OCI process

[nskatcv]

Can someone confirm if I can pick up my wife's Surrender certificate and passport from BLS Brampton?
Wife submitted the surrender application in-person sometime back and it's now ready for pickup but afternoon pickup time doesn't work with her schedule. If at all possible, is there a document that I need to show them? I understand she can ask them to courier it but I would rather pick it up myself.

Other adult can pick up with authorization letter, copy of applicant ID and copy of authorized person ID.

Yes, ^ is what I was also told.

 

[manu.yoganand]

Other adult can pick up with authorization letter, copy of applicant ID and copy of authorized person ID.

it is very dicey.. I wouldn’t trust BLS… I was told by the person that authorization letter will not work… so not taking chances with BLS

 

[K310]

it is very daisy.. I wouldn’t trust BLS… I was told by the person that authorization letter will not work… so not taking chances with BLS

Normally BLS try to provide manipulation of information that eventually make you pay for other services

 

[canadamaple]

FYI, I got my documents back. TBH, the BLS Ottawa staff are kind of a helpful bunch. They've been pretty reasonable in their interactions with me. It's delays on the HCI Ottawa side that they have no control over.

Hey. Thanks so much for the update. After how long did you receive your original documents?

 

[AKT]

Just a wired thing saw with OCI
Spouse submitted on April 23, BLS status Processing at Consulate General, OCI Portal no record found
Self submitted on April 30, BLS status Processing at Consulate General, OCI Portal Acknowledged under process on May 18th.
Don't know why one application submitted a week before still not acknowledged on OCI portal. Any input @Hot2Cold

I submitted in-person on April 16 still no records found. Seems like they are randomly picking up from a bunch.

 

[i6evx5e8]

So, I am confused.

From where shall I surrender citizenship? Options
1. From https://indiancitizenshiponline.nic.in/Renounce/
2. From https://portal3.passportindia.gov.in/Online/index.html

Any help from someone who has applied already will be great.

Note:
1. I am not submitting request to get "surrender certificate" - but trying to renounce citizenship
2. I am not applying for OCI

Many thanks

 

[deadbird]

Hey. Thanks so much for the update. After how long did you receive your original documents?

Not more than 2 weeks.

 

[Radium]

So, I am confused.

From where shall I surrender citizenship? Options
1. From https://indiancitizenshiponline.nic.in/Renounce/
2. From https://portal3.passportindia.gov.in/Online/index.html

Any help from someone who has applied already will be great.

Note:
1. I am not submitting request to get "surrender certificate" - but trying to renounce citizenship
2. I am not applying for OCI

Many thanks

You will have to first create account on passport seva portal https://embassy.passportindia.gov.in.
before applying for Surrender of Indian passport and Renunciation of Indian nationality.

Once you fill up the form online, take a print out, include first and last page of your Indian passport, original passport, one photo 2 inch x 2 inch(51 mm x 51 mm) and take it to closest BLS office.

You can pay there with debit or cash.

 

[raghubedi2004]

If you scroll back a few pages, a number of people have reported that you cannot surrender and apply for OCI simultaneously. I'll apply for a visa for now and then do an OCI before my next trip if at all.

Ok.. Thank you for your answer. Appreciate it !

 

[BVRM]

So, I am confused.

From where shall I surrender citizenship? Options
1. From https://indiancitizenshiponline.nic.in/Renounce/
2. From https://portal3.passportindia.gov.in/Online/index.html

Any help from someone who has applied already will be great.

Note:
1. I am not submitting request to get "surrender certificate" - but trying to renounce citizenship
2. I am not applying for OCI

Many thanks

Looks like the URL you posted is fake. Be careful. BTW, When you renounce your Indian citizenship, you will be given Surrender certificate. Apply for surrender certificate Check this link: https://www.passportindia.gov.in/AppOnlineProject/welcomeLink

 

[Hot2Cold]

Just a wired thing saw with OCI
Spouse submitted on April 23, BLS status Processing at Consulate General, OCI Portal no record found
Self submitted on April 30, BLS status Processing at Consulate General, OCI Portal Acknowledged under process on May 18th.
Don't know why one application submitted a week before still not acknowledged on OCI portal. Any input @Hot2Cold

Your status appearing on OCI portal is actually super fast compared to mine. Almost a week earlier

I figure that CGI Toronto must be sending the applications in batches to New Delhi, and then processing starts there. Your application was probably on the top of the pile, but it's more than likely that Babus in ND work like the Babus here in Canada and you probably got lucky with an efficient one, while your spouse was not so lucky.

I suppose that eventually the whole process should take about the same time for everyone - which leads me to believe that the actual time required is way less than the 6-8 weeks they tout.

Going by my timeline, you should probably see the under process for your spouse in another 4 or 5 days.

 

[K310]

Your status appearing on OCI portal is actually super fast compared to mine. Almost a week earlier

I figure that CGI Toronto must be sending the applications in batches to New Delhi, and then processing starts there. Your application was probably on the top of the pile, but it's more than likely that Babus in ND work like the Babus here in Canada and you probably got lucky with an efficient one, while your spouse was not so lucky.

I suppose that eventually the whole process should take about the same time for everyone - which leads me to believe that the actual time required is way less than the 6-8 weeks they tout.

Going by my timeline, you should probably see the under process for your spouse in another 4 or 5 days.

Thanks a lot for your inputs.

 

[Hot2Cold]

No dates on the Dispatched From and Received At rows. Hopefully I'll see the dates tomorrow. From looking at earlier posts in this thread, I see many of those are the same day or the next day, with a few that are about 2 days later.

As Expected:

Date	Status on BLS Tracker	Status on OCI Services Portal	Days since applied	Days elapsed
2022-04-02​	under process	No such record found		49​
2022-04-05​	Processing at Consulate General	No such record found	4​	46​
2022-04-27​	Processing at Consulate General	UNDER-PROCESS	26​	24​
2022-05-19​	Processing at Consulate General	PROCESSED	48​	2​
2022-05-20​	Processing at Consulate General	Dispatched From MEA (OCI ) NEW DELHI On 20-MAY-2022	49​	1​
2022-05-20​	Processing at Consulate General	Document received At TORONTO On 20-MAY-2022	49​	1​

BLS Status still shows Processing at Consulate General.

 

[Hot2Cold]

Thanks a lot for your inputs.

Glad to help...

So, I am confused.

From where shall I surrender citizenship? Options
1. From https://indiancitizenshiponline.nic.in/Renounce/
2. From https://portal3.passportindia.gov.in/Online/index.html

Any help from someone who has applied already will be great.

Note:
1. I am not submitting request to get "surrender certificate" - but trying to renounce citizenship
2. I am not applying for OCI

Many thanks

The first seems to be for someone who intends to acquire foreign citizenship. This does not apply to all of us and we have all used the second site (AFAIK).

Requesting a surrender certificate (as you put it) is the same as formally renouncing your Indian Citizenship. There are no separate process for the two. You have to make an Application for Passport Surrender Certificate After Acquiring Foreign Nationality/Renunciation of Indian Citizenship

Applying for OCI is optional and a personal choice. You are free to not apply. But without OCI, you will miss out on the rights and privileges afforded to OCI holders as outlined here.

 

[canadamaple]

Not more than 2 weeks.

I wish I did a walk-in too. When I called in early April, I was told that applications could be submitted by appointment only or by Purolator. Since there were no appointments available, I sent my application by post. This was a mistake on my part. In any case, if the High Commission received my application on May 12th, I supposed, I could potentially expect to receive my original documents by the end of next week (estimated based on your timeline). Lets see how this unravels. Thanks again for your support