839977
in summary, you can go on indian passport and return back on indian passport - however -
It is a very very painful process. your entire vacation will go in figuring out how to get back to canada.
while it is not illegal, you are correct, it is very very very painful. I think the link that you have referenced may be a post of mine ?
in summary :
The challenge comes down to this.
1. you enter india on a indian passport, they stamp the entry date on the indian passport.
2. when you leave india, they ask you for passport
a. you provide the indian passport (which has the entry stamp) and they ask you for your immigration/visa document of the country you go to - and you dont have any because they take away the PR card from you. Without a valid immigration/visa, the indian immigration will not let you through.
b. you provide the canadian passport, and the immigration officer will ask - where is your entry stamp - and you dont have any. If you present now the indian passport with the entry stamp, they will ask you the exit permit.
3. you cannot get an exit permit, if you are indian passport holder, so you have to surrender it first.
4. after surrender is complete, you can apply for stay visa (they also call it an entry visa i think) - because now that you have surrendered your indian passport, you are a "foreign" passport holder and you will need a permit to stay in india.
5. after your get your stay permit, you are now eligible for the exit permit.
I concur with @lifein360
Here's what cgi website clearly says:
Even after acquiring the Canadian citizenship, the Indian passport can be used to travel for 3 months from the day of getting the Canadian citizenship. The grace period is only for such cases where foreign citizenship has been acquired but a foreign passport is not available to the person. It is also mentioned that it is illegal to travel on an Indian passport, where a person has obtained a foreign passport.
It's similar to us then. I am not sure why BLS has taken this long to submit to CGI. One of our friends submitted on 25th Oct and got acknowledged on 11th Nov and we just did a week later, and it's still not acknowledged yet. It's been a month and still no process has started at CGI so definitely this is going to take more than 8 weeks. I am just praying that my application has not misplaced somewhere as m yet to get update on OCI website
Thanks @cecapplied @imm01
This really needs to be pinned in bold at the top. With many getting oaths now and having travel plans for the holidays, everybody will be looking to understand how they can travel now that they are Canadian citizens. Someone somewhere on some whatsapp or facebook group tells them oh you can use Indian passport and that's all they think without thinking how they will get back and all the other ramifications. All the steps listed by @cecapplied here https://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/threads/oci-process.254662/post-9845599 take a month or two to complete.
I am predicting many will end up using Indian passport to travel to India and then really realize how screwed they are once they land there..
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Most of it is true... Except... You CANNOT come back with an Indian passport. You need a Canadian passport to come to Canada.
Can I apply for a OCI from a country other than Canada? I might be heading to Europe on a long term visa, and I was wondering if I can finish my OCI process there instead of here. I believe VFS takes care of the OCI process in EU countries and they seems to be much more efficient than BLS.
You can. You need to be in the country that you are applying from in a valid status and a resident - other than a visitor.
I am using my personal experience to quote this, will have to do some research to cite links etc.
In my personal case, I applied for the OCI for my US born child - while in canada and it was approved and in place now.
I did have to furnish my residency status, address proof etc.
At the time of this process, my child was in canada on a dependant status and i was on a work visa - hence a lawful resident of canada at that time - and i had to provide documentation to supplement that.
BTW - which country in europe are you planning to apply from ? i might do some lookup
Either Spain or Portugal. I'll be on a youth mobility visa though, so Im not sure if that's good enough for an OCI application. You are not considered a resident in those countries unless you live there for 6 months atleast.