OCI process

[lifein360]

Hi All,

Need some advise. I received my oath ceremony date on Nov 29 2021. But I have my travel plans to India by mid of Jan till end of February.
I'm hoping that I will get my citizenship certificate and also the passport before my travel. But will I be able to travel to India with Indian passport and use Canadian passport to return back? I will not be able to surrender my Indian passport and obtain OCI before my travel.
Is it good to postpone my oath ceremony in this case? Please advise.

If you are lucky, you will be able to get your canadian citizenship certificate and passport before the end of December if you pay for express.

In early January, you can go to any BLS and surrender your passport and apply for entry visa at the same time that will be stmped on your canadian passport. You should be able be able to get your entry visa in around a week. So its still very touch and go, but possible. You do not need to wait to collect your surrender certificate either.

This is the only way for you to exit Canada and reenter without any issues

 

[Mumbai_Maratha]

Any one with dare of acknowledged 20th Oct, got any movement?

 

[sharadsinha]

Any one with dare of acknowledged 20th Oct, got any movement?

My Date of acknowledgement is 15th October. Still under process

 

[mili_0923]

I assumed you were applying from Toronto.

If you submitted the application in Ottawa, the processing times are different.

Check the BLS website => https://www.blsindia-canada.com/ocihome.php

Issuance of OCI Booklet -6- 8 Weeks.

Also, why would you send email to VFS Global? Doesn't make any sense. VFS Global is a third-party like BLS and has NOTHING to do with OCI services in Canada (they service the United States for OCI applications).

Looks like you'll receive it at the end of 8 weeks (assume 1 or 2 weeks extra). There was Diwali and Halloween in between.

I just tried all the ways possible. Yes Seems like timeline is different from Ottawa.
True Diwali & Halloween came in between. So if my application date is sept 24th 2021. what do you think?

 

[maplecan20]

When applying for OCI in Toronto, I think the mission has to be Toronto and not Ottawa. Correct?

the reason I’m asking is because in the help document it says select Ottawa.

 

[rhi]

Can I apply surrender of passport and OCI at same time?

 

[jackbauer]

Many thanks to your guidance reg. UP I’m going to be citizen this Nov 26th @rajkamalmohanram

Can you throw me a pointer for OCI?
I’ll do it at the Toronto office (surrender+OCI) Same day.

btw, I’ve passed the checks for Nexus yesterday & got an email from DHS but there seems to be no slots for an interview at any center on the portal. Have you finished applying your nexus?? How do we go about this?

 

[rajkamalmohanram]

Many thanks to your guidance reg. UP I’m going to be citizen this Nov 26th @rajkamalmohanram

Can you throw me a pointer for OCI?
I’ll do it at the Toronto office (surrender+OCI) Same day.

btw, I’ve passed the checks for Nexus yesterday & got an email from DHS but there seems to be no slots for an interview at any center on the portal. Have you finished applying your nexus?? How do we go about this?

Congrats!

Don't do it at Toronto BLS. Go for Brampton BLS instead. I've heard reports that Toronto BLS doesn't allow you to apply for OCI + Surrender together (@vishalv had this experience) and they collect your original COPR.

None of this happens at Brampton BLS. No BS. You can submit both applications together and no original document will be collected (except for Indian passport for surrender).

I did apply for Nexus and my application has been conditionally approved. But the enrollment centers haven't reopened yet so can't book appointments. I have until October 2023 to book an appointment and get the card so I have plenty of time and I am not in a hurry.

 

[rajkamalmohanram]

I just tried all the ways possible. Yes Seems like timeline is different from Ottawa.
True Diwali & Halloween came in between. So if my application date is sept 24th 2021. what do you think?

Your 8 week period ends on 19th November. So, you might be able to expect something around that time (or the week after that - before 26th November).

 

[jackbauer]

Congrats!

Don't do it at Toronto BLS. Go for Brampton BLS instead. I've heard reports that Toronto BLS doesn't allow you to apply for OCI + Surrender together (@vishalv had this experience) and they collect your original COPR.

None of this happens at Brampton BLS. No BS. You can submit both applications together and no original document will be collected (except for Indian passport for surrender).

I did apply for Nexus and my application has been conditionally approved. But the enrollment centers haven't reopened yet so can't book appointments. I have until October 2023 to book an appointment and get the card so I have plenty of time and I am not in a hurry.

Any experience (with stuff needed) that you can share who had the experience or should I just stick with the website.?

 

[rajkamalmohanram]

Any experience (with stuff needed) that you can share who had the experience or should I just stick with the website.?

The documents that are shown in the checklist on BLS website would suffice. If you have any questions, feel free to post 'em here.

Just one tip, if you are walking-in without appointment, make sure you reach the location by 5:45AM (or 6 AM latest). Otherwise, you might not get a chance to submit your application.

One of my friends went at 6:30 and she just got to submit her application at around 10 AM. If you want to be the first (or 1 - 5) in line, you have to be there at around 5:45 AM. BLS Brampton opens at 8 AM.

Good luck!

 

[Mumbai_Maratha]

Hi All,
For Entry visa, can we allowed to make payment by debit card in BLS centers ?

 

[We rise by lifting others]

Dear fellow OCI applicants,

Our family application for OCI reached via purolator Nov1 2021 at BLS Brampton. Bls tracker shows Nov 5 date of application and it has not changed until today.

How long BLS Brampton take to send it to CGI after they have received application through purolator. It says wait for 4-5 working days and today is the 4th working day.

Thanks and regards

 

[vishalv]

Status at BLS website just been updated:
Passport ready For Dispatch after OCI stamping

 

[rajkamalmohanram]

Status at BLS website just been updated:
Passport ready For Dispatch after OCI stamping

Finally! Try tracking with your reference number on Purolator site. If you can't track it today, try tomorrow.