Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI)

[tckraju]

Hi All, Please find my OCI Application timeline:

Location: VFS Glasgow
No of Application: 1 adult
Online application submitted: 05/04/2023
Documents submitted: 18/04/2023
Application acknowledged: 19/04/2023
Message from DX delivery about Original Documents Return: 20/04/2023
Original documents received: 21/04/2023
OCI Processed and OCI Number assigned: 12/05/2023
Dispatched from MEA (OCI) New Delhi: 15/05/2023
Document received at Edinburgh: 19/05/2023
Message from DX delivery: 19/05/2023
OCI card received: 22/05/2023

Documents Uploaded during the OCI Registration process:
1.) Self - Photo (2” inch X 2” inch) scanned and uploaded.
2.) Self – Signature scanned and uploaded.
3.) Self - British Passport (Uploaded as Current Passport).
4.) Self - Naturalisation Certificate (Uploaded as PIO).
5.) Self - Passport Surrender Certificate (Uploaded as Indian Visa).
6.) Self - Surrendered Indian Passport (Uploaded as Indian Origin Proof).
7.) Marriage Certificate (Uploaded as Marriage Certificate).
8.) Council Tax Bill (Uploaded as Relationship Certificate).
9.) Spouse – British Passport (Uploaded as Spouse Passport).
10.) Spouse - OCI Card (Uploaded as Spouse OCI Card).

Documents taken to the VFS appointment:
1.) Appointment letter print out.
2.) Application form and signed where needed.
3.) Extra 1 Photo (2” inch X 2” inch) taken separately.

Documents Retained with VFS
4.) British Passport Original - (Returned via secured delivery later).
5.) Self-Attested British Passport photo and observation page with signature only Photocopy.
6.) Spouse British Passport Photocopy.
7.) Spouse OCI Photocopy.
8.) Naturalisation Certificate Photocopy.
9.) Surrendered Indian Passport Photocopy.
10.) Surrender Certificate Photocopy.
11.) Marriage Certificate Photocopy.
12.) Council Tax Bill Photocopy.

Documents checked and returned at the VFS counter
13.) Spouse British Passport Original.
14.) Spouse OCI Original.
15.) Naturalisation Certificate Original.
16.) Surrendered Indian Passport Original.
17.) Surrender Certificate Original.
18.) Marriage Certificate Original.
19.) Council Tax Bill Original.

[sillyquestion]

Hi,

I am applying for OCI for my child born in India, who recently got his British Passport.

We are currently in India and applying for OCI from India.

My child also holds a Indian passport which was obtained at birth and we plan to surrender it.

The question is do we need to get surrender certificate before OCI application?

Or can we apply for OCI first and then surrender the Indian Passport?

Is the surrender certificate necessary for OCI applications submitted in India? The reason I ask is because there is no mention of surrender certificate on OCI website as a document needed: https://ociservices.gov.in/welcome

I hope the query makes sense

[sorrels_mo]

Location: VFS London
No of Application: 2 Kids
Online application submitted: 01/05/2023
Documents submitted: 10/05/2023
Application acknowledged: 11/05/2023
Original documents received: after 3 Days
OCI Processed and OCI Number assigned: 01/06/2023
Dispatched from MEA (OCI) New Delhi: NO Update Online
Document received at Edinburgh: NO Update Online
OCI card received: 06/06/2023

[srinuuuuu]

Location: VFS Hounslow
No of Application: 1 Minor (New Born in UK)
Online application submitted: 04/07/2023
Documents submitted: 06/07/2023
Application acknowledged: TBC
Message from DX delivery about Original Documents Return: TBC
Original documents received: TBC
OCI Processed and OCI Number assigned: TBC
Dispatched from MEA (OCI) New Delhi: TBC
Document received at London: TBC
Message from DX delivery: TBC
OCI card received: TBC

Documents Uploaded during the OCI Registration process:
1.) Passport Photo (2” inch X 2” inch) scanned and uploaded.
2.) Left Thumb impression, scanned and uploaded.
3.) British Passport (Applicant).
4.) Birth Certificate (Applicant).
5.) Address Proof (Driving License & Electricity Bill -Parents)
6.) British Passports (Parents of Applicant)
7.) OCI (Parents of Applicant)
8.) Marriage Certificate (Parents of Applicant)

Documents taken to the VFS appointment:
1.) Appointment letter print out.
2.) Application form and signed where needed.


