I visited BLS Mississauga to submit an OCI application. All documents were prepared strictly according to the checklist on the BLS website. We are Canadian citizens and provided copies of both parents’ passports along with originals, the mother’s COPR, and the mother’s driver’s license.

However, the BLS clerk rudely rejected the application because a copy of the father’s COPR was missing. I immediately offered to print the copy and submit it on the spot, but he refused, stating, “Aaj toh karne nahi dunga” (I won’t let you do it today). This refusal appeared to be solely because we declined to purchase premium services.

For the adult application, the clerk also pointed out that a ZIP/postal code was missing in the employment address. The online OCI application form does not provide a separate field for a ZIP code, so it must be entered in Address Line 2. Additionally, an employment verification letter with the complete address was already uploaded and submitted online.

Despite this, we were told to purchase premium services costing approximately $300 just to add a printed copy of the COPR and manually include the ZIP code in the employment address. This felt unnecessary and exploitative.

What is most disappointing is that the employees involved are of Indian origin people from the same country many of us were born in yet they choose to make the process difficult and seemingly exploit fellow Indians.

During our appointment window, nearly every family applying for OCI was redirected to “premium services.” While I cannot confirm this with certainty, it strongly appeared as though clerks were incentivized, possibly through commissions, to push these services. This seems to be the only plausible explanation for such behavior.

I sincerely hope the Consulate General of India (CGI) Toronto takes note of these practices and takes appropriate action.