Indian passport surrender
- Thread starter rai786
- Start date
Here's a video capturing all this in detail:Since we all share the misfortune of having to deal with scammy con-artists from BLS and the corrupt bureaucracy of our homeland, I want to set up a thread to document all the various "mistakes" in the application, photo etc. that BLS scammers use as a way of scamming us. A couple from Mumbai asked me to make a youtube video while we were at BLS toronto - I'll do that in due course but in the interim, here are a few that happened to me over separate occasions. Please add to the list so that others can be extra careful while filling out their applications:
Application:
- "Mistake" - Postal / Zip code is before the province. It should be should be after the province name.
- "Mistake" - Province name should be complete (eg. "ONTARIO") not short-form ("ON", "AB" etc). If you go with full-form, then they might just as well say - it should be short form not full-form. I print two separate applications versions now take them with me.
- If the GOI application says a certain field is optional (like emergency contact number) and you choose not to fill in anything in that field, BLS may say that the field is not optional and you need to pay $40 or $60 of whatever to correct it on the spot or go back.
- "Mistake": Why is there "no space" between canadian postal code. You should stand your ground on this.
- "Mistake": zero looks like O and vice-versa.
- "Mistake": Why is there no address for the emergency contact (even though it's a completely optional field). Stand your ground on this.
- Make sure the passport issue city matches exactly as its written in your passport, do not add the country name on your own. - This one is a genuine requirement.
Excuses to make you re-do the photo:
- Enough shoulders not visible in the photo (even though my photo had same amount of shoulders as in the example photo on the checklist).
- In the next round - they rejected the photo that they themselves took and accepted the photo that they had rejected in the prior visit
- Hair on the shoulder - always always carry multiple photos.
Redundant Service fees:
These are the ones that happened to me so far. Please add to the list if you've also been a victim of BLS scams.
- Service charge repeated multiple times with no explanation provided. Check your total and ask for the breakdown BEFORE you pay and stay firm on removing the redundant charges if the total doesn't make sense. Have a calculation in your head before you go to the counter.
- They add some BS service charge to get a notification call or service call or something. - tell them you don't want that.
Public service announcements:
- India e-visa is now available for Canadian citizens. Spare yourselves the headache and apply online for e-visa online. 1yr visa is only US$40 (CAD 56) - 5 bucks less than BLS' purolator scam.
- Please make sure you email the CG Toronto and MEA (and to PM Modi through Write to PMO office - they always respond) on all the scams that are going on and the poor service.
- You should keep flagging the lack of appointments and people waiting for hours outside in freezing (and potentially fatal) weather because of the poor staffing, lack of proper waiting areas, bathroom, and corrupt business practices to MEA / CG as well as CBC marketplace. If we stay silent, they'll keep scamming us, our families and even our next generation.
- Ask them to modernize their bureaucratic processes. If canada can run a whole immigration program from visas to citizenship end to end online, there's no reason why a country that produces so many coders can not. The only reason we are dealing with all this BS is because no one holds these incompetent con-artists to account.
I just paid for Pick up and Drop off on BLS website but only received Pickup label and no return label for my Surrender application. Can someone please confirm if BLS will generate a return label by themselves and send the canceled passport back to my address? Not sure what to expect. Tried contacting BLS as well but no response.
YES. There's a guy who documnted his experience on this forum doing exactly that. He surrendered in Bangalore and then got a visa and exit permit while he was within Bharat. He had No problems and the surrender only costs 500 Rs when you do it in Bharat.
Thanks, so that means we can travel to India without having surrender certificate?
I submitted my application by purolator on Thursday
After how many days can we track our application?
After how many days can we track our application?
Yes. As evisa is for non-Indians too unlike entry visa which is available only for Indian origin people.
I submitted by purolator on Thursday too, can't see anything on BLS and embassy tracker yet.
Hi,
I recently took ctizenship oath and my canadian passport application is already in progress.
Since I'm travelling to India in January and considering e-visas are now available, I plan to do the below.
1. Get my Canadian Passport and Indian e-visa.
2. Travel to India using Canadian Passport along with e-visa.
3. Return to Canada
4. Submit my application for Indian Passport Surrender after returning to Canada.
Since I will not be using my Indian Passport for Travel, will it be an issue if I process my surrender certificate application after I return back?
Logically it doesn't look to be a problem but still I would like to get an opinion here if anyone had some similar experience (or) have any information about the same.
Your responses would be highly appreciated.
Thanks
I recently took ctizenship oath and my canadian passport application is already in progress.
Since I'm travelling to India in January and considering e-visas are now available, I plan to do the below.
1. Get my Canadian Passport and Indian e-visa.
2. Travel to India using Canadian Passport along with e-visa.
3. Return to Canada
4. Submit my application for Indian Passport Surrender after returning to Canada.
Since I will not be using my Indian Passport for Travel, will it be an issue if I process my surrender certificate application after I return back?
Logically it doesn't look to be a problem but still I would like to get an opinion here if anyone had some similar experience (or) have any information about the same.
Your responses would be highly appreciated.
Thanks
Yes. As long as you have a visa, you will not have any problems.