Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI)

Thank you macgyver. Do you have the link for this discussion in the forum? as i cudnt find precise altough there r quite lot for OCI? nd btw if i travel with a Visa will that b "tourist visa"? nd how long does it take to get that?

thanks for the anticipation

[quote="amit13"]Thank you macgyver. Do you have the link for this discussion in the forum? as i cudnt find precise altough there r quite lot for OCI? nd btw if i travel with a Visa will that b "tourist visa"? nd how long does it take to get that?

thanks for the anticipation[/quote

Sorry, haven't got a link.
Visa should not take long. 6 months should be enough depending on how long youwant to visit for and yes tourist VISA. Check on the VFS site and I think earlier it used to take 10 to 15 days. The VFS site might have more information

Got the OCI booklet and passports stickered (mine, wife's n skid's) today from HCI London.
I had applied on 6th June in person and it was granted on 26th June
Arrived in London on 5th July
Collected today (11/7)
Reached at about 8:30 AM at HCI today and there was a small queue about 15-20 people. Submitted the passports and the print outs of the status reports at about 9:30 Am and given a token and asked to return at 4:30 PM. Collected at 4:40 PM today.
Thank you everyone on here for their help.

Hi,

For the submission of OCI in person at the HCI london, should all the major applicants go in person? and can they submit their forms on different days although we are all from the same family. And is it OK to use the same Part B form for all of us, because this is how the online version was created and submitted. I hope that submission of the forms on different days doesn't mean we will have to use different Part B's?

Is it also true that we have to submit two sets of forms and docs copies for all of us, incl. photos?

Any similar experiences would be greatly received.

Thanks

Application sent: 3 May-2013 (postal London HCI)
Application received:
Date Of Acknowledgement: 17 June-2013
Documents Printing Status : 10 July at Delhi
Reached London: 16 July 2013
Printed out posted on: 17 July 2013.

Received the OCI card by post today .i.e .23 July 2013!
THAT WAS FAST!

Hope the information helps!

I went in person to the London HCIL to collect my OCI. I went at 10:30 am and rocked straight up to the counter, not a soul around. Handed in my passport and print out and got my token in less than 20 seconds. Was told to pick up at 4:30. Highly recommend going in later for no queuing.

[quote="kamal.gulati"]Hi

Though my OCI is due to be received in London but wanted to know the process on the day to pick it.

Is there too much crowd?
If I reach there around 9:30 am then also be able to submit my passport?

Please share your experience

Thanks
Kamal
_________________
KAMAL[/quote]




I went in person to the London HCIL to collect my OCI. I went at 10:30 am and rocked straight up to the counter, not a soul around. Handed in my passport and print out and got my token in less than 20 seconds. Was told to pick up at 4:30. Highly recommend going in later for no queuing.

nnn wrote:I went in person to the London HCIL to collect my OCI. I went at 10:30 am and rocked straight up to the counter, not a soul around. Handed in my passport and print out and got my token in less than 20 seconds. Was told to pick up at 4:30. Highly recommend going in later for no queuing.

Seems effect of Holiday season felt there as well. So this must be best time for any applications!!

Hi,

Just had my naturalisation in the first week of July and I want to go to India for at least a year asap,

I will be applying for British Passport this week and hope to get that by no later than end of August

After that I suppose I have to apply for Surrender certificate which assuming should be done maybe by Sept end.

If all goes well, will I be OK to go to India with a tourist VISA and then can I apply for OCI in Delhi?

Also was just wondering when you get the surrender certificate, you also get you cancelled Indian passport back which I can take to Delhi?

And if I can and do get OCI in Delhi, will that change my status then and there and I can go over my tourist VISA and stay there as OCI for a year?

OR

Is it not recommended to get OCI in India for some reasons (?) and best to get it sorted in UK before I leave?

Any help appreciated,

Thanks,

[quote]nnn wrote:
I went in person to the London HCIL to collect my OCI. I went at 10:30 am and rocked straight up to the counter, not a soul around. Handed in my passport and print out and got my token in less than 20 seconds. Was told to pick up at 4:30. Highly recommend going in later for no queuing.


