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Child pasport renewed - no time to renew OCI - urgent travel

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charliep40
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Canada

Re: Child pasport renewed - no time to renew OCI - urgent travel

Post by charliep40 » Fri Dec 20, 2019 8:04 pm

jojo001 wrote:
Mon Dec 09, 2019 8:40 pm
Please also look at the advise from the consul general in Australia for those who dont have time to renew OCI before travelling.

https://www.sbs.com.au/language/english ... s-to-india

He has suggested getting a e-visa..

Evisa is neither controlled by VFS/ third party agents in other countries nor by Indian high commissions in your country. So it's useless asking them anything about this. An E visa is also not actually a visa ..Its just a document giving you authorisation to travel and the actual visa is stamped on your passport on your first arrival to India.

Chances are that on arrival in india they will probably just let you in with your previous OCI.The evisa is just a backup to keep the airline happy ;-)
I am in a similar situation. But my current passport was renewed when I was 48 and since then after being 50 have traveled with old passport with "U" visa , OCI booklet and current passport. with no issues at all in Nov 2017 and Dec 2018. I was waiting for next renewal of my passport to re new my OCI . Now I have a travel coming up with Lufthansa detroit - Frankfurt and Frankfurt - Mumbai on 23 January of 2020 still not enough time to receive a new OCI as they say it could be 6 weeks. Wasn't aware of this situation or else would have taken action on renwel.

CGI Toronto mentions

"1. In view of the biological changes, the OCI card is required to be reissued each time a new passport is issued to the applicant up to the age of 20 years. Applicants who have attained the age of 50 are also required to renew their OCI once a new Canadian passport is issued to them after 50. (However, in emergency cases, the applicant can perform the journey carrying the existing OCI along with old Canadian passport on which OCI was issued and the latest Canadian passport.) Application for OCI renewal can be submitted upon his/her return)."

https://www.cgitoronto.gov.in/eoi.php?i ... pplication

So I am confused as rest I thought of applying for E-visa as back up but did not know how to fill out the previous visa information as everyone is concerned about how to including myself. Should I call the airlines but you are at the discretion of check in agent and again at the boarding or immigration in Frankfurt. I am not so much concerned about the port of Entry at Mumbai. So any feedback Please is appreciated ?

Thank you

jojo001
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Posts: 59
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Re: Child pasport renewed - no time to renew OCI - urgent travel

Post by jojo001 » Fri Dec 20, 2019 8:31 pm

charliep40 wrote:
Fri Dec 20, 2019 8:04 pm
jojo001 wrote:
Mon Dec 09, 2019 8:40 pm
Please also look at the advise from the consul general in Australia for those who dont have time to renew OCI before travelling.

https://www.sbs.com.au/language/english ... s-to-india

He has suggested getting a e-visa..

Evisa is neither controlled by VFS/ third party agents in other countries nor by Indian high commissions in your country. So it's useless asking them anything about this. An E visa is also not actually a visa ..Its just a document giving you authorisation to travel and the actual visa is stamped on your passport on your first arrival to India.

Chances are that on arrival in india they will probably just let you in with your previous OCI.The evisa is just a backup to keep the airline happy ;-)
I am in a similar situation. But my current passport was renewed when I was 48 and since then after being 50 have traveled with old passport with "U" visa , OCI booklet and current passport. with no issues at all in Nov 2017 and Dec 2018. I was waiting for next renewal of my passport to re new my OCI . Now I have a travel coming up with Lufthansa detroit - Frankfurt and Frankfurt - Mumbai on 23 January of 2020 still not enough time to receive a new OCI as they say it could be 6 weeks. Wasn't aware of this situation or else would have taken action on renwel.

CGI Toronto mentions

"1. In view of the biological changes, the OCI card is required to be reissued each time a new passport is issued to the applicant up to the age of 20 years. Applicants who have attained the age of 50 are also required to renew their OCI once a new Canadian passport is issued to them after 50. (However, in emergency cases, the applicant can perform the journey carrying the existing OCI along with old Canadian passport on which OCI was issued and the latest Canadian passport.) Application for OCI renewal can be submitted upon his/her return)."

https://www.cgitoronto.gov.in/eoi.php?i ... pplication

So I am confused as rest I thought of applying for E-visa as back up but did not know how to fill out the previous visa information as everyone is concerned about how to including myself. Should I call the airlines but you are at the discretion of check in agent and again at the boarding or immigration in Frankfurt. I am not so much concerned about the port of Entry at Mumbai. So any feedback Please is appreciated ?

