OCI card fees is higher than entry visa. 2. The time period of about 4 months to get the OCI is way longer than the visa which I believe is in days/weeks.
What is the advantage of OCI over Indian visa?
OCI Benefits. (i) Multiple entry, multi-purpose life long visa to visit India; (ii) Exemption from reporting to Police authorities for any length of stay in India; and. (iii) Parity with NRIs in financial, economic and educational fields except in the acquisition of agricultural or plantation properties. (iv) exemption from registration with ...
What is the difference between NRI, PIO and OCI?
- Was a citizen of India by virtue of the Constitution of India or the Citizenship Act, 1955; or
- Belonged to a territory that became part of India after the 15th day of August 1947; or
- Is a child or a grandchild or a great-grandchild of a citizen of India or of a person referred to in clause (a) or (b); or
Do OCI holders require a visa to visit Nepal/Bhutan?
Please Note, OCI is valid for India and Bhutan as well, for Nepal you to get the visa which is US$ 25 per person and it will be valid till 15 days from the date of entry. You can get Nepal visa upon arrival in Kathmandu airport from immigration department. Brgds, Dipen Pradhan
What are advantages and disadvantages of OCI card?
· The card holder can travel without visa in India multiple times for lifelong. · They can become the citizen of this country if they continue to retain OCI card for 5 years. But here is a condition applied that that person would have spent at least one year in India. And also, the breaks for short intervals are allowed.
Which is better visa or OCI?
Thus, it saves you both time and money unlike applying for an OCI card. Moreover, in the case of your stay exceeding the 5-year mark, you can always apply for a new visa. And comparatively, the cost of acquiring an Indian online visa is far less than that of an OCI.
What are the disadvantages of OCI card?
For OCI CardholdersAdvantagesDisadvantagesLifelong multiple entries for visiting India.Not eligible for purchasing agricultural land.No requirement for registering with local police authorities after 180 days.Not eligible for a government job.2 more rows
Do I need visa if I have OCI?
Should I apply for entry visa to travel to India? No. As per the latest guidelines, all OCI card holders holding US Passport are permitted to enter India. You may also refer to https://www.cgisf.gov.in/news_detail/?newsid=81 OCI Card holders do not require entry visa to enter India.
What is difference between visa and OCI?
OCI is a lifelong visa to live and work in India as any other Indian citizen or NRI. But unlike visitors on other long-term visas (for example, work permits, student visas), OCI holders do not have to register with their local FRRO. OCI holders, just like NRIs, can open bank accounts and buy property in the country.
Can I buy property in India with OCI?
A: OCI card holders can purchase residential and commercial properties in India. But they are not permitted to purchase agricultural land, including farmland or any kind of plantation property.
Can OCI holder live permanently in India?
Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) is a form of permanent residency available to people of Indian origin and their spouses which allows them to live and work in India indefinitely.
Is OCI valid for lifetime?
The OCI card is a lifelong visa available for citizens of Indian origin. Once you get it, you will obtain all the rights any resident in India has. You can live and work in India. The OCI card is valid for 10 years after issued and it allows Multiple Entry to the country.
What are the benefits of OCI card?
Benefits: OCIs are entitled to a multipurpose, multiple entry, lifelong visa allowing them to visit India at any time, for any length of time and for any purpose. They are exempted from police reporting for any length of stay in the country.
Is OCI enough to travel India?
A: You will be allowed entry into India if you have a valid OCI Card and a valid foreign passport. You do not need to carry the old passport on which your "U” (OCI) Visa was stamped, if that happens to be different from your current passport.
Can OCI get Indian citizenship back?
Yes, it is possible. Following the information of section 5 of the Citizenship Act, 1955, a person who is registered as an OCI for more than 5 years and has been living in India for 1 year from the 5 years mentioned, is eligible for Indian Citizenship.
Can I apply for OCI and visa together?
Foreign nationals cannot apply for OCI in India while on Tourist Visa, Missionary Visa and Mountaineering Visa. Moreover, the foreigner has to be ordinarily resident of India to be eligible to apply for OCI registration in India.
Can OCI get Aadhar card?
Aadhaar Card enrollment is presently available to residents in India. OCI Cardholders who stay in India for a long time (over 182 days in twelve months immediately preceding the date of application for enrolment) and have an Indian address can also enroll for Aadhaar Card in India.
What is an OCI card?
OCI Card or the Overseas Citizenship in India is an immigration status that permits a foreign citizen (except Bangladesh and Pakistan) with an Indian origin to indefinitely live and work in India.
How to apply for OCI?
One can apply for an OCI by logging on to passport.gov.in/oci. The OCI requirements must be satisfied to obtain one’s OCI within 30 working days from the date of application. Every application is stringently scrutinized by the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Can a non-ordinary passport be used for OCI?
Holders of non-ordinary passports are not eligible for an OCI. OCI not granted when either of the applicant’s parents, grandparents, great grandparents are or were citizens of Pakistan and Bangladesh. A foreign spouse of an Indian citizen or OCI card-holder is not eligible until having subsisted two years of marriage.
Can you be allowed into a country if you fail to comply with OCI?
And, these conditions must be satisfied. In fact, failure to comply would result in termination of your OCI or you may not be allowed to enter into the country.
Does India have dual citizenship?
India is one of the countries that does not encourage dual citizenships. However, due to the increasing demands of the Indian diaspora (NRIs, POIs) seeking recognition of dual citizenships, the government introduced the OCI Card. Nevertheless, an OCI may not always be a suitable option when compared to an India visa.
Can I apply for an Indian visa online?
Also, you can apply it online through a third-party agent. Thus, it saves you both time and money unlike applying for an OCI card. Moreover, in the case of your stay exceeding the 5-year mark, you can always apply for a new visa. And comparatively, the cost of acquiring an Indian online visa is far less than that of an OCI.
Is the OCI card an Indian Visa?
Please be aware that if your visa was issued before October 7th, 2021 it is no longer valid and you will need to apply for a new visa.
Frequently Asked Questions
The OCI card is the Overseas Citizenship of India card. The document gives you the right to live and work in India. Also, you can visit India as many times as you would like. It’s not necessarily a visa as it allows more benefits than a simple visa.
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How often do you need to renew a PIO card?
PIO card has the added annoyance that it is more expensive, needs to be renewed every 15 years and one needs to report to Indian police every 6 months beyond the first 6 months of stay.
Can I open an NRI account in India?
Also as a Person of Indian Origin one can open NRI accounts in India; one doesn't need an OCI/PIO card in order to do this. NRIs and PIOs are treated on par in this matter.
Is OCI preferable?
Well, it certainly is your personal choice what to apply for . OCI is certainly preferable as it carries more benefits, just in case your interest in India changes as time goes by . With long term visitor visa, you won't legally be able to do anything else e.g. work/study etc.
Is OCI considered dual citizenship?
That is a bogus argument. US government does not consider OCI as a dual citizenship and clearly states that OCI holders continue to be US citizens and are provided full US consular access when overseas.