Seems effect of Holiday season felt there as well. So this must be best time for any applications!!
_________________
Cheers,
SST[/quote]



For collection, I went at 4:30 and saw a loooong line. I was quite worried as the counter is only open for 30 minutes. However, it moved very quick and I got my oci booklet at 4:45.

Better to sort out OCI being here, probably You can apply and go if in Urgency, but then You might have to come back for stamping.

sunny1407 wrote:Hi,

Just had my naturalisation in the first week of July and I want to go to India for at least a year asap,

I will be applying for British Passport this week and hope to get that by no later than end of August

After that I suppose I have to apply for Surrender certificate which assuming should be done maybe by Sept end.

If all goes well, will I be OK to go to India with a tourist VISA and then can I apply for OCI in Delhi?

Also was just wondering when you get the surrender certificate, you also get you cancelled Indian passport back which I can take to Delhi?

And if I can and do get OCI in Delhi, will that change my status then and there and I can go over my tourist VISA and stay there as OCI for a year?

OR

Is it not recommended to get OCI in India for some reasons (?) and best to get it sorted in UK before I leave?

Any help appreciated,

Thanks,

sstichkule wrote:Better to sort out OCI being here, probably You can apply and go if in Urgency, but then You might have to come back for stamping.

sunny1407 wrote:Hi,

Just had my naturalisation in the first week of July and I want to go to India for at least a year asap,

I will be applying for British Passport this week and hope to get that by no later than end of August

After that I suppose I have to apply for Surrender certificate which assuming should be done maybe by Sept end.

If all goes well, will I be OK to go to India with a tourist VISA and then can I apply for OCI in Delhi?

Also was just wondering when you get the surrender certificate, you also get you cancelled Indian passport back which I can take to Delhi?

And if I can and do get OCI in Delhi, will that change my status then and there and I can go over my tourist VISA and stay there as OCI for a year?

OR

Is it not recommended to get OCI in India for some reasons (?) and best to get it sorted in UK before I leave?

Any help appreciated,

Thanks,

When you say, come back for stamping? you mean the U Visa stamp.

I thought you could get the whole OCI in India and the reason for sorting out OCI here would have been for reasons like ease, time frames etc

So is it the case that OCI U Visa stamp cannot be done in India?

sunny1407 wrote: When you say, come back for stamping? you mean the U Visa stamp.

I thought you could get the whole OCI in India and the reason for sorting out OCI here would have been for reasons like ease, time frames etc

So is it the case that OCI U Visa stamp cannot be done in India?

if you travel to india on a visa and then apply for OCI there, then the entire process including the stamping will be done by the FRRO.

ban.s wrote:

sunny1407 wrote: When you say, come back for stamping? you mean the U Visa stamp.

I thought you could get the whole OCI in India and the reason for sorting out OCI here would have been for reasons like ease, time frames etc

So is it the case that OCI U Visa stamp cannot be done in India?

if you travel to india on a visa and then apply for OCI there, then the entire process including the stamping will be done by the FRRO.

Ah Great, so I assume if I get OCI in India, I will automatically switch from tourist Visa to the OCI status without having to travel back to UK again.

Also would appreciate if you can throw some light on Pros and Cons if I decide to take that route instead of getting the OCI in UK please?

Timeline is important, You need to get OCI done, if applied in india, before your visit visa runs out. otherwise You will have to leave country. Also You will not be able to work in India till You get Youe OCI done.

sunny1407 wrote:

ban.s wrote:

sunny1407 wrote: When you say, come back for stamping? you mean the U Visa stamp.

I thought you could get the whole OCI in India and the reason for sorting out OCI here would have been for reasons like ease, time frames etc

So is it the case that OCI U Visa stamp cannot be done in India?

if you travel to india on a visa and then apply for OCI there, then the entire process including the stamping will be done by the FRRO.

Ah Great, so I assume if I get OCI in India, I will automatically switch from tourist Visa to the OCI status without having to travel back to UK again.

Also would appreciate if you can throw some light on Pros and Cons if I decide to take that route instead of getting the OCI in UK please?

