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The Process

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3 Important Information on OCI process:

1. PROCESSING TIME:

OCI Application Process takes 45 business days from the time the application is accepted at the consulate.

NOTE:

While applying for OCI with this Consulate, the applicant should ensure that they are in the jurisdiction of the Consulate till the issuance of the OCI CARD. Cards will not be fprwarded beyond this Consulates jurisdiction.



2. SUBMISSION OF US AND INDIAN PASSPORTS IN ORIGINAL:

In order to save dispatch time of US/foreign passport and OCI card, the applicants are requested to mail their passports in original along with OCI application. http://www.cgisf.org/oc/granted_oci.html 

3. INCOMPLETE APPLICATIONS:

If any application/information is incomplete, your application will be returned to you at your cost without processing.

4. OCI CARDS:

OCI cards and lifelong visa stickers are printed in Delhi.  As soon as they are received at the Consulate, file numbers of the persons whose documents have been received will be posted on the Consulate’s website and can be accessed at http://www.cgisf.org/oc/granted_oci.html

NOTE:

Reference or online registration number begins with "USASI......" (alphabetical I) and not "USAS1.." (numeric one). OCI File number will begin from "USAS0...." (numeric zero)

5. STATUS OF OCI APPLICATIONS AND OCI CARD:

As the Consulate processes a large number of OCI applications, it will not be possible to provide individual interim Status/Acknowledgement/File number to applicants. Cooperation of applicants is, therefore, solicited to refrain from making interim status enquiries and calls. Enquiries and status calls will be attended to only after 45 business days of acceptance of the application.

 

 

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3 Jurisdiction :

Jurisdiction of the Consulate General of India, San Francisco are: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming. To apply at this Consulate Office, you must reside in one of the above States.

 

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3 Guidance for Completing Online Application :

(a)    You must register and complete the form (Part-A) ONLINE (link mentioned at the end of these
         instructions).

(b)    When you have completed filling in Part A, click save. A Print Window would appear. Click “OK” to print out the application form consisting of Part-A and Part-B will be printed along with.    

(c)   You must then complete Part-B, preferably TYPED.  It may also be handwritten but in CAPITAL LETTERS with Blue or Black Ink. 

(d)     The completed application form (Part-A & Part- B) must be submitted in TWO SETS for each applicant to the Consulate.

 (e)    Photographs :

  • You must also paste TOTAL TWO (2) PHOTOGRAPHS of 2 inches x 2 inches or 35mm x 35mm IN COLOR FOR EACH APPLICANT on the space provided on the PART A. DO NOT STAPLE the photographs.
  • Sufficiently bright color photo with frontal view of full face against a light background
  • Close-up of head and top of shoulders with the face filling up 70% to 80% of the photo
  • Sharp focus, clear, and of high quality
  • Photograph should be recent and in no case more than six months old

Following kinds of photographs are not accepted

    • Black and white photographs
    • Photographs with colored or dark glasses
    • With dark background or in uniform
    • Polaroid, home-shot or home-scanned, or unduly large/small photographs are not accepted

* As your photograph is scanned and printed on the OCI card and lifelong visa, it should be of a high quality for reproduction and conform to International Civil Aviation Organization specifications

 (f)     At the end of Part-B, a list of Documents that are required is mentioned. Please confirm that you have enclosed all documents as per the Checklist before sending.

* Self attestation means- signing the photocopy of the required documents stating as "true copy of the original". In case of minors, documents should be attested by either of the parent.

* All documents should be submitted in two individual sets for all the applicants. Each set should comprise of Part A, Part B and supporting documents.

(g)   Signature-    The signature of the applicant should be WITHIN AND IN THE CENTER of the Signature
       box of Part A of the OCI Application form. For children who cannot sign or write their name, left
       hand THUMB IMPRESSION must be put within the signature box. Make sure it is a DARK PRINT.
       Parents should not sign for children in the signature box.

Important:

  • Save a copy of the OCI Applications for your records.
  • Do not email/call regarding receipt of application at the Consulate.
  • The entire process of OCI applications is handled via postal mail.  Please, therefore, refrain from making personal appearance for handing over applications; making enquiries/seeking status; or collection of the finished documents.  

If you have understood the instructions properly and are ready to apply for OCI, please click “Online Registration” to continue

 

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3What is required :

  1. Printed checklist (one checklist for each applicant, to be placed on top of respective OCI application)
  2. Surrender Certificate
  3. TWO COPIES OF PART A (signed by each applicant)
  4. TWO COPIES OF PART B, (signed by applicant/head of family (in case applying for upto 4 members of family) 
  5. CURRENT US/ FOREIGN PASSPORT IN ORIGINAL
  6. COPY OF US NATURALIZATION CERTIFICATE  OR CERTIFICATE IN ORIGINAL FROM UCIS ON THEIR LETTER HEAD CONFIRMING NAME OF INDIVIDUAL, NATURALIZED CERTIFICATE NO., DATE OF NATURALIZATION, DATE OF BIRTH AND COUNTRY OF ORIGIN AS LISTED IN THE CERTIFICATE. PLEASE NOTE THIS CERTIFICATE WILL BE RETAINED BY THE CONSULATE.

