Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI)

I believe it needs to be emailed to the HCI and others as pointed our in earlier post on this thread. VFS did not even mention I will need to do this when I applied for my OCI. So if I had not come to the forum, I wouldn't have known I will have to do it.

learner1947 wrote: ↑

Tue Feb 06, 2024 8:19 pm

Do you know where/how to send the soft copy of the RC?

I was told (at the time of my OCI Application) that I will have to upload it to the OCI website but that has now locked.

Thanks!

cfc_2015 wrote: ↑

Tue Feb 06, 2024 11:39 am

My Timeline

Renunciation Certificate:
Location: VFS Goswell, London
In-person submission date: 22/12/2023
Status: Application Received (as of 6 Feb 2024)
Number of Adult applications: 2
Document receipt: pending

OCI application (Adult):
Location: VFS Goswell, London
In-person submission date: 26/1/2024
Date of acknowledgement: 29/1/2024
Status: Under-process (as of 6 Feb 2024)
Original Docs received: 30/1/2024 (via DX)
Number of adult applications: 2
Document receipt: pending

OCI application (Infant - British Citizen only):
Location: VFS Goswell, London
In-person submission date: 29/1/2024
Date of acknowledgement: 30/1/2024
Status: Under-process (as of 6 Feb 2024)
Original Docs received: 31/1/2024 (via DX)
Document receipt: pending

Understand OCI will not be printed till RC soft copies are sent so eagerly awaiting receipt of RC.

Thanks!

cfc_2015 wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 07, 2024 7:16 pm

I believe it needs to be emailed to the HCI and others as pointed our in earlier post on this thread. VFS did not even mention I will need to do this when I applied for my OCI. So if I had not come to the forum, I wouldn't have known I will have to do it.

learner1947 wrote: ↑

Tue Feb 06, 2024 8:19 pm

Do you know where/how to send the soft copy of the RC?

I was told (at the time of my OCI Application) that I will have to upload it to the OCI website but that has now locked.

Thanks!

cfc_2015 wrote: ↑

Tue Feb 06, 2024 11:39 am

My Timeline

Renunciation Certificate:
Location: VFS Goswell, London
In-person submission date: 22/12/2023
Status: Application Received (as of 6 Feb 2024)
Number of Adult applications: 2
Document receipt: pending

OCI application (Adult):
Location: VFS Goswell, London
In-person submission date: 26/1/2024
Date of acknowledgement: 29/1/2024
Status: Under-process (as of 6 Feb 2024)
Original Docs received: 30/1/2024 (via DX)
Number of adult applications: 2
Document receipt: pending

OCI application (Infant - British Citizen only):
Location: VFS Goswell, London
In-person submission date: 29/1/2024
Date of acknowledgement: 30/1/2024
Status: Under-process (as of 6 Feb 2024)
Original Docs received: 31/1/2024 (via DX)
Document receipt: pending

Understand OCI will not be printed till RC soft copies are sent so eagerly awaiting receipt of RC.

Hi All,

I currently hold an Indian passport, and have recently attained British Citizenship and should have my British passport in the next few days.

Can someone briefly summarise the steps for obtaining OCI in the right sequence along with approx. timeline and cost as there is some confusion about Surrendering and Renunciation.

I don't live in London and will struggle to make multiple trips. Can someone confirm if I would need to travel 3 separate times to 1) Surrender my Indian Passport (HCI), 2) Renunciate Certification (HCI), 3) OCI (VFS).

Can steps 1 and 2 be combined in one trip to London?

I appreciate your help with - thank you.

You can combine step 2 & 3.

Passport surrender/OCI can be done at various locations but Renunciation can only be done at one of the three designated locations.

Everything is done at the VFS centre, you don't need to visit HCI at all.

Check HCIL website for more information.

vineet17 wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 07, 2024 11:21 pm

Hi All,

I currently hold an Indian passport, and have recently attained British Citizenship and should have my British passport in the next few days.