I don't know your urgency of travel but if you can, get OCI sorted in UK and travel with peace of mind. If you apply in person at London HCI, then you'll receive OCI within 5 weeks.

There is officially no 'cons' in applying in India as the process is relatively straight forward - perhaps the bureaucracy and officialdom will be a problem. Having said that I haven't dealt with FRRO - so things may have changed for better or worse.

ban.s wrote:I don't know your urgency of travel but if you can, get OCI sorted in UK and travel with peace of mind. If you apply in person at London HCI, then you'll receive OCI within 5 weeks.

There is officially no 'cons' in applying in India as the process is relatively straight forward - perhaps the bureaucracy and officialdom will be a problem. Having said that I haven't dealt with FRRO - so things may have changed for better or worse.

I see, Well I am not planning to work in India and have heard good things about the passport office changes in the last few years in India.

I know this is different but I think I will try this route (apply OCI in India with visitor VISA) and report back if successful.

So please correct me in my plan if anything wrong.

1. Get my British passport
2. Get Surrender Certificate from VFS
3. Get Tourist Visa for 6 months from VFS
4. Go to India on BP with my cancelled and previous Indian passports
5. Apply OCI in Delhi FRRO
6. If successful, would be able to stay without returning back to UK for longer than 6 months
7. If unsuccessful, come back within 6 months to UK and go through the OCI process again

Please comment your thoughts,

Thanks

Good luck. I don't think you have to face Step 7.
also carry surrender certificate. after surrender of passport, old / cancelled passports have no value, surrender certificate is the key document.

ban.s wrote:Good luck. I don't think you have to face Step 7.
also carry surrender certificate. after surrender of passport, old / cancelled passports have no value, surrender certificate is the key document.

Yeah will do and also the naturalisation certificate I guess. I shall post back on my experience

I have finally got the message that the OCI document has been received at London. Will now send the British passports by post.
My time line were the following
Date that the documents received by post at London - 08 April 2013
Date Of Acknowledgment 17-JUN-2013
Registration Status at Mission LONDON
OCI- Number xxxxxxx
Documents Printing Status PROCESSED On 09-JUL-2013
Dispatched From MOIA (OCI ) NEW DELHI On 11-JUL-2013
Document received At LONDON On 16-JUL-2013

As mentioned on the website it takes exactly 4 weeks for the oci documents to come to the high commission from the date of acknowledgement.

Applied for OCI through post at london on 9th July and it is acknowledged on 16th July. Got the original surrender certificate back as well..
This is a lot quicker than normal probably due to school holidays...

Time

Birmingham CGI is taking very long time than expected .

Date applied in person at Birmingham - 09 April 2013
Date Of Acknowledgment 09-April-2013
Registration Status at Mission Birmingham
OCI- Number XXXXXXXX
Documents Printing Status -Processed on 19 th Jul 2013
Dispatched From MOIA (OCI ) 23 rd Jul 2013
Document received At Birmingham - 29 th Jul 2013

Hello ALl,
Just checked at online, the status of my OCI:
yeap they are here in HCI london.
I would like to send the British passports by post.

My Time Lines:
Date that the documents received by post at London - 21 May 2013
Date Of Acknowledgment 20-JUN-2013

Documents Printing Status PROCESSED On 11-JUL-2013
Dispatched From MOIA (OCI ) NEW DELHI On 15-JUL-2013
Document received At LONDON On 19-JUL-2013

Can anybody please advise

Below documents are okay for OCI colection by post!!! please advise

a) Print out of on-line status report

b) British Passport

c) one Return special delivery envelope


To Address by special delivery:

OCI Section,
High Commission of India,
Aldwych, London,
WC2B 4NA


OCI CARD/CERTIFICATE:

Is it a certificate, or stamp in British passport or separate book

Anybody who received OCI card recently, please kindly advise.

Regards
Ravi

piridi.ark wrote: OCI CARD/CERTIFICATE:

Is it a certificate, or stamp in British passport or separate book

OCI Booklet + Visa sticker in British Passport. For travel you need to carry both.