Under the Union Home Ministry, the Bureau of Immigration issues OCI status.

The Central Government grants Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) to individuals who have migrated from the region and those whose ancestors belonged to India, with exemptions to Pakistan and Bangladesh. Here's what you need to know about this:

 

The difference between NRI, OCI, and PIO

The Ministry of External Affairs managed a separate scheme for Persons of Indian Descent (PIO) before 2011. Except for those living in Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, and Afghanistan, they are Indian-origin individuals up to four generations.

It was unified in 2015, and all PIOs were converted to the status of OCI. An individual is not an Indian citizen with OCI status. In India, a citizen does not have the right to vote, nor can he contest elections or hold any constitutional office. He or she is unable to buy land for agriculture but may inherit ancestral lands. OCI enables visa-free travel to India, citizenship rights, and involvement in its business and educational activities. An Indian-origin individual's spouse is also qualifying for OCI card application.

An Indian passport is owned by a non-resident Indian (NRI) while residing in another country. To be considered an NRI, a person has to have lived in a foreign country for at least six months. The NRI classification is only used to measure income tax.

 

How do I submit an OCI card?

Under the Union Home Ministry, the Bureau of Immigration issues OCI status. By signing in to https:/passport.gov.in/oci, this can be applied online.

 

With the application, six documents must be produced.

1.       Proof of current citizenship

2.       Proof that individuals or parents or grandparents or great grandparents are Indian people

3.       Evidence of relationship as a parent/grandparent/big-grandparent, if their Indian heritage is claimed as an OCI cardholder basis for registration.

4.       Evidence of India's resident as a spouse of foreign origin or an OCI cardholder's spouse of foreign origin.

5.       The person's passport-size photograph

6.       Thumb impression of the person

 

If applied via Indian Missions abroad or submitted in India, an application fee of $275 or INR. 15,000 is paid.

The properly completed application form and the Challan fee can be sent to the Foreigners Regional Registration Offices or the Overseas Indian Missions.

Usually, an OCI card is issued within 30 days after the Bureau receives an acknowledgment.

 

Cancellation and Rejection

The Ministry of Home Affairs scrutinizes any request. The Ministry reserves the right to deny any appeal. An application can be rejected, for example, for lack of appropriate security clearance. If it has been found to have been obtained using fraud or by hiding some information, an OCI card may also be revoked or blacklisted. The OCI is automatically canceled if an individual is found to have disrespected the Indian Constitution.

 

Citizenhood

A person of Indian origin is not an Indian citizen because India does not allow dual citizenship. However, five years after being granted OCI status, a person registered as an OCI cardholder can apply for the grant of Indian citizenship. In addition to this, before making an application for registration, the person should have been a resident in India for twelve months.