GUIDE TO AVOID EXPENSIVE USELESS PUROLATOR SERVICES
Many of us have already shared their experience of applying OCI and almost all application aspects are answered upthread. So, I am only sharing my experience where I made a postal OCI (minor) application and avoided Purolator totally. If you are pissed off at BLS for mandating and overselling Purolator to you, keep reading.
SENDING APPLICATION:
I used CanadaPost (registered mail) to send the OCI application. My application was delivered to BLS Brampton on 15th and was trackable on BLS website on 17th
I used registered post since my bank issues drafts for free but cancellation was chargeable so didn’t want to loose the drafts

. Costed me around $14. You may choose to send using normal post for $1-$2 if your bank provides free cancellation or if you like more adventure.
My application had a interesting comment when i track it on BLS "Not paid for return courier "
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Random trivia: Called BLS to inquire if I can send application via CanadaPost. Agent said they wont accept any application if it is not sent via Purolator. Called again and the agent tried to explain how that will seriously delay my application since they don’t check their mail that frequently. I then simply told him that I don’t care if it that 1 year, I am not in hurry. I then asked him, forget about sending application tell me about pickup of OCI, can I pickup in person, to which he said clear NO and explained only walkin applicants can pickup in person and postal applicants won’t be allowed to pickup OCI in person, and that I will have to book Purolator. I then asked for return courier if I can send CanadaPost or any other courier’s return label to which he said no they wont use it and you guessed it right I will have to pay for Purolator. At that point I decided to play around with BLS. I decided not to pay for return courier and wanted to see what BLS does when they receive my kids OCI card, they sure can’t throw it away)
PICKING UP OCI:
When the status on BLS website says “Passport ready For Collection after OCI stamping”, walkin to the BLS centre (without appointment). BLS Brampton had a time slot for walkin pickup from 3:00 PM to 4:30 PM (Credit to
@A019624 for the valuable info). I believe each BLS centre must have similar slot, please do inquire beforehand. If you are picking up OCI for a minor like I was, you should either go to BLS along with your spouse or you should carry and consent letter from your spouse authorizing you to pickup kids OCI. I believe they don’t accept auth/consent letter in cases other than kids since they had a memo on the notice board with said that person needs to pickup personally no auth/consent letter will be accepted.
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Random trivia: I had applied OCI for my 4 month old baby, I wasn’t sure what docs to carry because my kid wasn’t accompanying me and kids sure can’t authorised anyone, so I called BLS and inquired as to what docs do I need to carry, agent said carry Original ID, I asked only my ID is fine ? He said better carry kids too. So I carried my DL and kids Passport and guess what their info is wrong. BLS Brampton want a consent letter from my wife authorizing me to pick up our kids OCI. This important piece of info is nowhere to be seen on the website for obvious reasons. Although BLS Brampton was flexible enough to allow sending the auth letter scanned/photo to their email on the spot)
You may check my signature for timelines.
Thanks to everyone who contributed to this thread and helped my in the application process.