Can someone briefly summarise the steps for obtaining OCI in the right sequence along with approx. timeline and cost as there is some confusion about Surrendering and Renunciation.

I don't live in London and will struggle to make multiple trips. Can someone confirm if I would need to travel 3 separate times to 1) Surrender my Indian Passport (HCI), 2) Renunciate Certification (HCI), 3) OCI (VFS).

Can steps 1 and 2 be combined in one trip to London?

I appreciate your help with - thank you.

Thanks for the feedback.

I understand that Surrender and Renunciation can take place at VFS Goswell. My question is can I do these at the same time or does there need to be a time gap between the two steps?

Also, are you able to help with the second query - Can someone briefly summarise the steps for obtaining OCI in the right sequence along with approx. timeline and cost as there is some confusion about Surrendering and Renunciation.

Did you not read/understand my previous comment? You can't do both surrender and renunciation at the same time as you need surrender certificate for renunciation application.

As I previously said, this is all available on HCIL website, I am not going to tell you the whole process when it has been articulated on HCIL website already.

vineet17 wrote: ↑

Thu Feb 08, 2024 12:29 pm

Thanks for the feedback.

I understand that Surrender and Renunciation can take place at VFS Goswell. My question is can I do these at the same time or does there need to be a time gap between the two steps?

Also, are you able to help with the second query - Can someone briefly summarise the steps for obtaining OCI in the right sequence along with approx. timeline and cost as there is some confusion about Surrendering and Renunciation.

The reason I've requested clarification is because there is conflicting information out there. I haven't found a clear guidance document on the process yet and therefore was asking for some direction.

You don't need to respond if it's triggering your sensitivities.

You can surrender and renunciate Indian citizenship on the same day. I have done it just last week! They will just process the surrender certificate first and then the renunciation application later.

In order to book both the appointments for the same day, use Indian passport number for one appointment and British passport number for the other.

Hope this helps.

learner1947 wrote: ↑

Thu Feb 08, 2024 10:30 pm

Did you not read/understand my previous comment? You can't do both surrender and renunciation at the same time as you need surrender certificate for renunciation application.

As I previously said, this is all available on HCIL website, I am not going to tell you the whole process when it has been articulated on HCIL website already.

vineet17 wrote: ↑

Thu Feb 08, 2024 12:29 pm

Thanks for the feedback.

I understand that Surrender and Renunciation can take place at VFS Goswell. My question is can I do these at the same time or does there need to be a time gap between the two steps?

Also, are you able to help with the second query - Can someone briefly summarise the steps for obtaining OCI in the right sequence along with approx. timeline and cost as there is some confusion about Surrendering and Renunciation.

Thanks for sharing that - I will try and follow suit.

Did they give you any indication of how long the process could take before you can apply for OCI?

indianbritish1234 wrote: ↑

Fri Feb 09, 2024 11:25 am

You can surrender and renunciate Indian citizenship on the same day. I have done it just last week! They will just process the surrender certificate first and then the renunciation application later.

In order to book both the appointments for the same day, use Indian passport number for one appointment and British passport number for the other.

Hope this helps.

You can apply for OCI with surrender certificate and the receipt of the renunciation application. The surrender certificate will take around 5-7 working days, but the renunciation certificate will take 2-3 months. I have been waiting for my renunciation certificate for nearly 2 months.

Regarding OCI timeline - they won't issue OCI until you have provided them with a soft copy of the renunciation certificate and it will take at least a month once you have provided them with the RC soft copy.

I would recommend to wait for OCI until you have the RC certificate but you can still go ahead and apply if you want. I applied for OCI after a week later of RC application submission because I was told they will issue the OCI even before the RC but it doesn't look like the case. Good luck!

vineet17 wrote: ↑

Fri Feb 09, 2024 9:01 pm

Thanks for sharing that - I will try and follow suit.