Thank you
As far as I can see you need not do anything till your next canadian passport renewal and you should be okay to travel on your current OCI.

The updated guidelines on TIMATIC web even gives a leeway to even those who have not renewed their OCI after renewing passport after 50.So you are far safer as your current passport was issued before 50

If at all you want to apply for evisa put visa type as entry visa and in visa number put your Oci number .

charliep40
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Re: Child pasport renewed - no time to renew OCI - urgent travel

Post by charliep40 » Fri Dec 20, 2019 9:27 pm

Your answer comes as a relief but would need more assurance from a similar situation as mine. I would think I should be OK if the Timatic website also mentions the same that on renewal after 50. So why bother wiht E-visa is my thinking will see. By the way were can I find this Timatic website with information regarding the same ? Lufthansa website does not have any information on OCI related entry requirements only regarding Visa requirements of various countries that's all.

Thanks

charliep40
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Re: Child pasport renewed - no time to renew OCI - urgent travel

Post by charliep40 » Fri Dec 20, 2019 9:55 pm

HAHA Looks like I should have started with the last page on this forum instead of reading thru them all but was interesting read. Now I also see the MEA website with the relaxation on OCI till 30 June 2020. But in my situation it shouldn't have mattered as it mentions

​"The following OCI guidelines have been in force since 2005:

OCI card needs to be re-issued each time a new passport is acquired by the cardholder up to the age of 20 years.
OCI card is required to be re-issued once on acquiring a new passport after completing 50 years of age.
Re-issuance of OCI card is not required each time a passport is issued to a cardholder between 21 and 50 years of age.
​This is to inform that Government of India has decided to grant temporary relaxation till 30th June 2020 in the following cases:

(i) In case an OCI card holder below the age of 20 years has not got OCI card re-issued on change of passport, he/she may travel on the strength of his/her existing OCI card bearing old passport number subject to the condition that along with the new passport, the OCI cardholder carries old passport mentioned in the OCI card.

(ii) In case an OCI card holder who has attained the age of 50 years and got his/her passport renewed subsequently but has not got his/her OCI card re-issued on renewal of passport, he/she may travel till June 30, 2020 on the strength of existing OCI card along-with the new and old passports.

​It is, however, advised that OCI cardholders may take steps to comply with the existing OCI guidelines in Para 1 above and renew their OCI cards as required by the rules."

jojo001
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Re: Child pasport renewed - no time to renew OCI - urgent travel

Post by jojo001 » Sun Dec 22, 2019 1:07 pm

charliep40 wrote:
Fri Dec 20, 2019 9:27 pm
Your answer comes as a relief but would need more assurance from a similar situation as mine. I would think I should be OK if the Timatic website also mentions the same that on renewal after 50. So why bother wiht E-visa is my thinking will see. By the way were can I find this Timatic website with information regarding the same ? Lufthansa website does not have any information on OCI related entry requirements only regarding Visa requirements of various countries that's all.

Thanks

You have to pay to access TIMATIC web but some airlines like korean air allow you to access it via their website

So just navigate to the link below and enter your details like country of Residence, which passport you are travelling on etc and you get the requirements.


https://www.koreanair.com/global/en/tra ... imaticweb/

jojo001
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Re: Child pasport renewed - no time to renew OCI - urgent travel

Post by jojo001 » Sun Dec 22, 2019 1:13 pm

In fact they have even removed the requirement about OCI renewals when passport is renewed

All it says now is

Passengers with an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card younger than 21 years must have both passports when the passport number in the OCI card does not match the one in the valid passport.

Passengers with an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card 50 years or older must have both passports when the passport number in the OCI card does not match the one in the valid passport.


Till a week or so above it said

Important:
Passengers who are 20 years and younger must apply for a new OCI card every time they get a new passport.
Passengers who are 21 and younger than 50 years are not required to apply for a new OCI card when they get a new passport. They can present the OCI card with a valid passport.
Passengers older than 50 years must apply for a new OCI on the first renewal of the passport after 50 years. If the OCI card is issued for the first time after the passenger is older than 50 years, there is no need to issue a new OCI every time a new passport is issued.



So they have removed all the ambiguity about OCI renewals

charliep40
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Re: Child pasport renewed - no time to renew OCI - urgent travel

Post by charliep40 » Mon Dec 23, 2019 12:25 am

jojo001 wrote:
Sun Dec 22, 2019 1:13 pm
In fact they have even removed the requirement about OCI renewals when passport is renewed

All it says now is

Passengers with an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card younger than 21 years must have both passports when the passport number in the OCI card does not match the one in the valid passport.

