OCI process

[sg02]

||Long post alert||

I called BLS and got some clarification on the application, here's my experience of submitting my application for OCI+Surrender application via Purolator :

1. Documents submitted for Passport Surrender (Toronto Jurisdiction):
   • Checklist (signed on both pages)
   • Surrender application completed online
     • Pasted one 2"x2" photo
     • Signed on both pages
   • One extra 2"x2" photo (to be on safer side)
   • Original Indian Passport
   • Copy of Indian Passport (First and Last Page)
   • Copy of Canadian Passport (Bio Page)
   • Copy of Citizenship Certificate (Front Page)
   • Copy of D/L (Address proof)
   • Copy of CoPR
   • $129.40 Bank Draft addressed to BLS International Services Inc.
2. Documents submitted for OCI (Toronto Jurisdiction):
   • Checklist (signed on all pages)
   • OCI Application completed online
     • Relationship with Root Indian -> SELF
     • Uploaded these documents online:
       • Copy of Previous Indian passport
       • Copy of Current Canadian passport
       • Copy of CoPR (Indian Visa)
       • Copy of Marriage Certificate
   • One 2"x2" photo
   • Copy of Indian Passport (First and Last Page)
   • Copy of Canadian Passport (Bio Page)
   • Copy of Citizenship Certificate (Front Page)
   • Copy of D/L (Address proof)
   • Copy of CoPR (landing document)
   • Copy of Marriage Certificate
   • Copy of Spouse Documents (still Indian):
     • Copy of Current Indian Passport
     • Copy of PR Card (status in Canada)
     • Copy of CoPR (Landing document)
   • Bank Drafts:
     • $345 addressed to Consulate General of India, Toronto
     • $7.40 addressed to BLS International Services Inc.
   • Copy of BLS Order Confirmation (Courier Fees)

Notes:

1. I had self-attested all copies:
   • First added the line ("This is a true copy of the original") and date on the bottom of all documents via Acrobat Reader DC.
   • Printed all documents (grayscale) and signed the physical documents for including in respective file folders (one each for 'OCI' and 'Passport Surrender' applications).
   • For uploading the 4 documents with OCI application, I added my signature via Acrobat Reader DC rather than scanning the documents again (I have a neat scanned copy of my signature for such purposes).
2. Although I applied OCI as Self (not on the basis of Spouse or Parents), but BLS support told me that I will still need to provide these:
   • Copy of Marriage Certificate (Upload + Physical)
   • Copy of Spouse Documents (Physical)
3. Photos:
   • The photos don't need to be stamped (like Canadian PR/Passport photos). Just need to be neat and recent as per guidelines.
   • I took a clean Photo myself and created 2"x2" image. Actually created a 4"x 6" Photo by added six of these 2"x2" images.
   • You can print such 4"x6" photos for cheap (10-40 cents from Walmart, Staples, SDM). Cut them into six of 2"x2" images.
4. I couldn't get any appointment for BLS, Toronto (very close to my place) and I understand the $90 Courier fees (1 pickup + 2 drop-offs) could have been optimized as suggested by others, but apparently these mail-in applications are processed in BLS, Brampton. It made more sense for me to go with this option rather than picking up from BLS, Brampton.
5. I spoke to two BLS support persons, I have already mentioned the crux above but here are some points related to Courier Fees and Bank Drafts:
   • First support person mentioned:
     • $105 courier fees (I didn't pay for this order)
     • 3 bank drafts (One for Surrender and two for OCI). I asked if I could club the BLS drafts and he said 'NO'.
   • Second support person mentioned:
     • $90 courier fees (I paid for this order)
     • Two drafts instead of three i.e. BLS drafts can be clubbed to $136.40
   • I ended up choosing the 3 bank drafts option as its free for my bank account. But most importantly I wanted to create two separate file folders.
6. Purolator driver came with the envelope and it was big enough to fit both of the file folders. My application is delivered to BLS, Brampton and I will share the future timeline.

