Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI)

[gerspad]

Visit the consulate, politely ask them if the misprinting would create a problem - I do not think it will create a problem. You should not have to pay for an error on their part, so speak to them about getting a new one issued if it is a problem.

Thanks, I did precisely this and went to the consulate, they said it would not cause any issues - I just hope whoever I need to show the document to in India takes the same view.

OCI Timeline for Application of 1 Adult (Fresh Application)
VFS Center: Birmingham
Application Date: 27/06/2019
Date of acknowledgement: 28/06/2019
Original docs Received: N/A. All originals were returned immediately at the time of submission.
Documents Printing Status: 22/07/2019
Dispatched From MEA (OCI): 23/07/2019
Document received At London : 23/07/2019
PASSPORT SUBMITTED IN PERSON: 25/07/2019
PASSPORT AND OCI DOCUMENT RECEIVED: 30/07/2019

Also quick correction:
Document received At Birmingham*: 23/07/2019
* not London

[leonu]

Timeline of my OCI application:
Application Date: 12-july-2019
VFS Center: VFS Goswell Road
Original docs Received: 12-july-2019
Date of acknowledgment: 13-july-2019
Documents Printing Status: PROCESSED on 02/08/2019
Dispatched From MOIA (OCI ) NEW DELHI: 02/08/2019
Document received At London: 02/08/2019
PASSPORT SUBMITTED IN PERSON at VFS: will go on the 5th.
PASSPORT AND OCI DOCUMENT RECEIVED: .....

[nagarajan1982]

Timeline of my OCI application:
Application Date: 10-july-2019
VFS Center: Liverpool
Date of acknowledgment: 12-july-2019
Original docs Received: 14-july-2019
Documents Printing Status:
Dispatched From MOIA (OCI )
Document received At London:
PASSPORT SUBMITTED IN PERSON at VFS:
PASSPORT AND OCI DOCUMENT RECEIVED :

[jp2909]

HCI London are totally useless and ignore all email correspondence!

They're asking me to provide a nativity certificate for my OCI application using my father's school leaving certificate.

Only problem is the office in Navsari India dealing with issuing nativity certificates have stopped processing them for the last 7 months.

Now I'm stuck!

Anyone have any ideas?

[heerasharma007]

Timeline of my OCI application:
Application Date: 7-june-2019
VFS Center: VFS Glasgow
Original docs Received: 7-june-2019
Date of acknowledgement: 7-june-2019
Documents Printing Status: PROCESSED on 12/07/2019
Dispatched From MOIA (OCI ) NEW DELHI: 15/07/2019
Document received At Edinburgh: 17/07/2019
PASSPORT SUBMITTED IN PERSON at VFS: 02/08/2019.
PASSPORT AND OCI DOCUMENT RECEIVED: waiting

[leonu]

Timeline of my OCI application:
Application Date: 12-july-2019
VFS Center: VFS Goswell Road
Original docs Received: 12-july-2019
Date of acknowledgment: 13-july-2019
Documents Printing Status: PROCESSED on 02/08/2019
Dispatched From MOIA (OCI ) NEW DELHI: 02/08/2019
Document received At London: 02/08/2019
PASSPORT SUBMITTED IN PERSON at VFS: will go on the 5th.
PASSPORT AND OCI DOCUMENT RECEIVED: .....

Timeline of my OCI application:
Application Date: 12-july-2019
VFS Center: VFS Goswell Road
Original docs Received: 12-july-2019
Date of acknowledgment: 13-july-2019
Documents Printing Status: PROCESSED on 02/08/2019
Dispatched From MOIA (OCI ) NEW DELHI: 02/08/2019
Document received At London: 02/08/2019
PASSPORT SUBMITTED IN PERSON at VFS: 05/08/2019
PASSPORT AND OCI DOCUMENT RECEIVED: 09/08/2019

good luck all

[xebec]

HCI London are totally useless and ignore all email correspondence!

They're asking me to provide a nativity certificate for my OCI application using my father's school leaving certificate.

Only problem is the office in Navsari India dealing with issuing nativity certificates have stopped processing them for the last 7 months.

Now I'm stuck!

Anyone have any ideas?

Try another VFS centre?

