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Passport Number needed to check the Online OCI status
- Thread starter emno
- Start date
Yes, I just noticed this myself this morning. I think this is a move implemented to protect privacy because before any random stranger could enter file numbers online and see the status of people's OCI statuses. It also now prevents people from tracking the volume movement of the OCI process.
Yes, I just noticed this myself this morning. I think this is a move implemented to protect privacy because before any random stranger could enter file numbers online and see the status of people's OCI statuses. It also now prevents people from tracking the volume movement of the OCI process.
I hope they are working to improve their image and give a better service.
In past I always had a good experience with the Indian embassy during my PP renewal process. In one case, they called my home that the fee I sent is $7 short and requested to send it as soon as posible. I did send the next day and got my PP back on time.
I was just delighted. I hope to have the same experence during my SC/OCI process.
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One other minor thing about this change is now when you go in person to collect your OCI, this status printout will have your passport number included and that also may help the consulate folk ensure that they have the correct passport with the correct OCI documents. Not really a big deal but another small check they can do.
I though of posting my question over here as you might have recently applied for the OCI.
Did you apply for the Declaration of Renunciation Of Citizenship of India and OCI together or do we have to file for OCI only when when get the cancellation letter from the Indian Consulate? I would appreciate if you could answer this.
Thanks
Did you apply for the Declaration of Renunciation Of Citizenship of India and OCI together or do we have to file for OCI only when when get the cancellation letter from the Indian Consulate? I would appreciate if you could answer this.
Thanks
I though of posting my question over here as you might have recently applied for the OCI.
Did you apply for the Declaration of Renunciation Of Citizenship of India and OCI together or do we have to file for OCI only when when get the cancellation letter from the Indian Consulate? I would appreciate if you could answer this.
Thanks
DO NOT apply together. Apply for the passport cancellation/surrender certificate first and after you get that, apply for the OCI with the copies of your cancelled passport and surrender certificate. Trust me on this one. I tried doing both together and it ended up as a waste of time and the OCI cell partly rejected my OCI app because I didn't have the surrender certificate copy along with my OCI app. One CGINY lady who I spoke with even told me that it would take longer if you applied together which makes no sense whatsoever.
DO NOT apply together. Apply for the passport cancellation/surrender certificate first and after you get that, apply for the OCI with the copies of your cancelled passport and surrender certificate. Trust me on this one. I tried doing both together and it ended up as a waste of time and the OCI cell partly rejected my OCI app because I didn't have the surrender certificate copy along with my OCI app. One CGINY lady who I spoke with even told me that it would take longer if you applied together which makes no sense whatsoever.
I do not agree with JP's statement. It depends on where you apply for OCI and SC. If you are applying in Chicago please apply together. If you can make it in person or through your authorized rep, you could collect SC and canceled Indian PP same day evening. Like wise for collection of OCI Chicago advises applicants to collect in person.
There has been lot of minor changes in OCI process and what was good 3 or 6 months back is not true now. I have seen lot of posts in OCI Tracker about persons from SFO applying together for OCI and SC. They faced no problems. Quote another example, non-standard photos were routinely rejected in 2009 and early 2010, but now they are accepting it.
Incidentally i applied together for OCI and SC and faced no problems.
I do not agree with JP's statement. It depends on where you apply for OCI and SC. If you are applying in Chicago please apply together. If you can make it in person or through your authorized rep, you could collect SC and canceled Indian PP same day evening. Like wise for collection of OCI Chicago advises applicants to collect in person.
There has been lot of minor changes in OCI process and what was good 3 or 6 months back is not true now. I have seen lot of posts in OCI Tracker about persons from SFO applying together for OCI and SC. They faced no problems. Quote another example, non-standard photos were routinely rejected in 2009 and early 2010, but now they are accepting it.
Incidentally i applied together for OCI and SC and faced no problems.
madh4, you love to make sweeping statements and tell people they are wrong when in fact, you are the one making uneducated comments. My advice was based on my experience with the CGI NY (which was clear from my earlier post) and the person can decide whether or not he/she wants to act on it. Don't assume that what happens in CGI Chicago is true for CGI NY. We all know that they are autonomous and have different standards.
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madh4, you love to make sweeping statements and tell people they are wrong when in fact, you are the one making uneducated comments. My advice was based on my experience with the CGI NY (which was clear from my earlier post) and the person can decide whether or not he/she wants to act on it. Don't assume that what happens in CGI Chicago is true for CGI NY. We all know that they are autonomous and have different standards.
diferent peopl have different experiences at various applying places. SO it is very difficult to say what is corrcet.
Indian Embassay specifilcally ask to apply SC and OCI together.
diferent peopl have different experiences at various applying places. SO it is very difficult to say what is corrcet.
Indian Embassay specifilcally ask to apply SC and OCI together.
Sure but the CGI NY now says to get the surrender certificate before applying for OCI and if no copy of the surrender certificate is submitted with the application, they will reject and send everything back:
Please provide copy of Cancellation Certificate for your last held Indian Passport before/while applying for OCI. If the application is received without copy of the cancelled certificate, application will be returned to the applicant at his/her cost.