Yes, the instructions are complex and makes it difficult/annoying to apply but we all have to go through it. Mark my words that once everything is submitted, you will definitely feel relieved and deserve a pat on your back

Special thanks to @sydcarton and @rajkamalmohanram

Here's my timeline till date:

Passport Surrender:

10-Aug: Purolator: Picked-up
10-Aug: BLS Tracking - No records found
10-Aug: Passport Seva Tracking - Surrender Certificate application form has been submitted.
11-Aug: Purolator: Package delivered at BLS
11-Aug: BLS Tracking - Application Received
11-Aug: Passport Seva Tracking - Surrender Certificate application form has been submitted. (No Change)
17-Aug: BLS Tracking - Under process (Morning)
17-Aug: Passport Seva Tracking - Surrender Certificate application form has been submitted. (Morning - No Change)
17-Aug: BLS Tracking - In transit from BLS Center to Consulate General (Evening)
17-Aug: Passport Seva Tracking - Passport application along with fee details have been received. The same is under processing at the Embassy/Consulate. (Evening)
18-Aug: BLS Tracking - Processing at Consulate General
18-Aug: Passport Seva Tracking - Surrender Certificate application is under review at Indian Embassy/Consulate.
20-Aug: BLS Tracking - Processing at Consulate General (No Change)
20-Aug: Passport Seva Tracking - Surrender Certificate has been granted and is available for issuance.
03-Sep: BLS Tracking - In transit from Consulate General to BLS Center
03-Sep: Passport Seva Tracking - Surrender Certificate has been printed.



OCI:

10-Aug: Purolator: picked-up
10-Aug: BLS Tracking - No records found
10-Aug: OCI Services Tracking - No records found
11-Aug: Purolator: Package delivered at BLS
11-Aug: BLS Tracking - Application Received
11-Aug: OCI Services Tracking - No records found (No Change)
17-Aug: BLS Tracking - Under process
17-Aug: OCI Services Tracking - No records found (No Change)
24-Aug: BLS Tracking - Under process (No Change)
24-Aug: OCI Services Tracking - Under Process

 

[rajkamalmohanram]

Here's my timeline till date:

Passport Surrender:

10-Aug: Purolator: Picked-up
10-Aug: BLS Tracking - No records found
10-Aug: Passport Seva Tracking - Surrender Certificate application form has been submitted.
11-Aug: Purolator: Package delivered at BLS
11-Aug: BLS Tracking - Application Received
11-Aug: Passport Seva Tracking - Surrender Certificate application form has been submitted. (No Change)
17-Aug: BLS Tracking - Under process (Morning)
17-Aug: Passport Seva Tracking - Surrender Certificate application form has been submitted. (Morning - No Change)
17-Aug: BLS Tracking - In transit from BLS Center to Consulate General (Evening)
17-Aug: Passport Seva Tracking - Passport application along with fee details have been received. The same is under processing at the Embassy/Consulate. (Evening)
18-Aug: BLS Tracking - Processing at Consulate General
18-Aug: Passport Seva Tracking - Surrender Certificate application is under review at Indian Embassy/Consulate.
20-Aug: BLS Tracking - Processing at Consulate General (No Change)
20-Aug: Passport Seva Tracking - Surrender Certificate has been granted and is available for issuance.
03-Sep: BLS Tracking - In transit from Consulate General to BLS Center
03-Sep: Passport Seva Tracking - Surrender Certificate has been printed.



OCI:

10-Aug: Purolator: picked-up
10-Aug: BLS Tracking - No records found
10-Aug: OCI Services Tracking - No records found
11-Aug: Purolator: Package delivered at BLS
11-Aug: BLS Tracking - Application Received
11-Aug: OCI Services Tracking - No records found (No Change)
17-Aug: BLS Tracking - Under process
17-Aug: OCI Services Tracking - No records found (No Change)
24-Aug: BLS Tracking - Under process (No Change)
24-Aug: OCI Services Tracking - Under Process

Awesome!

