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NO U visa for OCI anymore

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gbhsmp
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NO U visa for OCI anymore

Post by gbhsmp » Wed Feb 04, 2015 11:28 pm

Dont know if this hoax or something but I just saw this



Good news if this is true
anyone has any ideas ?

gbhsmp
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Re: NO U visa for OCI anymore

Post by gbhsmp » Wed Feb 04, 2015 11:35 pm

one more

http://www.cgihouston.org/notice/display/126

This is official. Dont know if this will be in the UK

gbhsmp
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Re: NO U visa for OCI anymore

Post by gbhsmp » Wed Feb 04, 2015 11:39 pm

almost every consulate has this information

USA
Hungary
norway
sweden
...

But nothing on CGI birmingham or CGI london .... oof !

gbhsmp
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Re: NO U visa for OCI anymore

Post by gbhsmp » Wed Feb 04, 2015 11:46 pm

Yes
This looks like it is happening.
Is it real. If yes then, atlast a refreshing change (not a OCI to OIC dummy change)


http://www.indiacgny.org/pdf/MHA_Circular_U.pdf

ban.s
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Re: NO U visa for OCI anymore

Post by ban.s » Thu Feb 05, 2015 11:46 am

Good initiative though it's not clear whether whether existing OCI cards would also be endorsed with "Visa validity - Lifelong" (or probably it would be by default assumed existing OCI cards also contain "Visa validity - Lifelong" status without any physical endorsement )

rajesh9pl
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Re: NO U visa for OCI anymore

Post by rajesh9pl » Thu Feb 05, 2015 3:09 pm

I understand that previously OCI holders need to carry OCI Registration Booklet and foriegn passport containing 'U' sticker. Going forward OCI holder need to carry OCI Registration Booklet and foriegn passport.

Can I ask if OCI registration certificate is part of Booklet? I hope OCI registration certificate won't be of A4 size :-)

I never had OCI, have applied one recently.

Thanks.

ban.s
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Re: NO U visa for OCI anymore

Post by ban.s » Thu Feb 05, 2015 3:19 pm

OCI registration certificate and booklet refer to the same entity (IMHO)

rajesh9pl
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Re: NO U visa for OCI anymore

Post by rajesh9pl » Thu Feb 05, 2015 3:38 pm

http://www.cgihouston.org/notice/display/126
The way Consulate General of India Houston has presented circular, it appears both are separate. Thanks anyway.

gbhsmp
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Re: NO U visa for OCI anymore

Post by gbhsmp » Thu Feb 05, 2015 11:13 pm

since there is no U visa anymore, people who apply for OCI do they need to send their british passport original when OCI is approved ?
All that needs to be done by CGI is that they have to send the OCI cards with the U visa sticker in them

There is no information about this anywhere

zdz
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Re: NO U visa for OCI anymore

Post by zdz » Mon Feb 16, 2015 10:31 am

This is great news actually.

If anyone has any information on when HCI London will be implementing this new process, I'd love to know. As I have a visa transfer due in a few weeks. (Renewal of UK passport). This *could* make that process much simpler. And hopefully not have to post new passport to HCI.

I've emailed them, asking when this will be live and when the website will be updated, will post any information I get here.

zdz
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Re: NO U visa for OCI anymore

Post by zdz » Mon Feb 23, 2015 10:30 am

Reply from HCI London, as follows:

"We do not have the formal information on the procedure as yet. You are advised to kindly keep checking the website for the update or drop us an e-mail after few days for the update."

No surprises there, then.

gbhsmp
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Re: NO U visa for OCI anymore

Post by gbhsmp » Tue Feb 24, 2015 1:54 pm

zdz wrote:Reply from HCI London, as follows:

"We do not have the formal information on the procedure as yet. You are advised to kindly keep checking the website for the update or drop us an e-mail after few days for the update."

No surprises there, then.
Thanks for updating.
The OCI status checking website has stopped working today morning.
Since everything is now outsourced to VFS what happens to the applications in pipeline ? Must we contact VFS or does the old process of sending passport by post to CGI/HCI be continued for the applications in pipeline ?
There is no news of this in the website.