You have the following options with various shades of legality:
1. A 'Facilitation payment" to get your application through.
2. Lodge an RTI on why the centre has stopped processing and inquire about the current processing time.
Now only Indian citizens can lodge an RTI ticket. So either log it for the entire processing time and say you're a citizen, or get an Indian citizen friend or family to log it for you if you need specifics on the application.
If you get an Indian friend to log a ticket, write an affidavit that you permit the person with Aadhaar number X to inquire about your application number Y and require a committed date when the certificate will be sent through.

[nagarajan1982]

Timeline of my OCI application:
Application Date: 10-july-2019
VFS Center: Liverpool
Date of acknowledgment: 12-july-2019
Original docs Received: 14-july-2019
Documents Printing Status: 13-July-2019
Dispatched From MOIA (OCI ) 14-July-2019
Document received At BIRMINGHAM: 14-July-2019
PASSPORT SUBMITTED IN PERSON at VFS:
PASSPORT AND OCI DOCUMENT RECEIVED :

[kopper]

Does anyone know if I am submitting OCI re-issues for 2 children that I need to provide 2 Royal Mail Special Delivery Envelopes or is just only 1 required for both?

Thanks

[CR001]

Does anyone know if I am submitting OCI re-issues for 2 children that I need to provide 2 Royal Mail Special Delivery Envelopes or is just only 1 required for both?

Thanks

Please do not attempt to change the topic heading to royal mail envelope etc. If you have a question with a different topic heading start your own thread or post in one of your previous threads.

[vpruk]

Timeline of my OCI application:
Application Date: 10-july-2019
VFS Center: Liverpool
Date of acknowledgment: 12-july-2019
Original docs Received: 14-july-2019
Documents Printing Status: 13-July-2019
Dispatched From MOIA (OCI ) 14-July-2019
Document received At BIRMINGHAM: 14-July-2019
PASSPORT SUBMITTED IN PERSON at VFS:
PASSPORT AND OCI DOCUMENT RECEIVED :

Hi sir
Any update please
I did apply for oci week after your date please.
Got to travel soon- bit worried
Please let me know on ur update thanks

[abhay10001]

HCI London are totally useless and ignore all email correspondence!

They're asking me to provide a nativity certificate for my OCI application using my father's school leaving certificate.

Only problem is the office in Navsari India dealing with issuing nativity certificates have stopped processing them for the last 7 months.

Now I'm stuck!

Anyone have any ideas?

Try another VFS centre?

You have the following options with various shades of legality:
1. A 'Facilitation payment" to get your application through.
2. Lodge an RTI on why the centre has stopped processing and inquire about the current processing time.
Now only Indian citizens can lodge an RTI ticket. So either log it for the entire processing time and say you're a citizen, or get an Indian citizen friend or family to log it for you if you need specifics on the application.
If you get an Indian friend to log a ticket, write an affidavit that you permit the person with Aadhaar number X to inquire about your application number Y and require a committed date when the certificate will be sent through.

Check your facts first. I confirm that they issue nativity. You must not blame big organisation like HCI on your lack of knowledge.
You are getting hopeless due to failure of getting nativity due to one reason or another.
Don't put your blames on HCI.
Sorry for hard words

[abhay10001]

I am in the process of applying for the transfer of OCIs from my children's old passports to new and have a few questions:

1) Do you need both the Thumb prints and signature or only one will do?
My 5 year old does not not write clearly so will only his thumb print be enough?
My 10 year old can write her name in a signature style so will her thumb print be also needed?

- Part B of the form asks " Have you/any member of your family applied for Overseas Citizen of India registration earlier? "
Do I put in my details as the father or my child's details considering they have OCI on their old passport?
It also asks for a "Reference Number" - What number is this? It will not accept my OCI number as 12 characters are needed. If its my original reference number for the last OCI application made 9 years ago, god knows where it is !!

- Finally, in the document upload part, can i just upload my child's new passport? Do I need to upload their old OCI ?

Its strange why a Transfer of an OCI to a new passport can be so cumbersome.
Why do we need to submit copies marriage certificate, parents passports etc again when they already have that on file as both parents have existing OCI ???

1. See https://www.vfsglobal.com/india/uk/OCI.html

Signatures should be in the box provided. Children below 5 years of age should place the thumb impression (of left hand in case of girl and of right hand in case of boy) and children above 5 years of age should write their name or sign. Signature/thumb impression of the child applicant is also required on the declaration on Part B of the application form (2 page).

