Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI)

Date Of Application 18-MAY-2015 (2 kids, one US passport and one UK passport)
Registration Status at Mission PADDINGTON
Documents Printing Status PROCESSED On 09-JUNE-2015
Dispatched From MOIA (OCI ) NEW DELHI On 12-JUN-2015
Document received At LONDON On HOPEFULLY TODAY OR TOMORROW!

One question: the information pack says to bring (among other things) a copy of the OCI application. I didn't make a copy when I submitted. Is there a way to download from the VFS website somehow? Or is it OK not to take it? Any experiences would be useful to hear, thanks

Application Method to HCI: VFS/Paddington
Application made in person on: 14-05-2015
Registration Status at Mission: London
Date Of Acknowledgement (on website) :15-05-2015
Originals Received by Royal Mail SP: 27-05-2015
Documents Printing Status PROCESSED On : 05-06-2015
Dispatched From MOIA (OCI ) NEW DELHI On : 11-06-2015
OCI Document received At HCI/VFS London On : 15-06-2015
Handed over Passports at VFS Office: Pending
Received OCI booklet & passport: Pending

Date Of Acknowledgment 18-MAY-2015
Registration Status at Mission LONDON
OCI- Number XXXXXX
Documents Printing Status PROCESSED On 09-JUN-2015
Dispatched From MOIA (OCI ) NEW DELHI On 12-JUN-2015
Document received At LONDON On 15-JUN-2015

Application Method to VFS Manchester
Application submitted On : 30/04/2015

Date Of Acknowledgement (on website) :05/05/2015
Originals Received: 01.06.15
Documents Printing Status PROCESSED On : 11.06.2015
Dispatched From MOIA (OCI ) NEW DELHI On : 11.06.15
OCI Document received At Birmingham On : 15.06.15
Handed over Passports at VFS Office:
Received OCI booklet & passport:

Date of application : 28 April 2015 (Vfs Paddington)
Date of Acknowledgement : 30 April 2015
Processed completed on : 20 May 2015
......
A huge gap here between Document printing and dispatch from Delhi
......
Dispatched From MOIA (OCI ) NEW DELHI On 08-JUN-2015
Document received At London On 10-JUN-2015
Passport handed to VFS (Paddington) on - 11-JUN-2015
OCI booklet/Passport with U visa received On 16-JUN-2015

http://in.vfsglobal.co.uk/

Important Closure Notice: India Visa and Consular Service Application Centre, 142 – 148 Goswell Road, EC1V 7DU will be temporarily closed for repair and maintenance work from 22 June 2015 till 3 July 2015 (both dates inclusive). The services will be resumed as normal from Monday 6 July 2015. Applicants applying for Urgent/Same day Business Visa during this period should visit the India Visa and Consular Service Application Centre in Paddington between 08:30 and 11:00. Please click here for the address details and directions.

They didn't mention how Collection Procedure for approved OCI will be if you have applied at Goswell.

MT84 wrote:http://in.vfsglobal.co.uk/

Important Closure Notice: India Visa and Consular Service Application Centre, 142 – 148 Goswell Road, EC1V 7DU will be temporarily closed for repair and maintenance work from 22 June 2015 till 3 July 2015 (both dates inclusive). The services will be resumed as normal from Monday 6 July 2015. Applicants applying for Urgent/Same day Business Visa during this period should visit the India Visa and Consular Service Application Centre in Paddington between 08:30 and 11:00. Please click here for the address details and directions.

They didn't mention how Collection Procedure for approved OCI will be if you have applied at Goswell.

There is no collection for OCI. You might have supplied a Royalmail envelope or opted to use the VFS courier service, through which your passport + OCI booklet will be sent.

If, by collection you mean depositing the passport (after tracking the online process) to VFS, that can be done in any VFS during normal working hours, without needing an appointment.

cfdman wrote:

MT84 wrote:http://in.vfsglobal.co.uk/

Important Closure Notice: India Visa and Consular Service Application Centre, 142 – 148 Goswell Road, EC1V 7DU will be temporarily closed for repair and maintenance work from 22 June 2015 till 3 July 2015 (both dates inclusive). The services will be resumed as normal from Monday 6 July 2015. Applicants applying for Urgent/Same day Business Visa during this period should visit the India Visa and Consular Service Application Centre in Paddington between 08:30 and 11:00. Please click here for the address details and directions.

They didn't mention how Collection Procedure for approved OCI will be if you have applied at Goswell.

There is no collection for OCI. You might have supplied a Royalmail envelope or opted to use the VFS courier service, through which your passport + OCI booklet will be sent.

If, by collection you mean depositing the passport (after tracking the online process) to VFS, that can be done in any VFS during normal working hours, without needing an appointment.