Thanks

z18runway
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Re: NO U visa for OCI anymore

Post by z18runway » Tue Feb 24, 2015 4:36 pm

it worked yesterday morning
it worked last night
it worked today morning
still working

http://passport.gov.in/oci/statusEnqury

gbhsmp
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Re: NO U visa for OCI anymore

Post by gbhsmp » Tue Feb 24, 2015 7:24 pm

z18runway wrote:it worked yesterday morning
it worked last night
it worked today morning
still working

http://passport.gov.in/oci/statusEnqury
You are right.
I usually used to search google and the first hit was https://passport.gov.in/oci/statusEnqury
and the secure "https" is NOT working anymore whereas it used to work.
However the insecure "http" is still working

Well... waiting continues ...

sojan
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Re: NO U visa for OCI anymore

Post by sojan » Fri Feb 27, 2015 6:25 am

good Move.
Now they just need to confirm if existing OCI holders (while renewing their foreign passports), should they refresh their OCI?

gbhsmp
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Re: NO U visa for OCI anymore

Post by gbhsmp » Fri Feb 27, 2015 11:34 am

sojan wrote:good Move.
Now they just need to confirm if existing OCI holders (while renewing their foreign passports), should they refresh their OCI?
That is a good question.
As per Govt of INDIA, once a person receives OCI, and not above 50yrs age he/she can travel and enter INDIA just by showing their foreign passport with the OCI card. This is as per MOI, BOI etc., etc.,
But HCI london and CGI are saying that no such formal information has been received.
I would send a mail to HCI/CGI
Please also update us all if you get a reply.

zdz
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Re: NO U visa for OCI anymore

Post by zdz » Fri Feb 27, 2015 11:51 am

It will also be interesting to see how the biometric requirement pans out for OCI holders. Of course, not a sniff of information yet and go-live is imminent.

New and OCI renewals along with no more 'U' Visa. I'm due a renewal (new passport) and would be happy to visit VFS to submit biometric data.

What would be bad is to face problems in years ahead for OCI travellers still using 'U' visa with no bio data in an expired passport!

anonimouse
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Re: NO U visa for OCI anymore

Post by anonimouse » Tue Mar 03, 2015 1:34 pm

I would also like to know if the OCI booklet needs to be refreshed as my passport is coming up for renewal very soon. I have read that people travelling with a new passport have had to carry their old passport + OCI booklet and encountered no problems.

However, I really hope they will simplify the process as it would be pretty stupid to carry three pieces of documents i.e. old passport with the U sticker, OCI booklet and the new passport!

ban.s
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Re: NO U visa for OCI anymore

Post by ban.s » Tue Mar 03, 2015 4:32 pm

anonimouse wrote:I would also like to know if the OCI booklet needs to be refreshed as my passport is coming up for renewal very soon. I have read that people travelling with a new passport have had to carry their old passport + OCI booklet and encountered no problems.

However, I really hope they will simplify the process as it would be pretty stupid to carry three pieces of documents i.e. old passport with the U sticker, OCI booklet and the new passport!
Take a look at the MHA circular - http://www.indiacgny.org/pdf/MHA_Circular_U.pdf

anonimouse
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Re: NO U visa for OCI anymore

Post by anonimouse » Wed Mar 04, 2015 1:16 pm

The circular does not clearly state what happens in case of a renewal, as the old (expired) passport number is still printed in the OCI booklet. It takes just one official to dismiss any instructions and create another rule on the spot, based on inaccuracies or a power-trip.

gbhsmp
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Re: NO U visa for OCI anymore

Post by gbhsmp » Sun Mar 08, 2015 5:31 am

If anyone is going to recently travel to INDIA then they could ask the immigration officials during their stamping and get a clear information on what is being practiced.

gbhsmp
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Re: NO U visa for OCI anymore

Post by gbhsmp » Mon Mar 16, 2015 1:41 am

gbhsmp wrote:If anyone is going to recently travel to INDIA then they could ask the immigration officials during their stamping and get a clear information on what is being practiced.
I just did a travel. Went to the immigration official. All that the person did was scan the OCI card and stamped my British passport. The whole process was very smooth and not a single word uttered/asked.

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