Question about applying for OCI in the UK

BritAsian

Hello all.

According to the CGI website Birmingham* it looks like it is possible to apply for OCI by post.

Is this correct? Is it not necessary to have the oath of allegiance witnessed?

Anything I should particularly be aware of to avoid my application being rejected (my mother was born in India in 1949 and left when she was 12)?

*Applications for OCI services can be made at the Passport & Consular Counter at the Consulate between 1000 hrs to 1200 hrs on all working days. Applications complete with all the required documents and fees (in Postal Orders in favour of Consulate General of India, Birmingham only) can also be sent to the Consulate by Special Delivery Post.
http://www.cgibirmingham.org/mainindx.html

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Edit:
Looking through the requirements they ask for documents such parent's Indian passport - they took this away when my mother became a British citizen. Any advice?

shere

Who took away your mums Indian passport ?

The normal thing that was done by the CGI was to cancel the passport and give it back to you.

However not too many years back there was a scam operating at CGI Birmingham where a corrupt official were keeping passports and then selling them to people trafficking. He was caught and the Indians used diplomatic immunity to avoid him being charged and sent him for another cushy posting in India.

BritAsian

You think so?

My mother gained British citizenship in 1972. Do you know if this was around the time of the scam?

shere

No this scam was in the 1990s.

Do you have any grandparents holding Indian passports ? This is another thing you can use for OCI (they will ask for proof to show they are your grandparents so birth certificates etc maybe required). If your mum has any relatives in India ask if they can get hold of a copy of her birth certificate.