BLS Centres in Canada Now Accepting Walk-ins for Visa Applications, Passport, OCI

The High Commission of India in Ottawa has introduced walk-in services at BLS centres in Canada starting today, February 1. This move is meant to better the delivery of visa and consular services to applicants. There will be a limited number of walk-ins depending on the capacity of the centre and the resources available.

The announcement comes in the form of a press release and a tweet by the High Commission of India in Ottawa. It states that starting February 1, 2023, applicants who are seeking a visa, Passport, OCI, or other consular services will be able to just walk into the BLS centres without having to book an appointment and submit their application. People can still make appointments as well as use the postal mode to submit their applications.

This move is intended to “facility better delivery of visa and other consular services,” the press release states.

Introduction of 'Walk-in services' for visa and other consular services at BLS Centres across Canada. Details can be seen in the Press Release. @MEAIndia @OIA_MEA @SecretaryCPVOIA @cgivancouver @IndiainToronto @IndianDiplomacy pic.twitter.com/oR4D8HdJv1

— India in Canada (@HCI_Ottawa) January 31, 2023

It also states that there will be a limited number of walk-ins depending on the number of appointments and the resources available, between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. on every working day. The walk-ins that can be served on the same day will be given tokens within 30 minutes of arrival. The press release requests applicants to complete their applications in all respects and only then bring them to the BLS centres. “Please note that in case you are not issued a token in within 30 minutes of arrival, you may opt to come back at a later date or book an alternate mode of submission of your application and supporting documents,” it adds.

Further, people who have already booked appointments and now wish to use the walk-in method instead should cancel their appointments once their application is accepted.

Vineet Washington