OCI reissue for minors

Update:

Feb, 2022

As of March 2021, the requirements to reissue OCI have changed. The only time a OCI has to be reissued for a minor is when they turn 20. At that point, OCI has to be reissued once. You do not need to reissue OCI after that (even after a person turns 50).

However, each time anyone gets a new passport, the new passport details have to be updated in the OCI portal.

The place to do that is the OCI Miscellaneous Services tab in https://ociservices.gov.in/welcome

I recently did this for my wife and myself. You need:

• A digital passport photo taken within 1 month
• New passport being updated
• OCI card with file number information
• Digital signature

I was able to upload all information online. Within a few days, I got an email from New Delhi requesting I send a scan of my old passports as well. I did that. I got a final confirmation email that my new passport information will be updated within 35 days.

Update:

Feb, 2020

I got the new OCI cards for my children 5 weeks after I applied.

I’m currently working on OCI reissue for my two minor children. It’s a five stage process and is reasonably straight forward, at least as compared to getting the OCI for the first time, but due to conflicting processes and documentation, it feels daunting. I will attempt to document it here.

This document assumes you live in the US, you have renewed the passport of your minor child and want their OCI to be reissued.

Stage 1: Document preparation

• Photograph

The requirements for photograph are confusing and contradictory. To keep it simple, the requirements are almost the same as a US passport photograph. 2”x2” prints with a white background (2 prints). You also need a digital version of the same photograph.

Studios (not drug stores) will give you a digital image as well. Mike’s camera in Dublin, CA gave me a 600x600 pixel image which you need.

Note that you can’t reuse the same photo you used for the US passport, it has to be a different photo.

• Signature

You need a digital scan of your children’s signature. It has to be 3:1 ratio (width:height). I used the procreate app on an iPad with the Apple Pencil. I used 900x300 pixels as the resolution.

• Kid’s original OCI card and a copy

This is the only original document you need to send with the application. Make a photocopy and self attest the copy.

In the past, there was a U-visa stamped to the passport, in addition to the OCI booklet. The U-visa has been dispensed off. http://cgihouston.gov.in/component/k2/item/144-modification-of-the-oci-card-scheme-dispensing-with-u-visa-sticker. There is no reason to send your original passport along with the application.

All photocopies must be self attested.

• Kid’s birth certificate copy
• Parents marriage certificate copy
• Photocopy of kid’s new passport first page and address page
• Proof of current address (parents drivers license, utility bill with parents name)
• Photocopy of parents passports, OCI visa stamping
• Photocopies of parents OCI first and last pages
• Cashier’s check (more details in stage 3)

Stage 2: Filling in the OCI application form online

This is what Cox and Kings (the vendor used in the US) calls the “government form”.

From https://ociservices.gov.in/welcome, use the OCI miscellaneous application form and start. You need to select OCI reissue on new passport (and address change if needed).

Upload the digital version of the photograph and signature here. Once you complete the form, a PDF is generated and a unique ID is issued. It will be emailed to you as well. Save this number. Print the PDF.

There’s a section that asks you to list all family members with OCI cards and their file number. The file number to use is the one mentioned in the last page of the OCI card (as file number).

In this PDF, your child has to sign and both parents have to sign. This form has to be notarized (it’s not mentioned in the form), so don’t sign page 3 yet. Wait till you see a notary.

Stage 3: CKGS form

Follow the instructions in the CKGS website and complete the OCI reissue form. https://www.in.ckgs.us/oci/

In the Government reference number, use the unique ID generated in stage 2.

I chose to mail in the forms and receive the OCI via mail, so I didn’t use the walk-in appointment path. If you choose the shipping path, CKGS will generate the shipping label for you (step 4).

When you complete this step, you will be instructed the value of the cashier’s check you need to obtain from the bank. The payable name to use is mentioned in this page. https://www.in.ckgs.us/faq/oci/fees-and-payments/1268/how-do-i-make-the-payment-for-my-oci-application#1268

As of the time I wrote this, CKGS has disabled the online payment option.

Stage 4: Notary

Bookmark this URL: https://www.in.ckgs.us/myaccount/. This is your friend till OCI process is completed.

From that page, enter the Government ID, current passport and your kid’s date of birth to see your landing page. From that page, you can print the following:

1. Shipping label
2. Parental consent form
3. Copies in lieu of originals form
4. Check list

Forms 2 and 3 above, in addition to page 3 from stage 2 have to be notarized.

Since you’re not sending the original passport of the child, form (3) above indicates that the notary has verified the original passport and you certify that you are in possession of the said passport.

Form (2) is both parents consenting to apply for a new OCI.

Both parents and child are needed to sign these three forms in the presence of a notary. Take all your passports as your IDs.

Stage 5: Ship it

Depending on the shipping label (FedEx for me), ship all the documents. CKGS only accepts certain packaging. Follow instructions here:

Shipping

That’s it. You can track the progress from the page you bookmarked in stage 4.