gjp said:
Well said. I would suggest that apart from the documents listed in the check list, take whatever original documents you have so that even if they ask for more documents, you can photocopy them in the BLS centre itself and give it to them. I completed my OCI application in one visit to BLS.
Well, ya - if I go well prepared - what is well prepared? - if you mean this , yes -- 'take every possible document on earth, plus a few more, just to be sure, plus oh! A couple of more to be doubly sure, and maaayye be 1 or 2 more to be triply sure' - ok, sure why not, quadruply sure consideration as well...
Come on, the checklist by itself is one of the kind horribly written ones - no other country's immigration level checklist can get it more worser than this OCI checklist - that when I read lists every document on earth, and as well open for interpretations... More rules outside of the documented guidelines too...
Ya, if I take my entire family there, and they ask for another signature from the mother, father, may be grand mother, and great grand father - all will be okay.
I provide an online filled application form, with the 'state' field empty - they say it must be filled. I say the online masks this field when I choose the country as USA, they don't take that argument. When I say I can fill it there, they say, no pen please... Horrible guys.
I put in the place of birth as Dallas, Texas - and provide the birth certificate - they don't take it... The PP says, TEXAS - so, "Dallas,Texas" is not valid. Come on, is is a field that says " city of birth".
And, yes, one set of guidelines in bls India, 2nd set in India passport gov website, and why not the third set in the online application filled - not necessarily all will match - but yes, if I can cover all 3. Bases, and may be more bases from checklists of other countries... Yes all will be goog on 1 go.
Oh! Forgot to mention, within the process, it takes 3 mths, and you'll make 4 (fooouuuurrrr) visits - I don't know which other country needs 4 visits for 1 application, kudos there.
Is that it, crap, I keep forgetting the next one each time - you get 1 tracking # for bls, and another for India gov, and they repeatedly swap when one working and other goes to sleep to wake up later again...
Wow, what a life cycle. I need to do a diploma to understand the full life cycle of the process, and then write an exam to pass the diploma - I'll be a champion, and then, ya - I won't miss a thing and all will be good in one go - oh! Sorry, I still can't avoid 4 trips before I get my OCI.
Any way, these are my e periences, and views - doesn't necessarily need to resonate with others. Thx.