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OCI process

harmol

Full Member
Jul 25, 2017
47
12
I don't recall uploading any photo for surrender application. You only need it for the OCI application.
Thank you for replying.
One last question, for walk in appointments at Toronto office, the only demand draft we need is for OCI card addressed to "Consulate General of India, Toronto" for $345. Rest everything can be paid via Debit card or cash. Is my understanding correct?
 

rajkamalmohanram

VIP Member
Apr 29, 2015
15,803
5,787
Thank you for replying.
One last question, for walk in appointments at Toronto office, the only demand draft we need is for OCI card addressed to "Consulate General of India, Toronto" for $345. Rest everything can be paid via Debit card or cash. Is my understanding correct?
Yes.
 

harmol

Full Member
Jul 25, 2017
47
12
I just did my OCI application at BLS Toronto. Here the process:

Step 1:
Fill in the OCI application here: https://ociservices.gov.in/
Fill both part A and B. You will need 51mm*51mm size digital photograph with a light colored background and digital signatures.
Note - Fill the application in BLOCK letters

* For photograph , you will also need 1 hard copy of the same photograph to be submitted with the application.
After submitting the application form, print it.

Step 2:
Download the checklist from here: https://blsindia-canada.com/CanadaVisaCCT/Toronto-OCI-Checklist-Rev-11-9-March-31-21.pdf

Step 3:
Collect the copy of below documents:
1. Canadian Passport (first page)
2. Last held Indian Passport (first and last page)
3. Surrender certificate (If you have already surrendered the Indian passport. If you are doing it now together, don't worry about it)
4. Canadian citizenship certificate
5. COPR/ Landing paper
6. Address proof - Driver's license
7. Marriage certificate
8. Spouse Canadian passport (if he is Canadian)
9. Spouse Indian passport (first and last page)
10. Spouse Landing paper/ COPR
11. Spouse surrender certificate

Note - MAKE SURE TO CARRY ORIGINALS OF ALL THESE DOCUMENTS ALONG WITH YOU WHEN YOU GO TO THE BLS CENTER
Self attest all photocopies by writing "This is the true copy of the original" and Sign it along with the date.

Step 4:
Get a Demand draft from the bank for $345 dollars payable to "The Consulate General of India". The rest of fees can be paid using debit card.

Collect the Application form + original documents + self attested photocopies + one physical photograph + demand draft + debit card and visit BLS.
 

lifein360

Hero Member
Jan 23, 2016
799
208
Category........
Visa Office......
Ottawa
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
AOR Received.
Jan 17, 2017
Med's Done....
Feb 20, 2017
Passport Req..
Mar 20, 2017
VISA ISSUED...
Mar 24, 2017
LANDED..........
Apr 23, 2017
I just did my OCI application at BLS Toronto. Here the process:

Step 1:
Fill in the OCI application here: https://ociservices.gov.in/
Fill both part A and B. You will need 51mm*51mm size digital photograph with a light colored background and digital signatures.
Note - Fill the application in BLOCK letters

* For photograph , you will also need 1 hard copy of the same photograph to be submitted with the application.
After submitting the application form, print it.

Step 2:
Download the checklist from here: https://blsindia-canada.com/CanadaVisaCCT/Toronto-OCI-Checklist-Rev-11-9-March-31-21.pdf

Step 3:
Collect the copy of below documents:
1. Canadian Passport (first page)
2. Last held Indian Passport (first and last page)
3. Surrender certificate (If you have already surrendered the Indian passport. If you are doing it now together, don't worry about it)
4. Canadian citizenship certificate
5. COPR/ Landing paper
6. Address proof - Driver's license
7. Marriage certificate
8. Spouse Canadian passport (if he is Canadian)
9. Spouse Indian passport (first and last page)
10. Spouse Landing paper/ COPR
11. Spouse surrender certificate

Note - MAKE SURE TO CARRY ORIGINALS OF ALL THESE DOCUMENTS ALONG WITH YOU WHEN YOU GO TO THE BLS CENTER
Self attest all photocopies by writing "This is the true copy of the original" and Sign it along with the date.

Step 4:
Get a Demand draft from the bank for $345 dollars payable to "The Consulate General of India". The rest of fees can be paid using debit card.

Collect the Application form + original documents + self attested photocopies + one physical photograph + demand draft + debit card and visit BLS.
Thanks for this Harmol. Was it walk in or did you get an appointment
 

harmol

Full Member
Jul 25, 2017
47
12
Thanks for this Harmol. Was it walk in or did you get an appointment
It was an appointment, but even then I had to stand in the queue for 2.5 hrs.
Basically there were 2 queue, one for appointments and another one for walk-ins.
I would highly suggest you to take an appointment, and if possible take one for early morning as it will be less crowded.

P.S. I arrived at 8:15 and left at 11:15 but the walk in queue had not moved even a single step.
 
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rajkamalmohanram

VIP Member
Apr 29, 2015
15,803
5,787
It was an appointment, but even then I had to stand in the queue for 2.5 hrs.
Basically there were 2 queue, one for appointments and another one for walk-ins.
I would highly suggest you to take an appointment, and if possible take one for early morning as it will be less crowded.

