Indian e-Tourist Visa (eTV) now available to Canadian citizens

2015-05-13 10:15:00

IMPORTANT NOTICE FOR PIO SCHEME:

22 JANUARY 2015 4:15:22

• This is to inform that vide Gazette Notification No.26011/01/2014IC.I dated 09 January 2015; all PIO cards issued till      09 January 2015 are deemed to be OCI cards.
  
  
• PIO Card scheme has been withdrawn vide Gazette Notification No.25024/9/2014F.I dated 09 January 2015.
  
  
• All PIO applications, pending with Mission for processing, are being returned to the applicants with a request to     apply for an OCI card on the same fee prescribed for the PIO card.
      Henceforth, applicants may apply for an OCI card ONLY, as the PIO card scheme is no longer in existence.
  

Instructions for Applicants sending Applications through Post

2015-01-05 10:15:00

1. Please allow 4 –5 days for processing of your application to Consulate general of India /Indian High Commission and the status to be visible on BLS website once the application is received at BLS office
2. Please do not include personal cheques. The payment has to be through Demand drafts/Money Order only
3. In case any documents are found missing / insufficient, your application shall be retained for a period of 21 days during which attempts to contact you via emails will be made. If however we do not receive pending documents within 20 days period, your application shall be returned duly with the fee paid less BLS service charge and return shipping fee, if any.
4. We accept postal applications as per your jurisdiction area (Please check jurisdiction on Contact us page) Click here to opt for courier service (Drop off service or pick & drop off both)

From 28th July,2014 - BLS Calgary office has been relocated

2014-07-08 10:15:00

Effectively from 28th July,2014 - BLS Calgary office has been relocated to -Unit 928 – 5075 , Falconridge Blvd North East Calgary, AB- T3J 3K9 ".

CAUTION NOTICE FOR APPLICANT

2014-04-08 12:15:00

CAUTION NOTICE FOR APPLICANT

BLS International would like to caution the public not to be misguided by media advertisements by certain agencies claiming to facilitate issuance of Indian visas/passports/OCI/PIO and other consular documents, and certain fake websites asking for online payment of fee for Passport/Visa and related services.

BLS International is the sole authorised service provider by the Government of India and has not further authorized any other third party to collect documents or fees for Passport / Visa Application processing; Applicants are advised to act with caution if contacted by or referred to any Third Party agency / particularly unscrupulous and fake websites for the purpose of Indian Visa / Passport Application processing other than the official website of BLS International of your region. BLS and its Group Companies are not responsible for any action/inaction performed by any such third party.

The applicants are advised to consult the official website of the Indian High Commission/Consulate (http://www.hciottawa.ca / http://www.cgitoronto.ca / http://www.cgivancouver.org/devcgi) or BLS http://blsindia-canada.com Both these websites lead to the Indian Home Ministry's website: http://indianvisaonline.gov.in/visa/ for visa application forms.

The payment of fee for Passport, Visa, PIO, OCI and other consular services is to be made to the BLS International or the High Commission/Consulate General of India as per the procedure mentioned in these websites. For all consular services proper receipts are given. There is no provision of online payment for any consular service.

If there is any specific problem, applicants may write to the Consulate directly at the email addresses given on the Indian High Commission's/Consulate's website http://www.hciottawa.ca / http://www.cgitoronto.ca / http://www.cgivancouver.org/devcgi

Non-machine readable passports to be phased out

2013-12-26 23:13:00

NON-MACHINE READABLE PASSPORTS

1.       The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) has set a deadline of the 24th November 2015 for globally phasing out all non-Machine Readable Passports (MRPs). From 25th November 2015 onwards, foreign Governments may deny visa or entry to any person travelling with a non-MRP passport.

2.       All handwritten passports with pasted photos earlier issued by Government of India are considered non-MRP passports. All 20-year validity passports will also fall in this category. The Government started issuing MRP passports since 2001. All new Indian passports are ICAO-compliant MRP passports.

3.       Indian citizens residing in India and abroad and holding handwritten passports as well as 20-year passports with validity beyond the 24th November 2015, should, therefore, apply for re-issue of passports and obtain MRP passports well before the deadline in order to avoid any inconvenience in obtaining foreign visa or immigration problem.

4.       For more details related to passport services, Passport website (www.passportindia.gov.in) may be accessed.

Business Visa to India - Fees

2013-02-20 12:31:00

Business visa fee change: Effective immediately the Business visa fee has been revised. The fee for business visa up to 1 year will be CAD 183 for Canadian passport holder (Non-Canadian passport holder please check detailed fee structure). The duration of the visa will solely be the discretion of the visa officer.

Surrogacy Visa to India - Update

2013-02-20 12:22:00

Canadian couples seeking visa to India for purposes of entering into a surrogacy arrangement must ascertain beforehand whether the Canadian law permits surrogacy and will provide appropriate travel document (such as a Passport) to the child for accompanying the surrogate parents back to Canada. Entering into surrogacy arrangement under any other visa not sought for surrogacy is punishable under the Indian law. The couple must have been married for at least 2 years and will be given Medical Visa by us. The couple should produce a notarized agreement with the prospective Indian surrogate mother. The treatment should be done only at one of the registered ART clinics recognised by ICMR.