Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI)

[Enka2018]

New spouse OCI application:

submittion at VFS Birmingham: 15/11/2019
date of acknowledgement: 18/11/2019
documents received back: 20/11/2019
OCI status: under process
Documents printing status: processed: 17/12/2019
Dispatched from MEA (OCI): New Delhi: 17/12/2019
Documents received at: Birmingham: 17/12/2019
Documents received by courier: waiting probably in 1-2 days

[Enka2018]

New spouse OCI application:

submittion at VFS Birmingham: 15/11/2019
date of acknowledgement: 18/11/2019
documents received back: 20/11/2019
OCI status: under process
Documents printing status: processed: 17/12/2019
Dispatched from MEA (OCI): New Delhi: 17/12/2019
Documents received at: Birmingham: 17/12/2019
Documents received by courier: 19/12/2019

[jojo001]

Does the OCI status show up when your original documents get back to you.

My wife applied for a new OCi 2 weeks ago and they took her original docs ( passport / surrender certificate) and she got them back now.

But in checking the status enquiry there is no record found ??

Is this normal.

I thought that you should be able to see the acknowledgement even before you get the original documents back ?

Does the acknowledgement only come from VFS by email and not on status enquiry and does it change to under process after a while ?

PS: above is from Birmingham CGI and is by the new process where only one visit is needed and you pay for 2 courier envelopes

[raj_gajera]

New Child OCI application:

submittion at VFS London(Goswell): 04/12/2019
date of acknowledgement: 05/12/2019
Original documents received back at the counter on : 04/12/2019
OCI status: Granted:27/12/2019
Documents printing status: processed: 27/12/2019
Dispatched from MEA (OCI): New Delhi: 27/12/2019
Documents received at London: 27/12/2019

[jojo001]

Does the OCI status show up when your original documents get back to you.

My wife applied for a new OCi 2 weeks ago and they took her original docs ( passport / surrender certificate) and she got them back now.

But in checking the status enquiry there is no record found ??

Is this normal.

I thought that you should be able to see the acknowledgement even before you get the original documents back ?

Does the acknowledgement only come from VFS by email and not on status enquiry and does it change to under process after a while ?

PS: above is from Birmingham CGI and is by the new process where only one visit is needed and you pay for 2 courier envelopes

Looks like it was due to my mistake in typing the file reference number.I typed a O instead of zero. in the status enquiry.

The status is visible correctly ( under process)

Updated this in case anyone else has the same issue.
Please check if you are typing the correct file reference number..

[Vish15]

Timeline of my New OCI application :
Application Date: 12/12/2019
VFS Center: Goswell Road
Date of acknowledgment: 12/12/2019
Original docs Received: 17/12/2019
Documents Printing Status: 02/01/2020
Dispatched From New Delhi (OCI ) 02/01/2020
Document received At London: 02/01/2020
PASSPORT SUBMITTED IN PERSON at VFS: Not required under new regulation
Dispatched by VFS: 07/01/2020
OCI DOCUMENT RECEIVED : Will receive 08/01/2020

[Vish15]

Final Update
Timeline of my New OCI application :
Application Date: 12/12/2019
VFS Center: Goswell Road
Date of acknowledgment: 12/12/2019
Original docs Received: 17/12/2019
Documents Printing Status: 02/01/2020
Dispatched From New Delhi (OCI ) 02/01/2020
Document received At London: 02/01/2020
PASSPORT SUBMITTED IN PERSON at VFS: Not required under new regulation
Dispatched by VFS: 07/01/2020
OCI DOCUMENT RECEIVED :08/01/2020

[jazz2003]

Timeline of my New OCI application :

Application Date: 24/12/2019
VFS Center: Edinburgh
Date of acknowledgment: 27/12/2019
Original docs Received: Received at the time of submission
Dispatched From New Delhi (OCI ): Awaiting
Document received At London: Awaiting
Documents Printing Status: Awaiting
PASSPORT SUBMITTED IN PERSON at VFS: Awaiting
Dispatched by VFS: Awaiting
OCI DOCUMENT RECEIVED : Awaiting

[Jaysingdas83]

Timeline of my New OCI application :
Application Date: 20/12/2019
VFS Center: Goswell Road
Date of acknowledgment: 20/12/2019
Original docs Received: 27/12/2019
Documents Printing Status: 13/01/2020
Dispatched From New Delhi (OCI ) 13/01/2020
The document received At London: 13/01/2020
PASSPORT SUBMITTED IN PERSON at VFS: Not required under the new regulation
Dispatched by VFS: Awaiting
OCI DOCUMENT RECEIVED: Awaiting

[jojo001]

Will be interesting to see how much time Birmingham takes as compared to London

My wife has her OCI acknowledged a few days before you but is still under process..

