OCI Card Application Returned: Common Reasons and How to Resubmit

Receiving a notification that your OCI (Overseas Citizen of India) card application has been returned can be concerning, especially if you have travel plans involving India.

However, it’s important to remember that a returned application is not a rejected one. Often, applications are returned for reasons such as missing documents, incorrect information, or an unformatted document that needs corrections before the application can proceed.

The good news is that you typically don’t have to start the application process from scratch. Understanding why your application was returned and following the resubmission guidelines can help you expedite the process and enhance your chances of approval, as we will see in this blog.

Understanding OCI Card Application Returned Meaning?

If your OCI status shows "Returned," then it means that your OCI application has some missing information or documents that need to be corrected before it can be processed any further.

In place of rejecting your OCI application, authorities will provide you a chance to submit all the correct information with supporting documents.

Let's see an example. If your passport documents are unclear or missing information, the authorities will return your application, and you will need to resubmit it with all the correct details and documents.

The return process is part of the verification for the OCI card application. There is no need to panic.

Common Reasons for an OCI Application Returned?

Here are some of the mistakes and errors that can lead to your OCI application being returned to you by the authorities.

1. Providing Incorrect information

This is one of the most common OCI application returned reason that are encountered by most of the individuals.

A small error in the OCI application can lead to a return OCI application, such as:

• Wrong spelling in the application forms.
• Incorrect passport number
• Wrong place of date of birth
• Incorrect nationality
• Typographical errors
• Wrong information about parents in the OCI application return.

If any of the errors are found in your OCI application, then it will be returned to you for further corrections, and you need to resubmit your OCI card application.

2. Missing Supporting Documents

If your OCI card application does not have all the valid supporting documents, then your OCI card application will be returned to you.

Missing OCI documents that can lead to the OCI card application returned are:

• Missing a valid foreign passport
• Surrender certificate
• Proof of Indian origin
• Marriage certificate
• Birth certificate
• Proof of address
• Name change documents
• Any additional supporting documents required by the authorities.

3. Poor Quality Documents Submission

All the documents for the OCI card application must be provided in high quality and clearly. Any blurred or low-quality document upload can result in the OCI card application being returned.

Most of the OCI card applications are returned for the following reasons:

• If your documents are blurry.
• Pages of the OCI document are cropped.
• If the document texts are unreadable.
• If the files are uploaded in the wrong section.
• Any documents can which contains shadows and glare.

Make sure you upload all the documents in high resolution, avoiding getting errors, and your OCI application will be returned to you.

4. Photos specification does not meet

If the Photos which is provided by the application does ot meet the OCI application specification, then your OCI application might get returned to you.

Common issues with the OCI application Photo included are:

• Incorrect photo size
• Incorrect dimension of OCI photo.
• Submitting a blurred image
• Providing a dark or blurred image.
• Face not fully covered in the photo
• Shadows are visible in the photo
• The photo has not been taken recently.
• Reflection or glare in the OCI photo.

Make sure you provide a clear, recently clicked passport-size coloured photo with a plain white background.

5. Signature or thumb Impression errors

Applicants need to provide a well-matched signature or thumb impression for the minor OCI applicants. If any error is found in the signature or thumb impression of the OCI applicant, then the OCI application is returned to the applicant.

Some of the common problems in the signature and thumb impression include:

• Doing a signature outside the blank space given.
• The signature is not clear.
• Blurred signature
• Incorrect thumb impression for minor OCI applicant

Make sure that you provide all the correct signatures and thumb impressions for the minor according to the OCI application requirements for smooth and error-free OCI application processing.

6. Incorrect Passport details

Providing incorrect passport details in your OCI card application can lead to your OCI application being returned to you.

If authorities found the following information, then they can return your OCI application.

• Enter the incorrect passport number.
• The nationality on your passport and OCI application does not match.
• The name in the form and the passport are different.
• If the passport is near the date of expiry or already expired.

Make sure to verify all the passport details with your OCI card application to avoid making these mistakes and errors.

7. Additional OCI Document Verification

According to the applicants' eligibility criteria, some of the applicants may be asked to submit additional documents for the OCI card application processing. However, submitting these documents can result in your OCI application being rejected.

You need to provide some of the additional documents, such as:

• Proof of Indian origin
• Relation with parents
• Marriage certificate
• Legal name change documents
• Citizenship records

Submitting all the requested documents by the authority can prevent you from getting OCI application errors.

What is the Application Process for OCI Application Resubmission?

If your OCI application has been returned to you, then you need to follow the simple steps mentioned below.

1. Review the Reason for OCI Return: You will need to see the instructions and reason for the OCI card application returned for correction. It will help you to know the exact reason why your application was rejected.
2. Gather Supporting Documents: You need to collect all the supporting documents that are necessary for your OCI application return.
3. Correct Errors and Mistakes: Correct all the mistakes and errors in your OCI card application, returned with new photos and accurate details.
4.  Verify the OCI Application: You need to verify all the application details and documents before resubmitting the OCI application.
5. Resubmit Application: Through the given steps by the processing authority, you need to resubmit the application through the official government portal.
6. Check Real-Time Status: After the application resubmission, you can check the OCI application status or any additional requests made by the authorities.

Difference Between Returned and Rejected OCI Applications

Most of the OCI applicants got confused between the OCI returned application and the OCI rejected application. However, both are different terms and have different meanings.

It is essential to understand the difference between the OCI application returned and the OCI application on hold or rejected, and reduce the heavy stress from the OCI applicants and help the authorities to get quick solutions.

Tips to Avoid Getting Your OCI Application Returned

Here are some tips to help you avoid having your OCI card returned for processing. Read and follow the points mentioned below for a smooth and hassle-free OCI card application process.

To avoid encountering the same issue again, consider these tips

• Double-check all information before submission.
• Ensure that passport details match exactly.
• Use high-resolution scans of documents.
• Follow the specified photograph guidelines.
• Include a full set of required supporting documents.
• Carefully follow all provided instructions.

Final Thoughts

Having your OCI card application returned can be stressful, but it’s usually just a part of the OCI verification process, rather than a final rejection. Most OCI card applications are rejected due to incorrect information, incorrect documentation, incorrect photos, or mismatched documents.

Before the final application resubmission, you must check all the details carefully, eliminating the chances of errors and your application being returned. Ensuring all details are correct and submitting the essential supporting documents can help you to get your OCI card application approved.

You can also take the help of the Visament OCI support. We have a team with years of experience who will assist you with the application process and reduce the chances of your application being returned or rejected.