-- Its bizarre that the UK high commission require minors to sign or write their name. The High Commission in Australia has no such requirements - (only upload a document that says "no signature"). In any case, if you should be able write their name down for them, the commission will never be any wiser.

2a. Yes, you put your details in. The more information you give them the better. Check your emails, you should have it the details in the email you received when you applied - hopefully it was an online process back then. If not, the file number can be found on the last page, last line of your booklet. If you can't remember the date, put the date of issue down. Remember, if they can't pull up this information from their own databases, they can't verify the exact dates either.
2b Also put your child's initial details in.

3. Yea just the passport is required. When you go for the interview, make sure you also take a copy of the OCI document.

Indian government paperwork is cumbersome yes. It's because they don't implicitly trust their own documents and systems. Also people don't challenge the system, and the people in charge of it do not have a feedback mechanism to review and improve it.

For now, it's best to give them all the documents they want, and documents they don't require (eg surrender certificate, your passport, your partner's passport, his/her OCI -if s/he has) - they will return documents they have no need for. Make sure both of you (you and your partner) sign the application document so that there is no ambiguity on objection. Also get your documents attested. They love attested documents.

I think you know a lot about working of HCI.
Every organisation has its own way of working. If you don't want to put sign or name then better get OCI from Australian HC. Try to make a mistake in your form and they will flatly reject your application without refund. Privilege of shouting, fighting, refund is only with Indian High Commission. They are very much flexible. My experience in India and London : they have good mechanism which is flexible and positive. They love attested document but read carefully, self attested.

[xebec]

Check your facts first. I confirm that they issue nativity. You must not blame big organisation like HCI on your lack of knowledge.
You are getting hopeless due to failure of getting nativity due to one reason or another.
Don't put your blames on HCI.
Sorry for hard words

Is this post directed to me or to kopper?

[xebec]

I think you know a lot about working of HCI.
Every organisation has its own way of working. If you don't want to put sign or name then better get OCI from Australian HC. Try to make a mistake in your form and they will flatly reject your application without refund. Privilege of shouting, fighting, refund is only with Indian High Commission. They are very much flexible. My experience in India and London : they have good mechanism which is flexible and positive. They love attested document but read carefully, self attested.

The OCI grant is determined in New Delhi, not the local high commission or embassy. It is bizarre to make a child sign on a legal document or take fingerprints of a five month old - whose fingerprints do not have the fidelity required. The process in Australia takes a more sensible approach to this aspect and it should be replicated across VFS offices across the world. Unfortunately, the VFS office in Australia will not entertain an application from the UK unless one can prove residence in Australia - this is applicable anywhere - if you're not a resident, you usually cannot apply to any random VFS centre in another part of the world. Please do not provide false information to people in this forum. I suggest if you are unhappy with children made to sign or put their fingerprints on an application - please contact VFS and the HCI and ask them to do away with this rule. I have provided feedback to VFS Australia in the past about their processes and they have made sufficient amendments to their checklist in response.

[kopper]

OCI re-issue timeline:

Date Of Acknowledgment 27-AUG-2019 (Goswell Road Walk in Service)
Registration Status at Mission LONDON
Documents Printing Status PROCESSED On 28-AUG-2019
Dispatched From MEA (OCI ) NEW DELHI On 30-AUG-2019
Document received At LONDON On 30-AUG-2019
Submission of documents at Goswell Road on 05-SEP-2019
OCI & Passport Delivered to Home address on 10-SEP-2019

So as you can see it took me just 2 weeks using the walk in service without an appointment.
For anyone short of time and cant wait for an appointment, I recommend using their Walk in service between 8:30 to 11am for submitting the application.
The only thing i would change if I was to do it again is to not buy the A4 Silver Special Delivery Envelope as this is too big and is not needed for posting the passports and OCI card. You will also save money from the post office by buying the smaller envelope.