This answers exactly what I wanted to know in my previous post. Thank you!!

Please keep us posted with any further updates.

 

[rohansekhri]

I just did my OCI application at BLS Toronto. Here the process:

Step 1:
Fill in the OCI application here: https://ociservices.gov.in/
Fill both part A and B. You will need 51mm*51mm size digital photograph with a light colored background and digital signatures.
Note - Fill the application in BLOCK letters

* For photograph , you will also need 1 hard copy of the same photograph to be submitted with the application.
After submitting the application form, print it.

Step 2:
Download the checklist from here: https://blsindia-canada.com/CanadaVisaCCT/Toronto-OCI-Checklist-Rev-11-9-March-31-21.pdf

Step 3:
Collect the copy of below documents:
1. Canadian Passport (first page)
2. Last held Indian Passport (first and last page)
3. Surrender certificate (If you have already surrendered the Indian passport. If you are doing it now together, don't worry about it)
4. Canadian citizenship certificate
5. COPR/ Landing paper
6. Address proof - Driver's license
7. Marriage certificate
8. Spouse Canadian passport (if he is Canadian)
9. Spouse Indian passport (first and last page)
10. Spouse Landing paper/ COPR
11. Spouse surrender certificate

Note - MAKE SURE TO CARRY ORIGINALS OF ALL THESE DOCUMENTS ALONG WITH YOU WHEN YOU GO TO THE BLS CENTER
Self attest all photocopies by writing "This is the true copy of the original" and Sign it along with the date.

Step 4:
Get a Demand draft from the bank for $345 dollars payable to "The Consulate General of India". The rest of fees can be paid using debit card.

Collect the Application form + original documents + self attested photocopies + one physical photograph + demand draft + debit card and visit BLS.

what proof did you upload in the online OCI application for surrender certificate doc? I'm still confused. I'm also applying for surrendering and OCI at the same time.

 

[hmaheshwari71]

This is timeline for OCI application for my minor child:

Walk-in application/Toronto BLS

4-Aug: Submitted at BLS Toronto Centre
5-Aug: Application received status on BLS website
11-Aug: OCI Services Tracking - (Application) under process
2-Sep: OCI Services Tracking - OCI Printed at New Delhi, Received at Toronto
3-Sep: BLS Website: OCI ready for dispatch; dispatched in afternoon (by Purolator)
7-Sep: OCI received

Received the original birth certificate submitted (at BLS office) on August 13th.

 

[viveks]

We submitted our daughter's application via Purolator to BLS on the 20th of July. This is being processed at Toronto CG.
Documents were delivered to BLS on 21st of July.
I tracked application today and finally got an update:

Application Date	2021-07-27
Applicant Name
Applicant Passport Number
Applicant Date of Birth
Application Status	Processing at Consulate General Processing at Consulate General

After reading some of the threads, I have a few questions/concerns:

- We only sent my address proof (Driving Licence copy)
- No originals were sent (Both parents are still Indian PP holders)
- We did not affix daughter's fingerprint on the application form. Just uploaded it online along with the photograph

Would we face rejection due to the points above?

A bit worried. Thank you.

These are our final timelines. We had to call BLS to remind them that we had sought their return services. If not, they were expecting us to pick up the OCI from their offices !! How professional.

Payment to BLS: 7th July 2021

Documents sent on: 20th July 2021

Delivered to BLS on: 21st July 2021

Processing starts at CGI: 1st August 2021

Processed at CGI: 20th August 2021 (Date of Issue)

Dispatched from CGI : 21st August 2021

Received at BLS: 23rd August 2021

Sent by Purolator: 24th August 2021

Received OCI at home: 25th August 2021

 

[rajkamalmohanram]

These are our final timelines. We had to call BLS to remind them that we had sought their return services. If not, they were expecting us to pick up the OCI from their offices !! How professional.

