OCI Application Experience

[dontringthebell]

Many Thanks for sharing your experience in such detail - very helpful. I replicated what you did for minor OCI document upload. 'Previous Indian Passport' category is perhaps now called 'Indian Origin Proof'. Thanks for updating everyone

For address proof, I uploaded council tax + parents driving license in 1 PDF < 1MB, just to be safe. I assume too many documents is not a problem? Council Tax Bill is sufficient, not a problem but one document is good

Next month at VFS Goswell, I will request in person collection of the original supporting documents based on recent experience with HMPO and HCI. Do you know if this is allowed?, never heard of that you may try and update all.

[imab]

Many Thanks for the prompt response !!
I applied for OCI on behalf of my 2 kids today at VFS Goswell, thanks to appointment slots made available yesterday. My experience was similar. Some additional points:

• There is a cycle stand right opposite , if commuting via bike

• The manager is onsite to handle any concerns and approachable, sits in one of the counters

• In-person collection of docs is politely discouraged, but not ruled out. £12.50 charged per courier

• I was convinced by the courier packaging shown: a strong envelope double wrapped in another grey envelope. In retrospect, royal mail grey envelope was a bad choice for surrender certificate

[Subha100]

Just a quick question ,
Previous passport which we send for surrender is ok or all old passpoer has to be uploaded ?

Thanks in adviance .

[dontringthebell]

Just a quick question ,
Previous passport which we send for surrender is ok or all old passpoer has to be uploaded ?

Thanks in adviance .

Only surrendered passport needs to be uploaded, it would carry stamp stating "acquired foreign nationality".

Your previous passports would cary canceled stamp and don't need to be uploaded.

[Subha100]

Just a quick question ,
Previous passport which we send for surrender is ok or all old passpoer has to be uploaded ?

Thanks in adviance .

Only surrendered passport needs to be uploaded, it would carry stamp stating "acquired foreign nationality".

Your previous passports would cary canceled stamp and don't need to be uploaded.

Thank you -dontringthebell.
Is all applicant should visat VFS or for example any one in family (adult) can carry others -
For example -Husband can carry his wife & daughters application -they no need to vist vfs ?

[dontringthebell]

Just a quick question ,
Previous passport which we send for surrender is ok or all old passpoer has to be uploaded ?

Thanks in adviance .

Only surrendered passport needs to be uploaded, it would carry stamp stating "acquired foreign nationality".

Your previous passports would cary canceled stamp and don't need to be uploaded.

Thank you -dontringthebell.
Is all applicant should visat VFS or for example any one in family (adult) can carry others -
For example - Husband can carry his wife & daughters application - they no need to vist vfs?

Multiple members from a family can be represented by one member, however, each one should have an appointment booked individually or added to the appointment at the time of appointment booking.

The person making applications must carry as many appointment confirmation letters as the number of people being represented.

[Subha100]

Just a quick question ,
Previous passport which we send for surrender is ok or all old passpoer has to be uploaded ?

Thanks in adviance .

Only surrendered passport needs to be uploaded, it would carry stamp stating "acquired foreign nationality".

Your previous passports would cary canceled stamp and don't need to be uploaded.

Thank you -dontringthebell.
Is all applicant should visat VFS or for example any one in family (adult) can carry others -
For example - Husband can carry his wife & daughters application - they no need to vist vfs?

Multiple members from a family can be represented by one member, however, each one should have an appointment booked individually or added to the appointment at the time of appointment booking.

The person making applications must carry as many appointment confirmation letters as the number of people being represented.

Thank you -dontringthebell.

[chavachows3]

Hi @donotringthebell

I am planning to apply for my wife's visa. Can you please help me with the following questions?

She recently got British Passport and surrender of Indian passport is under process. I already got British Passport and OCI in 2016

Q1. For 'Is spouse based application' I said no. Is this correct?

Q2. She is working in IT. If the employer gives employee reference letter through email attachment, if I take the printed copy of this, is this ok? I hope it should not be printed and signed by HR and sent to us in Post?