Passengers with an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card 50 years or older must have both passports when the passport number in the OCI card does not match the one in the valid passport.


Till a week or so above it said

Important:
Passengers who are 20 years and younger must apply for a new OCI card every time they get a new passport.
Passengers who are 21 and younger than 50 years are not required to apply for a new OCI card when they get a new passport. They can present the OCI card with a valid passport.
Passengers older than 50 years must apply for a new OCI on the first renewal of the passport after 50 years. If the OCI card is issued for the first time after the passenger is older than 50 years, there is no need to issue a new OCI every time a new passport is issued.



So they have removed all the ambiguity about OCI renewals
Nice but in case for people over 50 yrs hopefully the airlines after 30 June 2020 read the guidelines properly and able to see all the dates on the passport when it was renewed comparing to the birth date that at least the person has renewed once after he was 50 but still it would be a pain to renew again since the procedure is same as a fresh OCI never mind the fees are negligible but for people leaving a distance away from nearest outsourced centers is a hassle. It kind of defeats the LIFELONG "U" visa sticker in the old passport. So lets what new developments come.

Also where did you see all the ambiguity removed about renewals don't we still have to do once the passport is renewed after 50 ?

txs89378
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Re: Child pasport renewed - no time to renew OCI - urgent travel

Post by txs89378 » Mon Dec 23, 2019 1:46 am

I can now share my travel experience. Flew from Newark to Mumbai on last week on UA. At checkin in EWR, agent looked at OCI and new passport for my daughter and did not say anything and allowed checkin. Didn't ask for old passport (FYI - we have the U-sticker on the old passport)
At the gate, they do a secondary document check. The agent (an Indian who seemed to be the expert) wanted me to show me everything I had and he would decide what is relevant or not. Looked at our documents and stamped the boarding pass "docs ok". Later on I happened to talk to him and he told me he knows all about the OCI fiasco for minors and said that if the Indian govt wants people to renew their OCI, then they should stop issuing OCIs that say "lifelong". He said that as long as you have an OCI that says "lifelong" or U-sticker that says "lifelong", you will have no problem. He said any "govt advisory" from consulates/embassy is meaningless for him as he is looking for a govt issued visa/OCI/U-sticker on a govt-issued passport and that trumps everything else.

At immigration in Mumbai, no problem at all. The immigration officer did not ask for my daughter's old passport, and reluctantly looked at it when I showed it to him. He even joked that my daughter has a cute picture on her OCI (she was like 2 then). He didn't even look at my old passport.

Some other tidbits that I got from standing in line at immigration. Several families were there with OCI linked to old passport and travelling with new passport. No one had any issues. There was one family who had done an E-visa and tried to enter on OCI, their problem was that the immigration computers was pulling up the E-visa automatically and not allowing the immigration officer to enter them in on OCI. Not sure how that got resolved.

scammy
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India

Re: Child pasport renewed - no time to renew OCI - urgent travel

Post by scammy » Mon Dec 23, 2019 1:57 am

"He said that as long as you have an OCI that says "lifelong" or U-sticker that says "lifelong", you will have no problem. He said any "govt advisory" from consulates/embassy is meaningless for him as he is looking for a govt issued visa/OCI/U-sticker on a govt-issued passport and that trumps everything else."

The above statement is totally true. As long as you carry the passport that contains the "lifelong" visa stamp, you are OK. This is just a money making scheme by the Govt. of India. They have never made a statement about the lifelong Visa. Infact, they have stopped using the lifelong visa and placed the "lifelong" word in the OCI. So, newer OCI's will need to follow the newer guidance.

Unfortunately, many airline agents get confused by the OCI. Simply, show the agent, your LIFELONG visa without the OCI book and in India simply show them the OCI passbook.

For those of you without the lieflong visa in the passport, you will need to play the game of renewing per their new rules.