[cfdman]

OCI re-issue for minor child: (Following passport renewal)

Date Of Application: 16-SEP-2019 (Goswell Road Walk in Service)
Date Of Acknowledgment 17-SEP-2019

Documents Printing Status PROCESSED On 18-SEP-2019
Dispatched From MEA (OCI ) NEW DELHI On 18-SEP-2019
Document received At LONDON On 18-SEP-2019
Submission of documents at Goswell Road on 23-SEP-2019
OCI & Passport Delivered to Home address on 26-SEP-2019

Walk-in service in Goswell road took astonishing 3 hrs in waiting! (21st in the queue for walk-in).
Since I did a walk-in, I was told I cannot use RoyalMail envelope and had to pay £14+ for DX courier.
The appointment was not available for next 3 weeks looks like VFS chokes the availability so more people do walk-in and more money for them. If they can seemingly handle people walking-in, they could as well increase regular appointments.

OCI Tracking returned "No such record found" for about a week. I Emailed HCI London helpdesk with the passport and OCI file number details, they confirmed me that the OCI is ready for collection and asked me to provide an Email printout.

Just walked-in to submit the passport, and this took just 10 mins. The security guy at the reception now takes the passport+old OCI+Courier envelope+status-printout. It saved lot of time.

[lemess]

OCI re-issue for minor child: (Following passport renewal)

Date Of Application: 16-SEP-2019 (Goswell Road Walk in Service)
Date Of Acknowledgment 17-SEP-2019

Documents Printing Status PROCESSED On 18-SEP-2019
Dispatched From MEA (OCI ) NEW DELHI On 18-SEP-2019
Document received At LONDON On 18-SEP-2019
Submission of documents at Goswell Road on 23-SEP-2019
OCI & Passport Delivered to Home address on 26-SEP-2019

Walk-in service in Goswell road took astonishing 3 hrs in waiting! (21st in the queue for walk-in).
Since I did a walk-in, I was told I cannot use RoyalMail envelope and had to pay £14+ for DX courier.
The appointment was not available for next 3 weeks looks like VFS chokes the availability so more people do walk-in and more money for them. If they can seemingly handle people walking-in, they could as well increase regular appointments.

OCI Tracking returned "No such record found" for about a week. I Emailed HCI London helpdesk with the passport and OCI file number details, they confirmed me that the OCI is ready for collection and asked me to provide an Email printout.

Just walked-in to submit the passport, and this took just 10 mins. The security guy at the reception now takes the passport+old OCI+Courier envelope+status-printout. It saved lot of time.

Very similar experience albeit using VFS Hounslow walk in. OCI re-issue for 2 minor children.

Submitted application on the 13th of Sep.
Kept getting the same "no record found" message so emailed HCI on the 19th. Quick response from them confirming that the cards were ready and to bring an email printout to VFS. Did this on the 23rd and received the OCI cards and passports today.

Looks like walk-in at Hounslow is easier. I got there around 8am, it opened at 8:30 and was out by 9am on the day of application submission and similar while submitting passports.

[jaykant]

I was given incorrect information by VFS helpline on phone. I did my research and email all documentary evidence to say you are giving wrong advice, as you want to make money on fees.

I was again told with evidence submitted, I should contact Immigration Ministry in India to get confirmation. I did and received confirmation.

Above is for any person who got their FIRST OCI when they were 50 years and above. They can travel to India with their OLD passport and they DON'T require to submit application to have transfer into their NEW passport.

[rsiriki]

Timeline of my OCI New Application:
Application Date: 11-Oct-2019
VFS Center: Birmingham
Date of acknowledgment: 14-Oct-2019
Original docs Received: 16-Oct-2019
Documents Printing Status: Under progress

[Enka2018]

How many prepaid envelopes do we need to provide? Do they keep originals or do they straightly return in VFS once copied?

[Enka2018]

Timeline of my OCI New Application:
Application Date: 11-Oct-2019
VFS Center: Birmingham
Date of acknowledgment: 14-Oct-2019
Original docs Received: 16-Oct-2019
Documents Printing Status: Under progress

Did you need 2 envelopes or only 1 enough, please?

[Anjali85]

Did you need 2 envelopes or only 1 enough, please?

Only 1 small envelop is enough. They will return it after scanning the bar code. We've to go with it again when we go for collection.

[Enka2018]

In case of new oci application does VFS keep original documents or do they return straightly at the time of submittion?

I would like to make sure how many prepaid envelopes is needed.

[xebec]

They return the originals at the time of the interview. It is to check the authenticity of the copies. Only one envelope is needed.