OCI process

[softwaretesting]

WOW seriously that was at lightning speed as per others and my timeline
I submitted postal application on 4th October to Brampton BLS
reached BLS 6 OCT
BLS ack 17 OCT
OCI website Ack 8 November
and waiting now
You already received with same date application?
unbelievable amazing.

Main difference is walk-in vs postal. Not sure why BLS is taking so much time in forwarding applications.

 

[Wandering Mind]

Hello, I've a few questions about the renunciation of Indian citizenship and OCI application:

1. What is the best time to do both - immediately after the oath ceremony or after receiving the Canadian passport?

2. Can renunciation of Indian citizenship and OCI application be done on the same day?

Thanks in advance.

 

[LJ2CAN]

What time of the day does this OCI status gets updated usually. I am exhausting myself checking it time to time :-/

Date Of Acknowledgment	01-NOV-2022
Registration Status at Mission	OTTAWA
OCI- Number
Documents Printing Status	UNDER PROCESS	On
Dispatched From MEA (OCI )	NEW DELHI	On
Document received At	OTTAWA	On

 

[charliep40]

Main difference is walk-in vs postal. Not sure why BLS is taking so much time in forwarding applications.

Difference of 17 Days ?

 

[8494193]

Hello, I've a few questions about the renunciation of Indian citizenship and OCI application:

1. What is the best time to do both - immediately after the oath ceremony or after receiving the Canadian passport?

2. Can renunciation of Indian citizenship and OCI application be done on the same day?

Thanks in advance.

• You need the surrender cert before applying for OCI. IIRC, you can't apply for them simultaneously as of recently.
• You don't need a Canadian passport to apply for surrender cert (only Canadian citizenship cert + LOE). But you do need a Canadian passport to apply for OCI.

What you could do to optimize: apply for Canadian passport and Indian surrender cert in parallel. Apply for OCI once both of the previous are in hand.

 

[softwaretesting]

Difference of 17 Days ?

Yes, seems 13-14 days. As you mentioned BLS ack date is 17 OCT for you. While for in-person it is 4 Oct for him.

 

[8494193]

Yes, seems 13-14 days. As you mentioned BLS ack date is 17 OCT for you. While for in-person it is 4 Oct for him.

IMO, even if there's a difference, it's still a net benefit of postal that we can do everything remotely without really leaving the house.

 

[softwaretesting]

IMO, even if there's a difference, it's still a net benefit of postal that we can do everything remotely without really leaving the house.

Depends. Worst case is when postal application is returned back because of some minor issue.

 

[charliep40]

Depends. Worst case is when postal application is returned back because of some minor issue.

Ya first time I had sent it thru purolator on 20 sept with drop off and also originals. The complete package with draft and originals were returned due to name difference in Canadian and Indian passport ( had middle name) so needed a notarized affidavit and sent the application on oct 4 ) didn’t see update on BLS till 17 OCT and on MEA 8 Nov Well live away from GTA so couldn’t do walk in.

 

[viral810]

Got my OCI via purolator even though my BLS tracker says "(Counter Delivery to BLS Centre after OCI stamping)"

My Timeline

• 4 Oct, 2022 - Application date and status: under process
• 6 Oct, 2022 - status: Processing at Consulate General
• 26 Oct, 2022 - CGI Toronto Date of Acknowledgement
• 18 Nov 2022 - Document received at Toronto
• 21 Nov 2022 - (Counter Delivery to BLS Centre after OCI stamping)
• 23 Nov 2022 - Received OCI via Purolator

 

[imm01]

Does anyone know what is EP fees ?. I have been charged $6.

Not complete sure but electronic printing fees ?

****BLS Scam alert****
That is a scam basically!

I am sure they had snatched your debit card, inserted into the POS machine, keyed in the total amount and pressed OK and then handed over to you to enter the PIN? The total amount they tells you is actually less than the actual amount debited, they do not disclose this EP Fee and sometimes PP Print Fee ($5.31 + HST). They also try hand over a cheap passport cover, without disclosing the price. People are already stressed out waiting in line and in anxiety of their applications being rejected, these things happen so fast that people do not get time to think and react

They will put the OCI/PP surrender receipt at the top, and this additional EP fee and PP Print fee receipts at the bottom so that you aren't suspicious, you only come to know that you were ripped off when you walk outside and see the total in your bank transaction or closely examine the receipt

Edit:
The lady at the counter would ask you to rate them along with their name in Google review, and then hand over a PP cover. It would appear that you're given the cover for providing a (read 5 *) review, but actually you're paying for it!

***please share this with someone you know will be going to BLS in person, to avoid getting scammed***

 

[softwaretesting]

****BLS Scam alert****
That is a scam basically!

I am sure they had snatched your debit card, inserted into the POS machine, keyed in the total amount and pressed OK and then handed over to you to enter the PIN? The total amount they tells you is actually less than the actual amount debited, they do not disclose this EP Fee and sometimes PP Print Fee ($5.31 + HST). They also try hand over a cheap passport cover, without disclosing the price. People are already stressed out waiting in line and in anxiety of their applications being rejected, these things happen so fast that people do not get time to think and react

They will put the OCI/PP surrender receipt at the top, and this additional EP fee and PP Print fee receipts at the bottom so that you aren't suspicious, you only come to know that you were ripped off when you walk outside and see the total in your bank transaction or closely examine the receipt

***please share this with someone you know will be going to BLS in person, to avoid getting scammed***

That's right. They charged me for passport cover, fees for some status messages etc when I went there first time for passport renewal of my kids. Next time I told them in advance that I don't want any of this.

 

[Sherry_Dolphin]

Got my OCI via purolator even though my BLS tracker says "(Counter Delivery to BLS Centre after OCI stamping)"

My Timeline

• 4 Oct, 2022 - Application date and status: under process
• 6 Oct, 2022 - status: Processing at Consulate General
• 26 Oct, 2022 - CGI Toronto Date of Acknowledgement
• 18 Nov 2022 - Document received at Toronto
• 21 Nov 2022 - (Counter Delivery to BLS Centre after OCI stamping)
• 23 Nov 2022 - Received OCI via Purolator

Lucky you!

 

[Candidpnp]

For OCI online application upload :

1. Current passport - do we need to upload citizenship certificate or only Canadian passport?
2. Indian visa - what document is required here? Or can it be ignored if surrendered Indian passport is uploaded?

 

[Prats042000]

Got my OCI via purolator even though my BLS tracker says "(Counter Delivery to BLS Centre after OCI stamping)"

My Timeline

• 4 Oct, 2022 - Application date and status: under process
• 6 Oct, 2022 - status: Processing at Consulate General
• 26 Oct, 2022 - CGI Toronto Date of Acknowledgement
• 18 Nov 2022 - Document received at Toronto
• 21 Nov 2022 - (Counter Delivery to BLS Centre after OCI stamping)
• 23 Nov 2022 - Received OCI via Purolator

Hi I have same timeline, and same status. Does puralator drop it in mailbox or they ask you to sign before handover OCI ?