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1.
The Consulate General of
India (CGI) in Jeddah is pleased to announce the launching of the OCI (Overseas
Citizenship of India) Application procedures from residents of the following
provinces: Abha, Al Baha, Bisha, Gizan, Madinah, Najran, Tabuk, Taif and Yanbu.
For procedural details and clarifications, please go to link (Steps to
Apply for OCI).
2.
A foreign national, eligible to become a citizen of
India on January 26, 1950 or was a citizen of India on, or at anytime after,
January 26, 1950 or belonged to a territory that became part of India after
August 15, 1947 and his/her children and grand children, provided his/her
country of citizenship allows dual citizenship under the local laws, is eligible
for registration as Overseas Citizen of India (OCI). Minor children of such
person are also eligible for OCI. However, if the applicant had ever been a
citizen of Pakistan or Bangladesh, he/she will not be eligible for OCI.
3.
With OCI Status, a foreign passport holder is
entitled to the following:
|
Item |
Details |
|
(a) |
Multiple-entry, multi-purpose, life-long visa to visit India. The holder
of the OCI Certificate would still need to carry his/her foreign
passport, but a Visa "U" ("U" for Universal) sticker would be affixed on
the foreign passport;
|
|
(b) |
Exemption from reporting to police authorities for any
length of stay in India; |
|
(c) |
Parity with NRIs (Non-Resident Indians) in financial,
economic and educational fields EXCEPT in relation to acquisition of
agricultural and plantation properties. |
4.
Please note that OCI is
not, repeat not Dual Citizenship. The Constitution of India does not permit the
facility of holding Indian Citizenship simultaneously with a foreign
citizenship. The OCI holder would therefore not be eligible for the following
rights in India: (i) Right to vote; (ii) Right to hold constitutional office
(i.e. parliament, courts, cabinet posts, etc.); and (iii) Right to hold posts in
government services sector.
5.
The OCI Status is a
privilege extended only to those persons who qualify for that privilege. The OCI
Status accorded to a person can be revoked by Government of India in cases that
warrant such action. For detailed information on the "Overseas Citizen of
India", visit the web site -
http://www.mha.nic.in/ /oci/oci-main.htm - of the Ministry of Home Affairs,
Government of India.
6.
Applicant must
necessarily satisfy the following criteria in order to be eligible to apply for
OCI Status.
|
Criteria |
Details |
|
(i) |
If you or one of your parents or one of your grandparents
was a citizen of India after January 26, 1950. |
|
(ii) |
If you or one of your parents or one of your grandparents
belonged to a former territory (Goa, Daman & Diu, Dadra & Nagar Haveli,
Sikkim and Pondicherry ) that became part of India after August 15,
1947. |
|
(iii) |
If you or one of your parents or one of your grandparents
was eligible to become a citizen of India at the time of commencement of
the Constitution of India on January 26, 1950. |
7.
Additional Notes :
a.
A PIO card holder can
substitute his PIO Card with the OIC. He or she would be required to surrender
their PIO Card in that event. All PIO Card holders seeking to substitute their
PIO card with the OCI facility must submit a copy of their PIO Card during
submission of the application for OCI.
b.
Applying as a family of
four (4) members : You may apply jointly in a single application as spouses and
no more than two (2) of your minor children. The necessary fee would be
charged for each applicant.
c.
OCI Applications can be
made on behalf of a minor child by guardian/parent.
8.
Processing of your OCI
application is initially a joint effort between you (the applicant) and the OCI
Cell at the CGI. Therefore, you need to clearly understand the process of filing
the application, keep your original documentation complete in all respects and
follow the various steps involved carefully. This would facilitate smooth and
quick processing of your application. an/parent.
9.
Visit
http://www.mha.nic.in//oci/oci-main.htm and click �Online Registration�.
If you are applying as an individual or as a family, select the appropriate
option. A reference number will be assigned to you by the computer upon
completing the online registration. You must present this number when you
arrive at the Consulate.
10.
The OCI application
consists of Part-A and Part-B. Part-A would be completed online through Online
Registration at
www.mha.nic.in/oci/oci-main.htm (Ministry of Home Affairs) site. Part-B
would be completed by typing required information or writing in capital block
letters with black or blue ink. The computer would assign to you a Reference
Number. Retain this reference number as it would be required when you submit
your application at the Consulate.
11.
You are required to
submit the OCI application (Part-A and Part-B) in duplicate. Part-B is
automatically printed out when Part-A is Saved & Print command is selected at
the pop-up window. For each of the two applications, an original
3.5cmX3.5cm color photo ( with
white background )
of your full face is required. At the end of Part-B, there is a list of
documents that are required at the time you submit your application. The fee for
the application is USD 275 (USD 25 for PIO Card holders).
12.
For detailed application
procedure, see steps to Apply for OCI.
13.
For detailed
instructions during the review process, see Important Instructions for OCI
Applicant under Review.
14.
The application review
process may take from one to four months depending on the documents and proofs
you provide in support of your application.
We appreciate
your cooperation.
For any further
information or clarification on OCI, visit:
www.mha.nic.in/oci/oci-main.htm
(Ministry of Home Affairs website) and the Frequently Asked Questions at OCI
link at : www.cgijeddah.com.
Enquiries on OCI can
also be addressed to
consular@cgijeddah.com |
