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OCI process

johnbarfi111

Member
May 30, 2024
12
2
Does anyone have experience with Incomplete/Incorrect Data on the BLS website? When can I expect them to contact me with further information?
 

2017CanadaHo!

Hero Member
Nov 18, 2016
582
381
Ontario
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How about taking a step back … and after taking a deeeep breath….and making one’s mind to not pay a single hard earned cent for the BLS self set guidelines and cherry picked findings/mistakes they find on our application forms?

I totally get it that we have to be 100% accurate for the details that we provide on the OCI and other passport applications submitted to BLS…..but cmon man….i mean if BLS is sitting there with magnifying glass just to spot a extra punctuation mark on the form…..for just to sell their $100 additional services ….how fair is that?

as an applicant….i would politely refuse to pay for their ideal and fantasy world way of filling the application form…. And come back another day by correcting the details myself on the forms and taking a printout of the application form again…which would cost me how much?? May be some cents at a Canadian public library…..only once we as applicants….stop giving in to the unnecessary and non-sensical pressure BLS exert….while finding the non-practical errors on the application forms…and stop paying for their so called $100 services….they will start to think twice before asking any person for this additional money…they get this courage…because we give in to the presssure….its not about $100….its about what’s fair and what’s not.

India is a global leader in IT services industry…world class software engineers…are from India…yet it’s an irony…that the user experience of the OCI application website and forms….is not up to the mark….leave aside the front end …but at least they should design application form questions in such a way…that even an average user can use it with ease….and the options provided to the users of the online application forms should be at least user friendly and consistent….giving less spots for chance of errors….and later so called BLS correction fee of 100 dollars.

Excuse me for venting out if I sounded like that but cmon BLS …it’s too much
completely agree. i tried doing this. i went three times - each time, new (goes without saying - absolutely silly & inconsequential) issues were pointed out, and in fact some issues that were pointed out previously - weren't considered an issue the next time!! eventually i gave in. why? because i realized that a complaint to CGI etc. doesn't work - they are all the same, possibly even getting hush money to look the other way. i realized i can't file a complaint against BLS in Canada since this type of a company isn't covered under the usual consumer protection rules here. i realized that i and my wife, and at other times my kids have had to take time off our work or school to repeatedly be there. also i realized that there was no guarantee there will not be a 4th or a 5th time too if i don't give my offerings of $100 to them.
 
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2017CanadaHo!

Hero Member
Nov 18, 2016
582
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they train their staff to just go sniffing like dogs/bitches for (what they can "call") mistakes, and deliberately keep their website/instructions vague so as to mint money. couldn't they have given clarity and practiced consistency on these:

was i the first married applicant who had a registration date different from marriage date? 99.99% would have different dates.
was my spouse the first case of a post marriage name change.
how difficult is it to give clarity about which date to write (as application date) for existing OCI holders in the family.
how difficult is it to give clarity about whether to choose granted/not granted for WIP OCI applications in the family.
is IND featuring after someone's city/state of birth such a critical issue and is it an issue at all to be considered a mismatch.
are ON and Ontario different, is Brampton different from Brampton ON - which cave do they live in.
a minor's birth cert mentions both parents, his passport does too, both parents' passports mention each other's name as spouses too. why is the marriage certificate still needed, and if it is, why is it not mentioned clearly on the portal.
people keep asking each other about what address to write and whether to give a letter for unemployed/housewife/retired etc. why.

the list goes on........
 
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Mum2Can

Star Member
Apr 1, 2021
79
38
Category........
CEC
Visa Office......
Ottawa
NOC Code......
2171
Job Offer........
Yes
AOR Received.
01-10-2020
Med's Done....
13-11-2020
No issues expressing your thoughts, experience or venting out. we are here to help.

This was my 2nd visit for OCI, I have shared my 1st visit experience here: https://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/threads/oci-process.254662/post-10835942

so during my 1st visit I have refused to pay for correction and left, so yesterday during my 2nd visit they have identified another error which was approved during 1st visit even I have shown them previous document verified by another person from same BLS Mississauga office. The lady simply said I can't go based on what other collogues approves, my counter question was "I hope all associates here follow standard instructions or SOP given by consulate they via such discrepancy". Finally to avoid further delay I have accepted to make them correction and opted for courier as well (this was for my wife application), whereas mine was accepted without issue - for which I have choose "Pick up" option, so instead of saving $xxx, saved $xx amount :(

Also during my US born son OCI postal application was rejected saying "applicant should complete 1 year stay in Canada", this criteria was nowhere. I have to get consulate approval to justify this and during next walk in appointment my son application accepted without looking consulate approval..


How about taking a step back … and after taking a deeeep breath….and making one’s mind to not pay a single hard earned cent for the BLS self set guidelines and cherry picked findings/mistakes they find on our application forms?

I totally get it that we have to be 100% accurate for the details that we provide on the OCI and other passport applications submitted to BLS…..but cmon man….i mean if BLS is sitting there with magnifying glass just to spot a extra punctuation mark on the form…..for just to sell their $100 additional services ….how fair is that?

as an applicant….i would politely refuse to pay for their ideal and fantasy world way of filling the application form…. And come back another day by correcting the details myself on the forms and taking a printout of the application form again…which would cost me how much?? May be some cents at a Canadian public library…..only once we as applicants….stop giving in to the unnecessary and non-sensical pressure BLS exert….while finding the non-practical errors on the application forms…and stop paying for their so called $100 services….they will start to think twice before asking any person for this additional money…they get this courage…because we give in to the presssure….its not about $100….its about what’s fair and what’s not.

India is a global leader in IT services industry…world class software engineers…are from India…yet it’s an irony…that the user experience of the OCI application website and forms….is not up to the mark….leave aside the front end …but at least they should design application form questions in such a way…that even an average user can use it with ease….and the options provided to the users of the online application forms should be at least user friendly and consistent….giving less spots for chance of errors….and later so called BLS correction fee of 100 dollars.

