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You might need help with applying for an OCI card, as the application process can be complex and tough sometimes. The OCI card application requires correct documents, specific formatting, and an understanding of a confusing online portal. Meeting the specific requirements for uploading the documents can be challenging at times. You may need assistance, and Visament is here to assist you. From filling out an error-free application to submitting accurate documents, our team can help you with everything.
We have a team that has good knowledge about immigration applications and procedures. Get round-the-clock assistance for any issues related to an OCI. Our team will keep you informed about any updates on your OCI services in Chicago. We help you save time, and effort and ensure that you enjoy a smooth application process. Choose us and we ensure that you won’t regret the price you pay.
An OCI card stands for Overseas Citizenship of India, introduced in 2005. It allows people of Indian origin who were Indian citizens on or after 26th January 1950 to register themselves as OCI cardholders. It also offers them several advantages, such as a multiple-entry lifetime visa to India. However, obtaining an OCI card is liable to certain eligibility criteria and procedures. You need to submit proper documents and accurate information. The whole process can be difficult to understand and complete on your own.
Contact Visament and get knowledge about everything related to an OCI. Our team can help you understand the eligibility criteria, the documents required, and the whole procedure. They can guide you at every step so that you apply for all OCI services in Chicago without any hassle. While we take care of the paperwork, you can avail yourself of the lifeline perks of having an OCI status. Connect with Visament today and enjoy a stress-free application process.
People of Indian origin who register for an OCI card or anyone who is registered as an OCI cardholder can avail of many benefits. These benefits include:
➜ Multiple-Entry Visa: The main advantage of having an OCI card is that you get multiple entries in India. It is a lifelong visa that allows foreign citizens of Indian origin to live and work in India for an indefinite period. They can enter India anytime without the need to apply for a visa at any time. Also, an OCI card is valid for your lifetime.
➜ Important Document: An OCI card allows the cardholder to apply for some important government documents. It can be used as proof of your Indian origin to apply for government services and documents. It includes an Aadhaar card, driving license, PAN card, etc. These documents are important in India and OCI cardholders can acquire these documents easily as compared to an NRI.
➜ Educational And Employment Opportunities: An OCI cardholder gets the same educational rights as an Indian citizen. They are also allowed to work in most sectors of the economy. The OCI cardholder can appear for all-Indian entrance exams and can also apply for admission to NRI seats. They can work in certain professions such as nurses, lawyers, architects, dentists, etc.
➜ Exempt From Registration With The FRRO: Unlike the other visa holders, the OCI cardholder is exempt from registering with the FRRO (Foreign Regional Registration Officer) for any duration of stay in India. It means that they don’t have to register with the local authorities when visiting India for any length of stay. They can freely travel and stay in India for as long as they want.
➜ Economic Parity With NRIs: OCI cardholders have economic parity with NRIs (Non-Resident Indians) in a lot of areas, including financial, educational, and economic fields. They get the same access to domestic fares as Indian residents and have to pay the same entry fees for national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, and museums.
If you wish to avail of all the benefits of an OCI card, you need to fulfill the eligibility criteria. These are the eligibility criteria that you need to fulfill to get the OCI status:
➜ You were eligible to become a citizen of India on 26th January 1950.
➜ If you are a citizen of some other country, but were a citizen of India on or after the 26th of January.
➜ Citizen of some other country but belonged to a territory that became part of India after 15th August 1947.
➜ Is a child, grandchild, or great-grandchild of a person who fulfills the above-mentioned criteria.
➜ A spouse of an OCI cardholder registered under section 7A of the Citizenship Act 1955 or a spouse of a foreign citizen of India. Whose marriage has been registered for a continuous period of two years.
Remember that you must not have been a citizen of Pakistan, Bangladesh, or any other country as specified by the Central Government. It is the main factor that disqualifies someone from getting OCI services USA. Also, active or retired foreign military staff of Indian origin are not eligible to apply for an OCI card.
There are some OCI document requirements in Chicago to prove your Indian origin, identity, and current residency. You need to submit all the required documents as per your specific situation. Here is a list of documents to resolve your doubts regarding what documents are needed for OCI application in Chicago.
➜ Current Passport: A copy of your current valid passport.
➜ Birth Certificate: Provide a copy of your birth certificate
➜ PIO card: Provide a copy of your PIO card if you have one.
➜ Previous Indian Visa: If applicable, provide a copy of your previous Indian visa.
➜ Naturalization Certificate: If applicable, provide a copy of your naturalization certificate.
➜ Consent of Parents: Self-attested copy of your parent's consent to get OCI services for minors.
