QUESTIONS about OCI re-issue after turning 20/50 years
 

Hi,

I am heading back to India in a few weeks.

Last trip (few years ago), when i was below 50:

I was able to get in with the old OCI visa in the old US passport, the OCI booklet and with my new US passport.

Current planned trip in a few weeks:

Now that I just turned 50, can I get back in with the same setup as above or do I need to get a new OCI card (or simply apply for a visa this one time).

The way I read the rule, since I got my new US passport before I was 50, I should be OK. The next time I get a new passport, I'll have to apply for another OCI card.

Thoughts?

No need to do anything, your current OCI and US passport is sufficienct.

Thank you...

-- Update -- was able to get in without any issues.

QUESTIONS about OCI re-issue after turning 20/50 years
 

Seniors,

I age "31" and mother age "57" renewed our US Passports this year. Do we need to now apply/renew our OCI ? Thanks in advance.

Mother, 57, does.

The OCI 'visa' is tied to your passport number, so you need to update your passport details with the OCI database using the OCI misc services here: http://passport.gov.in/oci/capchaActionMisc

The guidelines issued by the MHA are here: http://mha1.nic.in/pdfs/GuidelinesOCI.pdf

Just to clarify, one does not need new OCI documents upon passport renewal if the person is under the age of 50. Please see the second paragraph of rule # 16 here:
http://mha1.nic.in/pdfs/FAQs-200709.pdf

WOW! The rule you mention states "OCI registration certificate and visa have got to be re-issued each time a new passport is issued up to the completion of 20 years of age and once after completion of 50 years of age". My daughter, 12, is on her third passport and we are yet to have her OCI reissued. Is this a new rule ? Or have we been really really lucky that no one's ever raised a question?

when was the last time your daughter's passport was renewed????but i would have to say you have been extremely lucky....

I would imagine her passport was last renewed before her tenth birthday, two years ago. Before that, at 5. She got her OCI when she was 2, and hasn't been renewed since.

Who would think to renew a document that has "Lifelong" stamped on it. Sigh!

only in india....:p

They should just allow you to update the current passport details (and maybe mail in a copy of the new document, duly self attested signed and stamped) online so the OCI card and your passport number are in synch for the immigration system. Similar to how you update your data in the US global entry database. Ironically thats exactly what they have in place to update your current address and profession :rolleyes:


They have a point with the faces of children changing at age <20. That is one of the reasons most countries don't issue passports valid for more than 5 years for minors.

I understand children's appearance change a lot in the early part of their lives, but if I were not a part of this FT community I would never have known these rules about OCI. The U visa stamp says "Lifelong" under validity next to a two year old child's photo. I would have much preferred it said a date and year, rather than finding myself stuck at an airport on day of travel.

Thanks much for this info, folks, I shall look into this with the consulate here in NY before our summer travel.

To be honest, I was in the same situation as you, with not knowing "Lifelong" did not mean "lasting or remaining in a particular state throughout a person's life" for a child :rolleyes:

Does anybody know any instance when a child (or senior) was denied entry into India because they were <20 (or >50) years old with an non-reissued OCI card??

Because this has always confused me http://boi.gov.in/content/overseas-c...oci-cardholder
It's like everything the govt. of India publishes contradicts something else... and it confuses everyone

I would err on the side of caution with this, regardless of anecdotal evidence.

I don' t know when this rule came into effect, but since 2009, when my child's first passport was renewed (and OCI wasn't), she has traveled to India at least once a year, so my own experience over 7-8 years suggests that passport control in India don't really care very much about this, yet now that I know, I will surely get this rectified.