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For point 3 I would suggest you raise the issue with the Indian Consulate. BLS is just a courier service which uses a courier service...they have no say once you would show confirmation email.
I have already done that. Escalated at Indian Consulate in-person. If you have ever dealt with any Indian government officer, you can guess the outcome !
There are thousands on complains and internet is filled with BLS complains…no one want to improve situation !
Indian passport surrender - 2 failed in-person attempts (BLS Brampton)
sharing my experience from past 2 days - 16-17Feb'23. my God only knows how badly I want to get rid of ALL dealings with BLS - the mini sarkaari daftar! even though my kids may not visit India so often, I am still gonna go for more expensive OCIs for them so that I don't have to deal with BLS for every entry visa each time! these asses are simply minting money and treating us like shit, the ones who are actually funding their salaries!
1 - we were told by other applicants (even BLS/CGI website said) we need 1 photo
NO - they asked for 2 photos - 1 pasted on the form, 1 additional
2 - it wasn't mentioned anywhere on BLS/CGI website that photos need to be stamped (like for our citizenship appln)
NO - they said the photos need to be stamped with date (studio details not needed, at least that is what the woman said at the counter)
3 - BIGGEST one - we can apply for passport surrender if we don't have a Canadian passport, by giving a declaration
NO - I was refused yesterday (17Feb). even though i argued that getting a passport is an optional step, i already am a Canadian citizen. but no they didn't listen. BLS and CGI websites and even the checklist says that I can give a declaration to this effect. so, i am now waiting for my passport to come.
FUNNIEST PART is that on my 1st visit to BLS on 16th, I was told that I should not write "applied for" in the foreign passport field on the form, rest everything was okay. I visited them again on 17th Feb in less than 24 hours, this time they said (including the girl who I met last time) that they can't accept.
4 - Photos should be from a professional photo studio (but photos taken by a BLS staff in the waiting area from an ancient digital camera are acceptable!!)
Another applicant was refused cos their photos were not clicked by a professional photo studio. He showed the photos to me - they were absolutely perfect. Clicked by his son who's studying photography, and an absolutely normal n clear print which they took at home. This guy saved $80 - 100 by doing so for a family of 4. At the same time we say a BLS guy clicking photos under normal CFL lights in the waiting area, by making the applicant stand in front of a stained wall. This is acceptable?!
We all should ask for evidence of what they are claiming & get confirmation in writing. They randomly makes rules, specially for earning from photos & purolator service.
Unfortunately BLS is there to churn your money. Just tell them that you will take some add-on service (like photocopies, photo or courier service) and boom…all paperwork will be good. Even not, they will correct it and will ask for initials on correction!
I complained about their work ethics and behavior to Embassy but you know…all are same, no body cares when it comes to Canada. India-Canada doesn’t Have a lot business dealing. So no one cares !
Next time you go, start your conversation with asking about courier service!
you're so right! for my kid's application - she offered form filling service, and they'd take a scanned email of the form! just think about it - they reject applications even with ink color variances etc!
For point 3 I would suggest you raise the issue with the Indian Consulate. BLS is just a courier service which uses a courier service...they have no say once you would show confirmation email.
i did think about that, but honestly i did not want to go thru all that pain. am now just going to wait for my Canadian passports. cos by the time i get some response, and then action from CGI (and then compliance by BLS) i think i'd have my passports....
I have already done that. Escalated at Indian Consulate in-person. If you have ever dealt with any Indian government officer, you can guess the outcome !
There are thousands on complains and internet is filled with BLS complains…no one want to improve situation !
just noticed your post! this was exactly my fear - and you have actually proven it!
As suspected, BLS charged 3 courier charges and sent all the OCI's in one courier. Extra $$$ in their pocket for services not rendered. Isn't this sort of cheating.
As suspected, BLS charged 3 courier charges and sent all the OCI's in one courier. Extra $$$ in their pocket for services not rendered. Isn't this sort of cheating.
In our case they charged only one time $26 to send back the original Indian passports, for 4 application.
Either they forgot or I had by then bullied my way to confuse them
As suspected, BLS charged 3 courier charges and sent all the OCI's in one courier. Extra $$$ in their pocket for services not rendered. Isn't this sort of cheating.
Is courier mandatory? Haven't they started in person now?
Is courier mandatory? Haven't they started in person now?
Courier for sending your OCI. God also doesn't know if it's mandatory or not.
Courier for sending your OCI. God also doesn't know if it's mandatory or not.
We submitted at Brampton. Told them we will pick up the OCI
Hi everyone. Can you please suggest what option should i select for method of canadian citizenship. I went through all the legal procedures to become a canadian citizen like obtaining work permit, pr and citizenship. Is it naturalization? I am confused between registration and naturalization. Please help. Thnk you
Hi everyone. Can you please suggest what option should i select for method of canadian citizenship. I went through all the legal procedures to become a canadian citizen like obtaining work permit, pr and citizenship. Is it naturalization? I am confused between registration and naturalization. Please help. Thnk you
Naturalization
Hi, aside from BLS tracking website and checking Status Enquiry on
www.ociservices.gov.in, are there any other websites to check OCI application status? Where do we check OCI acknowledgement?
@msatishxp thank you. One more question. Do we only need to send the self attested documents as per the checklist only?
When i try to upload documents, it also asks about spouse’ oci card and current passport, marriage certificate. I will upload that. Do i also need to send everything whatever i am going to upload on the website or only as per the checklist? I will be sending my driving license as address proof but there is no option to upload it online. Please let me know the best way to do it.
I called BLS to check about this. They said i should enter my indian passport number that I just surrendered. Please let me know if someone has done it and did not face any issue. Thanks
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