As you can see, Printing of the documents took 22 days for us, whereas it was done in 4 days for my brother. Even if you leave enough time to plan for an India trip in anticipation of the OCI card, you can still be trumped by these guys. There is a way out though. As long as you have your US Passport with you, you can get a visa (6 months multiple entry) from the consulate and continue with your plans. The agency that handles Indian visas is (thankfully) a 3rd party and they handled our case very diligently and within a couple of days.
Once the documents are received at the consulate (last step), it took them 8 working days to affix them in my US Passport. I will have to update this post on how long the consulate is going to hang on to the OCI card in case after the documents are received at the consulate, but we decide to wait to send our US Passport to them.
7 comments:
What are the benefits of OCI instead of PIO?
For one thing, OCI is life-long, whereas PIO needs to be renewed every so many years.
From NY Consulate website as of 12/16/2010 (http://indiacgny.org/php/showContent.php?linkid=174&partid=100&sub=sub6) :
9. Privileges
With OCI Status, a foreign passport holder is entitled to the following:
1. Multiple-entry, multi-purpose, life-long visa to visit India. The holder of the OCI Certificate would still need to carry his/her foreign passport, but a Visa "U" ("U" for Universal) sticker would be affixed on the foreign passport;
2. Exemption from reporting to police authorities for any length of stay in India;
3. Parity with NRIs (Non-Resident Indians) in financial, economic and educational fields EXCEPT in relation to acquisition of agricultural and plantation properties.
10. Please note that OCI is NOT Dual Citizenship. The Constitution of India does not permit the facility of holding Indian Citizenship simultaneously with a foreign citizenship. The OCI holder would therefore not be eligible for the following rights in India:
1. Right to vote;
2. Right to hold constitutional office (i.e. Parliament, courts, cabinet posts, etc.); and
3. Right to hold posts in the government services sector.
thanks for post
We are at the initial stage.
sent all the papers, sitting with crossed fingers.
we don't know where it is lying now.
We are planning to apply for our Minor daughter.
It is a nightmare.
the instructions are very confusing.
I wish i'd never have to deal with Indian embassy in our lifetime after this.
The feeling is ubiquitous. But dont worry - it will be over one day. It looks easy once it is over, but I think going 'through' it is the tough part. I wish they hire more people (shouldn't cost more than 1% of the exorbitant fees charged for the processing) to communicate the status from time to time.
This is the exact Jnannam I was looking for.
Jnana Daata Sukheebhava..
Cheerlu,
This is the Exact Jnanam I was looking for.
Jnana Daata Sukeebhava..
Cheerlu
धन्योस्मी
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