OCI Application from India: Complete Guide with X1 Visa Process

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The Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) card is a type of identification form that grants people of Indian origin several benefits when they travel to India. For them, the OCI card serves as a connection to the homeland of their ancestors, allowing them to enter visa-free and live and work in India for an indefinite time. With this, if you are also a foreign citizen seeking to apply for OCI from India, then you need to follow a specific application process. Considering this, it includes several steps that make the process quite tricky. Want to know about it and how to apply for OCI from India? Then this guide is surely for you. It explains every step of the process in detail. So, without wasting a second, let’s know about it, but before that, understand the benefits of having an OCI card.

Benefits of Having an OCI Card

As an OCI cardholder, you get the following benefits while staying in India:

• You can enter India multiple times for multiple purposes. It is a lifelong visa for you to visit the country.
• In addition, you are exempt from reporting to the police authorities about your stay duration in India.
• You get permission to work in the private sector. In addition, allowed to work in all areas except research work, mountaineering, and missionary work. 
• Apart from this, you have the permission of professional practice (doctor, advocate, chartered accountant, etc.) only as per the provision stated in the relevant acts. At present, the DCI and MCI acts do not allow foreign people to practice in India. 
• Also, you do not need to apply for an employment visa, nor required to register with the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) to seek a job.
• In case you come to India to work with a certain employer and later leave the job or decide to change employers. In this situation, you do not need to leave the country. 
• Pay the same entry fees as Indian citizens for visiting wildlife sanctuaries, historical sites, national parks, monuments, and museums.
• Apart from this, the airfares also remain the same in domestic sectors.
• Eligible for the sale or purchase of immovable properties other than any plantation property.
• It can appear in Indian entrance tests such as JEET, NEET, and others.
• Further, can use the OCI card as ID proof to apply for a driving license, or PAN card, or open a bank account in India. 

These are the benefits a foreign nation gets when he/she has an OCI card by their side.  Moving ahead, let’s know about what the X1 visa is for OCI application and its eligibility criteria. 

What Is X Visa and Eligibility Criteria for it?

An X visa, also known as an entry visa, is a visa type granted by the Indian government. It is designed for specific categories of individuals who fulfil the set eligibility criteria by the government. It is a special visa granted by the government to people of Indian origin or foreigners who have married Indians. It is an alternative option for them in a situation where their tourist visa is expiring and they want to stay in India for a longer time. 

Also, it is one of the basic requirements of having an X1 visa to apply for OCI from India. However, not every person who comes to the country on a tourist visa can convert it into an X1 visa. There are specific restrictions on it with some eligibility criteria. Want to know about it? Read below and get your answers.

Eligibility Criteria for Converting a Tourist Visa to an X1 Visa

These are the following eligibility criteria that you need to fulfil to convert your tourist visa to an X1 visa:

• Individuals of Indian origin who are entitled to an X1 visa but came to the country on a tourist visa can convert their tourist visa to X visa it if they want to stay longer in India. To get this benefit, one should certify that they are of Indian origin. In addition, in the past have had an Indian passport. Apart from them, individuals whose parents/ancestors were Indian residents can also apply for an X1 or entry visa.
• Foreigners who married citizens of India. A foreign individual is entitled to convert his/her tourist visa into an X1 visa by submitting the mentioned documents. However, it is only possible when their partner has a valid Indian passport by their side.
• Children of Indian citizens who are permanent residents/citizens of other nations can also apply for the visa conversion if they have an Indian parent who presently holds an Indian passport. 
• Apart from this, Indian-origin people who have a foreign nationality can also apply for an X1 visa to apply for OCI from India. It is one of the basic requirements of the OCI application process when applied from India.

This is what an X1 visa is, and the eligibility that you need to fulfil to convert your tourist visa to an X1 or entry visa. With this, you also need to submit some documents to begin the OCI application process. So, let’s know about them in the next section.

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Documents Required to Convert a Tourist Visa into an X1 Visa

To duly fill the X1 visa for OCI application, individuals need to submit the following documents:

• A marriage certificate containing the names of both partners. An official authority should issue the document.
• The current visa and passport of the individual who wants to convert the visa. 
• A valid ID proof of the Indian partner. The ID should be provided by the government, such as a passport, Aadhaar card, driving license, PAN card, and more. 
• A recent passport-size photograph of the applicant. It should meet the photo requirements stated by the government.
• Proof of valid residence in the country. It can be either a rent/lease agreement or a utility bill.
• Reports and security clearance from police officials declare the marriage's validity. Under whose jurisdiction an individual resides, the document should be submitted by that police station.
• Apart from this, an individual also needs to provide a duly signed Indemnity Bond. It should be done on a Rs. 100 stamp paper. In addition, there should be a sign of an Indian partner as well.

These are the documents needed to convert an Indian e-visa to an X1 visa. Moving ahead, let's know the OCI application process from India and how Visament helps you in this.

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What Is the Process to Apply for OCI from India?

