Tracking my application - 36 days later

Yes!! The documents are finally here in Toronto. Not bad considering that we were told that it would take two months.
Yahoo!!

Tracking my application 25 days later

Hurray!! It seems that the application has been granted and the documents have been dispatched from Delhi. I have to wait now for them to get to Toronto.

Tracking my application 15 days later

This is how it looks 15 days later. You can see that the application is under process and the documents have been scanned. i guess that means something is happening.

I need to go to India in an emergency and my application is still under process?

I have had a friend ask me about this.
If your application is under process and you have your originals with you, then you can always apply for a visitors visa should an emergency arise.
The fact that your OCI application is under process does not disqualify you from applying for visitors Visa. Hey its more money for the government anyway.
If however you have applied for OCI and have sent in your documents by mail, should an emergency arise in between, you would be stuck. Remember - it takes at least two weeks before you get your originals back if you send them in by mail.
My guess is that you would have to make an appointment with the officer and explain the situation to them ....

Is it safe to send the documents by mail?

This is a frequently asked question.
My own experience has been great, I sent in my originals twice and got them back safely. I have heard some horror stories but you have to look at them in the whole context of the number of applications being submitted and processed.
In my opinion the process is safe, however, if you are uncomfortable - don't do it.

If you apply by mail you get your originals documents back in about two weeks - ten business days.

Step Six - online tracking

After your day at the Consulate, it will take you atleast two months before your application has been processed.
Apparently it is sent to India to verify the details you have provided as well as to ensure that there are no criminal charges outstanding against you.
I am in this step so I really do not know what to report. You can check the status of your application online over here.

Step Five - meet the officer

Once the clerk has put you through the wringer and you have got a number, have a seat in the hall and wait for your name to be called.
Then the officer see's your documents and the orginals and asks you to take a seat again. After a while your name will be called out and you will be given a receipt.
Hooray!! Your day has been productive - you have successfully managed to submit an application for OCI.
My day began at 6:00 AM and ended at 11:30 AM. If you have to take time off - take half a day off for sure. Alternatively take the full day off and spend the second half recuperating from the stress.

Can I submit an application on behalf of my wife & kids?
Yes you can. I was not submitting an application for myself, only for my wife and children. The clerk did ask to see my ID and I showed him my Driver's license. Other than that there were no questions.

Step Four - get the 'official' number

You have probably been waiting in line outside the building for an hour. The doors to the building only open at 7:00 AM.
Once the doors open you proceed to the 6th floor and wait once again.
The doors of the consulate open at 8:30 AM. Then you make sure that everyone is in the same order as before - this is done by the 'unofficial list'. People still try to butt in but they can't do anything once they find out that the lineup has started a long time ago.
The clerk at the desk then begins to go through the documents and then proceeds to give you a number. This way he keeps a tally of the number of applications so that they do no exceed 45.
If you are approved by the clerk then your chances are 97.5% of getting through will flying colours.
The percentage is made up. (Remember 75% of all percentages are made up) ;-)

ONLY 45 Applications per day

CGI accepts only 45 applications per day and they count it four applications if some one has four members' applications in the family. I would advise that you go well in advance to make sure that you are in first 45 in the unofficial list maintained by people in the line. Go to the door beside McDonald as the main door openes at 6am and people start coming before that and if you are te first one to arrive then you start preparing the list. The check list to bring documents on CGI website is very comprehensive.

Step Three - the lineup

Standing in line - waaaay before the office opens up.
Go to the location - there is underground parking available off Huntley Street. If you are taking the subway then its close to the Sherbourne station.
I would recommend that you should get to the location by atleast 6:00 AM for sure.
Secondly the line up begins at the Mall entrance to the building, you can get here through the 'MacDonalds store'.

I showed up at 6:00 AM and was happy to see that there was no one else there. A couple of minutes later another gentleman joined me. After 15 minutes of thinking that I was so smart - the security guard came out to inform both of us that the line up was at the other entrance. We ran and my number was 32,33 & 34.

IMPORTANT - only the first 45 applications get accepted. NOT THE FIRST 45 APPLICANTS.
This is not clarified and usually the first trip is unproductive in 90% of the cases.
What this means is that if you have a family of six and you are in line - you have six applications. Effectively only the first 12 people in line will be counted for a day, assuming an average of four members per family.

