Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI)

[scholar7980]

OCI application status as of 03/08/2023: UNDER-PROCESS

Online application submitted: 28/07/2023
Document submission date: 31/07/2023
Application Acknowledgment: 01/08/2023 (status enquiry said under process from no record found, no emails)
Original Docs received: 03/08/2023 (via DX)
OCI application status page changes: TBC Document printing/Processed/OCI number displayed
OCI Card received: TBC (DX tracked delivery)

Hi,

I had my OCI appointment today at VFS Goswell. Very smooth appointment, got there at 8:45 am and I was out in 20 mins. A few pointers below.

Early morning appointments (8:30/8:45) tend to be better as you could have walk-ins and others piling on your slot later during the day delaying your appointment.

Make sure your photograph and signature are uploaded in line with OCI requirements. My uploaded signature background showed up as light blue so I had to redo it there at the counter for £15 VFS charge. You can also use your own laptop to do so for no charge.

All uploaded documents can either be in a single PDF or be uploaded into any category as VFS just downloads all of them. Make sure you take self attested photocopies of all uploaded documents. For address proof, I carried my DL and employer e-signed letter for employment verification.

Surrender certificate, Naturalisation certificate and the cancelled last Indian passport were taken by VFS and to be returned in a week. British passport was verified and returned immediately. OCI will take a month to be delivered per VFS representative.

Location: VFS Goswell London
Online application submitted: 28/07/2023
Document submission date: 31/07/2023
Application Acknowledgment: TBC, No email yet
Original Docs received: TBC
OCI application status page changes: TBC Document printing/Processed/OCI number displayed
OCI Card received: TBC (DX tracked delivery)

[Raldoc]

Appointment date: 24/07/2023
Appointment location: Hounslow, London
Acknowledgement: 25/07/2023
OCI application status as of 1/08/2023: UNDER-PROCESS
Passport & Original Surrender Certificate received back: 28/07/2023
Processed on: 16/08/2023
OCI Cards received: 21/08/2023.

I live in Leicester but decided to submit my application in Hounslow since I read that Birmingham was talking almost 2 months to process applications.

Glad I went to hounslow. Recieved my OCI in just under 1 month.

[Mitch]

Hi

Both my grandfather (born in Solapur 1894) and great grandparents where born in India. However, I do not have their birth certificates (as they were not issued with birth certificates at that time).

I do however have baptism records (from India) and my grand father's death certificate (from Singapore).

Can you please advise if this is enough information to apply for my OCI?

Thank you and wishing you well

Andrew

[fads3232]

Hi
I will be applying for OCI for myself next week at VFS goswell and in process of filling up the application - I am a Portuguese Citizen of Indian origin.

I surrendered my Indian citizenship sometime back and have the surrender certificate and all other documents.

Do I need to attach a copy of the Nascimente/ Portuguese birth registration certificate with the application. And if yes does the translation need to be attested as Apostile if Hague?

Thanks

[whodunnit]

Location: VFS Goswell Road, London
No of Application: 1 adult
Online application submitted: 27/07/2023
Documents submitted: 28/07/2023
Application acknowledged: 31/07/2023
Message from DX delivery about Original Documents Return: 01/08/2023
Original documents received: 02/08/2023
OCI Processed: 21/08/2023
Message from DX delivery: 23/08/2023
OCI card received: 24/08/2023

[scholar7980]

Online application submitted: 28/07/2023
Document submission date: 31/07/2023
Application Acknowledgment: 01/08/2023 (status enquiry said under process from no record found, no emails)
Original Docs received: 03/08/2023 (via DX)
OCI application status as of 03/08/2023: UNDER-PROCESS
OCI Document Processed/OCI number displayed: 23/08/2023
DX Courier Msg Received for Delivery: 25/08/2023 for delivery on Aug 28th
OCI Card received: 01/09/2023 (2nd delivery attempt)

Process completed in a month. VFS did not print my flat number on the label so DX couldn't deliver on the first attempt which was clarified over a call.

Hi,

I had my OCI appointment today at VFS Goswell. Very smooth appointment, got there at 8:45 am and I was out in 20 mins. A few pointers below.