To apply for OCI from India you need to a set application government process. However, handling the process alone without having a proper understanding of it can be daunting. To ease it all, you can apply for your OCI card from India through a Visa. Here, our experts simplify all things for you from filling out the application form to booking an appointment and applying for the OCI card. Moving ahead, it is how at every step of the process we assist you:

Step 1: Enter India on E-visa

One of the most basic and important requirements of the OCI application process from India is that you need to enter the country on an E-visa. Since you cannot directly apply for OCI through an e-visa, first, you need to visit the country in a tourist or other e-visa category. This is how, with the visa services of Visament, you can easily get your Indian e-visa. 

• Visit the official website of Visament.
• From there, choose the appropriate category of e-visa, i.e. tourist visa.
• Pay the Indian e-visa fee and the service charges of Visament.
• After making the payment, you will receive a document checklist. Scan and upload the documents as per that.
• On receiving the document, our experts will first verify it and then start your e-visa application process.
• Within 3-5 working days, you will receive your e-visa via email. 

It is vital to know that this e-tourist visa is non-convertible, and it does not come in the Indian visa extension process. Considering this thing, we certify that your e-visa validity is long enough to complete your X1 visa process. 

Step 2: Apply for an X1 Visa

After getting your e-tourist visa, you can enter India. After that, to begin your OCI application process from India, you need to apply for an X1 visa. As stated above it allows you to stay in the country for an extended time. Moving ahead, this is how you can apply for an X1 visa through us:

• Like the e-visa application process time, visit the official site of Visament.
• From the visa category, select the X1 visa services and pay the government visa fee along with the service charges of Visament.
• Once the payment is made, you will receive a list of documents required during the process. Scan and upload them to our site.
• When getting the documents, our expert will first verify, and then the application process will start.
• After the application submission, our team will book your appointment with FRRO for biometrics. Along with your submitted application form, we will send you the details of your appointment. Take a printout of both documents, as during the biometric, you will need them.
• Once your visa application is physically submitted to FRRO, the local authorities will do a background check to verify the information. After that, your application will be passed to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). 
• The MHA will check the application, and within 2 to 4 weeks, you will receive your X1 visa. 

X1 visa is one of the vital documents you need when you apply for an OCI card from India. With this, you also need FRRO registration for OCI within 14 days of approval. So, do not forget to begin your application process with us on time. 

Step 3: Stay in India for 180 Days

Once you get your X1 visa, you need to do a 180-day stay for OCI. According to Indian visa rules for OCI, it is one of the important eligibility criteria that you need to fulfil before applying for an OCI card from India. Your stay should be continuous in the country. With this, during this time, you should maintain your visa status and documentation address. 

Along with this, keep proof of your stay duration in the country for verification. Also, while being within the country, follow the general public rules to avoid any legal issues, as these could impact your OCI card status. In some cases, complications in OCI status may even influence other areas such as property ownership rights for OCIs in India, so it's crucial to stay compliant to ensure timely approval and avoid restrictions.

Step 4: Apply for OCI from India 

As per Indian visa rules for OCI, after fulfilling your 180-day stay for OCI in India, you become eligible to apply for the card. In this, Visament also assist you, along with a visa, we do offer OCI services to our customers. So, this is how you can apply for OCI from India with us:

• Visit the official site of Visament and select the OCI services.
• Pay the OCI fee along with our service charges, as they appear on the screen.
• A list of documents will appear on the screen that are needed during the application process. Scan and upload the documents on the dashboard.
• Upon getting the documents, our experts will first verify each document, and after that, start your OCI application. 
• In addition, on your behalf, our experts will book your biometric appointments and document submission with the MHA. We will send you the OCI application, take a printout of it, and carry it to your biometric appointment. 
• After the biometrics appointment within 4-8 weeks, you will get your OCI card and will be able to enjoy the benefits of having it by your side. 

This is how you can apply for OCI from India with a visa without dealing with the hectic process alone. With us, you do not need to take the tension of getting OCI approval, as we give a 100% successful guarantee of it.  Moving ahead, let’s know the OCI processing time in India after applying. 

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What Is the OCI Application Processing Time?

Generally, the OCI application takes 4 to 8 weeks to process. However, the application time may vary depending on your situation and the volume of OCI applications. With this, the processing time may also vary because of the following reasons:

• Any mistakes or errors in the application form
• Requirement of any document or information.
• Submitting incorrect documents.
• Time taken by the Ministry of Home Affairs to obtain clearance.

You can avoid all these reasons and get your OCI card from India on time with Visament. We ensure to fill out the application form correctly without making any mistakes and attach the correct documents. So, you do not need to get tense when we are here to assist you. 

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Let Visament Handle Your OCI Process

Handling the OCI application process all alone can be a daunting thing, as it requires detailed submission of documents and a correctly filled application form. However, things become easy when you apply for OCI from India with Visament. We are one of the best OCI, visa, and immigration service providers in India. Our experts simplify the complex OCI process for you and assist you at every step of the process. From filling out the application form to booking a biometric appointment, we do all things on your behalf. Also, to assist you, we offer around-the-clock services. So, connect with us no,w and you just sit and relax and let us handle the OCI process for you. 

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