OCI process

[wolfpack27616]

Hi Bro, There is just BLS website for tracking.
I submitted my passports for surrender on 5 Feb and was told it could take 3 weeks. Today just happened to check BLS website tracking and found in the morning Ready for Dispatch status. A few minutes ago re-checked and found Dispatched thru Purolator with AW Bill no. Checked Purolator site and shows will receive tomorrow.

In my case, I got back the surrendered passports 10 days after application, and original documents 15 days after application date (Just so you have an idea about timelines for getting back original documents)

 

[KRP]

In my case, I got back the surrendered passports 10 days after application, and original documents 15 days after application date (Just so you have an idea about timelines for getting back original documents)

I was waiting today for the surrender certificate and passports. The Purolator delivery guy came to my building and pressed the door buzzer. I immediately gave him access. After not finding him for over 10 minutes I checked the Purolator website and its shows delivery failed, not available at home. I rushed downstairs and he has left a stick out note to collect the same from their depot .
I will surely make a problem at Bls office when I go for OCI application next month. What is the use of paying for courier and then need to go to collect the same.
I would like to inform all forum memebers to act tough with the BLS staff and opt for self collection.
BLS is a mere private company rendering services to the consulate and their staff force us to avail courier services.

 

[wolfpack27616]

I was waiting today for the surrender certificate and passports. The Purolator delivery guy came to my building and pressed the door buzzer. I immediately gave him access. After not finding him for over 10 minutes I checked the Purolator website and its shows delivery failed, not available at home. I rushed downstairs and he has left a stick out note to collect the same from their depot .
I will surely make a problem at Bls office when I go for OCI application next month. What is the use of paying for courier and then need to go to collect the same.
I would like to inform all forum memebers to act tough with the BLS staff and opt for self collection.
BLS is a mere private company rendering services to the consulate and their staff force us to avail courier services.

That's really bad about Purolator not waiting for you to answer the door.

BLS suggested me to opt for courier, but didn't put pressure on me to take it. I opted for it because I didnt want to go multiple times to BLS.

 

[KRP]

That's really bad about Purolator not waiting for you to answer the door.

BLS suggested me to opt for courier, but didn't put pressure on me to take it. I opted for it because I didnt want to go multiple times to BLS.

For OCI do I need to opt for courier services or could I go there and collect the OCI card and COPR. I went to Purolator office and got my passports and surrender certificate.
I have put a complaint to BLS regarding the issue on this link:
https://www.blsindia-canada.com/feedback.php
https://www.blsindia-canada.com/escalation.php

 

[wolfpack27616]

For OCI do I need to opt for courier services or could I go there and collect the OCI card and COPR. I went to Purolator office and got my passports and surrender certificate.
I have put a complaint to BLS regarding the issue on this link:
https://www.blsindia-canada.com/feedback.php
https://www.blsindia-canada.com/escalation.php

I am pretty sure you can opt for picking up the Originals and COPR. But I think you need to make 2 separate trips (once to pick up COPR and once for OCI), and I would much rather it getting couriered to my doorstep (assuming Purolator doesn't mess up like what they did with you), than having to go to BLS twice. I think BLS asks you to come in the evening between a certain timeframe which didn't work for me.

 

[Dimma]

For OCI do I need to opt for courier services or could I go there and collect the OCI card and COPR. I went to Purolator office and got my passports and surrender certificate.
I have put a complaint to BLS regarding the issue on this link:
https://www.blsindia-canada.com/feedback.php
https://www.blsindia-canada.com/escalation.php

You can always opt for a pick-up , courier they charge like $30/per applicant /per shipment (for oci there are 2 shipments).
You will find posters in BLS office says the courier service is optional ,
But usually BLS agent pressurise you to go for courier, I strongly feel that the agent gets some commission out of this courier sales,
that's why they are very much interested on this. I remember when I said I will go for pickup option , agent's tone and behaviour suddenly changed.

 

[Goku]

I was waiting today for the surrender certificate and passports. The Purolator delivery guy came to my building and pressed the door buzzer. I immediately gave him access. After not finding him for over 10 minutes I checked the Purolator website and its shows delivery failed, not available at home. I rushed downstairs and he has left a stick out note to collect the same from their depot .
I will surely make a problem at Bls office when I go for OCI application next month. What is the use of paying for courier and then need to go to collect the same.
I would like to inform all forum memebers to act tough with the BLS staff and opt for self collection.
BLS is a mere private company rendering services to the consulate and their staff force us to avail courier services.

That's really bad about Purolator not waiting for you to answer the door.

BLS suggested me to opt for courier, but didn't put pressure on me to take it. I opted for it because I didnt want to go multiple times to BLS.

Happened with me twice. A simple solution call Purolator ( or you can chat with them) and ask them to send a note to delivery guy to come upstairs and he will. That's how I fixed it.

Purolator is a third party courier service and BLS has no control over it so arguing with BLS about this is not going to help you.

 

[KRP]

I am pretty sure you can opt for picking up the Originals and COPR. But I think you need to make 2 separate trips (once to pick up COPR and once for OCI), and I would much rather it getting couriered to my doorstep (assuming Purolator doesn't mess up like what they did with you), than having to go to BLS twice. I think BLS asks you to come in the evening between a certain timeframe which didn't work for me.

For OCI I will not avail their courier services and do not mind going 2 times to BLS since it is just a 10 minute drive from my residence. I have printed the delivery status receipt from Purolator and will show the staff at BLS the same . It shows delivery failed, time and evening time collected at depot desk.