[jazz2003]

Why different VFS center have different rules. I didn't have to submit my original documents at Edinburgh center. They were all verified in front of me and was returned. They asked me to come and submit my passport when my application is approved but I am seeing comment from persons submitting at London center they they don't need to submit their passport under new rule ?

[ceaser]

Timeline of my New OCI application :
Application Date: 27/12/2019
VFS Center: Goswell Road
Date of acknowledgment: 30/12/2019
Original docs Received: 02/01/2020
Documents Printing Status: Awaiting
Dispatched From New Delhi (OCI ) Awaiting
The document received At London: Awaiting
PASSPORT SUBMITTED IN PERSON at VFS: Not required under the new regulation
Dispatched by VFS: Awaiting
OCI DOCUMENT RECEIVED: Awaiting

[jojo001]

Why different VFS center have different rules. I didn't have to submit my original documents at Edinburgh center. They were all verified in front of me and was returned. They asked me to come and submit my passport when my application is approved but I am seeing comment from persons submitting at London center they they don't need to submit their passport under new rule ?

Sometime in November or early December the OCI process was changed so that you have to go onoy once for a OCI application.

So instead of going once and submitting application and then going again to get the OCI when its was granted , they have changed the process to the new method of keeping the original documents at the first visit and they return the original documents in a week or so . The OCI is sent to you directly once it is processed as they ask you to pay for two special delivery envelopes ( or courier if in Birmingham jurisdiction) .

The Vfs UK website was updated about new process in early December. I am sure about this as I filled up the application for my wife on around the 7th of December it said that you have to make a second visit and by the date of our appointment (18Dec) the website was only asking you to go once .

From what I read here everyone who applied in England since early December seem to be following new process and it seems quicker .Most people are getting new OCI within a month of application.

Not sure if your situation is different as you are in Scotland and perhaps vfs there do things differently?

[jazz2003]

Yes, in Scotland VFS was introducing new rule from 6th Jan 2020, this is what I was told as VFS center. I submitted my application on 24th Dec so still have to visit again once application is approved. I am not sure why VFS has not introduced this rule at the same time in England and Scotland?

[abhay10001]

Any idea about Consular Camps for OCI in London. Are they good enough

[jazz2003]

So, I phoned CGI Edinburgh asking for the actual status of my OCI application. The lady on phone said it takes 10-12 weeks for the first time OCI application. I am not sure if its true as people who got their OCI card and updated their application status on this forum says they got their OCI card in 4-5 weeks?

Any idea?

Timeline of my New OCI application :

Application Date: 24/12/2019
VFS Center: Edinburgh
Date of acknowledgment: 27/12/2019
Original docs Received: Received at the time of submission
Dispatched From New Delhi (OCI ): Awaiting
Document received At London: Awaiting
Documents Printing Status: Awaiting
PASSPORT SUBMITTED IN PERSON at VFS: Awaiting
Dispatched by VFS: Awaiting
OCI DOCUMENT RECEIVED : Awaiting

[ringzer]

New Child OCI application:

submittion at VFS London(Goswell): 04/12/2019
date of acknowledgement: 05/12/2019
Original documents received back at the counter on : 04/12/2019
OCI status: Granted:27/12/2019
Documents printing status: processed: 27/12/2019
Dispatched from MEA (OCI): New Delhi: 27/12/2019
Documents received at London: 27/12/2019

Was this application submitted under the old collection policy (drop in passport and delivery envelope) or the new one when they just post the OCI to you?

I submitted my son's OCI appliation on 4th October so is the old collection policy most likely will have to submit his passport but he's still in India (under eVisa) and returning on 7th Feb but travelling again around 21st Feb.

If you dropped the passport back, when did you receive the OCI and passport back by post?

See other-countries/new-oci-card-collection ... 96781.html for full details of my situation.

[jojo001]

So, I phoned CGI Edinburgh asking for the actual status of my OCI application. The lady on phone said it takes 10-12 weeks for the first time OCI application. I am not sure if its true as people who got their OCI card and updated their application status on this forum says they got their OCI card in 4-5 weeks?

Any idea?

Some consulates take much more time than others.

London is usually the quickest and Birmingham used to take nearly double that time in the past.

But Birmingham has become quite efficient recently and many people that I know who have applied on the new system have got original documents back in around a week and the OCI around 3 weeks later ( total 4 weeks )

Scottish applications are still very very slow.

In the olden days many people used to use a friends or relatives london address and used to apply from london high commission and in those days you could collect directly from high commission .

