Application for OCI
The place to apply for OCI is the embassy/consulate the jurisdiction for which your regular residence falls under.
For applicants in India you can directly send your application to the MHA or through the FRRO or CHO.Though experience says the FRRO's just act as 'postmen' so direct sending to the MHA is a faster bet.
The timelines between application and physically getting the OCI card currently averages 2.5 months.Consider a timeline of 1-4 months.If you are planning to visit India within this time keep your options for a visitor visa open as well.
If one of the potential applicants is below the age of 16 please consider a PIO card for now.There are no restrictions which hold to 'adult' PIO cards (Under 16's do not require FRRO registrations for long stay) and it will save you a lot of money.One can always convert to an OCI at a later date and even at the end of this conversion you will have saved yourself close to $100 as against going for an OCI directly.
What you need for application:
1.The form
The form can be downloaded from the MHA website.You have two options:
a.Download and fill the entire form
b.Fill Part A online and Part B is to be handwritten
The pros of filling Part A online is that a reference number is generated immediately which can maybe make your application a bit faster.Of course you still have to print out Part A as well as Part B so there isnt a saving there.Also there is less chance of a mistake being committed by the authorities in India.The con of this is that the security of the data is questionable.
You have to print out two sets of the form regardless of which route you take.But to save time here is what you can do
rint out two sets of Part A.Print out one set of Part B and fill it in EXCEPT FOR THE SIGNING PART.Take a xerox of your filled in Part B.Sign both copies-there are two signatures per form.
In case there is a baby applying their thumbprint is required instead of their signature.There is also a special column in the form to be filled for the parent in case the application is for a minor.
The form is pretty straightforward.
2.Photographs
The number of photographs required vary from place to place.Please check your embassy website for details.But you have to stick one photograph on each of the two copies of the form.So whatever number is given to you by your embassy you need that + 2 photographs.
Size of photographs also seems subject to much variation.In the end please remember that the embassy requires the photograph to be square roughly of the dimensions they mention.You can send the standard US passport size photo.If you send the Indian passport size photo they may accept it but the scan appears weird and elongated.
People can have their digital photo printed at their pharmacy/Walgreens.For someone with enough expertise they can do it on their computer with Adobe Photoshop and/or other softwares available for cropping digital pictures.Photograph should have a clear view of theface in any light coloured background (Though white is preferred)
3.Documents
There is also some variation on the documents required.All documents are to be self attested though all the US based consulates want notarised copies.Please remember that you have to send in two copies of each document.Most US embassies want one set to be notarised and the other can be a copy of the notarised set (a xerox of the notarised xerox).
Even if you are applying as a family send documents as if each applicant is an individual.
A * mark before the page denotes notarised copies required (US only)
The documents required are:
1.US Passport-*Main Info Page,*Photo page (if seperate),Place of Issue page (If seperate),Endorsements (Page 24)
2.Indian passport-Your own or your parents or your grandparents.
(If it is your own,please make sure it is cancelled or send the original along with your OCI application for cancellation)*Main Info page,*Photo page,Address page,Back cover page.
3.PIO card (If applicable)-* Main Information page,Back cover page
Additional documents
a) If you are a former Indian citizen:
*Naturalisation certificate
b) If OCI is based on parents passport:
*Birth certificate showing parent's name (Long form in US parlance) or School record.
c) If OCI is based on grandparent's passport:
*Birth certificate showing parents name
*Birth certificate (or other proof of relationship) between your parent and grandparent
You do not have to send any originals.The passport and PIO card are not to be sent at this stage.
4.Payment
The payment is US$275 PER APPLICANT (irrespective of age) + return mail charges (amount varies as per location).If you have decided that you will pick it up in person do not send the mail charges.Most embassies do not offer a refund once the money is paid even if you go collect it personally.If you hold a PIO card your charges are US$25 + return charges.The conversion rates used by the embassies are not the same as the rates you see in the daily newspaper.Please contact the embassy for the exact amount in your currency.You have to send one DD/Banker's check for the full amount.
In case you apply as a family there is an option to send one "mega-check" for the whole amount.It can save you in Bank Charges but if one application gets held up,all applications would be held up as they do not process the payment if something is not in order.Some banks give DD's for free.In that case just have seperate DD's made out for each family member.
Cancellation of Indian Passport (Info credit IO1)
Voluntary acquisition of foreign citizenship automatically cancels your Indian Citizenship as per the constitution of India. The government of India says you voluntarily acquire citizenship when you either (a) register as citizen, (b) go through naturalization or (c) apply for a passport. This fact remains unchanged since the consititution was written, even today, after OCI was implemented.
The correct process to follow is to send you Indian passport in ASAP after naturalization/registration for cancellation. This is a condition on the passport, and a part of gazetted rules of Indian Citizenship.
If for some reason, you have been unable to get your passport cancelled, it is not a major issue - the main concern is that it has not been used. Good practice though is to cancel it ASAP.
In the context of OCI, a good time to have your passport cancelled (if you have not already done so) is during the application process. You will need to pay for return postage if you are mailing your application [either send a self addressed and stamped priority mail/express mail envelope or a bankers check about $15 - please check with consulate] so they can return the cancelled passport to you. There is no charge or form to have a passport cancelled (only postage). Write a letter to the effect "Dear Sir/Madam, I acquired XYZ citizenship on ddddd, and in accordance with the conditions of Indian passports, I wish to have my Indian Passport (enclosed) officially cancelled. Please return the cancelled passport to [address]. Enclosed is a return postage paid envelope/return postage of $xx"
Some consulates want a copy of your new passport and/or naturalisation certificate (and the court order if you changed your name). It is worth sending these along just in case.
Links
Credit for researching these links go to basis
http://indiandiaspora.nic.in
http://www.indialawinfo.com/bareacts/citi.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_nationality_law
http://www.manupatra.com/ASP/newsletter 119.asp
http://india.gov.in/overseas/nri.php
http://www.mha.nic.in