Thanks in Advance!

[dontringthebell]

Hi @donotringthebell

I am planning to apply for my wife's visa. Can you please help me with the following questions?

She recently got British Passport and surrender of Indian passport is under process. I already got British Passport and OCI in 2016

Q1. For 'Is spouse based application' I said no. Is this correct? Correct

Q2. She is working in IT. If the employer gives employee reference letter through email attachment, if I take the printed copy of this, is this ok? I hope it should not be printed and signed by HR and sent to us in Post? It works fine, if it is stamped take a colored printout, looks more authentic. We did exactly the same with my wife's application.

Thanks in Advance!

[chavachows3]

Hi @donotringthebell

I am planning to apply for my wife's visa. Can you please help me with the following questions?

She recently got British Passport and surrender of Indian passport is under process. I already got British Passport and OCI in 2016

Q1. For 'Is spouse based application' I said no. Is this correct? Correct

Q2. She is working in IT. If the employer gives employee reference letter through email attachment, if I take the printed copy of this, is this ok? I hope it should not be printed and signed by HR and sent to us in Post? It works fine, if it is stamped take a colored printout, looks more authentic. We did exactly the same with my wife's application.

Thanks in Advance!

Thanks for the reply, another quick question please!

Should I click the 'Final Submit' button on OCI doc upload page or should I not so that there is a chance I can upload more if they ask us on the day of appointment.

Thanks

[dontringthebell]

You wont be able to go ahead with the appointment and if you dont click ok.

Dont worry all would be fine. They are mostly helpful. helpful in genuine cases, helpful to rectify small errors too.

[abhaygupta17]

Dear dontringthebell,

My child was born in UK but held Indian passport before naturalisation. Do I need to get the UK birth certificate apostille in this case or Indian passport surrender certificate will be enough? Please suggest

Regards,
AG

[dontringthebell]

Dear dontringthebell,

My child was born in UK but held Indian passport before naturalisation. exactly like mineDo I need to get the UK birth certificate apostille in this case or Indian passport surrender certificate will be enough? No, surrender certificate is sufficient Please suggest

Regards,
AG

[abhaygupta17]

Dear dontringthebell,

My child was born in UK but held Indian passport before naturalisation. exactly like mineDo I need to get the UK birth certificate apostille in this case or Indian passport surrender certificate will be enough? No, surrender certificate is sufficient Please suggest

Regards,
AG

Thanks a lot dontringthebell

[abhaygupta17]

1) Did you upload supporting docs as is without self-attestation? and then self-attest the supporting docs when you handed them in person? I did not attest either, neither is it required and nor was I asked.
2) Was it the same set of docs that you uploaded and then handed in person? I submitted photocopies of all the documents uploaded as list above and submitted originals as mentioned in my first post.
Original Documents submitted on the day were as follows

• For self Naturalisation Certificate, Surender Certificate & Marriage Certificate

• For wife Naturalisation Certificate, Surender Certificate

• For daughter Registration Certificate, Birth Certificate, Surender Certificate

or did you add any additional documentation in-person? only for myself I did attach an addendum to my application - certifying the situation around my unemployment.


Good Luck for your application.

Dear dontringthebell,

Re Original documents - does VFS only ask for original Naturalisation certificate and not for British passport? My daughter's Naturalisation certificate still with HMPO though she received the UK passport few weeks back already so was wondering if i can submit that (along with copy of naturalisation certificate) for my appointment next Wednesday. Please advise

Regards,
AG

[dontringthebell]

Dear dontringthebell,

Re Original documents - does VFS only ask for original Naturalisation certificate and not for British passport? My daughter's Naturalisation certificate still with HMPO though she received the UK passport few weeks back already so was wondering if i can submit that (along with copy of naturalisation certificate) for my appointment next Wednesday. Please advise

Though I wish you receive your daughters appointment next wednesday, you can try carrying a photocopy of the naturalisation certificate along with her original British passport and do a A4 sheet write up explaining the situation, unavoidable delay in receiving documents back. I think they would be considerate, because its highly unlikely for one to obtain British Passport without a naturalisation/registration certificate. Also, given you tender an undertaking to the facts it can always be considered. I would suggest you must try and share your experience with others, since the only other option is to wait to receive documents back and rebook an appointment thats a lot of further delay.

