OCI process

[sabkoi]

OCI application: Postal
Mission: Ottawa
App. Received:10 Jan,2022
Application date on BLS: 19 Jan
Acknowledgement date: 27 Jan
Original documents return: 31 Jan
Status: under process on oci site
When should I expect OCI card.
I have ticket on 13th March to travel to India
Should I postpone or apply for entry visa??
Any suggestions??
Thank you in advance

You can apply for an entry visa. It should take 10-business day. Note that the tourist visa may take longer to process. I am in the same boat. I went to Brampton BLS on 23-Feb with a tourist visa application and they said entry visa would be faster and converted my application into entry visa. Also you want to check how long you are going to stay in India before you select the type of visa. I am going to stay for a month so entry visa works for me.

 

[mom22jan]

I received mine just today. I applied on 11th of feb. I think perhaps Ottawa office is slower. Give it a few days and see.

@ironsheikthelegend, thanks! You were right, mine got approved and dispatched on 6th day and I got it today, in total 7 days.
Thanks for sharing your timeline!

 

[sach1234]

@ironsheikthelegend, thanks! You were right, mine got approved and dispatched on 6th day and I got it today, in total 7 days.
Thanks for sharing your timeline!

Hi, so I’m guessing you had applied it in Toronto as well ?

 

[mom22jan]

Hi, so I’m guessing you had applied it in Toronto as well ?

Yeah BLS Toronto

 

[rssr.canada]

You don't even have a scanned copy? I guess talk to BLS and find out your options. Perhaps they might ask you to write a declaration letter explaining your situation.

They did not ask me for record of landing. The docs I submitted were Citi

from all responses on this forum, I gather it will be at a minimum 3 weeks from that acknowledgment date on the OCI website.

I submitted my OCI application on Dec 14th but have not received any acknowledgement. Also it says no record found on the BLS website but BLS tracking shows "Processing at Consulate General.... I am confused.

 

[vvarma]

Do BLS offer pickup of the OCI card once they are available or we must pay for drop off service when doing a walk-in submission ? It is too expensive on their website if you’re applying as a family, it is $40 per application.

Let’s say I’m applying as a family of 3. The return courier fees for surrender certificate and the OCI itself would be 240 and then comes the actual application fees. The cost can easily go beyond one’s biweekly pay cheque.

You must pay for drop off service when doing a walk-in submission. Confirmed with BLS Vancouver.

 

[VSw]

hey there

how long did it take you to get your surrender certificate? I sent mine on Jan 20th 2022 and it still says under processing.

Hi there,

We applied for OCI + surrender together on Feb 1. Received surrender certificate on Feb 18.

 

[K310]

Hi there,

We applied for OCI + surrender together on Feb 1. Received surrender certificate on Feb 18.

Wow that’s awesome I heard that rules are changed and you need surrender certificate first and then apply for OCI. Which bls centre processed your application?

 

[ash137]

You must pay for drop off service when doing a walk-in submission. Confirmed with BLS Vancouver.

Unless Vancouver office has some special rules, you can always say NO to drop off service and pickup your documents once they are ready at the BLS center. Remember they will push you to take drop off and you need to firmly decline and insist on pickup.
I always do that in the BLS Brampton location as the courier charges are atrociously high.

 

[VSw]

Wow that’s awesome I heard that rules are changed and you need surrender certificate first and then apply for OCI. Which bls centre processed your application?

I think it is to do with the consular office and not which BLS Centre. We applied at Calgary office that falls under Vancouver jurisdiction. We had called BLS before we went in and the agent confirmed that Vancouver office was still accepting combined applications.

Actually, we applied for visa in the same application as well and got the passport back within 6 calendar days. It was surprisingly fast for us too.

 

[csvinayak]

BLS Site says OCI timelines are 4-5 weeks, but anybody applied in person in BLS Brampton Feb 1st week, have any updates.

Feb 10- Applied BLS Brampton in person
Feb 25- under process OCI Website

 

[vvarma]

Unless Vancouver office has some special rules, you can always say NO to drop off service and pickup your documents once they are ready at the BLS center. Remember they will push you to take drop off and you need to firmly decline and insist on pickup.
I always do that in the BLS Brampton location as the courier charges are atrociously high.

Thanks for the tip, will keep that in mind if I go for walk-in. On call they were adamant that due to pandemic, pick up is not allowed from BLS. I even told them that Purolator has no service in my building - but the agent was quiet. Guess for them their commission matters the most.

 

[sach1234]

I am trying to understand how High Commission in Ottawa works and what their timelines are and why they are so different than Toronto and Vancouver?

Take our Tourist Visa for example., Application processed and submitted to High Commission on Feb 9 by BLS and since then its been in processing status.

Thanks.

 

[Rana Singh]

Man I am traveling in mid May , even I am not sure I will get my OCI by then. Applying for surrender this monday, ( if they dont allow my OCI along with that then entry visa together)
I read in google reviews they started asking spouse passport copies since you mention in surrender application.

So anyone surrendering passport take spousal passport copies and COPR with you.

OCI application: Postal
Mission: Ottawa
App. Received:10 Jan,2022
Application date on BLS: 19 Jan
Acknowledgement date: 27 Jan
Original documents return: 31 Jan
Status: under process on oci site
When should I expect OCI card.
I have ticket on 13th March to travel to India
Should I postpone or apply for entry visa??
Any suggestions??
Thank you in advance

Check how much cost you to change your travel date .compare with visa fees courier if you using. I will happy to pay up to 200 to airline instead dealing with new application. My friend in surrey got 90 days visa after 17 days he paid courier service but still has to go bls to pickup passport. I guess they’re using weekly service to dispatch papers .wait till 7 or 8 march hopefully get your oci but check with airline cost of change date . Please let us know if you get oci before13 or not . GOOD LUCK.

 

[prt22]

So I am coming close to finally applying for surrender certificate and OCI. My jurisdiction would be Vancouver. Can someone please clarify that I can still apply for both together and is it in person only or can I apply for both together by mail too?

Any other tips and tricks you would recommend? things I should keep in mind and look out for? The whole process seems way too convoluted.

TIA