I applied for surrender certificate today at the BLS Brampton office. Despite a ton of patience and mentally level setting expectations for the day, it just felt like I was so not prepared for the ordeal.

There were atleast 300 people in the waiting area. Only 4 counters seemed to be available for service - how is that surprising?! Since today was Diwali everyone was dressed in traditional clothes and that seemed to slow the women down a lot; it seemed that their sareees, huge earings and other accessories were getting in the way of being able to perform their job effectively. I am all for celebrating diversity and festivals but not at the cost of further compromising efficiency and effectiveness at work.

That said, after a 2 hour wait, my number came up on the screen and I went to the counter. The woman there took about 10 minutes to find a staple pin remover - she walked gingerly to all the counters, in her saree, to see if anyone had a staple remover! It was so frustrating that I offered to remove the pins for her with my bare hands. Finally, the staple pins came off - yay! She then returned most of the photocopies that were on the checklist saying she didnt need them. Why BLS would make applicants waste time and money to make the copies in the first place if they dont need them. Why don't they change their check list on their website!!

Then came the payment part. Their website says the fees are $135.40 with an extra $20 for availing courier services:
https://www.blsindia-canada.com/renunciation_ppt.php
Unfortunately, I was forced to pay the extra $20 for courier services even though I did not want to avail of that facility and would have preferred to pick up my passport and surrender certificate in person.

All in all, an annoying visit but I suppose that was expected. This seems like just another way the Indian Government wants to make money off of Indian born Canadian / US citizens.

BTW, if you see the form for application for surrender certificate on the website of the Ministry of External Affairs (Sushma Swaraj), you will notice that page 2 that they are asking applicants who have acquired foreign citizenship to "swear allegiance to the sovereignty, unity and integrity of India" especially when they are applying for surrendering their Indian Citizenship!!! I tried to write to the Secretary of External Affairs on the email address mentioned on the ministry's website - and guess what - the email bounced! Why is that surprizing?!

https://portal2.passportindia.gov.in/AppOnlineProject/online/downloadEFormStatic


I still have the OCI certificate to go.....

Quote:

---

Originally posted by John Doe

I applied for surrender certificate today at the BLS Brampton office. Despite a ton of patience and mentally level setting expectations for the day, it just felt like I was so not prepared for the ordeal.

There were atleast 300 people in the waiting area. Only 4 counters seemed to be available for service - how is that surprising?! Since today was Diwali everyone was dressed in traditional clothes and that seemed to slow the women down a lot; it seemed that their sareees, huge earings and other accessories were getting in the way of being able to perform their job effectively. I am all for celebrating diversity and festivals but not at the cost of further compromising efficiency and effectiveness at work.

That said, after a 2 hour wait, my number came up on the screen and I went to the counter. The woman there took about 10 minutes to find a staple pin remover - she walked gingerly to all the counters, in her saree, to see if anyone had a staple remover! It was so frustrating that I offered to remove the pins for her with my bare hands. Finally, the staple pins came off - yay! She then returned most of the photocopies that were on the checklist saying she didnt need them. Why BLS would make applicants waste time and money to make the copies in the first place if they dont need them. Why don't they change their check list on their website!!

Then came the payment part. Their website says the fees are $135.40 with an extra $20 for availing courier services:
https://www.blsindia-canada.com/renunciation_ppt.php
Unfortunately, I was forced to pay the extra $20 for courier services even though I did not want to avail of that facility and would have preferred to pick up my passport and surrender certificate in person.

All in all, an annoying visit but I suppose that was expected. This seems like just another way the Indian Government wants to make money off of Indian born Canadian / US citizens.

BTW, if you see the form for application for surrender certificate on the website of the Ministry of External Affairs (Sushma Swaraj), you will notice that page 2 that they are asking applicants who have acquired foreign citizenship to "swear allegiance to the sovereignty, unity and integrity of India" especially when they are applying for surrendering their Indian Citizenship!!! I tried to write to the Secretary of External Affairs on the email address mentioned on the ministry's website - and guess what - the email bounced! Why is that surprizing?!

https://portal2.passportindia.gov.in/AppOnlineProject/online/downloadEFormStatic


I still have the OCI certificate to go.....

---

Surrender Certificate is Nothing but a cash grab.

People have their old expired Indian Passports lying around. They are Canadian Citizens and have Canadian PP, who they hell is going to travel on an old expired Indian Pass Port.

Now they want to rubber stamp an old expired PP with the words cancelled and give you a typed flimsy A4 size paper called Surrender Certificate.

Nice way to make money out of NRI's ..looting people in India in not good enough for them , but they now they want to do it to NRI's too.

Me and my spouse applied for OCI on Oct 2nd, 2014, acknowledged Oct 17. We have tickets booked to India in December. From what I read on this forum, it does not look like we will have our OCIs on time to travel. Any suggestions on other options so we could travel to india in dec? Our passports have been surrendered already; it is just the OCI that we are in trouble with.

Quote:

---

Originally posted by farzanazahoor

Me and my spouse applied for OCI on Oct 2nd, 2014, acknowledged Oct 17. We have tickets booked to India in December. From what I read on this forum, it does not look like we will have our OCIs on time to travel. Any suggestions on other options so we could travel to india in dec? Our passports have been surrendered already; it is just the OCI that we are in trouble with.

---

Quote:

---

Originally posted by farzanazahoor

Me and my spouse applied for OCI on Oct 2nd, 2014, acknowledged Oct 17. We have tickets booked to India in December. From what I read on this forum, it does not look like we will have our OCIs on time to travel. Any suggestions on other options so we could travel to india in dec? Our passports have been surrendered already; it is just the OCI that we are in trouble with.

---

OCI Application at Brampton.

Does anyone have any Recent timeline for the process from start to finish ?

Say anyone who has applied in 2014 ?

Thanks , I know someone who is applying.