➜ Evidence of Indian Origin: Submit a copy of your parent’s OCI card, canceled Indian passport, or renunciation certificate.
➜ Proof of Relationship: Evidence of your relationship to an Indian citizen if you are applying based on someone’s or your parent’s Indian citizenship.
➜ OCI Application Form: Provide a printed copy of the OCI application form that you have filled out online.
➜ Proof of Address: You need to provide proof of address in case you are applying from outside of India.
➜ Marriage Certificate: A self-attested copy of your marriage certificate if your spouse’s name is on the application.
➜ Photograph: Your recent colored photograph in 2*2 inch size (51mm*51mm) with a plain white background.
Applying for an OCI card in Chicago may seem stressful if you don’t follow the correct steps. However, not anymore when you choose us. Visament converts the complex and daunting OCI application process into an easy one. Follow these steps to apply for an OCI card in Chicago easily without wasting a lot of time:
➜ Step 1. Choose a Service and Provide The Fee: You can easily apply for an OCI card in Chicago online by visiting Visament’s website. Once you visit our website, you will see a long list of services that we provide. Select OCI in Chicago and provide an amount as a fee that is stated on the website to proceed further with the next steps. After we receive the payment, we will move on to the next step.
➜ Step 2. Checklist And Document Submission: Our team will quickly send you a checklist of the required documents for your OCI card application based on your situation. You need to gather all the documents, scan them, and submit them to us. Keep in mind that every document mentioned on the checklist is important so you must not miss out on any of the documents.
➜ Step 3. Verification and Performing the Paperwork: After receiving all the documents, our experts will verify each document to make sure that every document has been submitted accurately. Once our team is assured that everything is correct, they will begin your application process. They will handle all the paperwork like filling out your OCI application form with accurate details to prevent you from facing rejections and delays.
➜ Step 4. Receiving the File and Scheduling an Appointment: Once we complete all the paperwork, we will send you the prepared file and you need to take a printout of this file to submit it further. On your behalf, our team will book an appointment at your nearest VFS Global center. Take the printout along with you to the center on the scheduled date and time.
➜ Step 5. Checking the Status and Getting the Documents: You will get an ARN when you submit your application, use this ARN to track the status of your OCI card application and stay informed about any updates. It will help you be aware if any additional document or any step has to be taken from your side. To make it easier, our team will also ensure to send regular notifications about the status of your OCI application. You will receive your OCI card along with the documents via courier.
By following these steps, you can easily apply for an OCI card in Chicago. However, if you face any kind of problem during the process, connect with our experts.
The processing time to get a new OCI card in Chicago takes approximately 5-6 weeks. Also, the processing time for reissuing or updating an OCI card usually takes 6-7 weeks. However, some factors may affect the processing time such as:
➜ The processing time may get delayed if any kind of technical issues arise.
➜ It also depends on whether the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has granted clearance for your application or not.
The fee to get an OCI card in Chicago is US$275. It includes the OCI card fee, the Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF) fees, and a service charge. The amount of fees for each of these are as follows:
| S.No | OCI Service Type | Fee (in USD $) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | New OCI Card | $275 |
| 2 | OCI Card Re-issue (for an existing card) | $25 |
| 3 | OCI Card Re-issue (in lieu of lost/damaged card) | $100 |
| 4 | Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF) | $3 |
| 5 | VFS Service Charge |
$15.90 per application
|
| 6 | Online Payment Convenience Charges |
3.5% of the total payment for online or card payments.
|
You may have to pay some additional fee to get optional services. It includes fees for shipping labels, courier services, SMS, etc. You can pay the service change to VFS Global by credit card, debit card, cashier’s check, or money order.
You can also check application fees and timeline for OCI services in Dallas.
It is important to track the status of your Overseas Citizenship of India application in Chicago to stay updated and informed. You can track the status of your OCI card application online by following the steps mentioned below:
➜ Step 1: Navigate to the Official OCI Website: Visit the official website for OCI services which is the official government portal for OCI services.
➜ Step 2: Login to Your Account: If you have an account on the portal already, you need to log into your account using your login user ID and password. If you don’t have an account, then you need to sign up at the site and register yourself to track the status of your OCI application.
➜ Step 3: Track Your Application Status: Once you log into your account, you need to look for the “Track application status” or “Status Inquiry” option on the website. Here, you have to provide some details like your application reference number (ARN) or passport number along with the other required information like your birth date.
➜ Step 4: Track Your Status: Once you enter and submit all the details, the portal will display the status of your application. It can be any one of the following options:
➜ Step 5: Get Updates Via Email/SMS notifications: The Indian embassy or consulate will send notifications to your registered email or phone number to keep you updated. They will inform you when your OCI card gets dispatched to be delivered or if any additional information is required from your side.
