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

need_a_tier1 · Post by **need_a_tier1** » Thu Nov 28, 2019 10:20 am

I am the OP for this thread. Very sorry for not getting back.

I can now share my experience - we flew with Air India to Ahmedabad in Dec 2018. For my child, I carried both new and old(cancelled) UK passports. The old passport had the OCI U visa sticker.

There were no questions asked at the Air India check-in desk at Heathrow.

Landing at Ahmedabad was late night / early morning, so few arrivals at that time. The immigration officers looked like the juniors doing the night duty, I handed over both old & new passports & oci for my son and again no questions were asked and new passport was stamped with the arrival stamp.

There were no problems either when we left India at the end of the trip.

However, I am going again in Dec now and I still haven't managed to get the "OCI re-issued" for my son. There are various screenshots of a memo issued by HCI London doing rounds on whatsapp groups.

I am worried now, but again I don't have time to apply for the new OCI. I am going my emirates this time, so all the more reason to worry as someone reported that emirates are denying check-in. The only thread I could find for emirates in this matter is from 2013:
third party weblink removed by moderator
But, the family were denied boarding as they were not carrying old passports which had the visa sticker.

I am planning to apply for e-visa for my son now. Anyone else in the same boat, who is applying for the e-visa. May be we can share our experiences.

Fly2Bharat · Post by **Fly2Bharat** » Thu Nov 28, 2019 10:44 am

Hi @need_a_tier1

Thanks for your update, unfortunately that experience was back in December 2018. Nevertheless your feedback and experience is very much appreciated, and helpful.

I have been considering applying for an eVisa, but I was told it's not possible to do so, as the children are OCI holders. The OCI would have to be cancelled 1st then an eVisa applied for.

If you do some how successfully obtain an eVisa for your children please please inform me as I will also try my luck.

All the best.

need_a_tier1 · Post by **need_a_tier1** » Thu Nov 28, 2019 10:46 am

thanks, where did you get this information from?

Fly2Bharat · Post by **Fly2Bharat** » Thu Nov 28, 2019 10:56 am

From the stuff member at VFS Global Leicester.

need_a_tier1 · Post by **need_a_tier1** » Thu Nov 28, 2019 5:26 pm

Yes, conflicting information. Spoke to various people at HCI London & VFS UK, and conflicting information each time.

Everyone I spoke to gave different information than the previous person.

This is what I have been told -

- No regular visa or e-visa can be issued to the active OCI card holder. So do not submit a regular visa or e-visa application, it will be rejected straightway .
- You can submit a regular visa application to VFS with an application explaining the situation that there is no time for OCI renewal. The HCI might consider this and grant a visa.
- In case the HCI issues a regular visa, that will no effect on the OCI or the OCI visa.
- In case the HCI issues a regular visa, they will 'temporarily' cancel the OCI. On your return, to the UK you can just use the £21 OCI Misc service to transfer the OCI to new passport. The temporary cancellation will have no effect on OCI re-issue Misc application on your return to UK.
- In case the HCI issues a regular visa, they will 'permanently' cancel the OCI. On your return, to the UK you will have to make a fresh OCI application.

My brain is completely fried now and I really don't know what to do.

Moreover, I tried starting the e-visa and regular paper visa applications online and both applications and more or less similar in the questions they ask. Both applications, ask the question "if you have visited India before" and if you answer yes then have to provide your expired/current Indian visa type, number and expiry date. Now you have to pick the visa type from a drop down menu and there is no option to choose OCI.

So, selecting "No" to "if you have visited India before" is like giving wrong information.
selecting any other visa type like 'tourist' or 'visit' is like giving wrong information.

But, shockingly both HCI & VFS have given wrong information and conflicting information:
- You can answer No to "if you have visited India before".
- You can answer Yes to "if you have visited India before" but in visa type select "tourist" and write your OCI number
- You can answer Yes to "if you have visited India before" but in visa type write N/A and write 000000 in visa number. (this was not possible as there is no option to write anything in visa type, but have to select from a drop-down menu)

So, basically no one at either the HCI or VFS knows what to do - everyone has their own understanding and just keeps giving wrong information.

I am really not sure what to do now.

