Overseas Citizen of India (OCI)....clearer definition

eater · Oct 18th, 2007, 14:21

One cannot get a clearer defnition of what one gets as an OCI.

SOURCE: http://newdelhi.usembassy.gov/acsdualnation.html

Dual Nationality
The Indian government recently launched a program called "Overseas Citizens of India" or "OCI". This program often has been mischaracterized as "dual nationality" or "dual citizenship." However, a person who holds an OCI Card in reality is granted an Indian visa, not Indian citizenship. Thus, an American citizen who obtains OCI status remains a citizen only of the United States. The OCI Card is a special visa which grants the holder the right to indefinitely visit, study or work in India, and also the right to own most types of property in India (excluding certain agricultural and plantation properties). A holder of an OCI card also need not register with local police/immigration authorities, unlike other holders of Indian visas. An OCI holder, however, does not receive an Indian passport, and has no other political rights in India, including the right to vote or eligibility for government employment.

The OCI card is similar to a Person of Indian Origin (PIO) Card, except that PIO cards are not granted for life, and PIO Card holders may be required to register with police/immigration authorities under certain circumstances.

An American citizen who wishes to obtain a PIO or OCI Card, may apply outside of India at the Indian Embassy in Washington, DC, or at an Indian consulate in New York, Chicago, San Francisco or Houston. An American citizen who resides in India can apply at the Foreigner’s Regional Registration Office (FRRO) in New Delhi (tel. 2671-1348). The FRRO also maintains offices in Mumbai, Chennai (known as the Chennai Immigration Office), Calcutta and Amritsar. In Delhi, applications also may be made at the Foreigner's Division of the Ministry of Home Affairs, located at Jaisalmer House, 26 Man Singh Road, New Delhi (tel. 2338-7436). For more information on the OCI program, please see http://www.mha.nic.in/oci/oci-main.htm

pnooguri · Feb 11th, 2008, 15:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by eater

One cannot get a clearer defnition of what one gets as an OCI.

SOURCE: http://newdelhi.usembassy.gov/acsdualnation.html

Eater, Do you know if one can transfer the OCI process from say Chicago to India say to chennai??

mezmo · Feb 13th, 2008, 13:16

Where can i get this info pertaining to UK citizens.Cheers

Life is like a box of chocolates.....GROW UP.

Nick-H · Feb 13th, 2008, 21:09

Your local friendly Indian High Commission website

Or the appropriate section of the Ministry of Home Affairs site has all the details,

Indiangirl · Mar 3rd, 2008, 20:03

One problem i see with OCI as opposed to PIO is that the spouse of an OCI cannot get one, whereas PIO is extended to spouse of PIO holder until death.

Nick-H · Mar 3rd, 2008, 20:07

But the spouse of an OCI can get PIO, so for a person truly of Indian origin and their non-indian-origin spouse, one OCI and one PIO would fit the bill.

Indiangirl · Mar 3rd, 2008, 20:17

Is that a fact? I was unaware of it if so.

Nick-H · Mar 3rd, 2008, 21:06

This is my reasoning: if you qualify for OIC you will be of Indian origin, and thus your spouse will qualify for a PIO card.

GoanCanuck · Mar 26th, 2008, 07:27

Don’t Go to India Without A Visa, Says OCI Holder
SAN FRANCISCO - The registration card looks like a passport (which it isn’t), it’s also called the OCI or “Overseas Citizen of India” card, which will doubtless gladden the hearts of many sentimental Indians who actually get it.

But take that with a grain of salt, and don’t think for a moment that the document alone will suffice to get you through immigration in India.
http://www.thelinkpaper.ca/index.php...=&ucat=2&cat=2

edwardseco · Mar 26th, 2008, 08:28

Very interesting.

Quote:

So here’s the bottom line: While the OCI card entitles the holder to a lifelong visa, the registration card itself is not sufficient to allow entry. The holder can get a lifelong “U” visa stamp on the foreign passport. Next, the traveler has two alternatives. The holder can travel with the “U” visa-stamped passport even after it has expired, or get a new ‘U’ visa for a $25 fee when he/she gets a new passport.

Would an OCI get entry to Bhutan under Indian status.?