➜ Step 6: Contact the Embassy/Consulate: If you can’t track the status of your application online or if it shows that some actions have to be taken on your end. In such a case, you can contact the Indian embassy or consulate in the USA. You can call or mail the visa and consular services division.
Alternatively, you can easily track the status of your OCI card application in Chicago at Visament’s website.
Do you know that you don’t have to spend a huge amount to get good-quality service? If not, then choose Visament. You can get top-notch services along with expert guidance at very affordable prices. There are multiple advantages to choosing Visament’s expertise. If you are searching for a Chicago-based OCI support service, contact Visament. You can get assistance with all the following OCI-related services:
➜ Application For New OCI Card: An OCI card is issued by the government of India that acts as proof of a person’s Indian origin. The application process for an OCI card is complex and tough. We can help you avoid the difficult application process so that you can be stress-free. Our team will make sure that you get an OCI card swiftly and avail of all the benefits.
➜ Lost or Damaged OCI Card: Losing or damaging your OCI card can be a troublesome experience. Don’t worry, We can help you with getting your lost/damaged OCI card replaced. We will make sure that you regain your OCI status.
➜ OCI Miscellaneous Services USA: Keeping your OCI card updated is important to keep enjoying the benefits of an OCI status. Our team will guide you at every step to ensure that you experience a hassle-free application process.
➜ OCI Card for Minors: With a team of professionals, we make applying for an OCI for minors easy and quick. Our team can help you prepare everything beforehand to avoid any last-minute issues. Why think twice when you can get the best assistance by your side.
➜ Conversion of PIO to OCI: Want to convert your PIO card to OCI but don’t know how to do it? No worries, our team can help you throughout the process to make it seamless and straightforward.
You can get assistance with multiple services at Visament. We will make sure that you get everything in one place so that you can save time from navigating to different websites. You tell us your requirements, and we will provide the solution. Here is a list of services that our Visament team can assist you with:
| Passport | Other Services |
|---|---|
| Passport Renewal |
PAN Card Services
|
| Renunciation Services |
Aadhar Card Services
|
| Surrender of Indian Passport | |
| Indian Passport Renewal New York |
Police Clearance Certificate Help (PCC)
|
When an OCI application becomes a troubling task in your life, Visament acts as a stress-buster. We make sure that you don’t have to take the stress of paperwork. With an approval rate of 98%, we can assure you that your application will not face rejection. We promise that you will get satisfactory services tailored according to your requirements so that you don’t get disappointed after choosing us.
Our team will look after every individual application to ensure that it has no errors and meets the specified guidelines. Stop struggling with complex procedures when Visament is here to assist you. We have a long list of expertise in this field but here are some of the things that make us trustworthy.
➜ No risk of facing rejections or delays
➜ High-quality services at affordable prices
➜ Expert Assistance and Guidance at every step
➜ Round-the-clock assistance anytime, anywhere
➜ Customized support tailored for every application
Select the service you need.
Complete payment and upload your documents.
Our experts verify and submit your documents.
Receive your receipt and track progress.
Select the service you need, upload your documents, and let us take care of the rest. Quick, secure, and hassle-free!
Get StartedYou can get an OCI card in Chicago by filling out an online application form, collecting the required documents, scheduling an appointment, paying the required amount of fees, and attending your appointment at the VFS Centre.
The cost of an OCI application in Chicago is $275, along with the service charge and a contribution to the Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF). The government fee for an OCI application is $275 per applicant, service charge is $15. 90 and the contribution to ICWF is $3.
Anyone who is a resident of the consular jurisdiction of the Consulate General of Indian in Chicago and who fulfills the eligibility criteria can apply for an OCI card in Chicago. It includes residents of Lowa, Michigan, Missouri, North Dakota, South Dakota, Indiana, Illinois, Minnesota, and Wisconsin.
You can get help with an OCI card in Chicago at the VFS Indian Consular Application Centre, located at 180 N Stetson Avenue, Suite 2075, 20th Floor, Chicago, IL 60601. You can also mail them atoci.chicago@mea.gov.in to ask specific queries.
It takes around 5-6 weeks from the date of registration for the processing of a new OCI card in Chicago and for re-issuing or updating an OCI card, the processing time is usually 6-7 weeks. However, some factors may affect the processing time so it is advised to apply as early as possible.
Yes, you can track the status of your OCI application online at the official website of OCI services. You can also check your application status on the online portal of VFS Global if you have yourself registered there when you applied.
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