- If I apply for OCI misc service, the application may not complete in time.
- If I apply for e-visa or regular paper visa, I may have to give incorrect answers to the questions I mentioned above.

need_a_tier1 · Post by **need_a_tier1** » Thu Nov 28, 2019 5:47 pm

Can someone guide me please,

I need to travel on 15th Dec and my 12 year old son has OCI linked to old UK passport. We don't have enough time to get the OCI re-issued to his new UK passport.

Last year, In Dec 2018 we travelled to India with the new & old passport and OCI booklet and were not asked any questions.

However, it appears that this time are rules are much more strict and there is chance of airlines denying boarding or Indian immigration may deny entry after landing in India.

If I apply for an e-visa or regular paper visa then I may have to falsify some information on the online application forms as both e-visa and regulat visa forms ask for current or previous Indian visa details and ask "if you have visited India before" . If I say no, then it will be incorrect. If I say yes, then I don't have any option to put OCI details there and OCI visa is not listed in the drop down menu. I can select Tourist visa or Visit visa but that will not be right.

I am thinking of getting a walk-in appointment and applying for OCI re-issue Misc service, if I get it in time then its fine, otherwise if it is getting late I will try my luck and travel without the OCI re-issue and will go for the second visit to VFS only after I come back to UK in january.

Can anyone suggest?

USA2001 · Post by **USA2001** » Thu Nov 28, 2019 9:18 pm

Hello,

I am in the same situation. My daughter has got a passport renewed recently and has OCI linked to Old passport. I emailed to NY and Chicago embassy and they replied either apply for an emergency visa or a regular visa. I have applied E-visa mentioning that she visited India on visit visa and OCI visa number. not sure if I will get it or not.
Though I have got all conflicting information when one person at the embassy told me that there is no issue if you are carrying an old passport along with a new passport with OCI card. but other Visa officer told me, You must need the visa to travel to India.

I connected with the immigration office at Delhi airport through my friend. The immigration officer told there is no issue to enter India if you have an old passport along with you.

it seems like all these issues are created by Qatar airline when they didn't issue the boarding pass if you do not have a new OCI. whereas Air India refused boarding pass in the US because the passenger was not carrying the old passport.

I am at damn risk now as my travel is just in 40 hours. I am at the mercy of EVisa or airline staff.

I don't know why the Indian embassy says OCI is with lifelong validity if it requires renewal with the passport. if it requires renewal then it must have expiry dates.

Fly2Bharat · Post by **Fly2Bharat** » Thu Nov 28, 2019 9:43 pm

need_a_tier1 wrote: ↑
Thu Nov 28, 2019 5:26 pm
Yes, conflicting information. Spoke to various people at HCI London & VFS UK, and conflicting information each time.

Everyone I spoke to gave different information than the previous person.

This is what I have been told -

- No regular visa or e-visa can be issued to the active OCI card holder. So do not submit a regular visa or e-visa application, it will be rejected straightway .
- You can submit a regular visa application to VFS with an application explaining the situation that there is no time for OCI renewal. The HCI might consider this and grant a visa.
- In case the HCI issues a regular visa, that will no effect on the OCI or the OCI visa.
- In case the HCI issues a regular visa, they will 'temporarily' cancel the OCI. On your return, to the UK you can just use the £21 OCI Misc service to transfer the OCI to new passport. The temporary cancellation will have no effect on OCI re-issue Misc application on your return to UK.
- In case the HCI issues a regular visa, they will 'permanently' cancel the OCI. On your return, to the UK you will have to make a fresh OCI application.

My brain is completely fried now and I really don't know what to do.

Moreover, I tried starting the e-visa and regular paper visa applications online and both applications and more or less similar in the questions they ask. Both applications, ask the question "if you have visited India before" and if you answer yes then have to provide your expired/current Indian visa type, number and expiry date. Now you have to pick the visa type from a drop down menu and there is no option to choose OCI.

So, selecting "No" to "if you have visited India before" is like giving wrong information.
selecting any other visa type like 'tourist' or 'visit' is like giving wrong information.

