OCI Frequently Asked Questions

You can get help with an OCI card in Chicago at the VFS Indian Consular Application Centre, located at 180 N Stetson Avenue, Suite 2075, 20th Floor, Chicago, IL 60601. You can also mail them atoci.chicago@mea.gov.in to ask specific queries.

Anyone who is a resident of the consular jurisdiction of the Consulate General of Indian in Chicago and who fulfills the eligibility criteria can apply for an OCI card in Chicago. It includes residents of Lowa, Michigan, Missouri, North Dakota, South Dakota, Indiana, Illinois, Minnesota, and Wisconsin.

The cost of an OCI application in Chicago is $275, along with the service charge and a contribution to the Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF). The government fee for an OCI application is $275 per applicant, service charge is $15. 90 and the contribution to ICWF is $3.

You can get an OCI card in Chicago by filling out an online application form, collecting the required documents, scheduling an appointment, paying the required amount of fees, and attending your appointment at the VFS Centre.

Yes, you can apply for an OCI for your child in Los Angeles. You can apply for an OCI card for minors in Los Angeles through the VFS Global website. The child has to meet some eligibility requirements to apply for an OCI card.

The normal processing time for a new OCI card application in Los Angeles is around 5-6 weeks. For re-issuance or updating an OCI card, it takes approximately 6-7 weeks. The time frame is based on the date you register your application at the consulate.

You can get help with the OCI card in Los Angeles from VFS Global or the Consulate General of India in San Francisco. You can also connect with immigration assistance providers like Visament. They can assist you with the whole process by guiding you at every step and making the application process easier.

You can apply for an OCI card in Los Angeles if you are a foreign citizen or held an Indian passport previously. If you are a minor whose either one or both parents are an Indian citizen or an OCI cardholder, or if you have been married to an Indian citizen or OCI cardholder for at least two years then you can apply for an OCI card in Los Angeles.

The cost of an OCI application in Los Angeles is $275 per applicant along with the service charges. It includes $3 per application for the Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF), and $15.90 per application as a fee for VFS Global service.

To get an OCI card in Los Angeles, you can fill out the application form online at the OCI website. After that, you need to collect some required documents, schedule an appointment at a VFS application center, and attend your appointment at the scheduled date and time.

Yes, you can travel to India without an OCI card from Edinburgh UK. However, for this first, you need to apply for a visa to visit the country as without the OCI card you cannot travel to India visa-free.

Depending on the OCI application type the fees in Edinburgh varies. For a fresh OCI application, the fee is £215, for changing details in the card the charge is £21.00, the fee to replace a damaged or lost card is £75.00, converting a PIO to an OCI card is the fee is £75.00, and attestation of power of attorney or affidavit fee is £18.00 and form filling fee is £15.00. These fees also involve the VFS service charges of £7.44, SMS charges of £2.00, and courier fees of £15.00 (express one-day delivery) and £8.00 (3-day delivery) per application.

Yes, if you authorize someone to collect your passport from VFS Edinburgh UK, they can do so. However, the authorized needs to bring the VFS Global Consent form, valid ID proof, a copy of your ID, a photocopy of the bio-data page of your passport, a copy of a signature page, receipts issued at the time of passport submission, payment proof, photocopy of DOB certificate for any children on the application and photocopy of marriage certificate in case of spouse application along with them.

No, you do not need to carry your old passport with you in Edinburgh, UK if you have a current foreign passport and valid OCI card by your side. The lifelong visa sticker process has been discontinued by the Indian government.

An Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card is valid for a lifetime. There is no set validity of the OCI card. However, you need to re-issue it if the passport is renewed under 20 years old and over 50 years old.

Yes, if you authorize someone to collect your passport from VFS Manchester UK, they can do so. However, the authorized needs to bring the VFS Global Consent form, valid ID proof, a copy of your ID, a photocopy of the bio-data page of your passport, a copy of a signature page, receipts issued at the time of passport submission, payment proof, photocopy of DOB certificate for any children on the application and photocopy of marriage certificate in case of spouse application along with them.

The current OCI processing time in Manchester UK is between 4-12 weeks. However, the time may vary as per application type and technical reasons.

Depending on the OCI application type the fees in Manchester varies. For a fresh OCI application, the fee is £200.00–£218.00, for changing details in the card the charge is £18.00–£21.00, the fee to replace a damaged or lost card is £75.00–£82.00, convert a PIO to an OCI card is the fee is £66.00–£82.00, and to renew a lost OCI card the fee is £73.00. These fees also involve the VFS service charges of £7.44, SMS charges of £1.44–£2.00, service charges of £50.00–£99.00, and courier fees of £15.00 (express one-day delivery) and £8.00 (3-day delivery) per application.

Yes, with an OCI card, you can live permanently in India as it allows Indian-origin people to live and work in the country for an indefinite time.

An OCI cardholder is not entitled to be a member of Parliament, Legislative Assembly, or Legislative Council, to vote, and cannot hold Constitutional positions like Vice President, President, Judge of High or Supreme Court, or more.