OCI process

[lifein360]

I reached there at 6:30am & was 4th in line. The office opened at 8am and I was done by 8:20am.

Damn lol, you were 4th in line at 6:30. Crazy! But fair enough

 

[rajkamalmohanram]

I reached there at 6:30am & was 4th in line. The office opened at 8am and I was done by 8:20am.

Damn lol, you were 4th in line at 6:30. Crazy! But fair enough

When I applied, I reached at 6:30 and I was the first in line (or so I thought). Another gentleman had been waiting in his car and had arrived before me. I requested that he take my place in the line and go in first but he declined and he let me go in first.

People come in pretty early to BLS to beat the crowd.

 

[vishalv]

Damn lol, you were 4th in line at 6:30. Crazy! But fair enough

Yeah I got to admit. It took me by surprise. Lol.

The good thing though, there are atleast 5 to 6 counters which ensures the line moves quickly.

 

[vishalv]

When I applied, I reached at 6:30 and I was the first in line (or so I thought). Another gentleman had been waiting in his car and had arrived before me. I requested that he take my place in the line and go in first but he declined and he let me go in first.

People come in pretty early to BLS to beat the crowd.

True. I thought the lines at COSTCO during the pandemic was bad. This takes it to the next level.

 

[amigarus]

I did my oath in August 3rd week and received my Canadian passport a month later in September.
While filling the OCI application I realized in my wife's Canadian passport the place of birth is incorrect (Bhopal instead of Gwalior)

In her Indian passport, place of Birth is Gwalior.

Please suggest what should I do.
Do I need to reapply Canadian passport to correct birth place mistake before OCI and Indian passport surrender?

 

[rajkamalmohanram]

I did my oath in August 3rd week and received my Canadian passport a month later in September.
While filling the OCI application I realized in my wife's Canadian passport the place of birth is incorrect (Bhopal instead of Gwalior)

In her Indian passport, place of Birth is Gwalior.

Please suggest what should I do.
Do I need to reapply Canadian passport to correct birth place mistake before OCI and Indian passport surrender?

Even not considering the OCI application, it would be best to get the Canadian passport re-issued to avoid problems in the future. Get the city of birth corrected - That would be my suggestion.

 

[lifein360]

Submitted OCI and Surrender at BLS Brampton. Reached at 6:30 AM with 4 people ahead of me. When it opened at 8 AM there were atleast 40 people behind me in a snaking queue. Once I got in, I was out in 10-15 mins. BLS didn't ask to see any originals except my Indian and Canadian passport. Obviously they kept the Indian passport. Opted for courier delivery. Now we wait

I would advise anyone going to BLS to reach by 6:30. Its a bit of wait till 8 but once in you're out very fast. As someone said above, the queue reminded me of the Costco queues from early in the pandemic. Also carry your proof of double vaccination. They aren't allowing anyone inside without it

@rajkamalmohanram Hi Raj, how and where do I go to track both surrender and OCI applications? Is that something you can help with?

 

[rajkamalmohanram]

Submitted OCI and Surrender at BLS Brampton. Reached at 6:30 AM with 4 people ahead of me. When it opened at 8 AM there were atleast 40 people behind me in a snaking queue. Once I got in, I was out in 10-15 mins. BLS didn't ask to see any originals except my Indian and Canadian passport. Obviously they kept the Indian passport. Opted for courier delivery. Now we wait

I would advise anyone going to BLS to reach by 6:30. Its a bit of wait till 8 but once in you're out very fast. As someone said above, the queue reminded me of the Costco queues from early in the pandemic. Also carry your proof of double vaccination. They aren't allowing anyone inside without it

@rajkamalmohanram Hi Raj, how and where do I go to track both surrender and OCI applications? Is that something you can help with?

BLS updates (both surrender and OCI) can be tracked here => BLS Status Check

For Surrender application, track the updates from CGI Toronto here => Surrender Status (You have to login to your account and then check)

For OCI MEA status, check here => https://ociservices.gov.in/statusEnqury (You'll see an entry here only after 2 weeks)

 

[sharadsinha]

ATTENTION: Vaccine certificate has been made mandatory for in person application at BLS Brampton.

 

[sharadsinha]

Reached BLS at 7.00 am. 20-25 people ahead of us. Vaccine certificate is mandatory for entry. Got entry by 9am after being in line for 2 hrs. BLS seems to be most unorganized and unprofessional. Why someone applying OCI on behalf on himself/herself is asked to submit cancelled Indian passport of his/her spouse? anyone else having same experience? They don't have a set list of documents. Can ask any random document as per their mood. This is the reason most people are shaky in sending the application by post and prefer to submit everything face to face. MEA needs to improve this.

 

[lifein360]

BLS updates (both surrender and OCI) can be tracked here => BLS Status Check

For Surrender application, track the updates from CGI Toronto here => Surrender Status (You have to login to your account and then check)

For OCI MEA status, check here => https://ociservices.gov.in/statusEnqury (You'll see an entry here only after 2 weeks)

Thanks - what is the difference between BLS updates and the other two? I am guessing based on the stage of the application you have to use the right tracking portal

 

[rajkamalmohanram]

Thanks - what is the difference between BLS updates and the other two? I am guessing based on the stage of the application you have to use the right tracking portal

Use BLS initially for both until the status of the applications is "Processing at Consulate General". After that, you should check the PP Seva and OCI websites for your surrender certificate status & your OCI status respectively.

Once the applications are processed, you can come back to the BLS site to check the status of dispatch and the Purolator tracking number.

 

[sharadsinha]

Hey I was there too 5th in the line lol. But that's weird they asked you that. I was asked nothing but indian and canadian passports. Did they accept your application then?

yes they accepted the application. We had to get the printout from the soft copy we had on our email. Did they ask the documents of your spouse too? what's his/her status in Canada?

 

[lifein360]

yes they accepted the application. Did they ask the documents of your spouse too? what's his/her status in Canada?

No, my spouse is a PR so I am only applying for myself. [Relationship with Root Indian: Self]

But I still needed to attach my spouse's passport, PR card and landing paper copy in my application.

The requirements did state that you have to carry copies of these documents of your spouse. It is in the checklist. Did you not have it?

They didn't ask for her cancelled passport though (why would it be cancelled anyway as she's PR).

 

[sharadsinha]

No, my spouse is a PR so I am only applying for myself. [Relationship with Root Indian: Self]

But I still needed to attach my spouse's passport, PR card and landing paper copy in my application.

The requirements did state that you have to carry copies of these documents of your spouse. It is in the checklist. Did you not have it?

They didn't ask for her cancelled passport though (why would it be cancelled anyway as she's PR).

I have the checklist.. but in my case the spouse is Canadian from long time. Indian passport cancelled long time before. We did carry other documents but not the cancelled Indian passport.