Answers to Your Most Common OCI Questions
Expediting the renewal and re-issuance of the OCI Card is not available. Applicants have to apply in advance to get it approved before their journey.
Yes, you can travel to India when your OCI renewal application is still pending. However, take your old OCI Card, renewal application receipt, and current passport.
Complete the online application form on the Government of India OCI portal, and print out the completed application. Gather the required documents, and send the completed application and supporting documents to VFS. Visit the VFS Indian Consular Application Center on the scheduled date and time.
Processing time for OCI for minors is 45 working days after the application is acknowledged. However, the processing time can vary depending on the consulate.
No voting rights, no government jobs, no certain professions, no agricultural land, visa-free travel restrictions, and surrendering citizenship.
Age, signature, parental consent, photographs, and other required documents for OCI for minors.
No, an OCI cardholder is not an NRI as NRI is an Indian citizen residing outside India and oci is a foreign national who has become an overseas citizen of India.
Yes, an OCI cardholder can get an Aadhaar card if they have been a resident of India for more than 182 days and hold an Indian address.
No, an OCI card never expires but OCI renewal in the USA is requisite to keep it updated. After turning 20 and after the age of 50 an OCI card has to be renewed.
Yes, you are allowed to travel without an oci card. However, you must have a foreign passport with a "U" visa sticker, proof of Indian ancestry, a valid visa, and an e-visa.
An applicant whose birth certificate only holds the name and nationality of one parent and another parent is not known they are not eligible for OCI miscellaneous services in the USA. In addition, stateless and asylee applicants are also not eligible for OCI services.
The interview is needed only when the OCI application comes under the category of foreign spouse. After the personal interview with the applicant and his/her spouse, the application proceeded further.
According to the new rules when the applicant gets a new passport issued after 21 years of age they only once have to reissue the OCI card. However, it is vital for them to upload the online copy of the latest photo and new passport every time a new passport is issued before 21 years of age.
To foreign applicants who intend to live in India, the OCI card provides the utmost convenience. However, it still considers them as foreign citizens. Also through Section 7 B of the Citizenship Act, they have multiple entries, purposes, and lifelong visas for coming and living in India.
OCI card holders who are 20 years or younger, should renew the card each time when they apply for a new passport. However, the applicants who are 21 to 49 years of age it is not mandatory to renew their card whenever they apply for a passport.
In the USA, the VFS Global Application Center is authorized to issue OCI card services for the Indian embassy, Washington DC, or its Consulates in Chicago, San Francisco, Houston, Atlanta, New York, and Chicago.
Yes, you have to submit a recent passport-sized photograph for renewal/reissuance. It must be according to the guidelines for the photograph. Specific dimensions and background color must be followed
You should renew your OCI card whenever a new passport is issued for minors below the age of 20 or after turning 50. It must be done to make sure that you adhere to the OCI guidelines.
No, the OCI renewal application process cannot be expedited. Applicants should apply in advance for renewal or re-issuance to avoid any hindrances.
You can track the status of your application online by using the official OCI portal. You can use the application number to track your status.
