Recently naturalised - queries on surrender and oci

[rshelar]

Guys,

I hope you can help me with my queries...

Have been recently natualised as British citizen. Indian passport holder.

1. To get to OCI, is this process correct - surrender indian passport within 3 months, get certificate, apply for OCI?
2. On the surrender form, it asks for place of issue and permanent address. What should be written as place of issue? And permanent address is UK address or Indian address?
3. I have seen all the forums about OCI. Is it a booklet or endorsement in British passport? If booklet, is it then stamped each time in India or just used as a proof of OCI?
4. Finally, has anyone recently applied for OCI? Do they take biometrics?

Thanks in advance ...

[z18runway]

1. To get to OCI, is this process correct - surrender indian passport within 3 months, get certificate, apply for OCI?

yes

2. On the surrender form, it asks for place of issue and permanent address. What should be written as place of issue? And permanent address is UK address or Indian address?

passport place of issue and uk permanent address

3. I have seen all the forums about OCI. Is it a booklet or endorsement in British passport? If booklet, is it then stamped each time in India or just used as a proof of OCI?

its a booklet, and your british passport is stamped and not OCI

4. Finally, has anyone recently applied for OCI? Do they take biometrics?

no biometrics.

[rshelar]

Thanks for your reply.

One last thing...should the photocopies be black and white or colour?

I think I read somewhere it should be colour so just want to check.

[z18runway]

not sure about color.
IMHO b&w of all 36 pages of indian passport(i.e including blank pages) and self attested for surrender process

[rshelar]

Thanks...the VFS site says

Self attested photocopy of Indian passport (All used pages)

Its all used pages then...however there is contradictory info on collecting in person or providing two return envelopes. Do you know what the procedure is?

Regards

[z18runway]

if you are talking about surrender, then you have choices by collecting in person or by postal delivery.
but they might have changed it now as i cannot see any info.

the system works like this.
1) apply with surrender application form with the documents and opt in for postal delivery or collect in person.
2) for postal delivery they rip you off by asking more than £8. so its upto you by travelling again to the centre to collect( calculate time and travel charge) if it is worth and savinf few pounds then collect it in person.
3)dont opt in for sms alert service as they again charge you for £2 some thing, dont worry just say no if you think this is rip off and you can always track with your ref number about your application on their website.
4)try to do all your photocopies at home as they charge 10p at the centre with an self service photocpoy machine which dont provide change.

[ban.s]

just to add - you don't need to surrender indian passport within 3 months, you can surrender within 3 years from naturalisation.
the 3 months is only for travel on indian passport.
however if you wish to travel to indian beyond 3 month period then you must surrender and obtain visa or oci prior travel else risk penalty.

[rshelar]

Thanks both of you. Very helpful.