Timeline of my New OCI application :

Application Date: 24/12/2019
VFS Center: Edinburgh
Date of acknowledgment: 27/12/2019
Original docs Received: Received at the time of submission
Dispatched From New Delhi (OCI ): Awaiting
Document received At London: Awaiting
Documents Printing Status: Awaiting
PASSPORT SUBMITTED IN PERSON at VFS: Awaiting
Dispatched by VFS: Awaiting
OCI DOCUMENT RECEIVED : Awaiting

[longshift]

OCI Timeline for Application of 2 child (Miscellaneous Service For OCI Renewal & Address Change)
VFS Center: London Goswel Road
Application Date: 29/01/2020
Got a text later in the day from VFS saying documents have been dispatched to the the High Commission.
Original docs Received: 03/02/2020
Got a text on 04/02/2020 from VFS to say documents have been couriered.
OCI RECEIVED: 05/02/2020

All done within a week. From Application submission to receiving Updated OCI.

[indianadr]

Hello All,

Posting here about OCI Miscellaneous Service (Transfer of OCI to new passport after age 50):

Today, I went there with all the required documentation. Staff at the counter are quite helpful but the process is not smooth.

My Observations If you are using this service:
1. OCI Card: ALL pages (First and last Page must) required to be photocopied and should be uploaded
2. Old British Passport: Photocopy and upload Old Passport photo page and OCI Sticker page
3. Make sure you sign your new British Passport
4. At VFS Manachester, no need to bring in Royal Mail pre-paid envelopes. They use DX Courier.
5. They will take Current British Passport, Old British Passport and OCI Card.

Process:
1. Arrive bit early before your appointment time. If driving park comfortably in Universal Parking (£3 all day)
2. You get token at the reception and wait for your number to be called in the India Center
3. Once your token called, proceed to the counter and handover application, photos, passport(s), any documentation.
4. They will check and let you know if anything missing or need to be re-uploaded etc.
5. Once everything in order they will give two DX Courier covers to put your address and hand it over to VSF Staff

Timeline of my New OCI application : (Miscellaneous Service For OCI Renewal & Address Change)

VFS Center: Manchester
Date of acknowledgement: 19/02/2020
Application Date: 29/01/2020
Original docs Received: Awaiting
OCI RECEIVED: Awaiting

Hope this helps.

Regards
Indianadr

[jojo001]

Indianadr ..it does say on your appointment letter that you do not have to bring royal mail envelopes to vfs offices under the Birmingam CGI.

They use DX courier instead.

Bit of a rip off as DX courier sends the documents to many places using royal mail.

Another tip : when you are filling up the DX courier or royal mail envelopes with your own address ( for them to send the documents back to you) take a quick photo of the tracking numbers on the envelops.

Will be helpful to tracks the docs once you get the dispatch message from vfs..

[Vish15]

Timeline of my New OCI application for spouse :
Application Date: 24/02/20
VFS Center: Goswell Road
Date of acknowledgment: 25/02/20
Original docs Received: 27/02/20
Documents Printing Status: Under Process
Dispatched From New Delhi (OCI )
Document received At London:
PASSPORT SUBMITTED IN PERSON at VFS: Not required under new regulation
Dispatched by VFS:
OCI DOCUMENT RECEIVED :

[sacro]

New OCI Application Timeline (Self, Spouse and Child):

Application Date: 03/02/20
VFS Center: Goswell Road, London
PASSPORT SUBMITTED IN PERSON at VFS: Not required under new regulation
Date of acknowledgment: 04/02/20
Original docs Received: 06/02/20
Documents Printing Status: 24/02/20
Dispatched From New Delhi (OCI ): 25/02/20
Document received At London: 25/02/20
Dispatched by VFS: 27/02/20
OCI DOCUMENT RECEIVED : 28/02/20

[shargaur]

New OCI Application Timeline (Child):

Application Date: 07/02/20 [Friday] at VFS Center: Goswell Road, London
Date of acknowledgment: 10/02/20
Original docs Received: 12/02/20
Documents Printing Status: 03/03/20
Dispatched From New Delhi (OCI ): 04/03/20
Document received At London: 05/03/20
Dispatched by VFS: 06/03/20
OCI DOCUMENT RECEIVED : 10/03/20

[sunil.suneel]

New OCI Application Timeline (Child):

Application Date: 07/02/20 [Friday] at VFS Center: Goswell Road, London
Date of acknowledgment: 10/02/20
Original docs Received: 12/02/20
Documents Printing Status: 03/03/20
Dispatched From New Delhi (OCI ): 04/03/20
Document received At London: 05/03/20
Dispatched by VFS: 06/03/20
OCI DOCUMENT RECEIVED : 10/03/20

How on earth are you able to post future dates of the events that have not yet occurred ..

You definitely must be a fortune teller !