Did they give you any indication of how long the process could take before you can apply for OCI?

indianbritish1234 wrote: ↑

Fri Feb 09, 2024 11:25 am

You can surrender and renunciate Indian citizenship on the same day. I have done it just last week! They will just process the surrender certificate first and then the renunciation application later.

In order to book both the appointments for the same day, use Indian passport number for one appointment and British passport number for the other.

Hope this helps.

Thanks for the feedback - much appreciated.

I'll make my application in the next couple of weeks and can share my experience here.

Where does the renunciation certificate have to be emailed for OCI (for those who applied with the renunciation receipt)?

I have the same query.

Art87ee wrote: ↑

Mon Feb 12, 2024 10:08 am

Where does the renunciation certificate have to be emailed for OCI (for those who applied with the renunciation receipt)?

Hi learner1947 and Art87ee ,

I called the number 02037938629 to get VFS Hounslow mail details. For VFS Hounslow, we need to mail renunciation certificate copy to info.inhayes@vfshelpline.com. They acknowledge your mail within 48 hours. For other CGI/VFS centre mail details, please call the number (I got connected after 3 attempts).

Good luck
Dinesh

Thanks!

I thought the email needs to be sent to HCI directly, thanks for the clarification. I think VFS only has one email address (the one you mentioned) but I'll check with them.

Thanks once again.

DineshSRD wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 14, 2024 12:11 pm

Hi learner1947 and Art87ee ,

I called the number 02037938629 to get VFS Hounslow mail details. For VFS Hounslow, we need to mail renunciation certificate copy to info.inhayes@vfshelpline.com. They acknowledge your mail within 48 hours. For other CGI/VFS centre mail details, please call the number (I got connected after 3 attempts).

Good luck
Dinesh

OCI application date : 29th January 2024
Date of acknowledgement: 30th January 2024
Documents retuned : 2nd feb 2024
Status : still under process
Application made at VFS HOUNSLOW
Application made for 2 minors - mother - Indian
Passport holder , father OCi holder.

Any idea how long it can take ? Or would there be any complications? I want to travel during Easter holidays in end of March, desperately waiting for the oci booklet to arrive. Any replies would be much appreciated
Thank you.

It should take around a month for the OCI to be processed as long as your spouse is not of foreign origin.

Usually once VFS has accepted the application, the process is pretty smooth from there. Good luck!

vineet17 wrote: ↑

Sun Feb 11, 2024 3:32 pm

Thanks for the feedback - much appreciated.

I'll make my application in the next couple of weeks and can share my experience here.

Hi,

Let me provide my experience on this.
To get the OCI you need both Surrender Cert (SC) + Renounce Cert (RC)

So, i suggest to apply the OCI once you have both SC and RC in your hand.

SC and RC are independent process and not dependent on each other.

RC process needs the signature of HCI official and that is only done in Gosewell VFS in afternoon window (3-5 pm)

SC process is done in VFS and appointment is available only for morning session (9a-2pm).

Also you need the separate appointment for SC and RC and they will be in different time (SC in morning and RC in evening window).

I have explained this in detail in my post on how you can combine SC and RC in single day to avoid multiple visit to London. Please have a look. other-countries/renunciation-process-t3 ... l#p2140433

Quick update on my child' process

OCI application (Infant - British Citizen only):
Location: VFS Goswell, London
In-person submission date: 29/1/2024
Date of acknowledgement: 30/1/2024
Status: Processed (as of 20 Feb 2024)
Original Docs received: 31/1/2024 (via DX)
OCI receipt: pending

learner1947 wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 07, 2024 10:22 pm

Thanks!

cfc_2015 wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 07, 2024 7:16 pm

I believe it needs to be emailed to the HCI and others as pointed our in earlier post on this thread. VFS did not even mention I will need to do this when I applied for my OCI. So if I had not come to the forum, I wouldn't have known I will have to do it.

learner1947 wrote: ↑

Tue Feb 06, 2024 8:19 pm

Do you know where/how to send the soft copy of the RC?

I was told (at the time of my OCI Application) that I will have to upload it to the OCI website but that has now locked.