Regards,
AG

[abhaygupta17]

Dear dontringthebell,

Re Original documents - does VFS only ask for original Naturalisation certificate and not for British passport? My daughter's Naturalisation certificate still with HMPO though she received the UK passport few weeks back already so was wondering if i can submit that (along with copy of naturalisation certificate) for my appointment next Wednesday. Please advise

Though I wish you receive your daughters appointment next wednesday, you can try carrying a photocopy of the naturalisation certificate along with her original British passport and do a A4 sheet write up explaining the situation, unavoidable delay in receiving documents back. I think they would be considerate, because its highly unlikely for one to obtain British Passport without a naturalisation/registration certificate. Also, given you tender an undertaking to the facts it can always be considered. I would suggest you must try and share your experience with others, since the only other option is to wait to receive documents back and rebook an appointment thats a lot of further delay.

Regards,
AG

Thanks as always dontringthebell for quick guidance! I'll surely try this and will post my experience here after appointment

[abhaygupta17]

Dear dontringthebell,

Re Original documents - does VFS only ask for original Naturalisation certificate and not for British passport? My daughter's Naturalisation certificate still with HMPO though she received the UK passport few weeks back already so was wondering if i can submit that (along with copy of naturalisation certificate) for my appointment next Wednesday. Please advise

Though I wish you receive your daughters appointment next wednesday, you can try carrying a photocopy of the naturalisation certificate along with her original British passport and do a A4 sheet write up explaining the situation, unavoidable delay in receiving documents back. I think they would be considerate, because its highly unlikely for one to obtain British Passport without a naturalisation/registration certificate. Also, given you tender an undertaking to the facts it can always be considered. I would suggest you must try and share your experience with others, since the only other option is to wait to receive documents back and rebook an appointment thats a lot of further delay.

Regards,
AG

Thanks as always dontringthebell for quick guidance! I'll surely try this and will post my experience here after appointment

[nav1986]

Thanks for this thread. Going to apply for my son soon. Is fathers employment letter mandatory for minor OCI application?

[gag285]

Hi All,

Never knew would need to return to Immi Boards for a never-ending visa journey. A couple of questions in hope some of you may have experienced and overcome these:
Situation - Applying for OCI for my wife and 2 children (minor). All had Indian passports prior to naturalising and registration (for children). I hold an Indian passport and ILR (want to keep it that way).

1. The instructions at one point indicate that even the appointment letter needs to be uploaded. I am guessing I have misunderstood this as nobody seems to bother - its only physically required to enter the VFS premises and then attached to the physical application. Is this correct?

2. A lot of posts imply that you managed to combine documents into a PDF. I have tried to do this but after I upload only the first page shows under the View document. I merged the individual ones into a combined PDF and can see the pages but somehow when I upload, I believe it only takes the first page (not sure why). Had anyone else experienced this? and if so, what did you do?

Thank you in anticipation.

[msjtargaryn]

Dear gag285,

1. You must carry the appointment letters of all applicants. I was there ten days ago, and one applicant was asked to bring a printed appointment letter. They take it with your documents when your number comes for document verification and submission.

2. I am unsure about PDF documents. I merged some of them and there were no issues after uploading and viewing. I could view all the pages.

[msjtargaryn]

Thanks for this thread. Going to apply for my son soon. Is fathers employment letter mandatory for minor OCI application?

My experience has been very bad and the same for others in the Goswell office. My suggestion is to take everything that you can think of including photocopies. It appears that they can ask for anything, even if it is not mentioned in their list of documents.