Indimom
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Re: Child pasport renewed - no time to renew OCI - urgent travel

Post by Indimom » Mon Dec 23, 2019 8:23 am

OCI booklets issued after Jan 2015 have the words "Life Long Visa" stamped on them. Why should it be any different from a visa sticker on the passport saying Life Long Visa? This whole thing of you have a sticker so you are good to go is very annoying and disturbing. I wish the govt would have spelled it out in the same notification that the old passport does not need to contain the sticker. It seems the OCI reissue process in US is extremely convoluted because of the documents that CKGS demands. Whereas if done in India it is really very simple.

jojo001
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Re: Child pasport renewed - no time to renew OCI - urgent travel

Post by jojo001 » Mon Dec 23, 2019 11:31 am

Indimom wrote:
Mon Dec 23, 2019 8:23 am
OCI booklets issued after Jan 2015 have the words "Life Long Visa" stamped on them. Why should it be any different from a visa sticker on the passport saying Life Long Visa? This whole thing of you have a sticker so you are good to go is very annoying and disturbing. I wish the govt would have spelled it out in the same notification that the old passport does not need to contain the sticker. It seems the OCI reissue process in US is extremely convoluted because of the documents that CKGS demands. Whereas if done in India it is really very simple.

I thought the OCI process in US is easier?

In the UK we even have to get a letter from employer even for OCI renewals .:-(

jojo001
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Re: Child pasport renewed - no time to renew OCI - urgent travel

Post by jojo001 » Mon Dec 23, 2019 11:35 am

charliep40 wrote:
Mon Dec 23, 2019 12:25 am
jojo001 wrote:
Sun Dec 22, 2019 1:13 pm
In fact they have even removed the requirement about OCI renewals when passport is renewed

All it says now is

Passengers with an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card younger than 21 years must have both passports when the passport number in the OCI card does not match the one in the valid passport.

Passengers with an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card 50 years or older must have both passports when the passport number in the OCI card does not match the one in the valid passport.


Till a week or so above it said

Important:
Passengers who are 20 years and younger must apply for a new OCI card every time they get a new passport.
Passengers who are 21 and younger than 50 years are not required to apply for a new OCI card when they get a new passport. They can present the OCI card with a valid passport.
Passengers older than 50 years must apply for a new OCI on the first renewal of the passport after 50 years. If the OCI card is issued for the first time after the passenger is older than 50 years, there is no need to issue a new OCI every time a new passport is issued.



So they have removed all the ambiguity about OCI renewals
Nice but in case for people over 50 yrs hopefully the airlines after 30 June 2020 read the guidelines properly and able to see all the dates on the passport when it was renewed comparing to the birth date that at least the person has renewed once after he was 50 but still it would be a pain to renew again since the procedure is same as a fresh OCI never mind the fees are negligible but for people leaving a distance away from nearest outsourced centers is a hassle. It kind of defeats the LIFELONG "U" visa sticker in the old passport. So lets what new developments come.

Also where did you see all the ambiguity removed about renewals don't we still have to do once the passport is renewed after 50 ?
What I meant is that they have removed the timeframe for OCI renewals (under 20 and over 50) from the Timatic database even though the official notification has given a 6 month grace period.

The OCI rules have always only required you to renew OCI after you renew foreign passport after 50.

I have never seen a case of anyone having any issues with travel if they carried both passports and if their foreign passport was renewed before 50.

A family member used to be a check in agent for a long time and is very clear about this

charliep40
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Re: Child pasport renewed - no time to renew OCI - urgent travel

Post by charliep40 » Tue Dec 24, 2019 10:07 pm

"A family member used to be a check in agent for a long time and is very clear about this"

That's nice very good.

Thanks

shaanm
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Re: Child pasport renewed - no time to renew OCI - urgent travel

Post by shaanm » Tue Feb 11, 2020 11:01 pm

jsms10 wrote:
Fri Dec 13, 2019 11:06 pm
My experience at JFK boarding Kuwait airways today....when I presented with my kids passport with OCI on the expired passport....they started checking if that was valid for travel....they knew that kids can’t travel on OCI on expired passport...as a backup I had gotten eVisa for the kids and they let us proceed on the basis of it....worthwhile $25 spent....I suggest anyone lacking time to renew OCI apply for an EVisa as a backup to avoid surprises at the airport....else it is a game of luck....

eVisa was quick, I applied on Sunday night and get them within 72 hours of applying.....

Bon Jour!!
What information you filled/selected for the "type of visa" and "last visa number" while applying for e-visa. There is no option of pio or oci.

jojo001
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Re: Child pasport renewed - no time to renew OCI - urgent travel

Post by jojo001 » Mon Feb 24, 2020 4:21 am

If you have taken a visa before put that number.

If you only travelled on an OCI before after acquiring foreign nationality either you can say that you have never travelled to India on a visa or you can put the ici number in the section..

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