OCI process

[dc_2022]

Finally, OCI is back at BLS. Yay!

Full timeline is below:

Date	Status on BLS Tracker	Status on OCI Services Portal	Days since applied	Days elapsed
2022-04-02​	under process	No such record found		56​
2022-04-05​	Processing at Consulate General	No such record found	4​	53​
2022-04-27​	Processing at Consulate General	UNDER-PROCESS	26​	31​
2022-05-19​	Processing at Consulate General	PROCESSED	48​	9​
2022-05-20​	Processing at Consulate General	Dispatched From MEA (OCI ) NEW DELHI On 20-MAY-2022	49​	8​
2022-05-20​	Processing at Consulate General	Document received At TORONTO On 20-MAY-2022	49​	8​
2022-05-27​	(Counter Delivery to BLS Centre after OCI stamping)		56​	1​

Did you see this status update on BLS website, or on MEA website? Does MEA website provide any update after the 'Document Received' note?

 

[canadamaple]

I think that OCIs are printed here in Canada. How can the despatch and receive date be the same? What are your thoughts on this?

 

[sting_hard]

do you think it'll be faster if i chose to pickup instead of courier?

Maybe a day earlier if you choose pickup., not much difference .
Do cehck pickup timings before you go, as they have a specific pickup time i guess its 3pm to 4pm

 

[Hot2Cold]

I think that OCIs are printed here in Canada. How can the despatch and receive date be the same? What are your thoughts on this?

Agree. Unless they have a super fast jet service between New Delhi and the missions in Canada. Maybe they are just officially approved in ND, but get printed and issued at the mission.

 

[canadamaple]

Finally, OCI is back at BLS. Yay!

Full timeline is below:

Date	Status on BLS Tracker	Status on OCI Services Portal	Days since applied	Days elapsed
2022-04-02​	under process	No such record found		56​
2022-04-05​	Processing at Consulate General	No such record found	4​	53​
2022-04-27​	Processing at Consulate General	UNDER-PROCESS	26​	31​
2022-05-19​	Processing at Consulate General	PROCESSED	48​	9​
2022-05-20​	Processing at Consulate General	Dispatched From MEA (OCI ) NEW DELHI On 20-MAY-2022	49​	8​
2022-05-20​	Processing at Consulate General	Document received At TORONTO On 20-MAY-2022	49​	8​
2022-05-27​	(Counter Delivery to BLS Centre after OCI stamping)		56​	1​

Congratulations my friend! Your wait is finally over. I wish everybody else on this forum a speedy OCI application

 

[Hot2Cold]

Congratulations my friend! Your wait is finally over. I wish everybody else on this forum a speedy OCI application

Me too. Good luck!

 

[Craxyrider]

Wow, it took almost 20 days for you to receive your citizenship certificate?
Thanks for the info buddy. I'll definitely go for surrender certificate as soon as I get the citizenship cert. I have my oath on 1st June, and I have travel planned (booked ticket back in April) on June 17th. I hope my certificate will come much sooner than yours. Do you know if there's a facility for pickup instead of Mail for citizenship certificate? I was hoping that my cert will come in a week or so, and I can apply and get the passport the following week for travel! looks like it's going to be tough to pull off!
Good news is my tickets were booked for work by my company. so if I cannot travel, I won't lose money for the tickets

Also, I noticed that both times you went to BLS by appointment. Someone told me that walk-in is quite possible and easy for BLS, is that true?

@sundeep_s_ My certificate was delayed due to a confusion during the Oath ceremony. As I have a mailing address on File the Clerk confused me that I will receive my certificate at my Home address and the person at the mailing address was unable to confirm as they were not available at that time.

Advise that I received from the Clerk during the Oath ceremony is that you should contact them Immediately once you have received the Oath invite if you need the certificate urgently and they will accommodate it to send it immediately after Oath. They DID NOT offer any in-person services at that time.

My Oath was on March 11th and the certificate was sent on March 14th it was not until I sent a few e-mails that I received a confirmation that the Certificate was indeed sent to mailing address rather than home address from CPC Scarborough

Trust me if you communicate properly with them things will be way easier than it seems. Again all you need is an itinerary and you should get your Canadian PP within a week.

I noticed that both times you went to BLS by appointment. Someone told me that walk-in is quite possible and easy for BLS, is that true?

Walk-In is possible but I suggest that if you have an appointment you can skip the waiting and will be let inside in a matter of 5 minutes before the Scheduled Appointment Time which I think is convenient. For SC there were some errors in the application (appt. time 9 AM) but still the person at counter advised me to come back by 1:30 PM to re-submit on the same day.

