OCI still needs to be renewed (not lifelong??)

N

N400Atl

Registered Users (C)
Did you guys read this?

http://www.cgihouston.org/OCIMisc.html

Specially
in case of issuance of new passport
(i) Up to the completion of 20 years of age, OCI documents have to be re-issued each time a new passport is issued.
(ii) After the completion of 50 years of age, OCI documents have to be re-issued once after issuance of a new passport.
(iii) Between 21-50 years of age, there is no need to seek re-issuance of OCI documents each time a new passport is issued. However, if the applicant desires, he may avail the service for re-issuance of OCI documents.

So for kids (Who get passport with 5 yr validity) you will have to do this multiple times before they hit 20

And I thought you could carry your old (expired) passport with stamp in it for life. Bummer !!!!
 
What I don't understand is: Why does the OCI have to be renewed?
Can't the new passport for the kid just get a new stamp?

Or are they using the same reason for updating the OCI (as the passport)? i.e. a kid's face is likely to change rapidly during the first 20 years?

Hopefully, for people living in India during these years, it won't be a hindrance, since the new OCI is only needed to travel into India. Once you're already living in India, its just a matter of waiting for a new OCI. Although I hope that renewing a U.S. Passport in India is quick and painless (So if travel is planned to the U.S., one does not have to keep waiting for 2-3 months).

I wonder:
1) How soon can a person renew a U.S. passport before its expiry date? (In plan of having a continuously valid passport at all times)
2) Does a (valid) old U.S. passport have to be surrendered at the time a new one is applied for?
3) Is an old OCI valid between the time a new passport is received and a new OCI is applied for (and received)?

Does anyone know the answers to these questions?
If not, I will try and get these questions answered by U.S. and Indian authorities.
 
obajaj said:
What I don't understand is: Why does the OCI have to be renewed?
Can't the new passport for the kid just get a new stamp?
QUOTE]

I don't think they renew it but more like re-issue it using new photos. Based on their site, it takes about a month but all done here (not sent for verification to India) Earlier their stand was, as long as you keep your old passport that had the OCI card along with new passport, you are fine. Now it is not true as you will need stamp in new passport. It is additional hassle to remember to do it plus you again send your US passport to them for a month.

1) How soon can a person renew a U.S. passport before its expiry date? (In plan of having a continuously valid passport at all times)

I think you can do it upto a year in advance

2) Does a (valid) old U.S. passport have to be surrendered at the time a new one is applied for?

You need to send it but they send back cancelled US passport.

3) Is an old OCI valid between the time a new passport is received and a new OCI is applied for (and received)?

OCI should always be valid as it is lifelong. This is restamping of OCI not reissue of OCI. Only thing is, if your US passport is with them for a month to get new stamp, how will you travel? Oh well !! Atleast it is not needed for age 20-50 but kids will need it 3-4 times till they turn 20 :(
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My brother in law went to Houston consulate today to get his passport stamped/get OCI booklet etc. He asked the question about the renewal - posted above. The response he got from the consulate was "Don't worry about it since it is long time away and the rules probably will change by then".

Anyhow, I would appreciate if any one else who goes to stamping in other consulates etc can find this info (to see if they have anything different).
 
Rama Bashyam,

Typical response from a government official: "Don't worry about anything" (until the last minute when you hit a roadblock and the government is forced to create a random process to solve your problem)

This is also typical of Indian consulates in other countries. In the U.K., a few months ago, the consulate suddenly introduced a new rule that in order to get an Indian visa, one needs to apply in person. People were driving to consulates in the U.K. from all over the country, only to stand in a huge line outside the consulate and be cutoff at 1 or 2 pm. when they did not reach the front of the line. (It happened to my brother)

People protested from all over the country, many boycotting tourism related travel to India. Finally the government reversed its new law and allowed people to apply by mail.
 
I don't see any updates on CGISF re. this change... it still has (in FAQ section):

27. Will a new OCI visa sticker be issued on the new foreign passport after the expiry of the old passport?

Yes. On payment of requisite fee, a new OCI ‘U’ visa sticker will be issued. Provision for transfer of "U" visa is not yet available. Website will be updated as soon as it is operational. However, the applicant can continue to carry the old passport wherein OCI ‘U’ visa sticker was pasted along with new passport for visiting India without seeking a new visa, as the visa is for lifelong.
 
akgarg said:
I don't see any updates on CGISF re. this change... it still has (in FAQ section):

27. Will a new OCI visa sticker be issued on the new foreign passport after the expiry of the old passport?

Yes. On payment of requisite fee, a new OCI ‘U’ visa sticker will be issued. Provision for transfer of "U" visa is not yet available. Website will be updated as soon as it is operational. However, the applicant can continue to carry the old passport wherein OCI ‘U’ visa sticker was pasted along with new passport for visiting India without seeking a new visa, as the visa is for lifelong.
Click to expand...

On Houston website there is a special link with this information. OCI link still says that it is valid forever. As expected, they are not in sync. Based on your information, not all consulates are in sync either. What else is new !!!

Though it may be long time in future for us, for kids it is not. Children get new passport every 5 years so every 5 years, we will have to get new OCI stamp.
 
One this is for real. All the 4 consulates & DC Embassy are not in sync. This happened when I applied for PIO's at DC. I was reading on the forums that all other folks in other consulates (atleast Houston) was asking for notarized documents. DC did not and I sent my kids documents without any attestation. Similarly instead of maintaining a common source of information, each website has posted their own material.

Things like these, only in India.
 
This is the new "Miscellaneous Services" for OCI. All embassies are trying to show a copy of these services, but the 'master set' of details is available here -

http://www.mha.nic.in/oci/oci-main.htm
http://www.mha.nic.in/oci/Introduction-28.12.07.pdf
http://www.mha.nic.in/oci/Guidelines OCI .pdf

It is not renewal of OCI, but a re-issue of same OCI when some personal details (including passport #) have changed. It definitely is an inconvenience in case of the kids, where every 5 years we will have to go through this re-issue process to transfer the OCI to their new passports till the age of 20.
After that apparently you can carry the old passport around with you.

Damn! And I thought I and my family were all set! :)
 
I wonder if the PIO card has the same restrictions of needing to be reissued with every new passport?
Does anyone know?

My 3 year old daughter has a PIO card, and I'm considering applying for an OCI for her too (along with our application). However, if the PIO does not require a reissue, then it might seem to be more convenient to keep (Being valid for 15 years).

Ofcourse the flip side is that a PIO requires a person to register with the city police in India (for extended periods of stay), which I'm assuming the OCI does not.
 
I am not sure if PIO card has same limitations. You can check Houston website if is says so.

OCI does not have 15 yr limit like PIO.

I don't know if minors are also required to register on PIO, like adults do. Another advantage of OCI is, it gives more rights that PIO (Which for a kid may not matter)

I converted my kids PIO to OCI. Right now it costs on 25$ and is done for. Who knows when rules will change.
 
alt said:
Damn! And I thought I and my family were all set! :)
Click to expand...

Exactly my feelings. I thought after OCI, all I do is, keep old passports safe. Now, we have to again deal with Indian consulates every 5 years (And once after 50).
 
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