Regardless of any consulate you apply at, if you follow my advice of sequentially applying for SC/passport cancellation first and then after getting that, applying for OCI, you will not have issues. Applying for both at the same time can cause you issues at least at CGI NY and possibly other consulates (maybe not Chicago but possibly SF and Houston). This is what I mean by madh4 making uneducated comments by declaring other people's sound advice as being wrong.
I had read the same thing in the NY CGI site, apply for SC first and include the SC along with the OCI application and they had said that if SC is not included they would send the application back.
One more question for you guys since you have applied recently.
On the SC for The address in line 1 should it be US address or my India's address. Would appreciate your help on this too.
Thanks
One more question for you guys since you have applied recently.
On the SC for The address in line 1 should it be US address or my India's address. Would appreciate your help on this too.
Thanks
I had read the same thing in the NY CGI site, apply for SC first and include the SC along with the OCI application and they had said that if SC is not included they would send the application back.
One more question for you guys since you have applied recently.
On the SC for The address in line 1 should it be US address or my India's address. Would appreciate your help on this too.
Thanks
So your consulate is NY then? Definitely do not apply for both the SC and OCI together. Do the SC first.
Regarding the address on line 1, that should be your US address.
Yes my consulate is NY. I'm planning to apply one at a time I don't mind doing that at least I would be free of any tension that might be caused by the consulate and they will have less chances of messing up my applications.
A few more question for you on the SC form.
1. It says the form should be submitted in duplicate. Does it mean that we have to send all the requested documents in duplicate too?
2. If I'm sending 2 application in one envelope do I need to send 2 return envelopes or just one for the family?
Thanks
A few more question for you on the SC form.
1. It says the form should be submitted in duplicate. Does it mean that we have to send all the requested documents in duplicate too?
2. If I'm sending 2 application in one envelope do I need to send 2 return envelopes or just one for the family?
Thanks
pl. see above.Yes my consulate is NY. I'm planning to apply one at a time I don't mind doing that at least I would be free of any tension that might be caused by the consulate and they will have less chances of messing up my applications.
A few more question for you on the SC form.
1. It says the form should be submitted in duplicate. Does it mean that we have to send all the requested documents in duplicate too?
YES2. If I'm sending 2 application in one envelope do I need to send 2 return envelopes or just one for the family?
No, one $20 check or one envelope per family.Thanks
A few more question for you on the SC form.
1. It says the form should be submitted in duplicate. Does it mean that we have to send all the requested documents in duplicate too?
2. If I'm sending 2 application in one envelope do I need to send 2 return envelopes or just one for the family?
1. I completed/signed the surrender certificate form in original and then made a photocopy of it just like the instructions said. For the supporting docs, technically the instructions don't ask you to submit duplicates of all but I did it anyway to prevent them from having another excuse to reject it. So bottom line, for each person's surrender certificate application, submit everything in duplicate for peace of mind.
2. You can submit both applications together in one envelope. Make sure you have a cover letter that clearly states all this. You only need one return envelope for both. Note that the CGINY no longer collects checks for $10 (Priority Mail service) or $20 (Express Mail service) return postage (the other consulates still do, I think). They expect you to send the prepaid label and envelope for either USPS Express mail or USPS Priority Mail. When I did mine, they still accepted checks and I just went with the $10 for Priority Mail and obviously everything came back quickly and safely.
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When checking OCI status, I am assuming we are supposed to enter US Passport#. Is that correct? I am wondering because I am getting error irrespective of whether I enter US Passport# or Indian Passport number for latest and oldest Indian passport.
ys. US passport# with no blanks
When checking OCI status, I am assuming we are supposed to enter US Passport#. Is that correct? I am wondering because I am getting error irrespective of whether I enter US Passport# or Indian Passport number for latest and oldest Indian passport.
Hi,
I had the same issue. But what I realised is that when I was copying by online registration number from a file, I was inadvertantly copying a "space" character after the actual number and it saying that this application was not yet acknowledges.
So check your numbers:
1. Use US passport number
2. You online registration number or file number WITHOUT any spaces...
Good luck...
Thanks Satish and emno. Unfortunately I got my application back by mail today. In one of the passport copies there is a copy of cancelled US VISA. For some reason folks @ Indian Consulate didn't like it. I had attested that page but even then they have put a sticker and asked me sign & date it next to US visa. I really wonder why this would cause them to send the app back. Oh well...
Thanks Satish and emno. Unfortunately I got my application back by mail today. In one of the passport copies there is a copy of cancelled US VISA. For some reason folks @ Indian Consulate didn't like it. I had attested that page but even then they have put a sticker and asked me sign & date it next to US visa. I really wonder why this would cause them to send the app back. Oh well...
As per the documentation, they ask to send first 2 and last 2 page of the passport and normally visa is in on neither of these pages.