Payment to BLS: 7th July 2021

Documents sent on: 20th July 2021

Delivered to BLS on: 21st July 2021

Processing starts at CGI: 1st August 2021

Processed at CGI: 20th August 2021 (Date of Issue)

Dispatched from CGI : 21st August 2021

Received at BLS: 23rd August 2021

Sent by Purolator: 24th August 2021

Received OCI at home: 25th August 2021

Congrats!

And thanks for the heads up. I'll be sure to call them once OCI is dispatched from the consulate and reaches BLS.

 

[cnonline]

Can you share the current status of Passport surrender application? I submitted mine on Aug 20 at BLS Brampton. My status is "Processing at Consulate General"
Another question, I only submitted my Passport surrender application. I didn't know that we can submit OCI application together without surrender certificate. Can I submit the OCI application now while surrender application is in process?

Thanks in advance!

Passport Surrender
Mode: Walk-in & requested it to be picked-up (no purolator)
13-Aug (Fri): Submitted at BLS Brampton
13-Aug (Fri): checked after submission - BLS Tracking - Under process
16-Aug (Mon): In Transit from BLS Centre to Consulate General
16-Aug (Mon): Processing at Consulate General
31-Aug (Tue): Passport Seva Website: Surrender certificate has been granted and is available for issuance.
03-Sep (Fri): In transit from Consulate General to BLS Centre
04-Sep (Sat): Ready for collection

OCI
Mode: Walk-in & requested it to be picked-up (no purolator)
13-Aug (Fri): Submitted at BLS Brampton
13-Aug (Fri): checked after submission - BLS Tracking - Under process
16-Aug (Mon): Processing at Consulate General
26-Aug (Thu): OCI Services - Status Enquiry - Under Process

For your second question: You may be able to submit the OCI application and show them the receipt that you applied for Passport Surrender and it is in process.

 

[maddy_m]

Does BLS keeps the COPR(Landing) document along with the OCI application ? Has anyone faced the same situation ?

 

[rajkamalmohanram]

Does BLS keeps the COPR(Landing) document along with the OCI application ? Has anyone faced the same situation ?

No, they did not even look at the originals (I applied in-person). You only need to provide photocopies of documents. The only exception is the Indian passport - You need to submit the original Indian passport for your surrender application. You don't have to submit any other originals (like the citizenship certificate, COPR or Canadian passport). The rules are the same even if you're applying by mail.

 

[maddy_m]

No, they did not even look at the originals (I applied in-person). You only need to provide photocopies of documents. The only exception is the Indian passport - You need to submit the original Indian passport for your surrender application. You don't have to submit any other originals (like the citizenship certificate, COPR or Canadian passport). The rules are the same even if you're applying by mail.

I do't know why BLS kept my COPR document. They provided an acknowledgement sheet that I have submitted the original COPR document.

 

[maddy_m]

No, they did not even look at the originals (I applied in-person). You only need to provide photocopies of documents. The only exception is the Indian passport - You need to submit the original Indian passport for your surrender application. You don't have to submit any other originals (like the citizenship certificate, COPR or Canadian passport). The rules are the same even if you're applying by mail.

I applied in-person today. They did not check any other document but asked my original COPR.

 

[thedippaar]

Can the Indian passport surrender and OCI be done in USA after getting Canadian passport?

 

[rajkamalmohanram]

I do't know why BLS kept my COPR document. They provided an acknowledgement sheet that I have submitted the original COPR document.

Where did you apply? I applied in-person in BLS Brampton

 

[cnonline]

Can the Indian passport surrender and OCI be done in USA after getting Canadian passport?

In my opinion, look for the USA jurisdiction list of documents or checklist and see if you can apply or not. Also another forum discussion from 2016 says "Yes".

https://www.immihelp.com/forum/india-passport-visa-oci/151652-canadian-citizen-applying-for-oci-from-us

 

[rajkamalmohanram]

Can the Indian passport surrender and OCI be done in USA after getting Canadian passport?

I don't see why not. If you are residing in the US, you should be able to submit your application to the consulate responsible for your jurisdiction. I think VFS is the third-party responsible for receiving applications in the US.