OCI process

[rajkamalmohanram]

Hello
Has anyone recently been to BLS Toronto, or know someone who has been there? I have an appointment next week and wanted to get a fair idea of the wait time. If my appointment is at 10 am, what is the advisable time to reach there (assuming there would be walk in applicants at the same time)? Is there a separate line for walk-in vs appointments?

I don't think you need to arrive very early if you already have an appointment. I can't speak for BLS Toronto but BLS Brampton had separate lines for ones with appointment and ones without. If your appointment is at 10, reach there by 9:45 at least and stand near the door. Tell the guy at the door you have an appointment at 10 and follow their instructions.

 

[nila001]

I don't have a post for the process.

1. No. You MUST pay with a bank draft for OCI, that's the only option. For surrender, you can pay using your debit card or cash.

2. I had no such experience. The photos must be 2inX2in. I followed those instructions on BLS website and took the photo elsewhere. I did not have that issue.

3. Bio page, Last page (with address) and the observation page is what I submitted.

4. If you are applying based on your own (previous) Indian citizenship, domicile or native certificate isn't required.

Thank you @rajkamalmohanram
Few further questions on the OCI fees. I am pasting the text from the website :

Two separate payments required required of OCI application as per the direction of HCI / CGI.

Step 1:

A) For Ottawa & Toronto Jurisdiction only: Draft or money order in favor of "High Commission of India - Ottawa" (For Ottawa Jurisdiction) or "The Consulate General of India - Toronto" (For Toronto Jurisdiction) Note: Fees payable under this draft / money is for Consular fees + Consular Surcharge fee only).

B) For Vancouver Jurisdiction: OCI fee will not be in form of demand draft. OCI fee will be payable to BLS International Services Canada Inc. by cash or debit at the centers. " (For Vancouver Jurisdiction) OCI fee in debit or cash would be acceptable from June 01, 2014 onwards only.

Note: Fees payable under this draft / money is for CGI Consular fees (As mentioned in fees chart for Vancouver Jurisdiction.

Step 2:
In favor of BLS International Services Canada Inc. via

Cash (Applicant are requested to get exact cash as per number of applications)

Debit Card - (Interac)

Note:

A) For Ottawa & Toronto Jurisdiction: Fees payable under this section is for BLS Processing fee + Courier fee only

Sr No	Service Type	Amount payable to CGI - Toronto/ HCI- Ottawa	Amount payable to BLS International Services Canda Inc.
		Fees (CAD$)	Fees (CAD$)
1	OCI Card	$341+ Consular Surcharge: $4 Total: $345	Processing Fee: $7.4+ Courier fee

So does it mean I make a draft of $345 in favor of "The Consulate General of India - Toronto" and pay the $7.4 by cash?
And what does the text under step 2 mean then? (This is the text which made me believe that we could pay for OCI by debit or cash as well)

 

[rajkamalmohanram]

Thank you @rajkamalmohanram
Few further questions on the OCI fees. I am pasting the text from the website :

Two separate payments required required of OCI application as per the direction of HCI / CGI.

Step 1:

A) For Ottawa & Toronto Jurisdiction only: Draft or money order in favor of "High Commission of India - Ottawa" (For Ottawa Jurisdiction) or "The Consulate General of India - Toronto" (For Toronto Jurisdiction) Note: Fees payable under this draft / money is for Consular fees + Consular Surcharge fee only).

B) For Vancouver Jurisdiction: OCI fee will not be in form of demand draft. OCI fee will be payable to BLS International Services Canada Inc. by cash or debit at the centers. " (For Vancouver Jurisdiction) OCI fee in debit or cash would be acceptable from June 01, 2014 onwards only.

Note: Fees payable under this draft / money is for CGI Consular fees (As mentioned in fees chart for Vancouver Jurisdiction.