Good Luck

 

[sundeep_s_]

@sundeep_s_ My certificate was delayed due to a confusion during the Oath ceremony. As I have a mailing address on File the Clerk confused me that I will receive my certificate at my Home address and the person at the mailing address was unable to confirm as they were not available at that time.

Advise that I received from the Clerk during the Oath ceremony is that you should contact them Immediately once you have received the Oath invite if you need the certificate urgently and they will accommodate it to send it immediately after Oath. They DID NOT offer any in-person services at that time.

My Oath was on March 11th and the certificate was sent on March 14th it was not until I sent a few e-mails that I received a confirmation that the Certificate was indeed sent to mailing address rather than home address from CPC Scarborough

Trust me if you communicate properly with them things will be way easier than it seems. Again all you need is an itinerary and you should get your Canadian PP within a week.

I noticed that both times you went to BLS by appointment. Someone told me that walk-in is quite possible and easy for BLS, is that true?

Walk-In is possible but I suggest that if you have an appointment you can skip the waiting and will be let inside in a matter of 5 minutes before the Scheduled Appointment Time which I think is convenient. For SC there were some errors in the application (appt. time 9 AM) but still the person at counter advised me to come back by 1:30 PM to re-submit on the same day.

Good Luck

That is awesome. Thanks for the detailed explanation. I will reach out to them right away with my itinerary.

 

[nskatcv]

OCI Update

OCI Update

28 April - Submitted OCI @ Surrey BLS via Appointment
29 April - BLS Status: underprocess
06 May - BLS Status: Processing at Consulate General
09 May - OCI Web Status: UNDER-PROCESS (Date Of Acknowledgment: 07 May)
27 May - OCI Web Status: PROCESSED

 

[sundeep_s_]

@sundeep_s_ Ohh Yes, I am it was a reality until rules were changed in Dec 2021. I also confirmed with the People at BLS Counter about the change in rules. If you are planning to travel urgently then I'd recommend apply for SC and Entry Visa together with Canadian PP as it will be attached on the passport. If planning for OCI and not travelling anytime soon then better to apply for SC first as soon as you receive your Canadian citizenship certificate rather than wait for Canadian Passport as it will further cause a long delay for OCI application. You may be looking for about 4-5 months min to get OCI if waiting on Canadian PP. Otherwise you can cut the time into 3 months if you apply for SC before Canadian PP

Again, You can refer to my Signature for a timeline for SC (completed) and OCI (In Progress)

Good Luck

Another question about this, is the Entry visa different from regular tourist visa we apply?
how many days can we stay in India with the entry visa? and how long does it take for processing?

sorry for inundating you with questions.. lots of questions popping up in my head

 

[canadamaple]

sorry for inundating you with questions.. lots of questions popping up in my head

We will start charging you for answers (just like BLS). Haha. Just kidding

 

[kush9232]

OCI Application Timeline-in person to Brampton
BLS: April 18
BLS Status-Processing at Consulate: Apr 18
OCI Status-Under Process: May 6

Documents Printing Status	PROCESSED	On	25-MAY-2022
Dispatched From MEA (OCI )	NEW DELHI	On	25-MAY-2022
Document received At	TORONTO	On	25-MAY-2022

Bls website shows - Processing at Consulate General !! Any idea how long it takes to update ?

 

[sundeep_s_]

We will start charging you for answers (just like BLS). Haha. Just kidding

haha that's the best part with us Indians... even though our govt. is outsourcing the work to companies that focus on money grab and put out zero info.. we stick to each other and help as much as we can. That's how we survive in this world!

 

[canadamaple]

haha that's the best part with us Indians... even though our govt. is outsourcing the work to companies that focus on money grab and put out zero info.. we stick to each other and help as much as we can. That's how we survive in this world!

You bet, eh. This forum has been so helpful all through our PR journey, followed by citizenship, SC and now OCI. When people (non-Indians) talk about India and Indian administration, a small part of me dies inside because I try to cover up our government's incompetence by making lame excuses. Things are gradually improving in India (for e.g.: my mom got her passport renewed in 4 days - non-tatkal). However, Indian missions abroad have a long way to go. I am mostly shocked by the laziness that emanates from the people working at the HCI and BLS in Ottawa. Hopefully after we all get our OCI, we may not need to go back to BLS or the HCI for a long long time. Cheers, my friend.

 

[Hot2Cold]

OCI Application Timeline-in person to Brampton
BLS: April 18
BLS Status-Processing at Consulate: Apr 18
OCI Status-Under Process: May 6

Documents Printing Status	PROCESSED	On	25-MAY-2022
Dispatched From MEA (OCI )	NEW DELHI	On	25-MAY-2022
Document received At	TORONTO	On	25-MAY-2022

Bls website shows - Processing at Consulate General !! Any idea how long it takes to update ?

Took me about a week to show status on the BLS Site (see my post here).