The vfs website says 'Applicants are required to check the status online and when status shows OCI received in London/Birmingham/Edinburgh on a particular date, the following documents must be submitted to the India Visa and Consular Services Application Centre, where original application was submitted''. So better check with them before going there.

goingbrit wrote:One question: the information pack says to bring (among other things) a copy of the OCI application. I didn't make a copy when I submitted. Is there a way to download from the VFS website somehow? Or is it OK not to take it? Any experiences would be useful to hear, thanks

Hi, I took the following:

1. Printout of the Online Status Enquiry page. They kept this.
2. 'Declaration for Passport Submission for issuance of OCI' form. They removed a small label from the barcoded return envelope and put it on this form. They then returned the form back to me! They didn't check any of the details on the form so I don't know what the point of completing this form is, other than perhaps to give you a means of tracking the envelope with Royal Mail.
3. UK passport. They kept this.
4. Barcoded envelope for returning the passport and OCI card. They kept this
5. Acknowledgement receipt. They didn't ask for or want this.
6. OCI application form. They didn't ask for or want this either.

I would advise that you take as much documentation as possible with you. My experience may be different to others.

Hope that helps. Good luck.

cfdman wrote:

MT84 wrote:http://in.vfsglobal.co.uk/

Important Closure Notice: India Visa and Consular Service Application Centre, 142 – 148 Goswell Road, EC1V 7DU will be temporarily closed for repair and maintenance work from 22 June 2015 till 3 July 2015 (both dates inclusive). The services will be resumed as normal from Monday 6 July 2015. Applicants applying for Urgent/Same day Business Visa during this period should visit the India Visa and Consular Service Application Centre in Paddington between 08:30 and 11:00. Please click here for the address details and directions.

They didn't mention how Collection Procedure for approved OCI will be if you have applied at Goswell.

There is no collection for OCI. You might have supplied a Royalmail envelope or opted to use the VFS courier service, through which your passport + OCI booklet will be sent.

If, by collection you mean depositing the passport (after tracking the online process) to VFS, that can be done in any VFS during normal working hours, without needing an appointment.

I just copied and pasted "Collection Procedure for approved OCI" from their website.

Unfortunately you can not submit your UK passport to any other centre, it has to be where original application was submitted. I have email them, awaiting reply.

Hi,

Is vfs hounslow opens on saturdays and sundays? Anyone have any idea?

Application Method to HCI: VFS
Application Posted On : 08-05-2015 (1 Child)
Registration Status at Mission: London
Date Of Acknowledgement (on website) :11.05.15
Originals Received:
Documents Printing Status PROCESSED On : 01.06.2015
Dispatched From MOIA (OCI ) NEW DELHI On : 10.06.15
OCI Document received At HCI/VFS On : 12.06.15
Handed over Passports at VFS Office: 12.06.15
Received OCI booklet & passport: 17/06/15

Application Method to HCI: VFS
Application Posted On : 05-05-2015 (2 + 1 Child)
Registration Status at Mission: London - Paddington
Date Of Acknowledgement (on website) :06.05.15
Originals Received: 24.05.15
Documents Printing Status PROCESSED On : 26.05.2015
Dispatched From MOIA (OCI ) NEW DELHI On : 09.06.15
OCI Document received At HCI/VFS On : 11.06.15
Handed over Passports at VFS Office: 12.06.15
Received OCI booklet & passport: 19.06.15 (after 2 days of chasing DX Unsecure)

All future OCI applicants, please carry 2 Royal Mail Next Day delivery cover for each application at the time of submission. They cost half of DX Secure and are delivered on time.

Application Method to HCI: VFS BRISTOL
Application for one adult
Application Posted On : 30-APRIL-2015
Date Of Acknowledgment 01-MAY-2015
Registration Status at Mission LONDON
Documents Printing Status UNDER-PROCESS


Compared to other recently posted timelines, mine appears to be stuck somewhere.

travelling in a month's time.

will write an e-mail to VFS; any other suggestions?

Tx

mahetus1 wrote:Application Method to HCI: VFS BRISTOL
Application for one adult
Application Posted On : 30-APRIL-2015
Date Of Acknowledgment 01-MAY-2015
Registration Status at Mission LONDON
Documents Printing Status UNDER-PROCESS


Compared to other recently posted timelines, mine appears to be stuck somewhere.

travelling in a month's time.

will write an e-mail to VFS; any other suggestions?

Tx

You have to definitely send query to Vfs, oci team india
I hope you have reference number starting with GB.

There own timeline states 42 days...

I submitted on 1st may 2015, Bristol vfs, ......
OCI recieved in london 11th june 2015

Twitter to MEA is quite helpful. One of my friend has his case resolved very quickly.