P.S. I arrived at 8:15 and left at 11:15 but the walk in queue had not moved even a single step.
I think if you reach there early enough in the morning, it really doesn't matter if you have an appointment or not. Even people who came in at 7:30 to 8 AM window would have left around 8:30 to 9:00 AM. The key is to reach there early enough. This was my experience on 31st August. Maybe that day was (luckily) a bit free, not sure.
 

charisma

Star Member
Sep 24, 2014
86
10
Category........
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NDVO
App. Filed.......
29 June 2017
Yes, you can surrender your citizenship and apply for OCI at the same time.

I think you can apply for your child's surrender regardless of your OCI status but someone else who has a kid can confirm this.

Oh and BTW, there is no need to post the same message 3 times back to back! Posting once is enough, thanks!
Hey Rajkamalmohanram,

I submitted my Indian passport surrender application 2 weeks ago. I wasn't aware that we can submit OCI application together. I am under the impression that we can apply for OCI only after the surrender certificate is issued since surrender certificate is required for OCI. Please advise.
 

rajkamalmohanram

VIP Member
Apr 29, 2015
15,803
5,787
Hey Rajkamalmohanram,

I submitted my Indian passport surrender application 2 weeks ago. I wasn't aware that we can submit OCI application together. I am under the impression that we can apply for OCI only after the surrender certificate is issued since surrender certificate is required for OCI. Please advise.
Ah, that's unfortunate.

Now that you've already applied for surrender certificate, you'll have to wait until you get your surrender certificate and cancelled passport and only then apply for OCI.

UPDATE : Indian passport isn't mandatory for OCI. So, I think you might be able to apply for OCI now by showing the receipt you received for your surrender application.
 
Last edited:

charisma

Star Member
Sep 24, 2014
86
10
Category........
FAM
Visa Office......
NDVO
App. Filed.......
29 June 2017
Went to BLS Brampton today. Office opens at 8am. I was 10th in line when I reached at 7am.

Passport Surrender
Mode: Walk-in & requested it to be picked-up (no purolator)
13-Aug: Submitted at BLS Brampton
13-Aug: checked after submission - BLS Tracking - Under process

OCI
Mode: Walk-in & requested it to be picked-up (no purolator)
13-Aug: Submitted at BLS Brampton
13-Aug: checked after submission - BLS Tracking - Under process

Will update as I go along.
Can you share the current status of Passport surrender application? I submitted mine on Aug 20 at BLS Brampton. My status is "Processing at Consulate General"
Another question, I only submitted my Passport surrender application. I didn't know that we can submit OCI application together without surrender certificate. Can I submit the OCI application now while surrender application is in process?

Thanks in advance!
 

rajkamalmohanram

VIP Member
Apr 29, 2015
15,803
5,787
Can you share the current status of Passport surrender application? I submitted mine on Aug 20 at BLS Brampton. My status is "Processing at Consulate General"
Another question, I only submitted my Passport surrender application. I didn't know that we can submit OCI application together without surrender certificate. Can I submit the OCI application now while surrender application is in process?

Thanks in advance!
For me, it says "Processing in consulate general".

I've also updated my answer in the previous post. You might be able to apply for OCI now.

https://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/threads/oci-process.254662/post-9673756
 

Thomz8998

Newbie
Sep 1, 2021
5
2
Thank you for replying.
One last question, for walk in appointments at Toronto office, the only demand draft we need is for OCI card addressed to "Consulate General of India, Toronto" for $345. Rest everything can be paid via Debit card or cash. Is my understanding correct?
Yes you are correct. You shall get it from Canada post.
 

Kamorablack

Newbie
Jun 15, 2021
3
1
URGENT - Has anyone applied/ received OCI recently, who got their PR through Asylum in Canada? there is not a lot of information on consulate's website or anywhere on any forum. would really appreciate your help, if you can share your experience or refer me to someone who has been in this situation. Thank you
 

rajkamalmohanram

VIP Member
Apr 29, 2015
15,803
5,787
URGENT - Has anyone applied/ received OCI recently, who got their PR through Asylum in Canada? there is not a lot of information on consulate's website or anywhere on any forum. would really appreciate your help, if you can share your experience or refer me to someone who has been in this situation. Thank you
I found this article that might help :

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/government-asks-missions-abroad-to-abolish-local-black-list-to-extend-consular-services-to-indian-asylum-takers/articleshow/69077495.cms

This was from 2019 so I'm not sure what changed then. According to the article, looks like the government instructed all consulates to abolish local blacklists of asylum seekers. So, if the consulates in Canada obeyed that order, you might be able to apply for OCI.

Good luck and do keep us posted!

Thanks!
 

rajkamalmohanram

VIP Member
Apr 29, 2015
15,803
5,787
Today, I logged into the Passport Seva website to check the status of my surrender application. I saw this :

"You cannot take any action on this ARN as the same is under processing at the respective Indian Embassy/Consulate. In case of any queries, please refer the website of the corresponding Embassy/Consulate (or the Outsourced Service Provider, if passport services are outsourced)."

When I click on "Track Application Status", I see the following :

"Surrender certificate is under review at Indian Embassy/Consulate."

Did anyone else see this status for their surrender application?
 
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