Answers to Your Most Common OCI Questions
No, the OCI cardholders do not need to pay more tax in India as the OCI status does not impact your tax liability in India. Like the other residents in India, they pay the tax on the income they earn in India.
According to the revised guidelines, the Indian government has provided OCI cardholders with some relaxations in relation to OCI card renewal. Now, OCI cardholders are not required to renew or reissue their cards due to passport change or any other reason except the 20 years of age.
At present, the Aadhaar card facility is only available to Indian residents. However, OCI cardholders who have lived in India for a long time i.e. more than 182 days in one year immediately preceding the application date for enrolment, and have an Indian address can apply for the Aadhaar card.
According to the new rules for Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) by the Indian government now the cardholder only needs to renew their card once when they get a new passport after completing 20 years of age. However, up to 20 years of age every time a new passport is issued to these applicants with the latest photo need to upload a photocopy of a new passport online.
Yes, OCI cardholders can also apply for PAN Cards in India. For this, they need to fill the form 49AA. It is for those NRIs who have citizenship of foreign countries such as OCI holders or applicants who belong to India but have foreign nationality. In addition, those people who have Indian citizenship but settled abroad should fill out form 49A for a PAN card.
Yes, you can travel to India while your OCI card is still in process. During this, you can use your existing and new passport and any present OCI card you have by your side as long it holds the validity.
Generally, the process takes 5 to 6 weeks to get an OCI in lieu of a PIO card from the submission date. However, depending on the Indian consulate or embassy where you apply in the UK the application time may vary.
Yes, OCI is better than PIO as it offers significant perks to applicants of Indian origin with fewer restrictions including a lifelong visa, advanced security features, and more. Considering this fact, the Indian government abolished the PIO card and merged the scheme with OCI, meaning a PIO cardholder can apply for the OCI card.
Yes, PIO can do business in India. The Indian government granted them the right to invest in businesses and buy residential or commercial property in the country. However, they do not get employment rights in Indian government services nor they can have any constitutional office.
Yes, till 31st December 2025, Indian immigration as a valid travel document will accept the PIO cards including the handwritten also along with a valid foreign passport.
You can track the status of your OCI application in Dallas by visiting the official website of OCI and clicking on the “Status Enquiry” option. You can also check your status on the portal of VFS Global where you have already registered when applying for the OCI card.
Yes, you can renew your OCI card in Dallas by sending an application to VFS Global. You must renew your OCI card at the age of 20 when getting a new passport and again after the age of 50.
The cost of OCI service in Dallas depends on the type of service you choose and the service provider as well. However, when you apply for a new OCI card, the cost will be $275 for the consular fee and $3 for the Indian community welfare fund.
The average processing time for an OCI application in Dallas is generally between 5-6 weeks from the date you register. The processing time may take longer depending on the required clearance from the Ministry of Home Affairs and individual situations.
The documents required for the OCI application in Dallas are an application form, a copy of your passport, evidence of Indian origin, proof of address, a copy of current or previous employment, and any other document as per your situation.
You can apply for an OCI card in Dallas online by filling out an application form on the VFS website. After that, you need to submit some required documents and schedule an appointment. At the end, you must pay the required fee and attend the scheduled appointment.
In general, OCI miscellaneous services take up to 3-6 weeks for the processing of updating or issuing a lost card.
You need to provide some of the essential documents that are required for the OCI miscellaneous services UK: Current passport, Photocopy of the first and last page of OCI card, Old British Passport, UK Address Proof, Dated and signed OCI application form, Two recent passport-size photos, Original OCI Card.
To update your OCI with a new passport in the UK, you need to visit the Official OCI portal and select “Miscellaneous Services” After that select the option “ passport for particulars” and attach all the necessary documents for your passport.
To track OCI miscellaneous applications, you first visit the VFS Global portal, then select the option “Status Inquiry” and click on “Track your application”. Fill in all the details like your OCI application number, and passport number, and click on “Track status” where you will get real-time updates of your OCI Miscellaneous application.
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