Early morning appointments (8:30/8:45) tend to be better as you could have walk-ins and others piling on your slot later during the day delaying your appointment.

Make sure your photograph and signature are uploaded in line with OCI requirements. My uploaded signature background showed up as light blue so I had to redo it there at the counter for £15 VFS charge. You can also use your own laptop to do so for no charge.

All uploaded documents can either be in a single PDF or be uploaded into any category as VFS just downloads all of them. Make sure you take self attested photocopies of all uploaded documents. For address proof, I carried my DL and employer e-signed letter for employment verification.

Surrender certificate, Naturalisation certificate and the cancelled last Indian passport were taken by VFS and to be returned in a week. British passport was verified and returned immediately. OCI will take a month to be delivered per VFS representative.

Location: VFS Goswell London
Online application submitted: 28/07/2023
Document submission date: 31/07/2023
Application Acknowledgment: TBC, No email yet
Original Docs received: TBC
OCI application status page changes: TBC Document printing/Processed/OCI number displayed
OCI Card received: TBC (DX tracked delivery)

[poonamtiwari333]

Please help;

I am applying for OCI for my husband, a British-born citizen in the foreign spouse category.
On his birth certificate, there is only his mother's name.

Is this going to be an issue? If it is, is there a way to get around this?

Kind regards,
P

[thrivingretiree]

Hello,

I made a spousal OCI application after my husband received his OCI within 27 days of submission. That with the India Independence Day on 15 August and British August Bank Holiday!

Does anyone know or has anyone experienced if VFS/HCI takes the full 8 weeks or more to process spousal OCI applications, please?

I am a Ugandan born, British citizen and British passport holder. I submitted my OCI application at the Goswell Road, London VFS, on Monday, 4 September 2023. Status is currently showing "under process." I have received my original documents back and am "patiently" waiting for my status to change to "processed" and "printing."

Any insight will be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

[Waterman]

I think you have applied to the right mission as Birmingham are very slow.

Hello,

I am a Ugandan born, British citizen and British passport holder. I submitted my OCI application at the Goswell Road, London VFS, on Monday, 4 September 2023. Status is currently showing "under process." I have received my original documents back and am "patiently" waiting for my status to change to "processed" and "printing."

Any insight will be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

[Waterman]

Anyone with recent exprience for OCI application through Birmingham?

[koonjparekh]

Anyone with recent exprience for OCI application through Birmingham?

Hello,
Yes I applied in first week of September still waiting for an update. Did you face any issue?

[Waterman]

Hello,
Yes I applied in first week of September still waiting for an update. Did you face any issue?
[/quote]

Mine is showing UNDER PROCESS

[Waterman]

Date of Acknowledgement 1 Sep 2023
Under Process as of 25 October 23

[dolphin21]

I applied early September and submitted surrender certificate, have just received an email asking me to also also apply for renunciation certificate before OCI can be processed. Has anyone experienced this?

[nils]

Yes you will need apply for renunciation too. Government of India have issued new rules starting from 06-09-2023.

https://services.vfsglobal.com/gbr/en/i ... ew-process

[dolphin21]

Date of Acknowledgement 1 Sep 2023
Under Process as of 25 October 23

Hi there, did you get your OCI or have you been asked to apply for renunciation certificate like me? thanks

[dolphin21]

Yes you will need apply for renunciation too. Government of India have issued new rules starting from 06-09-2023.

https://services.vfsglobal.com/gbr/en/i ... ew-process

Thanks. I applied on the 5th September at VFS, application acknowledgement date is 6th September so not sure why this rule also applies to people who applied on or before the 6th?

[Art87ee]

Hello everyone

Family member today applied for OCI as Goswell.

They kept his original naturalisation certificate. Is this typical? Seeing posts here from people saying that originals were returned on the spot to them?

Thank you.

[sitharanair03]

Hey guys,

Just wanted to check if anyone recently applied for OCI at Hounslow and received it ? I applied early October and it’s still showing as under process.
Thanks in adv.

[ladcameo]

Hi All,

As per the new process, you will need to have both surrender certificate and renunciation certificate to apply OCI.

