Are visa services being offered to Canadian citizens who are already in India?

[krish9297]

Its been five days since I emailed FRRO, but no reply yet.
In the meantime, the only information that I was able to find on visa conversion is from the link below, but I'm not sure if it is a reliable source.

https://www.bankbazaar.com/visa/how-to-convert-tourist-visa-to-xvisa-in-india.html#:~:text=Conversion application can be done,given to the FRO/FRRO.

@rajdevil3 I read your other posts. Were you able to apply for entry (X) visa while you're in India?

 

[rajdevil3]

Its been five days since I emailed FRRO, but no reply yet.
In the meantime, the only information that I was able to find on visa conversion is from the link below, but I'm not sure if it is a reliable source.

https://www.bankbazaar.com/visa/how-to-convert-tourist-visa-to-xvisa-in-india.html#:~:text=Conversion application can be done,given to the FRO/FRRO.

@rajdevil3 I read your other posts. Were you able to apply for entry (X) visa while you're in India?

Hello Krish, for the late reply. Yes, I was able to apply and receive India entry visa in India from FRRO.

 

[elite_stud]

Thank you. Now, that e-visa is open, I am traveling on Canadian passport. Since, I'll be in India, easier to just surrender the passport and get the certificate same day. I'll come back to Canada on Canadian passport and apply for OCI in Canada using surrender certificate obtained in India.

Have you made this trip and came back. do we need to travel on Canadian passport or Indian passport for applying surrender certific in India.
what all docs do we need to apply for SC from India

 

[jk_indian]

@nivaan5, Thank you for sharing all the details on surrendering Indian passport and getting the Entry Visa.

As you mentioned earlier on this thread, OCI can be applied after staying in India on the Entry Visa(X1) for 6 months. Have you already applied for OCI and received it?
Was the Residential Permit received along with the Entry visa used for the OCI application?
Did you face any hurdles in the online OCI application submission? Did you have to visit the RPO?

 

[nivaan5]

@nivaan5, Thank you for sharing all the details on surrendering Indian passport and getting the Entry Visa.

As you mentioned earlier on this thread, OCI can be applied after staying in India on the Entry Visa(X1) for 6 months. Have you already applied for OCI and received it?
Was the Residential Permit received along with the Entry visa used for the OCI application?
Did you face any hurdles in the online OCI application submission? Did you have to visit the RPO?

I’m glad I could be of help. I became eligible to apply for OCI a few weeks ago. I’m in the process of applying for OCI. The process seems to be similar to application for OCI from Canada. I shall share my experience once I’m done with the submission of my application at FRRO.

I know that you can apply for entry visa after arrival on e-visa. But I’m not aware of the process.

 

[nivaan5]

Hello everyone
I recently submitted my application for OCI. It is similar to the process if you were to apply from Canada, i.e First you fill and submit Parts A and B online with the required supporting documents and then submit the application and copies of supporting documents at FRRO. I submitted the following documents online: Photograph of self and signature, Canadian Passport, Cancelled Indian Passport, Entry Visa, Marriage certificate, Spouse Passport and OCI if Spouse has already obtained an OCI. There is an option for Relationship certificate, Employment letter, PIO card, which were not applicable to me. After online submission we have to submit 2 copies of the application with 2 photos, 2 sets of self-attested copies of all the documents submitted online and a DD of Rs.15000 drawn in favor of 'PAO (Secretariat), MHA' payable at New Delhi. You are required to carry all originals except spouse passport and OCI as they verify all the copies with the originals. Apart from the documents submitted online they also asked for 2 copies of Citizenship certificate, Surrender certificate and an address proof (I submitted Aadhar card). Following this they took photo and fingerprints at the same time. I received an acknowledgment on the same day.
There was only one other applicant that day and the entire process took me about 20 min. I was told that I will get a call from the nearest Police station in about 2-3 weeks from the date of application for a verification. For the police verification, one of their staff will visit you at the address mentioned in the application and we are required to submit statements from 2 witnesses. I'm still awaiting police verification and will update the details once I'm done. They said the processing time is 3 months. A friend of mine got hers in 2 months time. Now the wait begins..