Documents Retained with VFS
3.) Extra 1 Photo (2” inch X 2” inch) taken separately.
4.) British Passport Copy (Applicant)
5.) Original Birth Certificate (To be Returned via secured delivery later))
6.) British Passport Photocopy(Parents).
7.) OCI Photocopy.(Parents)
8.) Address Proof Photocopy -Driving License (Parents)
9.) Marriage Certificate Photocopy (Parents)


Documents checked and returned at the VFS counter
10.) British Passport Original.
11.) Parents OCI Original.
12.) Parents Passports

Payment made using Debit Card for the service.

[watway_as]

Location: VFS Leicester (Birmingham jurisdicton)
No of Application: 3
Online application submitted: 10 May 2023
Documents submitted: 12 May 2023
Application acknowledged: 16 May 2023
Message from DX delivery about Original Documents Return: Waiting
Original documents received: Waiting
OCI Processed and OCI Number assigned: Waiting
Dispatched from MEA (OCI) New Delhi: Waiting
Document received at London: Waiting
Message from DX delivery: Waiting
OCI card received: Waiting

Nearly 2 months and still waiting with UNDER-PROCESS as the OCI Application Status

[watway_as]

Hi all
Are there any recent applicants wo have applied for their OCI in the last couple of months from Birmingham, please? I would like to understand your timescales for getting the OCI.

[watway_as]

Hi all
Are there any recent applicants wo have applied for their OCI in the last couple of months from Birmingham, please? I would like to understand your timescales for getting the OCI.

[arjun200200]

I'm at nearly 5 weeks from Birmingham (although i applied nearly a week earlier from Bradford, so 6 weeks since application), and i am still under process. Taking an awful long time.

[Waterman]

From the success posts I have read it seems that Birmingham is taking longer to complete the process than Hounslow. Would that be fair conclusion?

[arjun200200]

Location: VFS Leicester (Birmingham jurisdicton)
No of Application: 3
Online application submitted: 10 May 2023
Documents submitted: 12 May 2023
Application acknowledged: 16 May 2023
Message from DX delivery about Original Documents Return: Waiting
Original documents received: Waiting
OCI Processed and OCI Number assigned: Waiting
Dispatched from MEA (OCI) New Delhi: Waiting
Document received at London: Waiting
Message from DX delivery: Waiting
OCI card received: Waiting

Nearly 2 months and still waiting with UNDER-PROCESS as the OCI Application Status

What original documents are to be returned to you ? We did the process, and again now for a family member, and not had anything to return.

[watway_as]

[quote=Waterman post_id=2121519 time=1688934564 user_id=277789]
From the success posts I have read it seems that Birmingham is taking longer to complete the process than Hounslow. Would that be fair conclusion?
[/quote]

Looks like it - 8 weeks and counting for a straight forward application (we had Indian passport previously!)

[watway_as]

[quote=arjun200200 post_id=2121541 time=1688943437 user_id=272553]

What original documents are to be returned to you ? We did the process, and again now for a family member, and not had anything to return.
[/quote]

No original documents to return, I was simply using the old template with the process steps!

[sathyauk]

Location: Birmingham
No of Application: 2
Online application submitted: 05 May 2023
Documents submitted: 07 May 2023
Application acknowledged: 09 May 2023
OCI Processed and OCI Number assigned: 04 Jul 2023
Dispatched from MEA (OCI) New Delhi: No message
Message from DX delivery: 10 Jul 2023
OCI card received: 11 Jul 2023

Almost 2 months to process the OCI

[Waterman]

Birmingham definately taking longer to process than Hounslow

[Waterman]

can I use my brothers OCI card to apply for mine.

[arjun200200]

From the success posts I have read it seems that Birmingham is taking longer to complete the process than Hounslow. Would that be fair conclusion?

