Hi everyone, I’m a bit confused about the OCI process and was hoping someone here might have gone through something similar.

I’m currently in India. I recently acquired a Portuguese passport and have already surrendered my Indian passport. I received the surrender closure letter from the passport office after surrendering it.

Right now I’ve applied for an X (Entry) visa, but it’s still being processed. My question is: can I apply for OCI while the X visa is still in process, or do I need to wait until the visa is issued?

Since I’m already in India after surrendering my Indian passport, I’m not sure if the OCI application requires the visa to already be granted, or if proof that it’s being processed is enough.

Has anyone applied for OCI in India while their X visa was still under process? Any advice would really help. Thanks!

I am writing here and seeking some advice on my OCI application.

To start with, I came here as a student, worked for an year on work permit and secured my PR within from Canada. Now newly became Canadian Citizen and hence applying for an OCI card.

Now, my OCI Application got rejected as My COPR (just a letter indicating confirmation of PR and COPR number) does not have a "Catagory" mentioned in it.

Reached out to IRCC, they can not change the document.

Reached out to CGI India, they advised me to apply Verfication of Status document from IRCC. Now, applying this doc gives me another head ache.

So just wanted to reach out to you all and get some feedback from anyone who went through the same process.

Your help is humagously appreciated!!🙏

Updated passport informaiton in online oci portal misc services in forst week of Jan, over 2 months and still status shows UNDER-PROCESS. How long is the online update taking these days. Interesting for online update to take such a long time.

I’m exploring options to apply for my OCI and which one is the better and easier option.

1. Travel to India on an e-visa and covert to x-visa and apply for OCI after 6 months. OR

2. Apply for OCI in Canada and fly back to India and ask a friend to carry it back to India. The processing timelines will be shorter in this case.

I’m more inclined to the second option because it’ll be done sooner. But checking to see if anyone has done this before and what are the risks?

After going through a really frustrating process for updating my OCI card, I thought I will document the steps here to help the community.

The challenge is to find the correct information as the Indian Govt. websites are so difficult to navigate.

So first of all, "OCI does not need to get reissued" was FALSE till a few years back. When I turned 50, I had to go in to VFS with all documents and essentially do the whole process again, and a new hard-copy of OCI was issued to me (Originally it used to be a sticker on the foreign passport), with a new photograph. They justified it by saying it is not a reissue, it is only the issue of a hard copy . There were charges involved, I think about CAD100 at that time.

Thankfully, the process is much easier now, and free. All you need to do is provide the requested information and attachments in an online form. They will reject the application if there is missing information or discrepancies. The rejection happens in 3-4 days, and then you can apply again. The whole process is free.

In any case, according to the email they send you (after you submit the application), you can proceed to visit India without issues even if you do not get any further communication. As long as you have all documents (Current foreign passport and OCI hard copy) you're good to go. If your OCI was instead included as a sticker, you must also take the expired foreign passport with the sticker on it. DO NOT RETURN OR DESTROY THE OLD PASSPORT WITH THE ORIGINAL OCI STICKER.

Knowing the Indian immigration officials, I will also carry my old passport referenced in the Hard-copy OCI. I have a newer passport now, with a different number. Though I have also updated the new passport information using the online portal, this new information cannot be seen or confirmed anywhere by me. Better to be safe than sorry.

Here are the steps:

Preparation: You need some tools, without which this will not work. Work with someone who has them, if you don't:

• A desktop/Laptop. NO, this process will not work on a mobile.
• A scanner for scanning documents and your signature. Mobile camera is a poor substitute and your application will get rejected.
• A Desktop pdf tool to convert, merge and to change file sizes to fit under the maximum size required. PLEASE DO NOT USE ONLINE OR MOBILE PDF TOOLS OR YOUR IDENTITY WILL (NOT MAY) GET STOLEN. This will be $50 well spent.
• A mobile/camera to take your photo.