 

[nivaan5]

Also, they asked me if I was planning on traveling abroad, which I'm not. They recommend not to travel until you have the OCI in hand. If it's unavoidable they told to do so after the police verification.
Hope this helps

 

[gotPrUnderCEC]

The application itself is quite straight-forward. Similar to the form we fill for BLS (we did it for my spouse in Canada). But there's no checklist for supporting documents. I called the customer service twice. Got different answers each time. One even said all you need is the proof of citizenship and original Indian passport. It's a good idea to refer to the BLS checklist and take all documents that apply. However the documents I submitted are: Application form, Citizenship certificate, Original and 1 photocopy of Indian and Canadian passport, Proof of current Indian address. Apart from this they gave me a form which I had to fill and also asked to write an application letter. I did carry a photograph. But they clicked one at the centre when they took biometrics. They canceled my Indian passport and returned it back to me. They scanned all the other documents and uploaded it in their portal. I got the surrender certificate after half an hour.
Fees for surrender is Rs. 500.
Finally the first question. You should call the customer service and check for which RPOs offer the service. Bangalore has 3 passport offices. Surrender certificate service is available only at Koramangala office. The customer service said that you don't need appointment for surrender and you can walk-in. I had heard there's a line up and went at 8:30. But it was not required. Office opens at 9:30. The line up is once you go to the concerned department. I handed my application to them at 10:10 am and walked out with the certificate at 4:45pm! I don't know why it took so long. There was no apparent problem with my application except they asked me for one more proof of address which I submitted soon after I gave them the application. They deal with a lot of other passport related services, which is probably why it took them so long. Once I was called in for biometrics (at 4:15pm) it took 20-30 min to receive the certificate and cancelled passport.

Hello I am also applying for surrender certificate while in India, (I came to India on eVisa after getting Canadian Citizenship). I am applying for me my wife and my daughter, Do all of us need to be present there or only I can go

 

[mark56]

Hello I am also applying for surrender certificate while in India, (I came to India on eVisa after getting Canadian Citizenship). I am applying for me my wife and my daughter, Do all of us need to be present there or only I can go

Am also planning to do this later in the year. Pls let us know about your experience!

 

[nivaan5]

Hello I am also applying for surrender certificate while in India, (I came to India on eVisa after getting Canadian Citizenship). I am applying for me my wife and my daughter, Do all of us need to be present there or only I can go

Hi there
I'm guessing all applicants must be present because they need biometrics. Not sure about minors.

 

[nivaan5]

An update
I am done with police verification. It was exactly after two weeks from the time of in-person submission of my application at FRRO. a staff from the police station visited our home and took a statement from me and from two of my neighbors as witnesses. He verified all the details on the application. Since I entered India on my Indian passport there was a lot of questioning as to why I don't have a stamp on my Canadian passport. I showed them a copy of the email I received from FRRO stating that I can travel using my Indian passport and will have to surrender it at the earliest and apply for visa. And I was made to mention that in my statement. It would be more straight forward for people who entered with a visa on their Canadian passport. I did not have to submit any documents. I had to visit the police station later where one of his superiors [don't know the rank of the officer] cleared my file.
As for my statement, I was asked to mentioned my personal details; when and why I moved to Canada; how and when I got my citizenship; details about my Canadian passport; details about my Indian passport surrender and my entry visa; a statement that I don't have any criminal charges against me and that I'm not currently working anywhere.
For witnesses' statement, they mentioned since when they knew me and since when have I been living at the given address and signed it.

 

[forw.jane]

An update
I am done with police verification. It was exactly after two weeks from the time of in-person submission of my application at FRRO. a staff from the police station visited our home and took a statement from me and from two of my neighbors as witnesses. He verified all the details on the application. Since I entered India on my Indian passport there was a lot of questioning as to why I don't have a stamp on my Canadian passport. I showed them a copy of the email I received from FRRO stating that I can travel using my Indian passport and will have to surrender it at the earliest and apply for visa. And I was made to mention that in my statement. It would be more straight forward for people who entered with a visa on their Canadian passport. I did not have to submit any documents. I had to visit the police station later where one of his superiors [don't know the rank of the officer] cleared my file.
As for my statement, I was asked to mentioned my personal details; when and why I moved to Canada; how and when I got my citizenship; details about my Canadian passport; details about my Indian passport surrender and my entry visa; a statement that I don't have any criminal charges against me and that I'm not currently working anywhere.
For witnesses' statement, they mentioned since when they knew me and since when have I been living at the given address and signed it.

Did you have to pay bribe to the police?

 

[abbas.pasha]

Did you have to pay bribe to the police?

Very important question eh

 

[forw.jane]

Very important question eh

Based on my past experiences of passport, PCC and renewals, I am ok to deal with BLS but not with Indian Police

 

[nivaan5]

Did you have to pay bribe to the police?

Haha no!!