Hi,

I am going to apply OCI in BLS Calgary and am trying to find out how to go about it and every time I call BLS office, they give me conflictiong information and also requirements seem to be different depending on where are you applying. So if somebody who has actually applied in Calgary or for Vancouver jurisdiction, could you please reply to some of the questions below:

1. Only original to be submitted is Indian passport which has landed stamp on it. For everything else, photocopies are fine. Is that correct?

2. Please let me know if photocopies are to be notarized or self attested?

3. Do we need to send two copies of application forms and all the supporting docs or just one copy is enough?

From one of the other threads, I believe Ravnil applied in Calgary, so Ravnil (or anybody else who applied in Calgary) if you could find time to reply, that would be great.

Many thanks in advance to anybody who can respond.

People in BLS are crazy & rude- they harass almost everyone who send application by mail.
I applied for Re-Issue of OCI card for me , my wife & 2 little kids
when I called them 1st time to get information-they asked my Credit card # & charged $140.00 for Return post-i had not applied yet

later I applied for Re-Issue of our OCI cards due to change of address/profession & other details.
As per BLS website(check-list) they do not accept original document(Canadian passport/old OCI cards)-instead they ask Notorized copy of all documents-except original Indian passort(old expired/cancelled).
-we sent all notorized documents with our original (expired)Indian passports
-after sending all documents/fee etc when i check online status-it say, " your Application on HOLD" pl send new & old original Canadian passports/old oci cards, landing paper etc.

before mailing documents- i called BLS twice & re-confirmed regarding documents they need-sent everything exactly they asked.

now when I called them again each time new person/ new answer-noone seems know what is going on-each time new answer.

anyone has similar experience with BLS-surrey or from any other town? .

whenever i call-it take sometime 45 minutes before someone reply-but when I ask about my file they either hang the phone or transfer to someone who never pick the phone.
looks like Re-issue of OCI card is more trouble than we got OCI card 1st time(few years back)
I am feeling harassed & like to report about BLS-mismanagement- how i can trust such organization with my original Passports/Landing papers ?

Anyone know where to report madness of BLS-canada ?- any past experience
thanks

Thanks ChandraGupt for your response.

Thats what my experience has been with them. Everytime I call, a different person picks up and gives me a different answer. Instructions on their website are different than the ones on CGI Vancouver website and then when you fill up Part A and Part B and then print them, the instructions at the end of part B are yet different again.

When I called BLS, one person told me that I need to send notarized photocopies of everything except for old Indian passport with landing stamp on it which is to be sent in original. Then next 2 times when I called, 2 different persons told me that self attested photocopies are fine, no need to notarize the copies. Don't know what it is now. So confused :-(

If we have to get so many documents notarized that is going to be very costly as lawyers normally charge $15 per document.

Though I must say that I haven't found them rude yet. They are quite polite over the phone and in Calgary, they pick up phone in 5-10 minutes max.

Can somebody else who has experience with BLS in Surrey/Calgary (Vancouver jurisdiction) throw some more light please?

I applied for and received my PIO 2 years ago, and my experience was not that bad with BLS Surrey. I am in the process of applying for OCI for my wife and son, and get this jittery feeling after reading the above reviews. Will update my experience in about a week or so.

they said exactly same when I asked them 1st time-after that each time new reply.

I heard some people even lost there original documents when they sent to BLS.

I already sent them all-NOTORIZED copies/ original Indian-passport & fee, but still application on hold.

the crazy thing about BLS is -each time new person/ new-answer-totally different from previousone-(

last week when i called one person told me@ bls, please ignoe message about asking you original documents- you can send them when OCI is ready (as it takes around 2 months)/ we will update status-but it never updated.

I called again this morning - different answer- your application on hold- please send new & old original canadian passport/old oci card & landing papers

this is crazy

Hi febpreet,

Have you figured out if notarized copies need to be sent or self attested copies are fine or do we need to send originals as ChandraGupt is being asked to do?

Thanks.

Quote:

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Originally posted by vagg

Hi febpreet,

Have you figured out if notarized copies need to be sent or self attested copies are fine or do we need to send originals as ChandraGupt is being asked to do?

Thanks.

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