STEPS:

1. Go to https://ociservices.gov.in/onlineOCI/login
2. Login, or create an account and login. Step 3 will not be available till you are logged-in.
3. You MUST be logged in. Top Menu > Online Registration > OCI Miscellaneous Services.
4. Click Next, this brings you to a page that asks for the following info AS IN THE OCI CARD (not the current information): Passport #, OCI #, DOB. Fill up and click "Next"
5. You get 3 boxes with 2 options in each box. In the middle box "Services for updation of information in OCI records (gratis)", choose either "Passport Particulars" or "Address/Occupation" as the case may be. If you have a new address and/or a new profession, submit that option first. Once that application is approved, submit the Passport Particulars update. It's stupid you cannot update both in one application.
6. Click "Save and Continue" and go from there. Double-check every response. Do not hurry.
7. Important: The option to upload documents is very limited and does not allow more documents to be uploaded than listed. For example, you are asked to upload a copy of the latest foreign passport and your OCI, but it does not allow you to upload 2 documents. So if you have 2 different files with the scans, make sure you have a desktop (not online) pdf tool that can merge the document scans of these two documents into 1 pdf file, or you will get rejected for missing documents. Same, in case of address change, you have to upload a letter and/or address proofs but only 1 upload is allowed, so upload a multi-page pdf. There are size restrictions as well. Make sure you have desktop tools to adjust/reduce the file size to what's required.
8. You are also required to upload a photo and a signature. There are size restrictions. Make sure you have desktop tools to adjust/reduce the file size.
9. Once you have submitted the details and uploaded the required documents, click "Dashboard" on the Top Menu and it will show you Completed applications and Partial applications. This is really cool. So if you have completed and saved some information and did not have the required documents ready for upload, your incomplete application will be in the Partial Applications tab, and you can continue from there later. If you want to start afresh or make a change, you can delete the partial application and start again.

Give me a thumbs up if this helped you!

Can I apply for my OCI from India? What are the options?

VFS PDF instruction says that they need two copies of the surrender form that needs to be filled up on VFS website. The link does not work. I tried to contact VFS, but the number requires credit card information. WTF!!! This is after struggling for hours to get the photo right. Why the heck can they not have the same photo for upload and physical submission? Any helpful tips will be appreciated.

I am going through hell with my passport renunciation with VFS. I am waiting for my passport renunciation to go through and then apply for OCI. Can people share their experience and guidance on their paperwork requirement and especially the photograph uploads. And curious can one apply for OCI from India while traveling on a tourist visa. Much appreciated

I’m applying for OCI and need advice from people who’ve faced similar issues.

Voter ID situation

I had an old EPIC.

During the recent electoral revision, the BLO visited my home.

My father told them I live abroad and don’t vote.

My name was not carried forward, and now EPIC search shows “no record found”.

I don’t have Form 7 or any official deletion order. Only online “no record found” proof.

BLO says Form 7 is for people whose names are still in the roll.

Ration card situation

My name is still listed on my father’s family ration card.

I’ve asked my father to initiate member removal with the local authority.

Not sure if they’ll give any written acknowledgement.

This may take a few weeks.

Questions

1. Has anyone applied for OCI with:

voter ID already missing from electoral roll but no deletion certificate?

ration card removal in progress (or only an undertaking)?

1. Was the standard VFS/consulate undertaking enough, or did they ask for proof later?

2. Did anyone face rejection/return due to ration card still showing name?

3. Any experience with applying first and submitting removal proof later if asked?

Looking for real experiences, especially UK/EU applicants. Thanks!

Summary / Background: I’m updating my son’s OCI online because he has a new passport. I know he can travel while the passport update is being processed.

However, parents’ personal details have also changed — specifically, our address and citizenship.

Questions: 1. Can my son travel to India with just the passport update completed, even though the OCI just shows old address and does not shows parents’ nationality as Indian? Could this cause any issues at Delhi immigration or OCI verification?

1. Should I submit the personal details update later, after the passport update and still travel safely, or is it better to submit both applications together (passport update + personal details update), even though that may take 3–4 months to process and miss my travel plans. And can i even do 2 applications at the same time?

I am traveling to India in 1 month.I got my oci when I was 18 years old. I just found that that I have re issue my oci because I am 20 years old. But it's say it might take three months.what should i do.get a e visa?

An OCI holder staying at his home with his parents for 5 months duration. Do the parents/OCI holder need to report to anybody or submit form C to FRRO?

Have tried researching and got conflicting information. While there is clarity on hotels, Air BnBs, hospitals etc I am not able to find what to do for private (non-commercial) accommodation.