But, shockingly both HCI & VFS have given wrong information and conflicting information:
- You can answer No to "if you have visited India before".
- You can answer Yes to "if you have visited India before" but in visa type select "tourist" and write your OCI number
- You can answer Yes to "if you have visited India before" but in visa type write N/A and write 000000 in visa number. (this was not possible as there is no option to write anything in visa type, but have to select from a drop-down menu)

So, basically no one at either the HCI or VFS knows what to do - everyone has their own understanding and just keeps giving wrong information.

I am really not sure what to do now.

- If I apply for OCI misc service, the application may not complete in time.
- If I apply for e-visa or regular paper visa, I may have to give incorrect answers to the questions I mentioned above.

I can really understand how to feel as I am in a similar situation.
This is what I was trying to explain earlier in the thread, why are we the public expected to be searching all over the net looking for the correct information. The authorities don't know what the regulations are, and provide conflicting explanations. I feel like it will be at the discretion of the airline staff if you will be allowed to be boarded and the immigration stuff at the ports of India for entry. For all those who have more than 3 weeks I would say they should renew, if it arrives in 10 working days its a bonus. Anything less then that time its better to risk it with the airline. I know one thing for sure I will be cancelling my children's OCI as soon as I can.
Please keep us updated with your experience, I hope everything goes well for you.

abhay10001 · Post by **abhay10001** » Thu Nov 28, 2019 10:12 pm

Apply for OCI renewal.

westcoast984 · Post by **westcoast984** » Fri Nov 29, 2019 1:02 am

We got our OCI cards almost a decade ago and have been traveling with no issues. The latest trip was in January this year. Never had any issues. We actually got the U visa sticker as well which says it has lifelong validity so I had no idea that this even had to be renewed. Around November I saw the advisory and heard about some people being denied boarding. I called CKG and heard different things from different people. Some said get e-visa, some said it's ok to travel but renew when you get back, and one said to start the renewal process and that it's fine to travel with old OCI provided renewal is in process. So I tried to get our OCI renewed. I filled the government application but when I went CKG to submit it they wanted a crazy list of documents. I went ahead and got those but then they told me that now the applicant has to submit the old OCI card as well. They said process to get new OCI can take up to 60 days. I looked into e-visa but that asks me my Visa details, expiry, etc. Then on one Indian conslate website it says if you must travel just carry acknowledgement of renewal, old passport, new passport, and OCI. I only have a week at this point so I plan to travel with those 4 documents and renew it when I get back. This whole thing has been very confusing for us. I don't know why something that hasn't been an issue for many years is suddenly a huge issue.

need_a_tier1 · Post by **need_a_tier1** » Fri Nov 29, 2019 2:03 pm

westcoast984 wrote: ↑
Fri Nov 29, 2019 1:02 am
Then on one Indian conslate website it says if you must travel just carry acknowledgement of renewal, old passport, new passport, and OCI. I only have a week at this point so I plan to travel with those 4 documents and renew it when I get back.

Thanks for the update! Which website was this?

If you have the link can you please share it. Thanks again.

westcoast984 · Post by **westcoast984** » Fri Nov 29, 2019 4:24 pm

need_a_tier1 wrote: ↑
Fri Nov 29, 2019 2:03 pm

westcoast984 wrote: ↑
Fri Nov 29, 2019 1:02 am
Then on one Indian conslate website it says if you must travel just carry acknowledgement of renewal, old passport, new passport, and OCI. I only have a week at this point so I plan to travel with those 4 documents and renew it when I get back.
Thanks for the update! Which website was this?

If you have the link can you please share it. Thanks again.

https://cgihouston.gov.in/component/k2/ ... o-oci-card

"For OCI card holder under twenty years of age, he/she must get OCI card reissued whenever US passport is renewed. OCI card needs to be renewed after crossing 50 years of age only once, that too when the US passport is renewed. If time is short and you have to travel, please make an online application for renewal of OCI Card, carry acknowledgement/print out thereof, old passport and new passport and the old machine readable OCI card."

jaisingkar · Post by **jaisingkar** » Sun Dec 01, 2019 2:26 am

Hi,
I am in the same boat.. travelling with Emirates and 10 working days to travel. I just came across this that I need to transfer OCI to new passports for my kids. Wondering what to do?