Nick-H · Mar 26th, 2008, 11:34

The OCI holder gets a visa sticker in his passport as well. It looks like this guy left his expired passport with the sticker at home.

Not really the Immigration guy's fault.

Oct 18th, 2007, 14:21	#1
eater Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Mumbai presently, previously Canada Posts: 431	Overseas Citizen of India (OCI)....clearer definition One cannot get a clearer defnition of what one gets as an OCI. SOURCE: http://newdelhi.usembassy.gov/acsdualnation.html Dual Nationality The Indian government recently launched a program called "Overseas Citizens of India" or "OCI". This program often has been mischaracterized as "dual nationality" or "dual citizenship." However, a person who holds an OCI Card in reality is granted an Indian visa, not Indian citizenship. Thus, an American citizen who obtains OCI status remains a citizen only of the United States. The OCI Card is a special visa which grants the holder the right to indefinitely visit, study or work in India, and also the right to own most types of property in India (excluding certain agricultural and plantation properties). A holder of an OCI card also need not register with local police/immigration authorities, unlike other holders of Indian visas. An OCI holder, however, does not receive an Indian passport, and has no other political rights in India, including the right to vote or eligibility for government employment. The OCI card is similar to a Person of Indian Origin (PIO) Card, except that PIO cards are not granted for life, and PIO Card holders may be required to register with police/immigration authorities under certain circumstances. An American citizen who wishes to obtain a PIO or OCI Card, may apply outside of India at the Indian Embassy in Washington, DC, or at an Indian consulate in New York, Chicago, San Francisco or Houston. An American citizen who resides in India can apply at the Foreigner’s Regional Registration Office (FRRO) in New Delhi (tel. 2671-1348). The FRRO also maintains offices in Mumbai, Chennai (known as the Chennai Immigration Office), Calcutta and Amritsar. In Delhi, applications also may be made at the Foreigner's Division of the Ministry of Home Affairs, located at Jaisalmer House, 26 Man Singh Road, New Delhi (tel. 2338-7436). For more information on the OCI program, please see http://www.mha.nic.in/oci/oci-main.htm __________________ Just happy to be here.........

Feb 13th, 2008, 21:09	#4
Nick-H Moderator Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 22,870	Your local friendly Indian High Commission website Or the appropriate section of the Ministry of Home Affairs site has all the details, __________________ . IndiaMike Mod Team (The Grumpy One)

Mar 26th, 2008, 07:27	#9
GoanCanuck Maha Guru Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Vancouver Posts: 2,714	An important update!!! Don’t Go to India Without A Visa, Says OCI Holder SAN FRANCISCO - The registration card looks like a passport (which it isn’t), it’s also called the OCI or “Overseas Citizen of India” card, which will doubtless gladden the hearts of many sentimental Indians who actually get it. But take that with a grain of salt, and don’t think for a moment that the document alone will suffice to get you through immigration in India. http://www.thelinkpaper.ca/index.php...=&ucat=2&cat=2

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Feb 13th, 2008, 13:16	#3
mezmo Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: kochi Posts: 12	Where can i get this info pertaining to UK citizens.Cheers Life is like a box of chocolates.....GROW UP.

Mar 3rd, 2008, 20:03	#5
Indiangirl Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Goa Posts: 4	One problem i see with OCI as opposed to PIO is that the spouse of an OCI cannot get one, whereas PIO is extended to spouse of PIO holder until death.

Mar 3rd, 2008, 20:07	#6
Nick-H Moderator Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 22,870	But the spouse of an OCI can get PIO, so for a person truly of Indian origin and their non-indian-origin spouse, one OCI and one PIO would fit the bill.

Mar 3rd, 2008, 20:17	#7
Indiangirl Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Goa Posts: 4	Is that a fact? I was unaware of it if so.

Mar 3rd, 2008, 21:06	#8
Nick-H Moderator Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 22,870	This is my reasoning: if you qualify for OIC you will be of Indian origin, and thus your spouse will qualify for a PIO card.

Mar 26th, 2008, 11:34	#11
Nick-H Moderator Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 22,870	The OCI holder gets a visa sticker in his passport as well. It looks like this guy left his expired passport with the sticker at home. Not really the Immigration guy's fault.

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