India is a diverse country that attracts people to its amazing landscape and offers enchanting views that rejuvenate anyone's soul. Alongside entering India from the USA, citizens require an OCI card and visa. Before 2005, minors from the USA were not able to get an OCI card. But now India has started offering OCI cards in the USA for minors.
OCI cards are considered to have a lifetime visa. It enables minors from the United States to enter and stay in India as long as they want. Additionally, in some special cases or occasions, this lifelong visa also expires.
If you are a US citizen and want an OCI card in America for India for your minor, then there are some rules and regulations that you need to follow. If you are seeking the same, then it is a perfect page; you have landed. Here in this post, we will learn about OCI cards for minors, how to fill out the OCI applications, etc. Stay tuned with us and learn more about OCI card requirements, OCI validity for minors, and everything about OCI.
Before diving into OCI cards for minors, let’s shed light on the meaning of the Indian OCI card for minors.
OCI stands for overseas citizen for India. It is a lifelong visa that enables OCI card holders to stay in India as long as they want. Alongside it is a multipurpose card, which allows you to visit India for various purposes. Whether it is for tourism, studies, business, or medical reasons.
All the advantages of a permanent Indian citizen are available to OCI cardholders. You will be able to purchase agricultural land and enter the nation without a visa application. Reporting your stay in the nation to the police is not even required.
Minors can apply for OCI cards in India as long as they are of Indian descent. All foreign passport holders are subject to this, except for citizens of Bangladesh and Pakistan. For a minor to be granted an OCI card, both parents must be Indian citizens or OCI card holders.
Now we will let you know the requirements for an Indian OCI card in the USA for minors.
To get you an Indian OCI Card from the USA for your kids, then here is the OCI checklist for minors. It will help you to provide information about some of the major documents that you need when you fill out the OCI application form.
To get an OCI card for minors, then you need to fill out the OCI application form over the government platform. But to get an Indian OCI card for minors, their parents need to fill out the form and submit it on the portal. If the minor is below 5 or 5 years old, then his/her thumb impression is necessary. On the other hand, if your child is more than 5 years old, then the applicant has to sign a minor OCI application.
The applicant needs to submit or upload 2 recent photos on OCI applications for minors. While submitting the photograph, remember that the uploaded photo should be 2x2 with a white background and without shades. However, when we talk about the OCI signature for minors, then it should be the same as on the application form.
Furthermore, proof of address is needed in order to register as an OCI card holder. A proper lease agreement, utility bill, state-issued proof of identity, or income tax return can be submitted by parents. Verify that the address on the application matches the current address in the document.
It is another document required to fill out the OCI minor’s application form. At the time of registration for Indian OCI for minors, their parents need to submit their passport copy. It should contain the passport number, holder's name, and amendment or endorsement pages. Apart from all these things, always make sure that your passport must have 6 months of remaining validity.
Candidates have to provide proof confirming they are Indian. They may present a certificate of residence, birth certificate, domicile certificate, or Indian passport. To obtain an OCI card, you must present your citizenship certificate.
We offer OCI, Visa, and Passport application services along with other services. Our team will make sure to get your dreams fulfilled by filling out an error-free application for you.
Now it's time to know how to apply for an Indian OCI card for minors.
|
Document |
Physical |
Scanned* |
Notes |
|
Child's Photograph |
Original |
Yes |
2 originals, size 2in x 2in; Scan at minimum 300 dpi. |
|
Child's Passport's Selected Pages |
Copy |
Yes |
Make copies of the info and endorsement pages Any one parent should attest. Scan the attested copies. |
|
Child's Thumb Impression |
- |
Yes |
Scan at a minimum of 300 dpi. |
|
Child's Birth Certificate |
Original |
Yes |
Must be approved |
|
Parent's Marriage Certificate |
Copy |
Yes |
Both parents should self-attest the physical copy. |
|
Parent's Legal Presence Documents |
Copy |
Yes |
Parents should self-attest copies of their respective documents: visa, I-94, EADs, I-797/I-140s, and any other documents as your case may be. |
|
Parent's Passport's Selected Pages |
Copy |
Yes |
Make copies of the first 3 and last 2 pages (self-attest) |
|
Utility Bill in Parent's Name |
Copy |
Yes |
Self-attest the bill and create a scanned copy. |
|
Notarized Parental Authorization Form |
Original |
Yes |
Obtain a form from the VFS website. |
|
Government Application Form |
Original |
- |
Will be generated after applying on the GOI OCI Portal. See below. |
|
Consent Letter |
Original |
- |
Parents have to write and sign a consent letter confirming that the Indian Embassy. |
1.) Apply on the GOI OCI portal
2.) Upload Photograph and Thumb Impression
3.) Upload Required Documents
4.) Upload scanned copies of the following documents:
5.) Print out the completed application and sign the declaration.
6.) Apply on the VFS portal with the following documents and details:
7.) Create an application packet with the following documents.
8.) Sit back, relax, and wait for your child's OCI.
Minors' OCI cards have the same validity term as adults'. Only after they become 20 years old do they need to get their OCI card reissued. You will need to get a new passport and have your OCI card reissued after you turn 20. With this method, the Indian government will access all of your personal information, including your facial features. Once you reach the age of fifty, you may also need to have your OCI card reissued.
The processing time for an OCI application in the USA is typically 8–10 weeks. The OCI registration fee is $275 per application
For people of Indian descent, an OCI card is a great option. With this visa, you can live like an Indian citizen for the rest of your life. However, the processing time of an OCI card can fall anywhere between 7 and 11 weeks. So, it is completely reasonable to find a faster and more convenient option.
Well, if you don’t want to wait for up to 12 weeks or will be staying in the country for a shorter period of time, getting an Indian e-visa is an excellent pick for you. You don’t need to wait for months; you can get an e-visa within 3-5 working days.
Anyone with a valid foreign passport is eligible to apply for an e-visa. The procedure is straightforward and efficient. To apply for a visa, simply complete the application, pay the processing cost, and submit your application. Your visa will be sent to you via email!
All the above-mentioned services, like filling out an OCI application and creating an e-visa, are done by Visament. So if you are looking for an immigration service provider, then you must try to choose this company. Let's shed light on why to choose Visament.
Visament is one of the best immigration service providers and offers 24x7 customer support. This organization provides various OCI services, including a new OCI card application, OCI Card Renewal/Reissue, and conversion of PIO to OCI Miscellaneous Services. Apart from this, they also provide visa and passport services.
Mistake-free applications, Inexpensive Prices, Clarity and Clearness, Speedy Approval, Privacy, and Confidentiality are some of the reasons that make Visament the finest immigration service provider across the world.
