OCI Card in India Is Easy To Be Applied
If you or your ancestors were migrated to foreign, you can still apply for new OCI card. The Indian legislation grants the Central Government this permission.
But, you should be aware of your family’s origin. If any person or his/her parents or grandparents were a native Pakistan or Bangladesh, you cannot be facilitated with this card. Â
Overseas Citizen of India (OCI):
The External Affairs Ministry was entertaining non-residents of India with the Person of Indian Origin (PIO) card before 2011. Their root lied in India for up to four generations. But, those who have connections with Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bhutan and Afghanistan, were kept away from this facility.
In 2015, the ministry came with a merger plan. It announced for the translation of all PIOs into OCIs. The acronym OCI expands as Overseas Citizen of India. Such non-residents are not a native of this country. Neither do they have a right to franchise vote in India. Likewise, they cannot contest for assembly polls. Nor can they hold any constitutional office.Â
Like NRIs, they cannot own an agricultural land. But if it is gifted by any ancestor, it can be his or hers. Â This card ensures visa free travel in Indian. The OCIs enjoy the right to residency. Moreover, they can involve in any commercial activity or commence any business. The gate to procure education in this country is open for them.Â
Required Documents:Â
•   Duly filled application formÂ
•   Evidence of present citizenship
•   Proof of parents’ and grandparents’ citizenship Â
•   Proof of relationship as a parent/grandparent/great grandparent, in case he/she is registered as an OCI cardholder being hailed from Indian origin
•   Proof as a spouse, who hails from abroad, of an OCI cardholder
•   Passport size photograph of the applicant
•   Thumb impression of  the applicant
Steps to Apply for an OCI Card Online in India:Â
The applicant ought to get A to Z information from the Bureau of Immigration under the Union Home Ministry. It is a competent authority, possessing signing authority
to provide it.Â
•   Visit this official website- https://ociservices.gov.in/
•   Get through the instructions first.Â
•   Click the check box -“I Have Read the Instructions†and then, check.
•   Read out the steps for successful registration.
•   Click the “Fresh Application†option.Â
•   This form will pop up.
•   Click ‘Save and Continue’.Â
•   Register Part-A, upload image and signature. Then, complete Part-B.
•   Upload supporting documents in the PDF format at the end of Part-B. The list is already aforementioned.Â
•   Upon completing the application, take out its print to be submitted to the selected mission’s office.Â
Fee:Â
The application to get this card can be filed through Indian Missions in the resident country. He/she should pay the service fee worth $275 for the US citizens, which is equal to INR 18,975, and $295 (or INR 20, 355) for the non-US citizens. Apart from that, the PIOs from the US have to pay $25 (INR 1,725). And the PIOs from the
rest countries should pay $45 (INR 3,105) as its fee. Â Â
But, this fee structure can be changed over a period of time, as it is a subject of the Foreigners Regional Registration Offices or Indian Missions’ concern.Â
Provision of Refund:Â
If the OCI is not issued, the authority refunds entire fee, deducting $25.
Processing Days:Â
The competent authority usually issues this card within 30 days post sending an acknowledgement from the Bureau.Â
Verification Procedure:Â
Before providing with the overseas citizenship, the verification process takes place. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) effectuates this scrutiny. The authority holds the right to accept or reject the application.Â
Your application can be rejected or blacklisted on these bases:
•   Lack of adequate security clearanceÂ
•   Submitting fake documentsÂ
•   Concealing informationÂ
The foregone bases will ground up an idea of disrespecting the Indian Constitution. These grounds will be enough to cancel your application for obtaining the OCI card.Â
Citizenship:Â
India does not grant permission to possess dual citizenship. But, its law offers its citizenship provided that the applicant has surrendered his/her foreign citizenship. However, the Person of Indian Origin (PIO) does not get such permission.Â
In essence, the OCI card bearers can apply for obtaining it. While doing so, they must have stayed in India for at least one year. After that, the Mission official grants permission. Keep into account that you may lose foreign citizenship if you become its citizen.