 

[KRP]

You can always opt for a pick-up , courier they charge like $30/per applicant /per shipment (for oci there are 2 shipments).
You will find posters in BLS office says the courier service is optional ,
But usually BLS agent pressurise you to go for courier, I strongly feel that the agent gets some commission out of this courier sales,
that's why they are very much interested on this. I remember when I said I will go for pickup option , agent's tone and behaviour suddenly changed.

People showed complain on this tactic on the link I have mentioned and if they have no time constraints go to collect on their own than paying for courier and going to the depot to collect.

 

[KRP]

Happened with me twice. A simple solution call Purolator ( or you can chat with them) and ask them to send a note to delivery guy to come upstairs and he will. That's how I fixed it.

Purolator is a third party courier service and BLS has no control over it so arguing with BLS about this is not going to help you.

If BLS has no control on Purolator then its time they do not force the applicant to take courier services.

 

[wolfpack27616]

Are you solely tracking on BLS website, or is there any website to track the status? I ask since you seem to have mentioned BLS status separately in your post?

To answer my own question- it looks like from the time BLS Status says- "Original documents Dispatched via courier" i.e from the time we get back the originals and OCI acknowledgement,
we need to start tracking at https://ociservices.gov.in/welcome (Need to input the passport number and file number as mentioned in the OCI Acknowledgement)- to get the status.

My status currently says
Documents Printing Status PROCESSED On 13-FEB-2019
Dispatched From MEA (OCI ) NEW DELHI On 13-FEB-2019
Document received At TORONTO On 13-FEB-2019

I guess from here, I again need to start tracking at BLS website to know when it's going to be couriered to me.

I hope this helps someone like me who didn't know where to track the OCI status besides the BLS website.

 

[KRP]

To answer my own question- it looks like from the time BLS Status says- "Original documents Dispatched via courier" i.e from the time we get back the originals and OCI acknowledgement,
we need to start tracking at https://ociservices.gov.in/welcome (Need to input the passport number and file number as mentioned in the OCI Acknowledgement)- to get the status.

My status currently says
Documents Printing Status PROCESSED On 13-FEB-2019
Dispatched From MEA (OCI ) NEW DELHI On 13-FEB-2019
Document received At TORONTO On 13-FEB-2019

I guess from here, I again need to start tracking at BLS website to know when it's going to be couriered to me.

I hope this helps someone like me who didn't know where to track the OCI status besides the BLS website.

Bro I have downloaded the BLS checklist and Consulate General India check list for OCI application. Both differ a lot. Which one to follow?

 

[wolfpack27616]

Bro I have downloaded the BLS checklist and Consulate General India check list for OCI application. Both differ a lot. Which one to follow?

If i remember correctly- The BLS checklist was more comprehensive. I ended up taking every document and completing the forms as per BLS checklist (Its better to cautious and take extra stuff and not have to go back again)

 

[KRP]

Looks like GoI MHA has made several updates to online application portal and made the process much more simpler for standard applications ( I say this in comparison to the sample filled out application form on BLS website)

1. Marriage Certificate
As per the updated application portal, when you select marriage certificate to upload, it specifically tells you that MC is required ONLY for OCI application based on Spouse OCI... Im not sure if this was always the case but its pretty clear now when MC is actually required

2. Another interesting update , after Part A is filled, it no more asks you whether you want to apply for another family member. It goes straight to Part B.
For next family member, you start a fresh application from the start. So looks like husband and wife are being treated as independent applications with no link between the two. Again Im not sure if this was always the case but this is a welcome update. No more link between husband/wife application means there's no need for them to see a MC.

3. Lastly after submitting online application, it generates a pdf with the filled out application form. This now has your photo on it!! Does it mean you don't have to affix the photo??

4. In same PDF after the application form, there are some final instructions. Here again MC is mentioned only for Spouse OCI based OCI application not for standard application

Im not sure how much of these updates were already there. Above assessment is based on comparing with the sample filled out form on BLS website. Recent applicants may please advise.

PS - you can check out these "updates" by quickly filling out the form using some dummy info. You can at the least reach as far as uploading of MC to see the portal tell you when MC is actually needed.I also looked at FAQs and OCI brochure on http://www.cgitoronto.gov.in/eoi.php?id=oci_application#and there as well you dont find MC requirement for fresh application for husband and wife.

Hi Ponnappa,
Which site are you referring to place dummy info and practice?. For OCI I found 4 sites.
1.https://www.blsindia-canada.com/ocihome.php
2.http://www.cgitoronto.gov.in/eoi.php?id=oci_application#
3.https://mha.gov.in/MHA1/OCI.html directs to https://ociservices.gov.in/
4. http://www.mha.nic.in/ mentioned on BLS website does not work.

 

[minecraftwonderness]

To answer my own question- it looks like from the time BLS Status says- "Original documents Dispatched via courier" i.e from the time we get back the originals and OCI acknowledgement,
we need to start tracking at https://ociservices.gov.in/welcome (Need to input the passport number and file number as mentioned in the OCI Acknowledgement)- to get the status.

My status currently says
Documents Printing Status PROCESSED On 13-FEB-2019
Dispatched From MEA (OCI ) NEW DELHI On 13-FEB-2019
Document received At TORONTO On 13-FEB-2019

I guess from here, I again need to start tracking at BLS website to know when it's going to be couriered to me.

I hope this helps someone like me who didn't know where to track the OCI status besides the BLS website.

hi there,

Did you get your original PIO card back, did you apply at all?
Mine said, Document received at TOronto on 14-FEB-2019

I was doing the PIO to OCI conversion.

BLS tracking said original ready for pick up, when I went there, they gave me an empty envelope with OCI acknowledgement slip.

I checked the tracking in OCI services, and it said it received on 14th feb, no idea when I will get the old PIO card and the OCI card/booklet.

I also dont know why people wrote they have to submit their passport.