Step 2:
In favor of BLS International Services Canada Inc. via

Cash (Applicant are requested to get exact cash as per number of applications)

Debit Card - (Interac)

Note:

A) For Ottawa & Toronto Jurisdiction: Fees payable under this section is for BLS Processing fee + Courier fee only

Sr No	Service Type	Amount payable to CGI - Toronto/ HCI- Ottawa	Amount payable to BLS International Services Canda Inc.
		Fees (CAD$)	Fees (CAD$)
1	OCI Card	$341+ Consular Surcharge: $4 Total: $345	Processing Fee: $7.4+ Courier fee

So does it mean I make a draft of $345 in favor of "The Consulate General of India - Toronto" and pay the $7.4 by cash?
And what does the text under step 2 mean then? (This is the text which made me believe that we could pay for OCI by debit or cash as well)

The second step is only for applicants sending it via mail.

You need a $345 Draft for OCI. You can pay the $7.4 BLS fees with debit card at BLS if you are applying in person.

 

[nila001]

The second step is only for applicants sending it via mail.

You need a $345 Draft for OCI. You can pay the $7.4 BLS fees with debit card at BLS if you are applying in person.

okay great. Thanks @rajkamalmohanram .

 

[mili_0923]

That's weird. You should have received it by now. Give it an additional week.

There'll be no stamping after you receive the OCI booklet.

Yes Thats why i am worried… it should have arrive by this week.

 

[mili_0923]

Please check on OCI site as well . As per posts on this thread , OCI site updates in a more detailed way . In 3 weeks , post application date shown on OCI site, you can expect OCI no to be generated

Hi,
Would you be able to send me the link of the oci site to see more detailed updates please?
We are suppose to see the oci number now right?

 

[priteshhi]

just an update.. applied for OCI for minor on 5th October walk-in got the oci on 2nd nov.

BLS=Calgary
jurisdiction=Vancover
OCI printed = 26th oct
Purolator delivery = 2nd nov.

 

[rtamuli]

I don't think you need to arrive very early if you already have an appointment. I can't speak for BLS Toronto but BLS Brampton had separate lines for ones with appointment and ones without. If your appointment is at 10, reach there by 9:45 at least and stand near the door. Tell the guy at the door you have an appointment at 10 and follow their instructions.

Thanks a lot for your inputs @rajkamalmohanram

 

[ajit90]

Hello
Has anyone recently been to BLS Toronto, or know someone who has been there? I have an appointment next week and wanted to get a fair idea of the wait time. If my appointment is at 10 am, what is the advisable time to reach there (assuming there would be walk in applicants at the same time)? Is there a separate line for walk-in vs appointments?

In the appointment email, bls mentions to reach 5 mins before your appointment time

 

[priysen02]

It doesn't matter for BLS Toronto . I had an appointment at 12.30 but reached there pretty early around 11.45 security checked my vaccine proof and name and let me in

 

[Abhishek901]

Will BLS centres be open this Friday or account of Diwali on Thursday? Their website says the centre is open Mon-Sat except designated holidays but doesn't say what are those holidays.

 

[vishalv]

The first thing you will pass is security on arrival. So Security --> Immigration --> Customs --> Enter UK --> Walk from the Arrivals terminal to the Departures terminal --> Get the PCR test done --> Wait for the report and collect it --> Enter the departures section ---> Security --> Immigration --> Go to your gate --> Board flight. This is how I think it'll be.

Try to book a long layover fight on your way back. I have a 9.5 hour layover at Heathrow when coming back so I'll have all the time in the world to get the test done and possibly even visit at least 1 place there (like the Buckingham palace or Museum).

Thanks for the response.

We too are thinking of booking the return flight with a 9.5 hr layover. .

Hope you get to enjoy some of the attractions of London. Some of the places like Madam Tussad's museum is totally worth it.

 

[snehagupta12us]

Has someone recently submitted OCI at Toronto center without appointment?

 

[ajit90]

Hi,
Would you be able to send me the link of the oci site to see more detailed updates please?
We are suppose to see the oci number now right?

https://ociservices.gov.in/statusEnqury

 

[lifein360]

My OCI went under process on Oct 18 and has been under process since then. I guess I should see something next week if normal timelines hold. But tomorrow will be the end of three weeks since it has been under process