Looks like it - 8 weeks and counting for a straight forward application (we had Indian passport previously!)

I guess you are on week 9. Any movement ?

[watway_as]

Unfortunately no movement yet...still waiting!! 9 weeks complete, 10th week now

[Raldoc]

Hello everyone,

For employment proof can we use pay slip or do we need employment letter from the employer?

HCI Birmingham gives option of using pay slip in ther official checklist but HCI london doesnt.

Many thanks

[sathyauk]

Hello everyone,

For employment proof can we use pay slip or do we need employment letter from the employer?

HCI Birmingham gives option of using pay slip in ther official checklist but HCI london doesnt.You can upload your payslips in any category

Many thanks

[Raldoc]

Hell all.

I am applying for Fresh OCI. How many royal mail envelopes Am I supposed to take to the appointment? I recently read that they arent retaining any original documents anymore. Does that mean we just take one envelope for OCI delivery?

Many thanks

[watway_as]

Location: VFS Leicester (Birmingham jurisdiction)
No of Application: 3
Online application submitted: 10 May 2023
Documents submitted: 12 May 2023
Application acknowledged: 16 May 2023
OCI Processed and OCI Number assigned: 20 Jul 2023
Message from DX delivery: 25 Jul 2023
OCI card received: 26 Jul 2023

This concludes the long journey from UK Visa --> ILR --> British citizenship --> OCI.

[arjun200200]

Location: VFS Leicester (Birmingham jurisdiction)
No of Application: 3
Online application submitted: 10 May 2023
Documents submitted: 12 May 2023
Application acknowledged: 16 May 2023
OCI Processed and OCI Number assigned: 20 Jul 2023
Message from DX delivery: 25 Jul 2023
OCI card received: 26 Jul 2023

This concludes the long journey from UK Visa --> ILR --> British citizenship --> OCI.

Finally ! Congrats.

[amanlamba1]

Yes, they are not taking originals. But they will check the originals. No need to take any royal mail envelopes, just buy courier service at VFS counter. Thanks.

Hell all.

I am applying for Fresh OCI. How many royal mail envelopes Am I supposed to take to the appointment? I recently read that they arent retaining any original documents anymore. Does that mean we just take one envelope for OCI delivery?

Many thanks

[scholar7980]

Hi,

I had my OCI appointment today at VFS Goswell. Very smooth appointment, got there at 8:45 am and I was out in 20 mins. A few pointers below.

Early morning appointments (8:30/8:45) tend to be better as you could have walk-ins and others piling on your slot later during the day delaying your appointment.

Make sure your photograph and signature are uploaded in line with OCI requirements. My uploaded signature background showed up as light blue so I had to redo it there at the counter for £15 VFS charge. You can also use your own laptop to do so for no charge.

All uploaded documents can either be in a single PDF or be uploaded into any category as VFS just downloads all of them. Make sure you take self attested photocopies of all uploaded documents. For address proof, I carried my DL and employer e-signed letter for employment verification.

Surrender certificate, Naturalisation certificate and the cancelled last Indian passport were taken by VFS and to be returned in a week. British passport was verified and returned immediately. OCI will take a month to be delivered per VFS representative.

Location: VFS Goswell London
Online application submitted: 28/07/2023
Document submission date: 31/07/2023
Application Acknowledgment: TBC, No email yet
Original Docs received: TBC
OCI application status page changes: TBC Document printing/Processed/OCI number displayed
OCI Card received: TBC (DX tracked delivery)

[Raldoc]

My Timeline for a new OCI registration:

Appointment date: 24/07/2023
Appointment location: Hounslow, London
Acknowledgement: 25/07/2023
OCI application status as of 1/08/2023: UNDER-PROCESS
Passport & Original Surrender Certificate received back: 28/07/2023
Processed on: Pending
OCI Cards received: Pending

Had to wait 1 hour for my turn because of the rush. Luckily, I had arranged everything in checklist order and was able to complete the process in 10 mins.
They kept my original cancelled Indian passport and Surrender certificate which was returned to me after 4 days via Dx.