OVERSEAS CITIZENSHIP OF INDIA (OCI) SCHEME

IMPORTANT CLARIFICATION: Persons registered as OCI are not Indian Citizens. This is a new category created under this statute with certain restricted rights as compared to Indian citizens. The benefits of seeking OCI status are available on Ministry of Home Affair's website www.mha.nic.in. It is further clarified that the provision applying to PIOs of only those countries that allow dual citizenship in one form or other under their local laws, was kept primarily to ensure that they do not lose any of the rights conferred under the foreign law for being registered as OCI

1. Registration as Overseas Citizen of India (OCI)– Eligibility :

A foreign national, who was eligible to become citizen of India on 26 th January 1950 or belonged to a territory that became part of India after 15 th August 1947 and his/her children and grand children are eligible for registration as OCI. However, if the applicant had ever been a citizen of Pakistan or Bangladesh, he/she will not be eligible for OCI. A person who may have been a citizen of Pakistan or Bangladesh, and is married to a person eligible for registration as OCI is not eligible for grant of OCI. However, their children are eligible as OCI. An OCI Registration Card will be issued by the Indian Missions/Posts abroad after scrutinizing the application and deciding eligibility. Application forms and procedure are available on website www.mha.nic.in under the heading ‘Foreigners Division – Dual Citizenship'.

NOTE: Minors whose both parents are Indian are not eligible for OCI

2. UNIVERSAL VISA :

Indian Missions/Posts abroad can grant ‘Universal Visa' subject to conditions laid down from time to time to persons registered as Overseas Citizen of India( OCI): Main features of these instructions and conditions are given below:

(i). The validity of the visa will be for the duration of the holder's life. This visa will have multiple entry facility.

(ii). Overseas Citizens of India holding Universal Visa:

- Are exempted from registration with the concerned local Foreign Regional Registration Officer/Foreigners Registration Office irrespective of duration of stay in India.

- Require no separate ‘Tourist' Visa for visiting India.

- Require no separate ‘Student', ‘Employment' ‘Business' visa for admission in colleges/institutions or for taking up employment, business etc.

(iii) The Universal Visa may be revoked/cancelled without prejudice to other legal actions if the registration as OCI is cancelled under the relevant provisions of the Citizenship Act,1955.

(iv) The grant of Universal Visa does not entitle the visa holder to visit a restricted/protected area in India. Visits to such areas shall continue to be governed by the instructions in this regard issued from time to time by the Government of India.

- The Universal Visa does not entitle the visa holder to undertake any missionary work, mountaineering and research work, without the prior permission of the Government of India in accordance with instructions issued from time to time.

(vi) Processing time of application for Universal Visa is minimum four weeks.

Application Form: The OCI Application Form has two parts. i.e Part-A and Part-B.

Part –A: Part-A of the OCI application form can be filled up on-line by the applicants. It can be accessed by selecting ‘individual' box given in the beginning of the OCI application form. The 'Fields' marked with * in Part-A of the OCI application form are mandatorily to be filled in by the applicants. Each applicant has to fill in Part-A. Applicant will get a software-generated on-line registration number, which may be called reference number. But, still the registered application can be retrieved from the reference number. Part-A is tamper proof. Once the Part-A has been submitted on-line, the applicant cannot make any changes to it.

Part-B: Part-B of the OCI application form is meant for all members of the family, not exceeding four including the applicant. Part-B of the OCI application form, which is in ZIP format, can be accessed by selecting ‘group' in the OCI application form. Part-B cannot be filled on-line. It is to be downloaded either using ‘evaluation version' or saved on a floppy in Word format. Part-B of the OCI application form should be filled either in hand in legible CAPITAL LETTERS or typed. Additional sheets can be used in case space provided in the OCI application form is insufficient.

Both Parts A&B need to be submitted together along with enclosures and the requisite fee.

Fee: 1) USD 278/- OR Col Pesos 748,000/-

2) PIO(Person of Indian Origin) card holders can also apply for OCI if he/ she is otherwise eligible for registration on payment of fee of USD 28/- OR Colombian Pesos 74,600/-.Copy of PIO card has to be enclosed along with the application.

One copy of the OCI Application Form duly filled in with enclosures and requisite fees may be submitted to the Embassy for processing.

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