Documents listed at Serial Number 5,   No. 6 and No. 7 below are essential requirement for administrative processing of your application. Please provide one from each category below.

  1. Please provide one:

Two Colour legible photocopies (original may be asked for, if required) of Green Card
or
Two Colour legible photocopies (original may be asked for, if required) of EAD
or
Original Indian passport on which first time entered USA
or
Original I-130 and supporting documents provided at the time of obtaining immigrant visa to enter the USA (see www.uscis.gov for details of obtaining)
or
If applicant is US/ Foreign born, pl. provide two colour photocopies of the birth certificate (In this case, pl. provide documents as per OPTION B at S. No. 8 below)

  1. Please provide as per any one option :

OPTION A

LAST INDIAN PASSPORT HELD IN ORIGINAL

OR

 

OPTION B
(If applicant is US/ Foreign born)
  1. Two photocopies of the birth certificate. This should be attested by both parents incase the applicant is minor.

PLUS

  1. Any US court order regarding custody of minor child/divorce, if applicable

PLUS

  1. Copy of US and Indian passports/OCI cards of both parents.
  1. Please provide one:

Driving license
or
PG&E, Water or landline telephone bill displaying applicant’s address
or
House Lease Agreement

  1. Pl. provide two self-attested photocopies of the first and last pages of the current US/ foreign passport
  2. Pl. provide two self-attested photocopies of the first two and last two pages and US visa page of the Indian passport (if OPTION A is chosen in Serial No. 8 above) or of documents listed in OPTION B (if OPTION B is chosen in S. N. 8)
  3. Pl. provide two - (2" X 2") - size photographs, both glued to the forms
  4. REQUISITE FEE

    Payment Mode:   cashiers cheque OR postal money order (No personal cheques will be accepted)
    Payable to:            "Consulate General of India, San Francisco"
    Amount:               

    for fresh OCI applicants:                                  $275,
    for minors upgrading from PIO to OCI:        $145 ,
    for adults upgrading from PIO to OCI :         $25

  5. A SELF ADDRESSED STAMPED TRACKABLE RETURN MAILING ENVELOPE (only Fedex, UPS, and  USPS, accepted)   No trackable return envelope…..No service.  
  6. Your name in the application should tally with your name in both the Indian passport and the US passport. In case of difference:

A. If name differs because of change of name from maiden to married: please provide
Notarized affidavit (for change of name from maiden to married)
PLUS
Notarized copy of marriage certificate
PLUS
first two and last two pages of Spouse’s passport

B. If name differs for any other reason: Please provide
Notarized affidavit for change of name
PLUS
advertisement for  change of name in a newspaper in your locality in USA, and in India.
OR US Court order (for change of name) PLUS advertisement for change of name in a newspaper in India.

  1. If  you are a PIO card holder:

Enclose the PIO card in original along with two self attested copies of PIO card.

 

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3 Fee:

  • Postal money order of $ 275 (two hundred and seventy five only) per applicant
  • It should be payable to “Consulate General of India, San Francisco”
  • One Postal money order for entire amount is sufficient

 

Cash, Personal Cheques, credit cards or any other form of banking instruments are not accepted.

 

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3 Where to apply:

Before mailing, check the following enclosures: (Please enclosed this Checklist on your application)

Mail the above documents to-
OCI Cell,
Consulate General of India
540 Arguello Boulevard,
San Francisco, CA 94118

NOTE:
Applications for OCI are accepted by mail only.  OCI cards and the passports are despatched also by mail only. We earnestly and humbly request you not to make personal appearance at the Consulate. In case above enclosures are not complete, the application will be return at applicants cost.

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3OCI for PIO Card Holder :

  • PIO card holders who are otherwise eligible for registration as OCI should follow the above process and apply similarly as the OCI applicant.
  • In addition to other supporting documents, PIO card holders shall also submit a self attested copy of their PIO card.
  • PIO card holders will be required to surrender their PIO Card once OCI status is accorded.  A PIO card holder cannot hold the PIO and OCI cards at the same time.
  • A PIO card holder applying for OCI status will pay a fee of US$ 145/- (minors) & US$ 25/- (adults) by postal money order.

 

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3 Applying in India or elsewhere :

  • If the applicant is in India, he/she can apply to the Foreigners Regional Registration Officer (FRRO) at Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata or Amritsar or Chief Immigration Officer (CHIO) Chennai or to the Under Secretary, Citizenship Section, Foreigners Division, Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Jaisalmer House, 26 Mansingh Road, New Delhi-110011.
  • If the applicant is abroad, he/she should submit the application to the Indian Mission/Post of the country of applicant’s citizenship, or ; where he/she is not in the country of citizenship, to the Indian mission/post of the country in which he/she is ordinarily resident.

 

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