All the best

Many thanks Mahesh for the Twitter idea! - indeed worth trying.

I have sent query e-mail and now will tweet to MEA / Shushmaji as well. I happen to hold respect for MEA after recent Yemen evacuation etc.

Hello all,

I'm back after a while on the forum again with a fresh set of questions. So my baby and I are British citizens and my wife is dual British and Romanian. I have surrendered my Indian passport and obtained the surrender certificate and now intend to apply for OCI for all of us. Now as i understand it, I am eligible for OCI straight up without any issues, and so is my baby. When it comes to my wife, I am a little confused. It appears that the eligibility criteria is "Spouse of foreign origin of an OCI cardholder where the marriage has subsisted for two years". So by the sound of it, it appears that only once I get my OCI card will I be able to apply for an OCI for my wife. I cannot apply for an OCI for her at the same time as I apply for myself and my baby. On the other hand, for a minor child, they are eligible if "one of their parents holds an OCI card, or is eligible to get an OCI card".

This could be badly worded eligibility criteria, or it could be a genuine criteria, I don't know. Has anyone been in a similar situation before and knows whether it is possible to apply for my wife's OCI at the same time I apply for myself and my baby?

Thanks

Hello to all

All senior members, I applied for OCI and it has been received to london office on 26/june. Now my question is I applied through Goswel road office which is closed for one more week. What i have to do shall i have wait for one more week or else I can submitted my passport at paddington office. Please ur advise will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks
SQ

sq wrote:Hello to all

All senior members, I applied for OCI and it has been received to london office on 26/june. Now my question is I applied through Goswel road office which is closed for one more week. What i have to do shall i have wait for one more week or else I can submitted my passport at paddington office. Please ur advise will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks
SQ

As far as I am aware the submission of passport for the OCI sticker can only be done where the original application was submitted. I have an email from VFS stating this. Therefore, you will have to go to the Goswell Rd office.

The VFS website states that the opening hours of the Paddington office are as follows:
Working Hours: 08:30 - 15:30 with appointments only.
Collection of Visas/Surrender Certificate only between 16:00 - 17:30.

For submitting my passport to hand over the Royal Mail special delivery envelope and obtain the OCI sticker can I go until 17:30 or 15:30?

Thanks.

NOG wrote:

sq wrote:Hello to all

All senior members, I applied for OCI and it has been received to london office on 26/june. Now my question is I applied through Goswel road office which is closed for one more week. What i have to do shall i have wait for one more week or else I can submitted my passport at paddington office. Please ur advise will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks
SQ

As far as I am aware the submission of passport for the OCI sticker can only be done where the original application was submitted. I have an email from VFS stating this. Therefore, you will have to go to the Goswell Rd office.

Tnx NOG

So that i will wait one more week.

sq wrote:Hello to all

All senior members, I applied for OCI and it has been received to london office on 26/june. Now my question is I applied through Goswel road office which is closed for one more week. What i have to do shall i have wait for one more week or else I can submitted my passport at paddington office. Please ur advise will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks
SQ

You can apply at Paddington VFS, I was at the same situation for my son's application and sent an email to VFS helpline and here is the email I sent and the reply I got.

Hi,

I applied for my son's OCI application at VFS Goswell road. I am expecting to receive the OCI card at London next week, but just found that the Goswell road office is closed from 22nd June to 3rd July. Would it be possible to submit the passport at a different VFS office?


Reply from VFS
"You can submit the passport at the India Visa and Consular Service Application Centre in Paddington between 08:30 and 11:00. Please click here for the address details and directions."

I submitted tha passport on Wednessday (24th) and got it back on Saturday(27th)

Tnx jobinscaria

Today I applied in Paddington. They accept my application.

SQ

Hi,
My dad became a British citizen in 1968 so his Indian passport wasn't returned to him from the UK home office. The Home Office used to keep the Indian passports that time. He would like to apply for an OCI and he has his Naturalisation certificate, a notory school education certificate, and a Notory affidavit to confirm that his Indian passport was not returned to him by the UK home office. Will this be enough for his OCI?

Application Method to HCI: VFS/Paddington
Application made in person on: 14-05-2015
Registration Status at Mission: London
Date Of Acknowledgement (on website) :15-05-2015
Originals Received by Royal Mail SP: 27-05-2015
Documents Printing Status PROCESSED On : 05-06-2015
Dispatched From MOIA (OCI ) NEW DELHI On : 11-06-2015
OCI Document received At HCI/VFS London On : 15-06-2015
Handed over Passports at VFS Office: 30-06-2015
Received OCI booklet & passport: 03-07-2015 (Missed delivery)
Received OCI booklet & passport: 06-07-2015 (Rearranged delivery)