To Get OCI after getting First British Passport

[VR]

Folks,

Step 1: Surrender your Indian Passport

A. Surrender Fees
http://in.vfsglobal.co.uk/surrender_fees.html

B. Documents Required Checklist
http://in.vfsglobal.co.uk/surrender_checklist.html

C. Application Form

http://in.vfsglobal.co.uk/pdf/Applicati ... .02.12.pdf

D. VFS Centers And postal address

http://www.hcilondon.in/renunciation.html

Once this is done the OCI Process can be Initiated


Step 2: OCI application

http://www.hcilondon.in/oci.html

Cheers
vr

[neoseal]

You are a star VR.

Today afternoon only I was thinking that there is no links of OCI, PIO and surrender certificate and saved links on my work pc to post later on.

Make it a sticky moderators.

[VR]

Dear Neoseal,

Trying to find a way through the maze ,so as to try and cut off a few weeks of the waiting time for the OCI. Let us work together and we can then publish the experience.


My understanding is ; (Other Members who have been through the process please correct anything that is off the Mark)
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Stage 1
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At the end of the Citizenship Ceremony the OP collects his Certificate of Registration.

The application Application for British Passport can be submitted immediately.

The Application for British Passport can be sent through Post office Check and Send so Original documents are returned to the OP.

Expected Turn Around is 2 weeks - 6 weeks
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Stage 1A : Passport Interview
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Stage 2: Application to Surrender Indian Passport (This can be done in tandem with Stage 1 to save some time)

Go to any VFS Centre and Submit application to Surrender Indian Passport
and Collect Surrender Certificate


Expected Turn Around is 2 weeks - 4 weeks
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Stage 3

Application for OCI at Indian Mission (Postal adds 2 weeks to the Expected Turn around time).

Expected Turnaround time : 2 weeks to 3months
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NOTES:

Most often the Surrender Certificate is the cause of the delay in the OCI process. Hence getting it before hand significantly cuts the time taken to finish the OCI Process.

For OCI you need copies of the surrender certificate(Original which will be returned to you) and each and every page of the British Passport (self certified).
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Cheers
vr

[neoseal]

Yes my dear VR, it will be really helpful to publish the guide and other members can input their experience.

Please amend check & send

"Post office does not return the original certificate and passport, it forwards it to passport office for BP, then passport office returns it."

Apply for surrender certificate at VFS - turn around 2-3 weeks.

Then apply for OCI time scale 2-3 months.

[VR]

Thanks neoseal! Corrected the different stages.

[coolmate]

Step 2 cannot be carried out while you do not have your British passport because in the Surrender form - you would have to enter British Passport Details.

Here is the link for the form: http://in.vfsglobal.co.uk/pdf/Applicati ... .09.13.pdf

Rather than the Surrender certificate(which is relatively quicker 1-week) - getting OCI from the HCI is a wait of a lifetime.

Also, while applying for BP - it is not mandatory to use Check and Send. As long as you are confident that the form is filled corectly - one shouldnt have any issues.



One thing worth mentioning is about the mode of payment in HCI if you are applying in person.

They will either accept ONLY CASH or Postal Order.
This information is not mentioned clearly in their website. Personally - would recommend to carry CASH.

[VR]

coolmate,

A friend of mine applied through Post office Check and send recently. The application, fees, photo everything was fine.

A week later he got a letter from HM Passport office saying the Name on the Naturalisation Certificate was wrong. Apparently the first name and last name were transposed.

He had a copy of the Form AN filed( scanned copy) and there everything Surname, Other name in 1.5. and 1.6 were correctly filled up.

They retained his Indian passport and returned his Naturalisation certificate advising him to contact an address in Liverpool and to have it rectified.

So as far as dealing with the Border Agency (UKBA) is concerned everything is like a lottery. You cannot afford to take anything for granted.
cheers
vr