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OCI Application
Canadian Immigration
Indian Immigration Services
What is an OCI?
The OCI is an abbreviated form of Overseas Citizenship of India, which the citizenship act of India introduced in 2005. The idea of this program was to welcome more Overseas citizens who were already citizens before 26th January 1950. This also applies to those who were eligible to become citizens before the stated date.
Having OCI is not similar to having dual citizenship, as some people believe, because it is not established to go against political rights. However, registered Overseas citizens of India can come to India multiple times without hindrances.
Who is eligible for OCI?
The following are the criteria that determine the eligibility of Overseas citizens:
- An eligible candidate for citizenship or a citizen of India before 26th January 1950.
- An eligible candidate for citizenship or a citizen of India before 26th January 1950.
- A dependent (either children or grandchildren) of such person in (#1) above
- A citizen of a territory acquired by India after 15th August 1947.
- A spouse of (#1) above with a marriage of at least two years with documents to back it up
This is the exact requirement for those seeking to apply for Overseas citizenship in India.
What are the required documents for OCI?
- Original copy of passport, which isn’t expiring for the next six months
- Birth certificate for USA citizens or US naturalization certificate
- A copy of the marriage certificate for married people only
- One copy of the passport photo, not more than six months old ( Passport specification: 2 by 2 inches)
- Proof of US address (You can use driving licence, utility bill, residence card or valid annual lease)
- Documents or evidence showing the applicant had been a citizen at a certain point should not be before 26th January 1947 but after.
Any of these pieces of evidence will suffice:
- A copy of high school certificate
- A copy of the Indian passport
- A copy of an Indian driving license/ PAN card/Voter’s ID card.
- A copy of the state of origin certificate
- A copy of the Domicile certificate, which the competent authority must issue
- A copy of any evidence linking the applicant with their parent/grandparent/great-grandparent that had an Indian origin.
If a minor child has one or both parents as Indian citizens, these are the documents needed:
- The child’s birth certificate
Indian passport of any of the parents (one copy) or a Domicile certificate or proof that shows the citizenship of any of the parent - A copy of the Court order for dissolution of marriage in case of a divorce, which also states who holds the custody of the child.
For cases where your spouse is an Indian citizen or an OCI cardholder, the documents you will need include the following:
- A legal marriage certificate.
- A copy of the spouse’s Indian passport or domicile certificate, or state of origin certificate
- A copy of the spouse’s OCI card for OCI cardholders and a valid passport of the spouse.
FAQ’s
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There is no limited time of stay for OCI card holders. If they wish to stay for a lifetime in India, they can without any pressure of being sent out. In fact, they do not need to use a visa to work or live in India. However, they must be with their valid passport when they enter the country.
The application can only be accepted if the required documents are correctly sent. All the documents, from the proof of address to other similar proofs, must meet the standard for the application to be approved.
No, the OCI must be collected from the same place you applied. You can opt for a courier service, and BLS will help to send it to your specified address.
Yes, they are. They cannot have dual citizenship. This means they are at the level of NRIs but cannot go for political positions or vote for a preferred candidate.