USA2001 · Post by **USA2001** » Mon Dec 02, 2019 2:48 am

USA2001 wrote: ↑
Thu Nov 28, 2019 9:18 pm
Hello,

I am in the same situation. My daughter has got a passport renewed recently and has OCI linked to Old passport. I emailed to NY and Chicago embassy and they replied either apply for an emergency visa or a regular visa. I have applied E-visa mentioning that she visited India on visit visa and OCI visa number. not sure if I will get it or not.
Though I have got all conflicting information when one person at the embassy told me that there is no issue if you are carrying an old passport along with a new passport with OCI card. but other Visa officer told me, You must need the visa to travel to India.

I connected with the immigration office at Delhi airport through my friend. The immigration officer told there is no issue to enter India if you have an old passport along with you.

it seems like all these issues are created by Qatar airline when they didn't issue the boarding pass if you do not have a new OCI. whereas Air India refused boarding pass in the US because the passenger was not carrying the old passport.

I am at damn risk now as my travel is just in 40 hours. I am at the mercy of EVisa or airline staff.

I don't know why the Indian embassy says OCI is with lifelong validity if it requires renewal with the passport. if it requires renewal then it must have expiry dates.

An update- my family is able to travel to India without issue with old passport, old OCI and new passport. They travelled from Chicago to delhi via Amsterdam. No question asked by anyone at any ententes and exit criteria

Indimom · Post by **Indimom** » Mon Dec 02, 2019 3:29 am

USA2001
That is great. So was this KLM and did they check in directly at Chicago O'Hare or did they fly domestic to Chicago and then onwards? The reason I ask is because my friend flies from Austin to Kolkata and never has to interact with the international check in counter at JFK or Chicago and all his boarding passes are issued at Austin by Jet Blue or whoever. And they never questioned the OCI validity.
Also, were you able to get the eVisa for your daughter? Thanks!!

Bhav111 · Post by **Bhav111** » Mon Dec 02, 2019 6:45 pm

So has anyone been on Emirates from US to India lately? Any issues with expired OCI "U" stamped passport, OCI Booklet & New passport for a Minor? Just like others, I was under impression for the longest time that once OCI is done for my lil one, I'll no longer have to worry about any sort of renewal or visa. Time will tell...

txs89378 · Post by **txs89378** » Mon Dec 02, 2019 6:48 pm

Its good to hear the experience from USA2001. Very encouraging.

Some more research that I have done shows that in Oct, the system that airlines uses to check the visa requirements showed that the OCI needed to be renewed. The Timatic system has since been updated and revised this to a "Special Warning" at the very bottom, that will appear only on the 6-7 screen of a terminal if the agent decides to scroll so far down.

Bhav111 · Post by **Bhav111** » Thu Dec 05, 2019 1:43 pm

jaisingkar wrote: ↑
Sun Dec 01, 2019 2:26 am
Hi,
I am in the same boat.. travelling with Emirates and 10 working days to travel. I just came across this that I need to transfer OCI to new passports for my kids. Wondering what to do?

Hi, Please provide update once you have completed your travels.

Bhav111 · Post by **Bhav111** » Thu Dec 05, 2019 1:44 pm

need_a_tier1 wrote: ↑
Thu Nov 28, 2019 10:20 am
I am the OP for this thread. Very sorry for not getting back.

I can now share my experience - we flew with Air India to Ahmedabad in Dec 2018. For my child, I carried both new and old(cancelled) UK passports. The old passport had the OCI U visa sticker.

There were no questions asked at the Air India check-in desk at Heathrow.

Landing at Ahmedabad was late night / early morning, so few arrivals at that time. The immigration officers looked like the juniors doing the night duty, I handed over both old & new passports & oci for my son and again no questions were asked and new passport was stamped with the arrival stamp.

There were no problems either when we left India at the end of the trip.

However, I am going again in Dec now and I still haven't managed to get the "OCI re-issued" for my son. There are various screenshots of a memo issued by HCI London doing rounds on whatsapp groups.

I am worried now, but again I don't have time to apply for the new OCI. I am going my emirates this time, so all the more reason to worry as someone reported that emirates are denying check-in. The only thread I could find for emirates in this matter is from 2013:
Third party weblink removed by moderator
But, the family were denied boarding as they were not carrying old passports which had the visa sticker.