Once you find the 'line' make sure you sign up on the 'unofficial list' being maintained to keep order. This will tell you whether you are in the first 45 applicants or should you be heading back home.

What if I do not make the number?
Your options are to:
- come back the next day
- take a pre addressed envelope from the Canada Post office located in the mall downstairs and leave it with the clerk.

Is it safe to leave it with the clerk?
I have done it and it was safe and I got back my documents. My advice is - If it doesn't sit right with you - don't do it.

Step Two - documentation

After you have filled in the online application it is time to get your documents in order.
This is an extremely important step.
You need:

1. Canadian passports
2. Indian passports
3. Landing papers
4. Certificate of Citizenship - not the citizenship card
5. Full birth certificate for a child who was born in Canada. You do not need birth certificates for children born in India.
6. Demand Draft for $275 USD each. Make out separate drafts for the number of applications you have. This way if one of your applications have an error at least some of them will be acepted. If you make out one draft then even though there is an error on one all of them will have to be sent back.

You need to fill out two copies (in original) of the application. Follow the procedure listed on the website.
Use the check list that is listed on the procedures - follow it to the letter. Incase it isn't clear here is my version:

1. Copy of your Canadian passport - two pages with the photograph
2. Copy of your Indian passport - first two pages, page with the date of when you landed in Canada, last two pages
3. Copy of your Landed Immigration papers - if you have lost them you can ask for a duplicate. It usually takes a month and a half.
4. Copy of your Certificate of Citizenship - not your citizenship card
5. Copy of Birth Certificate for your children born in Canada.
6. Certificate of name change in case the name on your Indian passport is now different eg 'Maiku Lal Jai Kishen' has been changed to 'Michael Jackson'
7. Certified cheque for $275 USD for each applicant
   
8. Five colored photographs with 'non white' background. They reject 'black & white' photographs - I know because mine was rejected.
   

Step One - the application

Fill in the online application form at this link.

Here is the link that tells you the procedure Click Here

Essentially there are two parts to the Form. Part A & Part B.
Fill in Part A online and then print the whole form. When you print it out, the Part A will already be filled in.

IMPORTANT: The information you fill in Part A should match exactly with what is in your Indian and Canadian passport.
If your Canadian passport spells your name as 'Beychaara' and it is spelt 'Baychaara' on your Indian passport - go get a new name change certificate.
If your birthplace is different then you need to get a new Canadian passport. Trust me.
I listed my birthplace as Lucknow in the Canadian passport and Uttar Pradesh in the Indian passport, basically I have to get a new Canadian passport that matches the birth place with the Indian passport - even though Lucknow is in Uttar Pradesh. They are pretty anal about place of birth being the same in both passports.
Do not think that you will be able to explain this to the officials - they will not listen so do not waste your time and do what you have to do.

But I don't have a printer at home?
You can print the form to a pdf document and save it on your computer. I would recommend you do this even if you have a printer at home. Once you have the pdf you can have it printed at 'Staples' or even at work.
Download a Free copy of Acrobat Reader.

So what's the process?

Essentially there are five steps:

1. Fill in the online application
2. Get all your documents in order - and don't forget the certified cheque.
   
3. Make sure you are in line before the office opens and get on the 'unofficial list'
4. Stand in line to get your documents checked by the clerk and get a number
   
5. Sit down and wait to get your documents checked by the officer and get a Reference number
6. Track the application online using the Reference number
7. Get the OCI stamp on your passport - When the online status shows your application is ready then go to the office and get the OCI stamp.

Welcome

Hi there,
Welcome to the blog about experiences with OCI 'Overseas Citizenship of India' here in Toronto.
What can I say? I have endured the process and it seems that the only way you can learn is by going through the process.
However some of us thought that we should change that. We know that there will be many after us who will go through this process and it will be a painful one unless we share with them what we know about it.
We would encourage you to add your own comments and experiences as well as questions to this blog and this will in turn help many others.
I am 'Baychara' - for those of you who have been standing in line for the OCI - you know that this is how you feel.
I ahve personally visited the office three times and sent in my applications twice. Finally on April 30th I met with success.
There are many of us who are part of this group so tune in and join in the fun.
Baychara