OCI - Lifelong Visa for India
Overseas Citizen of India Registration
Dual Citizenship for India? - OCI
HOW TO APPLY FOR OIC FROM INDIA
- PAY FOR OCI IN INDIAN RUPEES
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MORE USEFUL LINKS: √ OCI BROCHURE √ PIO CARD - FAQ √ STUDENT VISA - FAQ |
The constitution of India does not allow Indian citizenship and citizenship of a foreign country at the same time.
India does not offer dual citizenship. Many nonresident Indians were left with the impression during the last two years that the government of India had decided to grant dual citizenship.
Instead of Dual citizenship, India offers a lifelong visa and has cleverly called it Overseas Citizen of India (OCI). Many Indians are confusing this with dual citizenship.
Those applicants who are granted OCI receive a lifelong multiple entry visa stamp on their foreign passports and a registration booklet that looks like a passport but cannot be used as a travel document. Holders of OCI must travel using their foreign passports.
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Those who get OIC
should realize that:
1. They do not get an Indian passport.
2. Have no right to vote in India.
3. Cannot run for political office.
4. Cannot be appointed as a high court/supreme court judge.
Purchase
of
Agricultural land in India:
Another myth is that OCI holders can buy agricultural land.
This is not true. Those holding OCI are not allowed to acquire agricultural land.
Many people are not aware that in some Indian States, even Indian citizens cannot buy agricultural land unless they qualify themselves as farmers or go through several other formalities.
Many Indians do end up buying agricultural lands by getting the land use changed. This is quite common for agricultural lands that are on main roads or near roads. As construction spreads to the outer areas of cities, the price of agricultural land bordering roads is shooting up especially if the land use can be successfully changed from agricultural to commercial.
The main benefit of OCI is a lifelong visa. Holders
of OCI also are exempt from registering with the police regardless of
the duration of stay in India.
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VOTING RIGHTS FOR NRI'S ?
Some news reports indicate that the government of India is presently considering allowing Non Resident Indians to vote. This has led many residents of Indian descent, who are presently settled abroad to think that one day they may be allowed to vote in India.
Some Indians who are presently settled abroad and have acquired citizenships of the countries they are living in. Have a misconception that they are still non-resident Indians. Some of these people still believe that they would still be classified as non resident Indians.
Incase NRI’s are allowed to vote in India. Those Indians who have taken foreign citizenship will not be eligible to vote as they would be considered as foreign citizens.
Former Indian citizens or those having ties to India who qualify for registration as an overseas citizen of India can apply for OCI registration at the nearest Indian consulate to their city of residence.
OVERSEAS CITIZENSHIP FEES:
ARE SOME APPLICANTS APPLYING FOR OCI BEING
CHARGED MORE?
The fee required for OCI is advertised as 275 United States Dollars or equivalent in local currency on the Indian ministry of home affairs website. A check of the website of some Indian consulates however shows a different scenario.
The Indian consulate in Toronto shows on its website that OCI applicants need to pay Canadian 421 dollars. This works out to approximately US$ 358 at today’s exchange rate (February 10, 2007)
The San Francisco consulate of course quotes the exact fee US$ 275.
If you are applying from Australia then the Indian consulate in Australia wants you to pay Australian 396 dollars. That works out to US$ 307.
OCI applicants in Germany are being asked to pay 240 Euro for OCI registration fee. This works out to approximately US$ 312.
The Indian consulate in London is quoting a fee of British Pounds 165. Which works out to about US$ 321.
It would seem that while the OCI fee is set at US$ 275. Many Indian consular offices are using their own currency exchange calculators and hence we have a discrepancy.
Many Indian residents abroad may not be aware but applications for registration as an overseas citizen of India (OCI) can also be filed in India. If you decide to apply in India then the fee presently being asked here is Rupees 12,650.
HOW & WHERE TO APPLY FOR OCI FROM INDIA
Can applications of OCI be made from India? This is a questions many readers have asked. The answer is yes, you may apply for OCI from India and pay the applicable fee in Indian currency. Here is the information for those who plan on making applications from India.
OCI FEE WHEN APPLICATION IS MADE IN INDIA
For applications to be filed in India, an amount of Rs. 12,650 has to be paid for each applicant by Demand Draft in favor of "Pay and Accounts Officer (Secretariat), Ministry of Home Affairs" payable at New Delhi. In case of PIO Card holders, an amount of Rs 1,150 has to be paid.
To view OCI Frequently asked questions & answers
click here.
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APPLY FOR OCI FROM WITHIN INDIA
Applicants anywhere in India can file with Ministry of Home Affairs at the following address:
Under Secretary (OCI), Foreigners Division,
Ministry of Home Affairs, 26-Mansingh Roda,
Jaisalmer House
New Delhi - 110011
Tel No 011-23387436
Email: usoci-mha@nic.in
Applicants in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata and Amritsar can also file with respective Foreigners Regional Registration Officers (FRROs) at the following addresses:
Applying for OCI from Delhi
FRRO, East Block-VIII, Level-2, Sector-1,
R.K. Puram,
New Delhi - 110066
Tel NO 011-26711384
Applying for OCI from Mumbai
FRRO, Badruddin Tayyabji Marg,
Mumbai-1
Tel No 022-26571998
Applying for OCI from Chennai
FRRO, Shastri Bhavan Annexe,
26 Haddows Road,
Chennai
Tel No o44 -28232642
Applying for OCI from Kolkata
FRRO, 237, A.J.C. Bose Road
Kolkata
Tel No 033-22470549
Applying for OCI from Amritsar
FRRO, D-123, Ranjeet Avenue,
Amritsar
Tel No. 0183-2508250
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO GET APPROVAL FOR OCI
I believe the average time period is three to four
weeks. I have heard of people applying in Delhi and claiming to have
approval within two weeks also. However the average time period I think
is three to four weeks.
According to the Ministry of Home Affairs:
If there is no adverse information available against the applicant, the
Indian Mission/Post shall register a person as OCI
within 30 days of application and the case shall be referred to
MHA for post verification of the antecedents of the applicant. If during
the post verification, any adverse information comes to the knowledge of
the MHA, the registration as OCI already granted by the Indian
Mission/Post shall be cancelled by an order under section 7D of the
Citizenship Act,1955.
For a brochure on OCI click here
For Frequently asked questions on PIO Cards click here
