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) ;-)