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OCI Tracker: Applications in India (FRROs / MHA)
- Thread starter inindia
- Start date
I and minor child had PIO card. Currently in India. did not register with FRRO / FRO as PIO cardholder - instead decided to apply for OCI in India
15th Feb 2006 applied around at a FRRO
6th March 2006 got an email from MHA around for file number
20th March 2006 got granted status on the site
30th March 2006 sent the passport to OCI cell, MHA Delhi
5th April 2006 Sent the photos again as they told me that they could not scan properly the earlier ones
From then called them numerous times and didn't have any update as to when I'll get my passports / OCI card back. Almost every time they told me that it is almost ready and will be sent. Someone is on leave etc.
5th May 2006 After a month and 10 long distance cell phone calls from Mumbai I understood that they never received the photos. The person also gave me a very very imp advice - 'Please send the documents in person or by speedpost only. Documents sent by courier are not encouraged by GOI depts. Many people have lost their passports, other docs when sent by courier'
I was really loosing my patience and feared about my passports, goof ups in OCI etc.
15th May 2006 I sent my photos again. And this time it was by speedpost. again I confirmed that they actually received it - had to make more than one call of course.
22nd May 2006 And finally I got it today by speedpost - everything correct and accurate. Photos are really very good - much better than various Foreign visas I had on the Indian Passport.
So finally after a wait of 4 months and nerve-wrecking moments I have the much coveted (?) OCI and more importantly my passports in my custody.
15th Feb 2006 applied around at a FRRO
6th March 2006 got an email from MHA around for file number
20th March 2006 got granted status on the site
30th March 2006 sent the passport to OCI cell, MHA Delhi
5th April 2006 Sent the photos again as they told me that they could not scan properly the earlier ones
From then called them numerous times and didn't have any update as to when I'll get my passports / OCI card back. Almost every time they told me that it is almost ready and will be sent. Someone is on leave etc.
5th May 2006 After a month and 10 long distance cell phone calls from Mumbai I understood that they never received the photos. The person also gave me a very very imp advice - 'Please send the documents in person or by speedpost only. Documents sent by courier are not encouraged by GOI depts. Many people have lost their passports, other docs when sent by courier'
I was really loosing my patience and feared about my passports, goof ups in OCI etc.
15th May 2006 I sent my photos again. And this time it was by speedpost. again I confirmed that they actually received it - had to make more than one call of course.
22nd May 2006 And finally I got it today by speedpost - everything correct and accurate. Photos are really very good - much better than various Foreign visas I had on the Indian Passport.
So finally after a wait of 4 months and nerve-wrecking moments I have the much coveted (?) OCI and more importantly my passports in my custody.
Seeking clarifications ...
I will be applying for OCI from Bangalore. Please advise -
(a) How many pictures are needed. Some say 3 with excesses being returned to them, others say 5-6. Please advise.
(b) Is the white background requirement mandatory on the pictures. I have some very high quality pictures taken at Sears studio but they have a white background; not bright white but slightly off-white.
(c) Do you send you application to FRRO Chennai or to MHA in New Dehli in you are a resident of Bangalore?
I will be applying for OCI from Bangalore. Please advise -
(a) How many pictures are needed. Some say 3 with excesses being returned to them, others say 5-6. Please advise.
(b) Is the white background requirement mandatory on the pictures. I have some very high quality pictures taken at Sears studio but they have a white background; not bright white but slightly off-white.
(c) Do you send you application to FRRO Chennai or to MHA in New Dehli in you are a resident of Bangalore?
bangaloreboy123
New Member
PIO card holder applied for OCI at FRRO, Chennai
> A Canadian Citizen currently based in Karnataka
> Hold a PIO card from Canada
> Applied online on 19-June-2007.
> Sent the documents and the demand draft (in Indian Rupees) by Registered Post to FRRO Chennai on 20-Jun-2007.
> Got acknowledgement by regular mail, in a week
> I regularly checked online at the MHA website and got the following information:
QUOTE:
"Application Status
- Date Of Acknowledgment 22-JUN-2007
- Photo/Signature Scanned on 22-JUN-2007
Registration Status
- Granted On 03-AUG-2007
- Documents Printing Status PRINTED
- Documents Printed On 03-AUG-2007
- Documents Despatched From Delhi On 03-AUG-2007
- Documents Received at FRRO CHENNAI NOT YET"
---UNQUOTE---
The whole process was a very smooth one for me as I made sure all the documents and submissions met the specifications.
My advice for those who have applied at one of the FRROs in India and had their OCI granted is,
1) please call up the FRRO, where you have applied, a week after the documents being depatched from New Delhi. (For some reason the Chennai FRRO did not update online the recieving of my OCI from Delhi)
2) when you call, keep in hand the four digit file number on the acknowledgement letter sent to you by that FRRO as reference for them to pull up your file and inform you whether they have recieved your OCI from Delhi. (They can't seem to provide information if you provide the online application / reference numbers)
3) It took the lady in Chennai just 10 minutes to put the OCI sticker on my foreign passport and hand over my OCI card after taking my PIO card for surrender. The office opened at 9:30 AM and I was out by 10:30 AM.
Good luck,
Ahmed,
Bangalore
12th Sep 2007
> A Canadian Citizen currently based in Karnataka
> Hold a PIO card from Canada
> Applied online on 19-June-2007.
> Sent the documents and the demand draft (in Indian Rupees) by Registered Post to FRRO Chennai on 20-Jun-2007.
> Got acknowledgement by regular mail, in a week
> I regularly checked online at the MHA website and got the following information:
QUOTE:
"Application Status
- Date Of Acknowledgment 22-JUN-2007
- Photo/Signature Scanned on 22-JUN-2007
Registration Status
- Granted On 03-AUG-2007
- Documents Printing Status PRINTED
- Documents Printed On 03-AUG-2007
- Documents Despatched From Delhi On 03-AUG-2007
- Documents Received at FRRO CHENNAI NOT YET"
---UNQUOTE---
The whole process was a very smooth one for me as I made sure all the documents and submissions met the specifications.
My advice for those who have applied at one of the FRROs in India and had their OCI granted is,
1) please call up the FRRO, where you have applied, a week after the documents being depatched from New Delhi. (For some reason the Chennai FRRO did not update online the recieving of my OCI from Delhi)
2) when you call, keep in hand the four digit file number on the acknowledgement letter sent to you by that FRRO as reference for them to pull up your file and inform you whether they have recieved your OCI from Delhi. (They can't seem to provide information if you provide the online application / reference numbers)
3) It took the lady in Chennai just 10 minutes to put the OCI sticker on my foreign passport and hand over my OCI card after taking my PIO card for surrender. The office opened at 9:30 AM and I was out by 10:30 AM.
Good luck,
Ahmed,
Bangalore
12th Sep 2007
Last edited by a moderator:
OCI application from Bangalore
I relocated to Bangalore about a year ago. I have a U.S passport and a PIO card. Can I apply for OCI at FRO office in Bangalore ? If not what are my alternativies ?
Thank you
snm_jobs@yahoo.co.in
I relocated to Bangalore about a year ago. I have a U.S passport and a PIO card. Can I apply for OCI at FRO office in Bangalore ? If not what are my alternativies ?
Thank you
snm_jobs@yahoo.co.in