OCI Card Required Documents for USA

If you are applying for the OCI card, you must submit OCI Card Required Documents for USA. It will help you in getting a positive response to your OCI online application form.

Ensure to verify the OCI document checklist before applying. It will assist you in missing out on any document and get prompt results for your OCI application form.

You have to submit the colored photocopies of all the required documents. Every document must be in a clear and readable format. The documents required for an OCI card are as follows:

OCI Online Application Form

Fill out the OCI application form for an OCI on the official website of the Indian government. Take a printout of the form after you have completed it.

VFS Global

You may have to register yourself with VFS Global. The method will depend on how you apply either by mail or in person.

Non-Indian Passport/US Passport

• You have to submit copies of your current passport’s information page. It should contain your picture and personal details.
• The passport must be valid for at least six months from the date you apply.
• Endorsement/amendment pages are one of the OCI Card Required Documents for USA.

Signature

There are some spaces in the application form where you have to provide your signature. Children below the age of five may provide their thumb impression if they are unable to sign. Parents aren't allowed to sign on behalf of their child. The form has assigned space for the father and mother where they have to provide their sign.

Things to keep in mind about the signature:

• Provide the thumb impression using black ink.
• Do not p[provide the signature and thumb impression together in the same box.
• Provide the signature or thumb impression in the assigned box. The application might get rejected if it is outside.
• Parents have to sign at the bottom of the OCI application form if applying for a minor. Even though the parents are not applying for an OCI.
• Provide a death certificate or proof of custody of the minor If there is only one parent.

Photographs

Provide your photographs in part A of the OCI application form. Submit both hard copy and soft copy of the applicant’s photographs.

The photograph should be in color, front facing in 2*2 inches. It must be clear and uploaded in the proper format.

Birth Certificate

For applicants born outside India, submit a copy of their birth certificate. It must include some details like the name of their parents, their nationality, and date of birth.

Original Passport

At the end of the processing, the applicant’s original passport will be requisite. You will get a notification after your OCI card gets approved and returned to the embassy. It will come along with the shipping instructions via email.

If your nationality is non-US. Then submit a valid original US passport or non-Indian passport. The U-Visa (OCI) sticker has to be stuck to a blank visa page in your passport.

Your passport must have at least 2 blank pages and a validity of at least 6 months from the date you apply.

PIO Card Holders

Both the original and photocopy of the PIO card are requisite as OCI Card Required Documents for USA.

Copy Of Naturalization Certificate

A Copy Of Naturalization Certificate is requisite if:

• You are not born in the US or you are a former Indian National
• Have more than one nationality. Which includes Indian citizenship then you have to provide Naturalization certificates. You can also provide proof of nationality from those countries.
• Minor who don't have a naturalization certificate and acquired naturalization through their parents. A copy of their parent's naturalization certificate and a notarized written statement are requisite. It should show how the minor acquired naturalization without having a naturalization certificate.
• The US Naturalization certificate that has “Country of Birth’ as India is not accepted. Instead it should name ‘Former Nationality” as India.

Proof of Renunciation of Indian Citizenship

In India, dual citizenship is not permitted. So to apply for OCI to PIO you have to provide proof of Renunciation of Indian citizenship. You can send the documents for renunciation along with fees and the OCI application. Rather than getting the surrender certificate first.

You can provide any of the following as proof of renunciation:

• A copy of the Renunciation certificate issued by a Consulate of India.
• Copy of your Indian passport with a stamp. It should state ‘ Cancelled as holder acquired US/Foreign Citizenship’.

You can apply for Renunciation with an OCI or PIO card. If you have not renounced Indian citizenship. Do it by sending the documents in a single envelope.

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What if I don’t apply for Renunciation of Indian citizenship?

If your most recent Indian passport is on hold for more than 3 years. Even after you have acquired citizenship of another country then a penalty may apply.

Proof Of Indian Origin

The applicant has to provide proof of their Indian origin to get an OCI card

If The Applicant Was An Indian Citizen

Indian Passport

If you have ever owned an Indian passport then you have to provide a copy of the first 3 pages and the last 2 pages of it.

If you do not have an Indian passport then you can submit the documents mentioned below. Even so, the final decision to accept the documents depends on the consular officer:

• Certificate of land ownership
• Correct notarized affidavit to that effect.
• A notarized copy of an educational certificate issued by an institution in India
• A Copy of the Ancestral Nativity Certificate. Issued by an Indian official or magistrate with proper authority.

If The Applicant Is Not An Indian Citizen

If you do not hold an Indian passport. if you are applying based on your parents or grandparents' Indian nationality. Then submit these documents:

• Proof of parent’s current and previous nationality
• The birth certificate has the parent’s name on it.

If applying based on the grandparent's Indian nationality. Submit the birth certificate of both the parents and the applicant. If applicable, submit any of the below-mentioned:

• Copy of both parent's and grandparents' domicile certificate issued by a competent authority.
• Copy of the first 3 pages and last 2 pages of both parents/grandparents' passports.
• Copy of the OCI card of the parents
• Any document that proves the Indian citizenship of the parents/grandparents. Such as a notarized copy of a school certificate or certificate of land ownership. Even so, the decision to accept these as proof of citizenship depends on the consular officer.

Address Proof

Proof of address is one of the documents required for an OCI card. It must match with the address provided in the application form. Also, the address which you have given in the prepaid envelope. You can submit photocopies of:

• A utility bill such as a water, gas, or electricity bill.
• A State ID such as a driver’s license. Submit the original size of the regular paper do not cut the copy to reduce the size.
• For minors, you can submit address proof of both the parents and legal guardian
• For college/university students living on the campus. A letter from the university or institution stating letterhead and address is requisite.
• Credit card statements, phone bills, addresses with a P.O. Box, and cell phone bills are not accepted.

Name Change Documents

For former Indian nationals name change is applicable. If your name on the US passport is different from the name on the Indian passport or documents. If you got it from the government then any one of the following is requisite:

• Name change in case of Naturalization
• Official order from the court for the name change
• The name changes after marriage so the marriage certificate proves the name change.

Legal Status Proof in the US

Send only the photocopies, don’t submit the original proof of legal status such as a visa or green card.

• If you are applying for your children as a non-US citizen. Provide proof of visa/green card by affixing a Xerox copy of these documents.
• If you are a non-US citizen, submit a copy of your permanent resident card or green card. With both sides/EAD/H1, H4, L2/L2, J1/J2, F1/F2, etc.

Change of Address In India

Submit proof of new address in India. If the address in India provided in the application form does not match the one on the Indian passport.

Prepaid Return Envelope

Once your application to become an OCI cardholder gets processed. The documents are given back to you in this envelope. Although, you would want to collect the application in person. It is always a good idea to submit a prepaid return envelope along with the application.

If a family of 4 members apply for the same service together then only one return envelope is requisite. Yet, if they apply for different services then use separate envelopes for each one.

In case of more than 4 members, 2 envelopes are requisite. The VFS Global will only send 4 passports in one envelope.

Note: Some extra documents may be requisite and it depends on the jurisdiction. So be sure to verify the final documents and photocopies required before submitting it. It will help in avoiding missing any of the documents for the OCI form. This will also assist you in becoming an OCI cardholder without delay.