We recently got our US passport so next step is SC/OCI. Could some one please a comprehensive provide the list of documents needed. The consulate website is very confusing. Also I changed my last name during naturalization. Do I put my old last or new last name in the Renunciation form?
I will be applying under family category including two children who currently have PIO cards.
Hi csch1wait,
Congratulations on the citizenship. One important milestone in our lives. Welcome to the next fun phase... OCI
For the OCI application, I am not conversant with the name change workflow and I am sure others will be able to guide you in this regard.... I will try my best to share my thoughts with the main application.... Feel free to review/question further.
Global references for all to review...
http://forums.immigration.com/showt...eas-Citizenship-of-India-and-Useful-NRI-Forms
http://forums.immigration.com/showt...and-other-info-to-help-prepare-an-OCI-package
The first step that I would suggest is to print the OCI instrucations from our beloved "DC Site"
http://www.indianembassy.org/oci.php. Use a highlighter to mark out lines that point to additional documents (e.g. US PP copy, PP dates, Nat Cert, Birth Cert, SC et al)
There might be cases where you will have to prepare copies of your docs (Both parents) for each child. Don't be astonished by the number of sheets you will end up copying and attaching..
The next thing I would do is visit the Chicago site for OCI applications
http://www.indianconsulate.com/4PassportPioOci/OCI/OCI_How_To_Apply.html. You will be surprised at their detailed instructions. But, this is only for your reference. Each branch has its own unique quirky steps..
One other reference that will be handy is a filled out sample OCI application the chicago site has provided for reference.
http://www.indianconsulate.com/PDF_FORMS/ocifamilyapplicationsample.pdf. This is how the resulting OCI application will look like. Take a copy of this sample application.
Warning. Use the Chicago links for reference and understanding only..... The DC steps take priority over all other sites...
Once you do these, you will have a checklist of documents that you will need to have handy. In my case, I prepared an Excel document with sheets for each applicant to track the list of docs to be submitted.... and had different columns.
Now you can go to the first tech savy step of filling out the online application
http://ociindia.nic.in/ociindia/OnlineOCIRegistrationG.jsp (Imagine what our plight will be if we have to fill out this in pen)
When you reach the final page, it will say "Save", but will prompt the "Print Dialog"..... "
Lost in Translation - is the best reason, I could give myself..... If you happen to have "PDF" print option, pick that and save it as PDF. You can print pages from the PDF copy and is the same as what you would get if you printed it directly using the "Save" option.
NOTE: There is an option to "RePrint" the application from their site.... it does not print certain items when you use that option... and is not the same as what gets printed in the first attempt. Best to save as PDF and use it for your prints.
In my case, I ended up filling this online application 4 times and got it right the fifth time
. Don't worry, the copy that you submit finally is the one that will get used for the OCI processing. You can safely ignore any erroneous versions.
Please follow the steps under "
HOW TO ARRANGE THE APPLICATION(S)?" in the DC OCI site....
I am sure you will run into several other questions, hair-pulling phases during the preparation stage... feel free to post any queries at that time and someone here will be happy to share their ideas...
Some of us have used other sites for cross checking the steps....
http://immihelp.com/nri/overseascitizenshipindia/oci-documents.html.... Again for reference.... the downside is that there is information overload.... use your judgement and consolidate all the instructions mentally for better understanding
Thousands of applicants have done this and got their OCIs..... We will make it eventually..... Hang in there and Good luck...
