Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI)

Friends a quick Q from me-
Can I travel to India on a valid Indian visa in the time that it takes to process an OCI application?

Thanks

Sidster007

sidster007 wrote:Friends a quick Q from me-
Can I travel to India on a valid Indian visa in the time that it takes to process an OCI application?

Thanks

Sidster007

Absolutely. Remember that you have to surrender the Indian Passport first and have the surrender certificate whilst applying for a Indian Visa. The process of OCI also requires the SC and takes anything between 2 weeks [according to some lucky 'punjabi' guy] to 3 months.

All the best,

Saabu

Thanks Saabu

saabu wrote:

sidster007 wrote:Friends a quick Q from me-
Can I travel to India on a valid Indian visa in the time that it takes to process an OCI application?

Thanks

Sidster007

Absolutely. Remember that you have to surrender the Indian Passport first and have the surrender certificate whilst applying for a Indian Visa. The process of OCI also requires the SC and takes anything between 2 weeks [according to some lucky 'punjabi' guy] to 3 months.

All the best,

Saabu

Spoke to someone today and he is still waiting for his after 6 weeks applying. So I guess i did get lucky

Hi Raj,
I have received my surrender certificate for the Indian passport.
Now, when applying for OCI card, can I just attach a copy of the surrender certificate or do I still have to attach a copy of my Indian passport also?
Thanks and regards,
Murt

RAJ2007 wrote:reply to all queries:

I applied on 5th oct by post . still waiting to receive the surrender certificate. I have enclosed a self addresed envelope(with app. stamp) also. They only ask for active passport, not a passport which has already been cancelled by HCI. they don't send the passport back, therefore you should photocopy the passport before sending. Yes, you need to send postal order not banker's draft. You don't need to attest the photocopies.

I hope I have answered all your queries.

Hi Raj,

I have received my Indina passport surrender certificate today. Now, when applying for OCI card, can I simply attach a copy of the surrender certificate or do I still have to attach copy of my Indian passport also?

Thanks and regards,

Murt

punjabi boy wrote:

saabu wrote:

sidster007 wrote:Friends a quick Q from me-
Can I travel to India on a valid Indian visa in the time that it takes to process an OCI application?

Thanks

Sidster007

Absolutely. Remember that you have to surrender the Indian Passport first and have the surrender certificate whilst applying for a Indian Visa. The process of OCI also requires the SC and takes anything between 2 weeks [according to some lucky 'punjabi' guy] to 3 months.

All the best,

Saabu

Spoke to someone today and he is still waiting for his after 6 weeks applying. So I guess i did get lucky

After 11 weeks i am still waiting ....

Hi,

Has anyone, who has applied by post, received their OCI recently? Could you please advise what the timelines for turnaround were.

I'm seeing on this forum that applications over the counter are being turned around in 3-4 weeks but don't know if postal applications are taking any longer?

Regards

Hi,

I recently got my citizenship and have applied for British Passport. Now what I would like to do is apply for an OCI. What are the steps involved. Do we have to surrender our Indian passport first before applying for an OCI or can it be done at the same time. Any information is much appreciated.

Regards,
gkh

gkh wrote:Hi,

I recently got my citizenship and have applied for British Passport. Now what I would like to do is apply for an OCI. What are the steps involved. Do we have to surrender our Indian passport first before applying for an OCI or can it be done at the same time. Any information is much appreciated.

Regards,
gkh

surrender ur pp or u can do same time as oci app

Thanks "punjabi boy"

I know while applying OCI/PIO HCI london used to cancel indian passport.

Post implemantion of SC in 2009 , I was thinking SC is mandatory for OCI so sourrendar the indian passport (need 2 visits to HCI london) and apply OCI with SC (2 more visists to HCI london) .

can you please confirm oci apllicant can do SC and OCI on the same day.

can you also shar your experinace how you got oci in 2weeks.

KUMARVK wrote:Thanks "punjabi boy"

I know while applying OCI/PIO HCI london used to cancel indian passport.

Post implemantion of SC in 2009 , I was thinking SC is mandatory for OCI so sourrendar the indian passport (need 2 visits to HCI london) and apply OCI with SC (2 more visists to HCI london) .

can you please confirm oci apllicant can do SC and OCI on the same day.

can you also shar your experinace how you got oci in 2weeks.

you cannot do sc and oci in one day. first sc then oci. they will not accept your oci app until sc is done. my experience was i applied and some 16 days later it said online it was ready for collection and whats more they called me to collect. don't know why it took 16 days. some people are waiting 3 months. my guess is hci london is a little disorganised and not processing in order.

punjabi boy wrote:

KUMARVK wrote:Thanks "punjabi boy"

I know while applying OCI/PIO HCI london used to cancel indian passport.

Post implemantion of SC in 2009 , I was thinking SC is mandatory for OCI so sourrendar the indian passport (need 2 visits to HCI london) and apply OCI with SC (2 more visists to HCI london) .

can you please confirm oci apllicant can do SC and OCI on the same day.

can you also shar your experinace how you got oci in 2weeks.

you cannot do sc and oci in one day. first sc then oci. they will not accept your oci app until sc is done. my experience was i applied and some 16 days later it said online it was ready for collection and whats more they called me to collect. don't know why it took 16 days. some people are waiting 3 months. my guess is hci london is a little disorganised and not processing in order.