I am planning to apply for e-visa for my son now. Anyone else in the same boat, who is applying for the e-visa. May be we can share our experiences.

Hi, Please provide once your traveling is completed

Syams04 · Post by **Syams04** » Fri Dec 06, 2019 11:27 am

Bhav111 wrote: ↑
Mon Dec 02, 2019 6:45 pm
So has anyone been on Emirates from US to India lately? Any issues with expired OCI "U" stamped passport, OCI Booklet & New passport for a Minor? Just like others, I was under impression for the longest time that once OCI is done for my lil one, I'll no longer have to worry about any sort of renewal or visa. Time will tell...

Yes, we travelled on Emirates from Seattle to Kochi on Sunday,Dec 1st. My son’s passport was renewed last month and we didn’t have the time to apply to renew the OCI, as it took 4 months last time when we applied for OCI in lieu of pio . 2 days before our travel date we called emirates customer service and asked about this and they said they will allow us to board but they don’t know about the immigration. We carried old passport and OCI booklet along with new passport. no questions asked while boarding or at Immigration at Kochi.

Bhav111 · Post by **Bhav111** » Fri Dec 06, 2019 1:42 pm

Syams04 wrote: ↑
Fri Dec 06, 2019 11:27 am
Yes, we travelled on Emirates from Seattle to Kochi on Sunday,Dec 1st. My son’s passport was renewed last month and we didn’t have the time to apply to renew the OCI, as it took 4 months last time when we applied for OCI in lieu of pio . 2 days before our travel date we called emirates customer service and asked about this and they said they will allow us to board but they don’t know about the immigration. We carried old passport and OCI booklet along with new passport. no questions asked while boarding or at Immigration at Kochi.

Thank you so much for your update and info.

Deb74 · Post by **Deb74** » Fri Dec 06, 2019 6:32 pm

Great - I have a similar Situation- traveling Via Delta - Cincinnati- Paris-Delhi on Thu Dec-12 - Daughter got her OCI in 2017 and passport renewed in Aug 2019 - completely unaware- too late to do anything now- saw today on facebook someone petitioning the Consulate to give temporary reprieve to Folks like us till Mar 2020

Anyway, I have spent hours and come to the conclusion that its is the Airline (s) that is the causing the issue, As not one out of 100s of cases have been turned away at the Indian Port of Entry - so, if we onboard the Plane, we should be good in 99% of the cases.

I called the Airlines /Delta - it was picked by a simple person (didn't seem very knowledgeable about OCI) who said, as long as the Destination Country was ok, they don't care as long as the OCI is valid (not expired) - However, don't know though if we meet an overzealous Agent , if that will change.

I have sent an email to CGI NY and awaiting reply and other option is to get an E-VISA ( though as you guys said, its not straightforward with some of the questions where we might have to give incorrect info) - also don't know if it will be ready in 3 -4 days time.I will keep you posted.

As one of our friends above gave this link below -this is the best/most reasonable I have seen so far - maybe we can take a printout

https://cgihouston.gov.in/component/k2/ ... o-oci-card

So, I would probably start an OCI application, take the printout of the email acknowledgement and take it along just as proof that I have started the process (I am not going to submit everything)

I personally feel fully confident that no one in Indian Immigration is going to turn our kids away - we just need to board the airlines

abhay10001 · Post by **abhay10001** » Fri Dec 06, 2019 9:27 pm

believe me, they will not let you board

umasuta · Post by **umasuta** » Sat Dec 07, 2019 12:09 am

Looks like most of the people posting here didn't seem to have a problem boarding. Are you saying this with experience? I ask because I am in a similar situation

Ashish Rastogi · Post by **Ashish Rastogi** » Mon Dec 09, 2019 9:48 am

letter from immigration delhi
BOI SUPPORT CENTRE <support-boi@mha.gov.in>
To:

Nov 30 at 6:50 AM

Dear Sir/ Madam,

Your son may travel to India on his OCI card and valid Passport but it is suggested to carry old passport on which OCI card was issued to avoid undue/unforeseen delay/trouble.
You may do OCI re-registration.

Team BoI Support Centre

Immigrationboards.com: Immigration, work visa and work permit discussion board

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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