Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI)

Hi all, I'm about to do a fresh application for OCI and had a perhaps silly point to clarify. Apologies in advance if this is discussed already.

When the original documents are returned, will they send back the original UK passport, Naturalisation Cert, Surrender Cert and even the original Indian Passport? Or do they retain any of these with them.

Also, when the OCI document is received - is it just the document which looks similar to the Indian passport? If yes, why do they keep referring to OCI card in several of the websites including the govt site. I guess, it is not a card? Also, generally how long is this document valid for as standard?

thanks

All original documents are returned.

The OCI is a visa that is valid for life. This is subject to eligibility conditions (eg not working for a military) so it can be revoked if the holder does not meet the eligibility criteria.

The OCI card is the ICAO-compatible booklet that you get as proof you hold an OCI visa. It's not a passport. Depending on the age of the person, this needs to be renewed to keep up with facial changes.

See; https://www.vfsglobal.com/india/austral ... rvice.html

Hi Everyone,

In the pandemic it is difficult to get an employer letter. Would a scanned copy of a letter do or do they require a physical copy?

Also given they need a job description, does anyone have a template for this. I couldnt find this on the forum.

Nikhil

Hi
You can submit your application with a scanned copy . I submitted mine today at hounslow centre, i took a print out of scanned copy and they accepted it.

gsk13 wrote: ↑

Wed Oct 07, 2020 8:53 pm

Hi
You can submit your application with a scanned copy . I submitted mine today at hounslow centre, i took a print out of scanned copy and they accepted it.

Hi Can you let me know if hounslow is accepting Royal mail SD Envelop's and now many as i have conflicting info on how many is required and some center's are not accepting Royal Mail envelops from us.

Hi
Yes. Hounslow centre is accepting royal mail special delivery silver envelopes. You need to submit 2 envelopes for oci

gsk13 wrote: ↑

Thu Oct 08, 2020 10:25 pm

Hi
Yes. Hounslow centre is accepting royal mail special delivery silver envelopes. You need to submit 2 envelopes for oci

Thank you so much for your response

Timeline of my New OCI application: self
Application Date: 17/09/20
VFS Center: Birmingham
Date of acknowledgment: 18/09/20
Original docs Received back: 22/09/20
Documents Printing Status: 09/10/20
Dispatched From New Delhi (OCI): 09/10/20
Document received At Birmingham: 09/10/20
Dispatched by VFS: 12/10/20
OCI DOCUMENT RECEIVED: 16/10/20
Couldn’t be bothered to ask for a letter from my employer, hence submitted a payslip. However after a couple of days after submitting the application got a email from embassy asking about my job profile as the payslip didn’t have the details, for which I promptly replied.

Timeline of my New OCI application: daughter (baby)
Application Date: 04/09/20
VFS Center: Edinburgh
Date of acknowledgment: 11/09/20
Original docs Received back: 14/09/20
Documents Printing Status: 05/10/20
Dispatched From New Delhi (OCI): 06/10/20
Document received At Edinburgh: 13/10/20
Dispatched by VFS: Pending
OCI DOCUMENT RECEIVED: Pending


VFS Edinburgh service has been particularly rubbish, holding documents back for a week first and now OCI

Hello All

Apologies if this is not the right place to post my question.

Basically I am looking for OCI Renewal for my kid. I have been trying few times over the day to get an online appointment, unfortunately I am not able to find any slots around Southeast. Any advise on this please ?

Regards
Msr.

The appointment slots are usually opened on Fridays between 3.30-5.30pm

gsk13 wrote: ↑

Fri Oct 23, 2020 11:11 pm

The appointment slots are usually opened on Fridays between 3.30-5.30pm

Thanks @gsk for the info.

Hi, I was wondering if anybody has got the OCI approved and recieved within 6 weeks lately?

Hi

Yes, I received approval within 4 weeks. Submitted on 07 October and OCI approved and already received at London today. Hopefully i will receive in couple of days

That is great! We got a confirmation that it has been received in London on 29th October. But it has not been delivered yet.