Thanks!

cfc_2015 wrote: ↑

Tue Feb 06, 2024 11:39 am

My Timeline

Renunciation Certificate:
Location: VFS Goswell, London
In-person submission date: 22/12/2023
Status: Application Received (as of 6 Feb 2024)
Number of Adult applications: 2
Document receipt: pending

OCI application (Adult):
Location: VFS Goswell, London
In-person submission date: 26/1/2024
Date of acknowledgement: 29/1/2024
Status: Under-process (as of 6 Feb 2024)
Original Docs received: 30/1/2024 (via DX)
Number of adult applications: 2
Document receipt: pending

OCI application (Infant - British Citizen only):
Location: VFS Goswell, London
In-person submission date: 29/1/2024
Date of acknowledgement: 30/1/2024
Status: Under-process (as of 6 Feb 2024)
Original Docs received: 31/1/2024 (via DX)
Document receipt: pending

Understand OCI will not be printed till RC soft copies are sent so eagerly awaiting receipt of RC.

Hi,

Did anyone applied from VFS Edinburgh? I have applied on 18th Jan'24 and the current status is still 'under process' so like to know if anyone applied and VFS guys mentioned 4-6 weeks but it seems like taking longer.

Thanks

Hi,
Our experience with OCI and renunciation.

We applied for surrender certificate ASAP our British passports arrived and this was delivered within 2 weeks. We then applied for our OCI card but this was not accepted at VFS, Manchester until our renunciation was done. We finally managed to sort the process out and this is how we learnt the process.
Note: This was done at CGI, Birmingham.

1. Once you get your surrender certificate, fill in your renunciation and OCI applications. Take an appointment with CGI Birmingham. You do not need to take an appointment with VFS Global.
2. On the day of your appointment at CGI, we were only asked for our cancelled Indian passports and the printout of the renunciation form. This was then signed by the Indian officials and returned after a wait of about an hour.
3. You can then directly go to VFS Global in Birmingham and submit the signed renunciation application form. They will also accept your OCI application at the same time and you do not need to book another appointment for the same.
4. We did not know this and we had booked an appointment for OCI card at VFS Birmingham the next day. It was then that they explained that the renunciation form needs to be submitted at VFS for processing and they will do the OCI simultaneously. Only problem is that you will have to wait a long time. Thankfully, the lady at the counter was very helpful and sorted it all out for us.
The VFS office has photocopiers and printers as well. Not sure about the cost for using it though.

I hope this helps. I also hope that the Indian MEA makes the whole process a lot more streamlined.

@asingh13, do you mean to say RC is not required for the OCI application and only signed renunciation form is enough? Do you need to send RC later?

They did not ask for the certificate. But the process is that you get the signature on the form at the CGI, then you go to the VFS centre and submit the form for further processing. At that point, if you also have an OCI application ready, they will accept it. Both the renunciation and the OCI will be processed separately and you will receive them as and when they are ready.

question is if we can get OCI without completing processing of RC? Do we need to send RC when it is ready to get OCI?

Garrick58 wrote: ↑

Sun Mar 03, 2024 2:02 pm

@asingh13, do you mean to say RC is not required for the OCI application and only signed renunciation form is enough? Do you need to send RC later?

You do not need the RC to apply for OCI as long as you have the Proof of Payment of RC, this is the receipt that you get from VFS once you have completed and paid for RC successfully.

HCI however will not issue the OCI card until they have received a copy of your Renunciation Certificate.

I applied for RC on the 18th of December 2023 @ VFS Goswell, still no updated, Online Status "Application Received".

Applied for OCI on the 29th of January 2024 @ VFS Goswell, Online Status "Under Process"

There are multiple emails online, not too sure which one works but I am going to send mine to all the below emails once I have received it. One of them might be the appropriate one.

inf.london@mea.gov.in,
oci.london@mea.gov.in,
helpdesk-oci@gov.in

VFS Hounslow : info.inhayes@vfshelpline.com