How to Renew OCI Card in USA? Complete Guide

An OCI card is issued by the government of India for people who are of Indian origin but are residing outside India. OCI stands for overseas citizenship of India. It acts like a lifelong visa for those who have a passport from any other nation but have migrated from India or were born of Indian parents residing in foreign countries. The cardholder gets a sigh of relief and a connection when coming to India.

A cardholder may have this doubt about how can I renew my card or when should renew my card, etc. In this article, we will learn about when, why, and how to renew OCI card in the USA. We will also learn about the fees and the eligibility criteria for card renewal for minors.

What is OCI Card Renewal in the USA?

An OCI card may need to be renewed or reissued for various reasons the card is going to expire soon, you want to make changes to the card, or the card gets stolen, etc. An OCI card is reissued instead of renewed. A cardholder has to re-issue their card when they issue a new passport at the age of 20 and also at the age of 50. One must reissue their card to keep the card details similar to their current passport details because it is important for identification and international traveling purposes. 

The cardholder has to fill out application forms online to get their card re-issued. You will have to provide personal details, supporting documents, information about the existing OCI, and passport details. The application form can be submitted online on the official website of VFS Global or can be submitted at the nearest Indian embassy/consulate. It has life-long validity so one does not have to Apply for US Visa.

Why and When to Renew OCI Card in the US?

The OCI card needs to be reissued so that the card has up-to-date information and remains a valid form of identity for the cardholder. The cardholder will have to provide supporting documents for the re-issuance of the OCI card application USA.

Before you think about renewing your OCI card. You should understand when you need to reissue your card.

• One should reissue an OCI card if one acquired the OCI Card before the age of 20 and has a new passport after the age of 20. 
• If the OCI card gets lost or damaged
• If there is a change in the cardholder’s name due to any reason like a change in name after marriage.
• Except for Pakistan or Bangladesh, if there is a change in nationality then one must reissue an OCI card
• If there is any kind of errors in the existing OCI card. The cardholder has to submit relevant and suitable proof to make corrections. 

A Cardholder should make sure to reissue their card in any of the situations mentioned above and if you need a new OCI Card, You can follow the steps mentioned on how to apply for OCI card from USA.

Step-by-Step Process for How to Renew OCI Card in USA?

You should follow the below-mentioned steps if you want to reissue your OCI card for any particular reason:

➔ Fill out the Application Form

The first step that you need to do to get your card renewed is to fill out the application form. The application form is available online on the official websites of VFS Global. VFS Global also provides service for Indian passport renewal in USA. The applicant must fill in all the necessary information, upload all the documents, and then pay the application fees to proceed further. 

➔ Submit the Application Form

After filling out the application form, the next step is to print out the application form and submit it to the nearest Indian embassy or consulate along with the supporting documents. Every information that you have added in the form must be accurate and the supporting documents must be relevant and clear. 

➔ Keep Track of the Application Status

The applicant can keep track of their application status and stay updated about the processing of their application online through the portal. The applicant can be tracked by using the application number. Although the processing time may differ it will generally take between 8-10 weeks. 

➔ Collect your Card

Once you get an email that your card has been approved and reissued. Then you can go and collect your card physically at the nearest Indian embassy. You should keep checking the status of your card to stay updated about your card’s status. You can now again avail all the benefits that an OCI card has.

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OCI Renewal USA fees

There are some things that you need to know about the fees that you need to pay for the OCI card application before you apply for OCI card from USA:

• The payment for fees should be paid to the VFS services (USA). At VFS, you can many services like Visa and OCI, and you also know the best steps for How To Renew Indian Passport in USA.
• The applicant will not get any refund of the application fees and service charges if they withdraw their OCI card application in the middle of the application process.
• Once the applicant submits the passport the fees in Non-refundable.
• If the applicant does not pay the full fees, the application will either be rejected or delayed.
• Post cash will not be accepted. The applicant has to make the payments through cash, money order, cashier’s check, or banker’s check,
• The applicant can pay for all the services together.

The Total Fees that the applicant has to pay depending on different situations are:

New Rules & Guidelines for OCI Card Renewal in USA

Several guidelines are revised for the re-issuance of an OCI card which are:

• A cardholder has to re-issue their card each time they issue a new passport up to the age of 20 and again at the age of 50.
• The applicant has to upload a copy of the new passport and their latest photo online. This needs to be done within three months after receiving the new passport up to the age of 20 and at the age of 50.
• The cardholder can travel with their existing OCI card with an old passport number. They can travel with the new passport and there is no need to carry the old passport.

How to Check OCI Card Renewal Status in USA?

An applicant can check the status of their OCI card by visiting the official website of VFS Global from where they have filled the application form and are already registered. You can use the application reference number which you will get when you submit your application along with adding your date of birth to check the status of your application. You must keep track of your application so that you can be aware of when your card has been processed and when will you receive it.

Eligibility Criteria for OCI Card Renewal For Minor in USA

Minors can also be eligible for an OCI card. The eligibility criteria for the minor for OCI Card Renewal in the USA are:

• Both the parents of the minor children must be citizens of India or one of the parents must be a citizen of India
• Each time a new passport is issued the OCI card has to be re-issued up to the completion of the age 20 or once after the completion of age 50.
• If the minor needs to change any information on their OCI card due to any reason or if their card gets stolen or lost then they should reissue it. 
• The OCI card renewal for minors in the USA will be eligible if the minor’s parents, grandparents, or great-grandparents are not citizens of Pakistan, Bangladesh, or any country which the central government may define.

Conclusion

Renewing or reissuing your OCI card is very important to keep your rights and privileges maintained in India. Make sure to follow the right steps to ensure a smooth renewal process without being stuck and confused about how can i renew my OCI card in the USA. Prepare yourself in advance if you think that your card needs to be renewed. Gather all the necessary supporting and relevant documents to enjoy a hassle-free process. Keep yourself updated throughout the application process.