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An OCI (Overseas Citizen of India) card is a special type of long-term visa issued by the Government of India to foreign nationals of Indian origin. It provides individuals of Indian heritage living abroad with certain privileges and benefits, without conferring full Indian citizenship. The OCI card was introduced in 2005 as part of the government’s efforts to maintain strong ties with the Indian diaspora globally.
OCI holders can travel to India without requiring a separate visa. This means they can visit India as often as they wish, without the need for time-consuming visa applications.
The OCI card is typically issued for a lifetime and does not need to be renewed, making it a convenient option for those with strong and lasting ties to India.
OCI cardholders do not need to register with Indian authorities for stays in India that are less than 180 days. This simplifies the process for visiting or residing in India for extended periods.
While an OCI card does not provide full Indian citizenship, it offers a range of privileges, such as:
To be eligible for an OCI card, an individual must meet the following criteria:
Any foreign national who is of Indian origin or has Indian ancestry (at least one parent, grandparent, or great-grandparent must have been born in India).
Foreign nationals married to Indian citizens or to a person of Indian origin are eligible for an OCI card.
While an OCI card allows for permanent residency and many benefits in India, it does not grant Indian citizenship. Individuals holding OCI cards must maintain their foreign citizenship.
You can also apply and get your OCI card even after you have obtained a US passport through asylum process. Processing times in these cases will be approximately 2-3 months.
The Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card is issued for lifetime validity. However, there are certain circumstances under which an OCI card may need to be reissued. These conditions primarily relate to changes in the cardholder’s personal details, such as changes in physical appearance, name, or nationality, as well as age-related requirements.
If there is a change in the cardholder's name, address, or other key personal details, a reissue may be required to reflect the updated information.
If there are significant changes in the cardholder’s appearance (e.g., change in facial features, hairstyle, etc.), a reissue is necessary to update the photograph on the OCI card.
If an OCI cardholder acquires a new nationality (i.e., changes citizenship) after receiving their OCI card, the card will need to be reissued to reflect the new nationality, as OCI cards are only valid for foreign nationals and are linked to a specific nationality.
If an OCI cardholder renounces their foreign citizenship and acquires Indian citizenship, the OCI card becomes invalid, and they must surrender it. In such cases, the individual would not need to reissue an OCI card but rather apply for an Indian passport instead.
The OCI cardholder must apply for a reissue when the cardholder turns 20, as biometric details (such as the photograph and signature) need to be updated at this age.
If the cardholder turns 50, it is recommended to reissue the OCI card, though it is not a mandatory requirement. The reissue at age 50 helps update the photograph and other personal details.
Reissue is mandatory after the child turns 20.
Reissue is optional, but can be done if there is a significant change in personal details (such as appearance).
Reissue is optional, but may be done for updating photographs and other changes.
If an OCI cardholder’s marital status changes (for example, they get married after receiving the OCI card), the name of the spouse can be added to the OCI card by applying for a reissue. Similarly, if there is a change in the status of the spouse, such as divorce or death, this may need to be updated.
If there is a change in the passport details (for example, a renewal or change of passport number), a reissue of the OCI card may be required. This is particularly important if the previous passport used for obtaining the OCI card is no longer valid, as the OCI card is linked to the passport details.
If the cardholder is a minor and their physical appearance changes as they grow, reissuance may be necessary to update the photograph and ensure that the details are accurate.
We will coordinate your documents pickup and further processing. Total processing time will be approximate 3-4 weeks once we get all the documents.
service@ociseva.com
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#46726 Fremont Blvd, Fremont , CA- 94538