Timeline of New OCI application: Minor Child
Application Date: 08/10/20
VFS Center: Hounslow
Date of acknowledgment: 09/10/20
Original docs Received back: 13/10/20
Documents Printing Status: 29/10/20
Dispatched From New Delhi (OCI): 29/10/20
Document received At London: 29/10/20
Dispatched by VFS: 02/11/20
OCI DOCUMENT RECEIVED: 03/11/20

OCI Renewal : Minor Child

Application Date: 03/11/20
VFS Center: Hounslow
Date of acknowledgment: 04/11/20
Documents Printing Status: 04/11/20
Dispatched From MEA (OCI): 04/11/20
Document received At London: 04/11/20

Original docs Received : 06/11/20
OCI DOCUMENT RECEIVED: 06/11/20

Timeline of New OCI application: ADULT

Application Date: 14/10/20
VFS Center: Goswell Road
Date of acknowledgment: 15/10/20
Original docs Received back: 21/10/20
Documents Printing Status: 04/11/20
Dispatched From New Delhi (OCI): 04/11/20
Document received At London: 04/11/20
Dispatched by VFS: 06/11/20
OCI DOCUMENT RECEIVED: 06/11/20

It has become a nightmare to get appointments on VFS website. Here in Belfast they are open only on Mon Wed Fri for limited times which is added complexity for applicants. Looks like actual processing times with Embassy have improved but the VFS is becoming crap.

Everyone is going through huge anxiety as without OCI we can’t fly to India in case of emergencies.

Hope Indian Embassy & MHA looks into this. Waiting for an appointment become available for last 2 weeks and ready with application.

Good luck everyone in the OCI process.

Timeline of New OCI application: Adult and child

Application Date: 21/10/20
VFS Center: Hounslow
Date of acknowledgment: 22/10/20
Original docs Received back: 24/10/20
Documents Printing Status: 11/11/20
Dispatched From New Delhi (OCI): 12/11/20
Document received At London: 12/11/20
Dispatched by VFS: waiting
OCI DOCUMENT RECEIVED: waiting

@Rimas15
Absolutely. I have been trying to find an appointment for last two weeks without success. And as you highlighted that only people with OCI card holders (other than Indian passport holders) can visit India now. I received my UK passport last month and I am doing everything possible to get the OCI done as soon as possible as my mother lives alone in India. This is really not very helpful neither by VFS, nor by the Indian Gov.

@RayBrighton,
HCI London has now suspended all new OCI related services including new OCI applications due to lockdown in England. It’s hard to understand Why do they process surrender applications if they do not want to process new OCI?

This doesn’t help us either. At least 3 more weeks of waiting until the lockdown is lifted and there will more applicants and struggle for appointment.

Timeline of New OCI application: Adult and child

Application Date: 21/10/20
VFS Center: Hounslow
Date of acknowledgment: 22/10/20
Original docs Received back: 24/10/20
Documents Printing Status: 11/11/20
Dispatched From New Delhi (OCI): 12/11/20
Document received At London: 12/11/20
Dispatched by VFS: 13/11/20
OCI DOCUMENT RECEIVED: 14/11/20

Timeline of my New OCI application: self + spouse

Application Date: 28/10/20
VFS Center: Hounslow, London
Date of acknowledgment: 29/10/20
Original docs Received back: 31/10/20
Documents Printing Status: 17/11/20
Dispatched From New Delhi (OCI): 17/11/20
Document received At London: 18/11/20  
Dispatched by VFS: 20/11/20
OCI DOCUMENT RECEIVED: 21/11/20  (+24  days from application date)

Application Date: 03/11/20
VFS Center: Hounslow, London
Date of acknowledgment: 04/11/20
Original docs Received back: 07/11/20
Documents Printing Status: 24/11/20
Dispatched From New Delhi (OCI): 24/11/20
Document received At London: 24/11/20
Dispatched by VFS: awaiting
OCI DOCUMENT RECEIVED: awaiting