My timeline so far (applying from Toronto):
- June 4 2021 - Purolator pick up of application
- June 7 2021 - Purolator delay due to "missed connection" lol
- June 8 2021 - Purolator delivery to BLS
- June 8 2021 - Tracking on BLS shows "In process"
- June 9 2021 - Tracking on BLS shows "Under Process In Transit from BLS Centre to Consulat General"
- June 9 2021 - Tracking on Passport Seva updated to - "Passport and Application Fee has been received. The same is under processing at Embassy/ Consulate"
- June 18 2021 - CAT number generated and status on Passport Seva updated to - "Passport Application is under Review at Indian Embassy/ Consulate"
- June 23 2021 - Police showed up at my mother's home for verification
- June 24 2021 - Received email saying Police Verification has started
- June 24 2021- Mother went to police station and submitted my documents; police still asked for address proof in India in my name which I do not have.
- June 25 2021 - Mother submitted an affidavit for my address.
- June 28 2021 - Status on Passport Seva updated to - "Print has been initiated for passport"
- June 30 2021 - Status on Passport Seva updated to - "Passport has been printed"
- July 06 2021 - Status on BLS Website is updated to "In transit from Consulate to BLS"
- July 06 2021 - Status on BLS Website is updated to "Ready for Dispatch"
I received my passport today via Purolator delivery. Strangely the delivery was in a "house locker" at my condo, not to the concierge or my locker. Perhaps Concierge was not at the desk when they arrived?
In any case, happy ending. The new passport is stapled to teh old one. Warning stamp mentioned by others about requirement to renounce passport is on the first page. Graphically, the passport is very different from my earlier one which was issued in Singapore in 2016, and not in a good way. Jarring colours, badly composed first and last pages...but doesn't really matter at the end of the day.
I am just so relieved I received my passport knowing how terrible BLS and CGI, Toronto is with their service. Hopefully this is will be the last time I will ever need them.