Excuse me for venting out if I sounded like that but cmon BLS …it’s too much
 
Last edited:

Mum2Can

Star Member
Apr 1, 2021
79
38
Category........
CEC
Visa Office......
Ottawa
NOC Code......
2171
Job Offer........
Yes
AOR Received.
01-10-2020
Med's Done....
13-11-2020
It might be a silly mistake to consider, with so may BLS experiences I have carefully reviewed all fields by referring BLS checklist, reference document, few recent you tube videos and input from this forum, where people like you provides great help based on their experiences or references.

to avoid further hustle, I have asked them suggest what content/option should I select from this fields.. and it got accepted :)

This is also a silly mistake selecting Professional and then mentioning address as Unemployed.

That's why I keep reiterating, Double-Triple Check the OCI application, and if possible try and create 2(or even 3 if required) applications to cover yourself for scenario like Marriage Date vs Marriage Registration Date, etc
Try and include all details marked with asterisk* or not e.g. if you are married you should include your spouse information even if its not mandatory.
 

ThenT

Star Member
Oct 6, 2023
57
39
Hi,

My experience with OCI application, first time the error found was ‘the state name repeated twice’ and paid $ 100 each ( 2 applications) for correction and printout.

Later when I was there for 3 rd application a week later, a new mistake was found ‘previous OCI application for any of the family members - NOT GRANTED- as it is just under process’. No need to answer that column.
There is no clear instructions on that matter whether to mention or not.
So again $ 100 to be paid for correction and printout.

For all these visits I have to take day off & watch the website to book an appointment online.

So there is no value for our time / money / energy.

Just pay & complete the process.
 

johnbarfi111

Member
May 30, 2024
12
2
Hi,

My experience with OCI application, first time the error found was ‘the state name repeated twice’ and paid $ 100 each ( 2 applications) for correction and printout.

Later when I was there for 3 rd application a week later, a new mistake was found ‘previous OCI application for any of the family members - NOT GRANTED- as it is just under process’. No need to answer that column.
There is no clear instructions on that matter whether to mention or not.
So again $ 100 to be paid for correction and printout.

For all these visits I have to take day off & watch the website to book an appointment online.

So there is no value for our time / money / energy.

Just pay & complete the process.
How did this process work? Did BLS contact you with more info re; the error? Could you solve it over the phone, or did you have to go to the location?
 

2017CanadaHo!

Hero Member
Nov 18, 2016
582
381
Ontario
Category........
Other
It might be a silly mistake to consider, with so may BLS experiences I have carefully reviewed all fields by referring BLS checklist, reference document, few recent you tube videos and input from this forum, where people like you provides great help based on their experiences or references.

to avoid further hustle, I have asked them suggest what content/option should I select from this fields.. and it got accepted :)
a good way out is (if there's only 1-2 vague items) to make multiple versions of applications.

for the last 2 applications, i made 3 versions each (trying to cover some known vague items - like dates etc.) - so 6 applications n prints etc. - whichever one they like, i'll use that.
guess what, for one applicant, NONE of the 3 versions worked, why? because they found a completely new issue!
 
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hlp

Star Member
Feb 19, 2021
95
100
Toronto
Category........
CEC
Visa Office......
Vancouver
NOC Code......
6311
Job Offer........
Yes
AOR Received.
28-10-2020
Med's Done....
07-12-2020
Walkin Application (Toronto) - 16 May,2024
Date of Acknowledgment (OCI website) -24 May,2024
Status - Under process
 

Mum2Can

Star Member
Apr 1, 2021
79
38
Category........
CEC
Visa Office......
Ottawa
NOC Code......
2171
Job Offer........
Yes
AOR Received.
01-10-2020
Med's Done....
13-11-2020
That would work unless BLS come up with something new issue. I was confident in my 2nd visit everything will go fine because I had1st visit application reviewed by them but no luck.

As you suggested good way out, I will add further - have 1 fully submitted application version + 1 partially submitted application with information. Carry laptop and make required correction based on feedback and submit that application (if they allow that much time to do correction by ourselves)


a good way out is (if there's only 1-2 vague items) to make multiple versions of applications.

for the last 2 applications, i made 3 versions each (trying to cover some known vague items - like dates etc.) - so 6 applications n prints etc. - whichever one they like, i'll use that.
guess what, for one applicant, NONE of the 3 versions worked, why? because they found a completely new issue!
 

abbas.pasha

VIP Member
Sep 17, 2016
3,604
2,023
That would work unless BLS come up with something new issue. I was confident in my 2nd visit everything will go fine because I had1st visit application reviewed by them but no luck.

As you suggested good way out, I will add further - have 1 fully submitted application version + 1 partially submitted application with information. Carry laptop and make required correction based on feedback and submit that application (if they allow that much time to do correction by ourselves)
Inside BLS they do not allow you to open the laptop and edit the application. We had that issue during our application submissions relating to the photographs.
 

2017CanadaHo!

Hero Member
Nov 18, 2016
582
381
Ontario
Category........
Other
That would work unless BLS come up with something new issue. I was confident in my 2nd visit everything will go fine because I had1st visit application reviewed by them but no luck.

As you suggested good way out, I will add further - have 1 fully submitted application version + 1 partially submitted application with information. Carry laptop and make required correction based on feedback and submit that application (if they allow that much time to do correction by ourselves)
multiple forms and an entirely new issue - yes that is what happened with me as i mentioned in my post!

partly submitted form - i carried my laptop (and knowledge of places nearby where i could print stuff) but they said once you leave, you may not be able to re-enter as a walk-in. basically selling their services with fear. much like insurance.