All - My suggestion would be to skip the visit to HCI London and apply for SC by post. I applied for my SC by post and included a self addressed return special delivery envelope. I recd. my SC back in exactly one week. Saves you two trips and queueing at the HCI.

SidB wrote:

punjabi boy wrote:

KUMARVK wrote:Thanks "punjabi boy"

I know while applying OCI/PIO HCI london used to cancel indian passport.

Post implemantion of SC in 2009 , I was thinking SC is mandatory for OCI so sourrendar the indian passport (need 2 visits to HCI london) and apply OCI with SC (2 more visists to HCI london) .

can you please confirm oci apllicant can do SC and OCI on the same day.

can you also shar your experinace how you got oci in 2weeks.

you cannot do sc and oci in one day. first sc then oci. they will not accept your oci app until sc is done. my experience was i applied and some 16 days later it said online it was ready for collection and whats more they called me to collect. don't know why it took 16 days. some people are waiting 3 months. my guess is hci london is a little disorganised and not processing in order.

All - My suggestion would be to skip the visit to HCI London and apply for SC by post. I applied for my SC by post and included a self addressed return special delivery envelope. I recd. my SC back in exactly one week. Saves you two trips and queueing at the HCI.

yes i agree it is no fun standing around on a cold winters day just to hand in the SC form. I am sure the OCI is done quicker if handed in by person. IT is acknowledged there and then by the officer who will look at all the docs and accept the application.

Thanks all for the replies. I will first surrender my Indian passport thru post and then apply for OCI. One question, for OCI we need to submit Naturalization /Registration Certificate. Do we have to send Original or photocopy?

Cheers,
GKH

gkh wrote:Thanks all for the replies. I will first surrender my Indian passport thru post and then apply for OCI. One question, for OCI we need to submit Naturalization /Registration Certificate. Do we have to send Original or photocopy?

Cheers,
GKH

You need to send only photocopy of naturalisation certificate

gkh wrote:Thanks all for the replies. I will first surrender my Indian passport thru post and then apply for OCI. One question, for OCI we need to submit Naturalization /Registration Certificate. Do we have to send Original or photocopy?

Cheers,
GKH

Any documents submitted should be copies. I would take ALL originals with you in case officer asks. But only copies are to be submitted. I hear from a friend that OCI applications submitted first week of November are being granted now. So it is taking roughtly 2-4 weeks.
My uncle applied for 2 OCIs for himself and his son and both been granted after 4 weeks.

Please can someone who recently applied for OCI at CGI, Birmingham advise on the turn around time for their application. Thanks. I intend to apply w/s 14th December but I need to travel to India in last week of January.

jas wrote:Please can someone who recently applied for OCI at CGI, Birmingham advise on the turn around time for their application. Thanks. I intend to apply w/s 14th December but I need to travel to India in last week of January.

Hi jas

Have you got your surrender certificate?

Mallik

Hi all,

I understand all people of inidan origin who had a indian passport in the past have to surrender their indian passort and get surrender certificate at cost of £90.

What if I cannot find my old expired indian passport, what forms document will they ask fro to get the surrender certificate?

Any one had this experience and then got their Surrender certificate

Hello Mallik,

I have applied for surrender certificate by post last week, so with hope that it woul reach me early next week. I hope to apply for pio or oci w/s 14th but not sure which one to apply?

Jas,

You have to decide which one you want to apply. Here are the benefits of each.

POI Benefits
http://hcilondon.in/pio.php#benefits

OCI Benefits
Q33 of https://passport.gov.in/oci/FAQ.pdf

Applied for Indian Passport/Citizenship Surrender Certificate by post.

Sent application by Special Delivery on 23rd Nov 2009, enclosing ALL of my Indian passports, copy of British Naturalisation Certificate, copies of Indian passports, copy of British Passport and a crossed PO for £90. Also enclosed a self-addressed Special Delivery envelope for the Surrender Certificate.

Received the Surrender Certificate on 3rd Dec 2009. Not a bad turnaround!

The one thing that was being hotly debated is whether I should submit only my last Indian passport or include all previous ones too. Going by the advice on this forum, I thought it sensible to submit the whole lot. Glad I did.

Next step, OCI!

klal wrote:Applied for Indian Passport/Citizenship Surrender Certificate by post.

Sent application by Special Delivery on 23rd Nov 2009, enclosing ALL of my Indian passports, copy of British Naturalisation Certificate, copies of Indian passports, copy of British Passport and a crossed PO for £90. Also enclosed a self-addressed Special Delivery envelope for the Surrender Certificate.

Received the Surrender Certificate on 3rd Dec 2009. Not a bad turnaround!

The one thing that was being hotly debated is whether I should submit only my last Indian passport or include all previous ones too. Going by the advice on this forum, I thought it sensible to submit the whole lot. Glad I did.

Next step, OCI!

Spoke to someone today who applied start october for OCI and still nothing, after 8 weeks.

Dear friends,
I recently surrendered my Indian passport at HCI London and will be looking to apply for OCI in the new year. What documents do I need to furnish along with the OCI application and fee. I know that HCI website has information on this but I find it there description has room for confusion so just wanted to check with people on this forum.

Many thanks in advance

Sid