Entry or Tourist visa for India?

[Samoinp]

@can-dreamz Found this thread, looks like OCI is not a quick option. At this point, it seems like the best route is to request urgent processing on Canadian passport/citizenship certificate and then surrender Indian passport and apply for 1 year tourist visa and hope timelines work. If not, have to reschedule the flights.

Also, too bad that eVisa isn't available for Canadian passport holders. If that changes, that would be great but doesn't look like in near term.

Does anyone suggest postponing oath ceremony?

 

[can-dreamz]

@can-dreamz Found this thread, looks like OCI is not a quick option. At this point, it seems like the best route is to request urgent processing on Canadian passport/citizenship certificate and then surrender Indian passport and apply for 1 year tourist visa and hope timelines work. If not, have to reschedule the flights.

Also, too bad that eVisa isn't available for Canadian passport holders. If that changes, that would be great but doesn't look like in near term.

Does anyone suggest postponing oath ceremony?

Thank you Samoinp. I haven't received my Oath invite yet. I have my brother's wedding in India on December 25th and I am so stressed - tickets booked for December 17th. Now even if I receive the Oath, will I be able to get Indian visa on time - million dollar question?

 

[Samoinp]

Thank you Samoinp. I haven't received my Oath invite yet. I have my brother's wedding in India on December 25th and I am so stressed - tickets booked for December 17th. Now even if I receive the Oath, will I be able to get Indian visa on time - million dollar question?

Yeah, lots of variables. At least, in person ceremony would mean instant certificate.

 

[can-dreamz]

Yeah, lots of variables. At least, in person ceremony would mean instant certificate.

Yes and you could apply for urgent processing of Canadian Passport. Hope you get your Indian visa on time.

 

[Samoinp]

Yes and you could apply for urgent processing of Canadian Passport. Hope you get your Indian visa on time.

Yeah, fingers crossed.

 

[anujgupta84]

Hi guys,

I sent my Entry Visa application though Canada Post to BLS Surrey. It was delivered on 3rd Oct. I haven't got any update at all. I have tried calling them. Of course there Call center is a joke! What should I do? Please suggest..

 

[Andysar]

Hello! I am reaching out to see if what is the timeline for getting a entry visa currently. I applied yesterday and must leave in 2 weeks. any help will be appreciated. Thank you in advance.

 

[akbardxb]

Thank you Samoinp. I haven't received my Oath invite yet. I have my brother's wedding in India on December 25th and I am so stressed - tickets booked for December 17th. Now even if I receive the Oath, will I be able to get Indian visa on time - million dollar question?

Passport Canada will allow you to apply for passport in person only if you have travel scheduled within 25 days , with proof of travel. You can get a passport within 48 hours. So that is not a huge problem. We got our tourist visa and surrender in 2 weeks towards end June/early July, even though BLS said 30 days at the time of application. BLS these days seems to be pushing tourist visa and not entry visa.

 

[Miss bee]

Passport Canada will allow you to apply for passport in person only if you have travel scheduled within 25 days , with proof of travel. You can get a passport within 48 hours. So that is not a huge problem. We got our tourist visa and surrender in 2 weeks towards end June/early July, even though BLS said 30 days at the time of application. BLS these days seems to be pushing tourist visa and not entry visa.

Toronto and Vancouver got different timelines for visa applications.

 

[can-dreamz]

Passport Canada will allow you to apply for passport in person only if you have travel scheduled within 25 days , with proof of travel. You can get a passport within 48 hours. So that is not a huge problem. We got our tourist visa and surrender in 2 weeks towards end June/early July, even though BLS said 30 days at the time of application. BLS these days seems to be pushing tourist visa and not entry visa.

Good to know that you got your visa within 2 weeks time frame. Did you apply for tourist visa in Brampton or Toronto? I know Vancouver is much faster in issuing the visa.

 

[akbardxb]

Good to know that you got your visa within 2 weeks time frame. Did you apply for tourist visa in Brampton or Toronto? I know Vancouver is much faster in issuing the visa.

Brampton BLS. Went with appointment. Not sure if that makes a difference or not.

 

[Miss bee]

Brampton BLS. Went with appointment. Not sure if that makes a difference or not.

Hey when you go there’s with appointment, did they check your appointment confirmation letter before letting you enter inside? Also can we submit 2 applications at same time with one appointment per person?

 

[nd-india]

@nd-india @Pabla.mani @Pvraju @vijays Members any update on the time line , i have travel panels coming up in November and i want to do an Entry visa instead of OCI suggestion should i proceed???

+ @Andysar

I received my entry visa (filed for single entry, 3 months; received multiple entry, 6 months) exactly after 21 business days (3 weeks) of filing a postal application to Brampton. My coworker, however, got it in 2 weeks. She applied in July-August 2022. I applied in September 2022. When I my application status did not change after 2 weeks, I pushed out my tickets by one week and thankfully it worked out.

Got to know from some friends later that you can line up (starts at 4am!) in front of the consulate on Bloor St in Toronto to request an urgent visa on the spot. I know at least one person who got this done for his daughter to attend a wedding in summer 2022.

OCI processing time is around 2 months. Getting an entry visa is a faster option. Apply for the OCI once you return - it's what I am going to do.

By the way, immigration line in India for foreign passport holders is now significantly longer than Indian passport holders! People with wheelchair or toddlers can get through faster, otherwise it was an hour wait time for me.

 

[Miss bee]

I received my entry visa exactly after 21 business days (3 weeks) of filing a postal application to Brampton. My coworker, however, got it in 2 weeks. She applied in July-August 2022. I applied in September 2022. When I my application status did not change after 2 weeks, I pushed out my tickets by one week and thankfully it worked out.

Got to know from some friends later that you can line up (starts at 4am!) in front of the consulate on Bloor St in Toronto to request an urgent visa on the spot. I know at least one person who got this done for his daughter to attend a wedding in summer 2022.

OCI processing time is around 2 months. Getting an entry visa is a faster option. Apply for the OCI once you return - it's what I am going to do.

By the way, immigration line in India for foreign passport holders is now significantly longer than Indian passport holders! People with wheelchair or toddlers can get through faster, otherwise it was an hour wait time for me.

Can you please share did you applied for tourist visa or Entry visa ?

 

[akbardxb]

Hey when you go there’s with appointment, did they check your appointment confirmation letter before letting you enter inside? Also can we submit 2 applications at same time with one appointment per person?

Yes. Security will check if your name is on the list of appointments that they have. Even if you have a minor child, make sure you have an appointment for them. Otherwise, be prepared to stand in the queue.

We submitted surrender and visa application at the same time on the same appointment. The catch was that 5 of us surrendered passports, but only 2 applied for a visa so they were ok with it. If all 5 were applying not sure if the situation would have been any different. I have never detested any Indian office more than BLS. They are just terrible.