They will allow you to apply OCI, even if you show proof that you have applied for renunciation certificate. Proof in this context is payment receipt for renunciation.

Also, please note that even if the OCI process is successfully completed, they will not issue OCI card unless you got your physical copy of renunciation certificate and you email a soft copy to HCI.

Timeline for renunciation certificate is 8 weeks as it should come from India, timeline for OCI is 6 weeks. Overall process will take 8-10 weeks, is what i was told by vfs.

I have applied for renunciation certificate on 19th October and for OCI on 23rd October - both are under process.

[Art87ee]

Hi All,

As per the new process, you will need to have both surrender certificate and renunciation certificate to apply OCI.

They will allow you to apply OCI, even if you show proof that you have applied for renunciation certificate. Proof in this context is payment receipt for renunciation.

Also, please note that even if the OCI process is successfully completed, they will not issue OCI card unless you got your physical copy of renunciation certificate and you email a soft copy to HCI.

Timeline for renunciation certificate is 8 weeks as it should come from India, timeline for OCI is 6 weeks. Overall process will take 8-10 weeks, is what i was told by vfs.

I have applied for renunciation certificate on 19th October and for OCI on 23rd October - both are under process.

How many days did it take for renunciation to show up as under process?

[ladcameo]

Hi All,

As per the new process, you will need to have both surrender certificate and renunciation certificate to apply OCI.

They will allow you to apply OCI, even if you show proof that you have applied for renunciation certificate. Proof in this context is payment receipt for renunciation.

Also, please note that even if the OCI process is successfully completed, they will not issue OCI card unless you got your physical copy of renunciation certificate and you email a soft copy to HCI.

Timeline for renunciation certificate is 8 weeks as it should come from India, timeline for OCI is 6 weeks. Overall process will take 8-10 weeks, is what i was told by vfs.

I have applied for renunciation certificate on 19th October and for OCI on 23rd October - both are under process.

How many days did it take for renunciation to show up as under process?

Renunciation status came as "Application Received" 1 week after I applied for it.

https://indiancitizenshiponline.nic.in/Renounce

This is the link to check renunciation status.

[Art87ee]

Hi All,

As per the new process, you will need to have both surrender certificate and renunciation certificate to apply OCI.

They will allow you to apply OCI, even if you show proof that you have applied for renunciation certificate. Proof in this context is payment receipt for renunciation.

Also, please note that even if the OCI process is successfully completed, they will not issue OCI card unless you got your physical copy of renunciation certificate and you email a soft copy to HCI.

Timeline for renunciation certificate is 8 weeks as it should come from India, timeline for OCI is 6 weeks. Overall process will take 8-10 weeks, is what i was told by vfs.

I have applied for renunciation certificate on 19th October and for OCI on 23rd October - both are under process.

How many days did it take for renunciation to show up as under process?

Renunciation status came as "Application Received" 1 week after I applied for it.

https://indiancitizenshiponline.nic.in/Renounce

This is the link to check renunciation status.

Thank you. My family member applied 20 days ago and it's still not updated.

[sitharanair03]

Hi guys !
Anyone applied post the new requirement came in place (renunciation certificate for OCI) and have got their OCI card issued ?

[sitharanair03]

Hi All,

As per the new process, you will need to have both surrender certificate and renunciation certificate to apply OCI.

They will allow you to apply OCI, even if you show proof that you have applied for renunciation certificate. Proof in this context is payment receipt for renunciation.

Also, please note that even if the OCI process is successfully completed, they will not issue OCI card unless you got your physical copy of renunciation certificate and you email a soft copy to HCI.

Timeline for renunciation certificate is 8 weeks as it should come from India, timeline for OCI is 6 weeks. Overall process will take 8-10 weeks, is what i was told by vfs.

I have applied for renunciation certificate on 19th October and for OCI on 23rd October - both are under process.

How many days did it take for renunciation to show up as under process?

Renunciation status came as "Application Received" 1 week after I applied for it.

https://indiancitizenshiponline.nic.in/Renounce

This is the link to check renunciation status.

Thank you. My family member applied 20 days ago and it's still not updated.

Anyone received their OCI after the new process was introduced ?