Entry Visa India

[Saps]

Submitted entry visa application yesterday for infant minor at BLS Toronto with appointment.

BLS site: https://www.blsindia-canada.com/toronto-jurisdiction/track-application.php
Nov 2: Under process
In transit from BLS to consulate
Nov 3 : Processing at consulate general

Visa website- https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/visa/StatusEnquiry
Nov 2 : Under Process
Nov 3 : Under Processing

Note: Appointment was at 11am. Arrived and Took token at 10:30am and the wait was 78 :| … BLS AGENTS spending a lot of time on each applications trying really hard to find errors .. asking for docs and copies outside of checklist.. basically extortion/red tape … talk about making money out of people’s misery!

finally was out by 2:30pm… 4hrs of productive time spent here instead at work.

Yay ! just received status update.. looks like consulate is working today
Visa Status Enquiry : Your visa is Processed and Printed.

 

[eas2lv]

Yay ! just received status update.. looks like consulate is working today
Visa Status Enquiry : Your visa is Processed and Printed.

Yeah, that's what I heard too. There is a strong drive to expedite visa. Now, BLS, deliver!

 

[eas2lv]

Anyone applied on Nov 03 got "Processing at CGI" update on BLS status? Or, still shows "In transit..."?

 

[Uniyas]

Seems like postal service entry visa process is damn slow compare to walk-ins. Sent application via Purolator on Friday Oct 27, it was delivered on Monday Oct 30, acknowledged by BLS on afternoon of Thursday November 2 after 3 days. No update since

 

[eas2lv]

Seems like postal service entry visa process is damn slow compare to walk-ins. Sent application via Purolator on Friday Oct 27, it was delivered on Monday Oct 30, acknowledged by BLS on afternoon of Thursday November 2 after 3 days. No update since

BLS takes about a week to process postal applications and pass on to CGI/HCI. So add that to the expected timeline compared to walk-in.

 

[hp2023]

Anyone here have experience with business visa?

 

[abbas.pasha]

Hi @abbas.pasha .. is it something they mandatorily need (no matter if the visa is say for 12 months), and if someone doesn't have it, what do they say for it? Is this checked in Canada by the airlines folks or by Indian immigration officer?

When you travel on a visa provides you are considered a foreigner with a temporary status in the country. The airlines when you check may ask, and so would the immigration may ask about your return date and likely the ticket. I did not find documented info on the official sites but found the reference at Quora
https://www.quora.com/Is-it-fine-to-travel-on-one-way-ticket-to-India-having-a-visa-type-X

but for eVisa (which is no longer available) I had posted this https://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/threads/need-to-show-return-ticket-if-going-to-india-on-evisa.786780/post-10330187

For OCI you do not need a return ticket since the validity of the OCI document is lifelong and you can stay unlimited number of days

 

[eas2lv]

I suggest postal applicants to email the consulate with a request to direct BLS for faster handling of mail. BLS should be prioritizing VISA applications, but it seems they have not got the memo.
Though I do not have a postal application pending, I wrote the following to the CG through the sampark portal. Similar letters from affected individuals may have better effect as mine is based on hearsay. In the end, it may not help those currently waiting, but future applicants could benefit.

Dear Consul General,

We see that the consulate is making a concerted effort at expediting entry visa processing. Thank you very much.

However, it takes 7 to 10 days for BLS to open and review postal VISA applications before they are passed on to the consulate. Those mailed-in on Oct 26th are still waiting for their application to reach the CGI.

As few people have got appointments, and walk-in line-ups are unbearable these days, postal is the only viable option for many families. Please direct BLS to prioritize postal VISA applications, open and review them expeditiously, so that the process at CGI can start sooner.

Without a change in BLS timelines, all the great efforts of the CGI to assist PIOs in these difficult times are not getting fully realized.

Thank you for your consideration.

Full Name
Place

 

[Natie@1]

Mine as well. But its still under processing for baby

@Anncs did you get any update on your baby's entry visa application?

 

[eas2lv]

Hi @abbas.pasha .. is it something they mandatorily need (no matter if the visa is say for 12 months), and if someone doesn't have it, what do they say for it? Is this checked in Canada by the airlines folks or by Indian immigration officer?

I have never been asked by an immigration officer on arrival for return ticket (except once in a country which I wont mention -- not India). But most airlines want to see some proof of onward travel (simplest is return ticket) when you travel as a temporary visitor.

 

[patelapp]

All countries "visited" using any passport. Travel to India using Indian passport is not a visit, any other country is.

I have a plan to visit from 15 Dec to 16 Jan, should I mention one month in the the Period of Visa? Does the visa have exact dates on the stamp or by default it comes as 6 months?

 

[eas2lv]

I have a plan to visit from 15 Dec to 16 Jan, should I mention one month in the the Period of Visa? Does the visa have exact dates on the stamp or by default it comes as 6 months?

6 months. Visa validity starts from the day of issue, not day of travel.

 

[patelapp]

6 months. Visa validity starts from the day of issue, not day of travel.

Good to know. I filled the (period of visa field): 1 month and I am going to try a walk-in at BLS tomorrow, while re-checking found that visa validity starts from the date of issue so thought of re-filling the whole form. Thanks for saving me.

 

[patelapp]

6 months. Visa validity starts from the day of issue, not day of travel.

So I should refill the form by correcting the Period of Visa field from 1 month to 6 months right?

 

[hp2023]

So I should refill the form by correcting the Period of Visa field from 1 month to 6 months right?

I did 3 months.