OCI transfer while in India

ViralShah

Hello,

I lost my US passport which had OCI stamp on it. I am in the process of getting new US passport but is there a way to get OCI stamp transfered in India to new passport I may get. I have OCI booklet I received but don't have copy of passport page where U visa was stamped..

Please help..

namaste_cat

Your regional Foreign Relations Regional Office (FRRO) should be able to pull up your U-visa info based on your OCI booklet. There is a fee for transfer of U-visa to new passport. Don't know how much more it is for transfer from a lost passport.

ViralShah

I have contacted them and they are telling me to contact Delhi MHA..Do i have to personally go there to get VISA transferred to new passport?

To leave India in future, do I need exit permit from FROR since there will not be arrival stamp on new passport?

Nick-H

My guess is that you need something in your new passport. It may be that they replace the OCI sticker, or it may be that they just endorse it with permission to remain and leave the country.

namaste_cat

A question I'd ask myself is - do I trust the Indian postal system to mail MHA a new U.S. passport so they can affix a U visa in there? If not, I'd go personally. That's always my preference. Your mileage may vary.
Just to be clear - OCI is not a sticker. It's a registration document, a "certificate" is what they officially call it. It is a booklet, just like PIO. What is stuck to the foreign passport is a "U Visa" which is in essence a lifelong visa (though one has to obviously transfer it with each passport renewal). So what is lost along with the old US pasport is the U Visa sticker, not OCI.

It's confusing; also doesn't help that Indian immigration officials are very inconsistent. Many have never asked even glanced at my U Visa, just the OCI booklet. Other people I know have been refused entry into India without U visa sticker.

Nick-H

I knew that, but my language was sloppy

Does it say something in the booklet like "valid only with passport...."?

nycank

No it does not.

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ViralShah

Yes..Booklet contains passport number hence I am assuming that new booklet also needs to be issued updating passport number I spent 2 hours at FRRO office in Mumbai today..Their response was with new passport i have no valid visa and I have leave country since it can take 90 days to replace visa stamp to new passport. So leave country and get a new visa to enter again India and then process OCI transfer process..I don't think it makes any sense but now I have to call MHA Delhi tomorrow and see what they have to say..

sakamath

If you have lost your original passport and have subsequently been issued a new one, I don't think there should be any issue exiting the country. You may only need additional documents to prove what you say. A police complaint which you may have lodged regarding lost passport, copy of the letter to US embassy stating that you lost your passport and need a new one. These, coupled with the OCI booklet, should allow you to leave the country without any problem. If you happen to have a photocopy of the lost passport, that would help you too. You could then apply to get the U-Visa sticker on to your new passport from your country of residence. I guess there is a charge of USD 100 for issuing duplicate U Visa sticker in your case and you would also have to provide Police Report of the loss of original passport.

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danield

Pardon a slight deviation but I am thinking of getting an OCI from my current PIO Status. Do you know if one can work in India, whether there are time limits to taking up a job, or any restrictions with work.

I know one cannot vote, hold office or purchase agricultural land. Thanks.

nycank

Yes, you can work. There are no restrictions on the time limit. Governmental jobs in certain areas are restricted. Search the FAQs in the http://mha.nic.in for more details.

Haylo

Do you actually know that an exit visa is not needed, or are you just telling us how you think it should work?

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ViralShah

That is the problem..on MHA website they show details about MISC Service which says services for lost/stolen passport but no one seems to know any details including FRRO I went to in Mumbai..

nycank

[ Bottom of the ninth, bases loaded, 2-outs, down by 1. Game on the line ? You are 2-2..... What will it be ?

Sacrifice fly ? or go for the fame-n-glory ]

You'll have to cut the FFRO from the loop for the U sticker, and go pay a visit to MHA in Delhi and ask them about the misc services in person, and see where it takes you. In any case all paperwork is handled @ MHA, whether one is in Jhumritalayia or Jo'burg.

If I were in your shoes, I'd take my new U.S. passport to DEL and sort it out. YMMV

danield

Thanks for the reply about working in India with OCI. One other question since I am having problems accessing the Home Ministry Website.

In a family application for OCI can the spouse obtain OCI status if she/he was not born in India. Husband/wife has a PIO status.