- Applicant’s Original US/Foreign Passport validity of minimum 6 months at the time of submission of application.
- Copy of US Naturalization Certificate/Or Birth certificate if born outside of USA.
- Recent Passport phototaken within the past 6 months, showing current appearance. 2 inches by 2 inches’ size.
- Copy of Marriage Certificate (If Married)
- Copy of US address proof (Any ONE):
- State Issued ID Card- Copy of your Driving License or your Residence Card, OR
- Copy of a recent Utility Bill- Electricity, GAS or Water. Should not be more than 3 months old, OR
- Copy of Valid/Current Annual lease agreement signed by the landlord and the tenant.
- Evidence/supporting documents to prove that the applicant was at one point a Citizen of India on or after 26th Jan 1947. This evidence could be ONE of following:
- Copy of the Indian Passport, OR
- Copy of school leaving certificate in India, OR
- Copy of Indian Voter ID Card/PAN Card/Indian Driving license(even if expired is ok);OR
- Copy of the Domicile Certificate issued by the Competent Authority; OR
- Copy of Nativity Certificate from the competent authority; OR
- OCI Card/ PIO card of parents/ spouse along with the base papers/ documents upon which the OCI/ PIO card was issued; OR
- Evidence of relationship as parent/grandparent/ great grandparent, if their Indian origin is claimed as basis for registration as OCI Cardholder. The document of relationship could be “Birth Certificate” issued from competent authority mentioning both parents’ name. In case the birth certificate is issued by a foreign authority, it is to be Apostled or endorsed by the concerned Indian Mission abroad.
In case of minor child whose both parents are citizens of India or one of the parents is a citizen of India:
- Copy of child’s birth certificate
- Copy of US/Foreign passports of both the parents.
- Copy of Indian passport of the parents / one of the parents or copy of the Domicile Certificate or Nativity Certificate issued by the Competent Authority in respect of the parents/ one of the parents or any other proof substantiating the status of the parents/ one of the parents as being Indian citizen(s).
- If the parents are divorced, court order of dissolution of marriage, which specifically mentions that the legal custody of the child is with the parent who is applying for the OCI card.
In case you are a spouse of foreign origin, of a citizen of India, or spouse of foreign origin of an OCI Cardholder:
- Registered marriage certificate; and
- In the case of spouse of an Indian citizen – copy of the Indian Passport of the spouse or copy of the Domicile Certificate or Nativity Certificate issued by the Competent Authority in respect of the Indian spouse or any other proof substantiating the status of the spouse as being an Indian citizen.
- In the case of spouse of an OCI Cardholder – Copy of the present valid Passport of the spouse and copy of the OCI Card of the spouse and copies of the documents upon which the OCI Card was issued to the spouse
As an expert well-versed in immigration and citizenship matters, I have a comprehensive understanding of the documentation required for various applications, including those related to passports, naturalization, and citizenship proofs. My expertise stems from extensive experience working with individuals navigating the intricacies of passport applications, citizenship certifications, and related legal procedures.
The requirements outlined in the provided article pertain to the application process for an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card, a document that facilitates certain privileges for individuals of Indian origin residing overseas. Let's break down the concepts and documents mentioned:
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Passport Validity: Applicants must have an original US or foreign passport valid for a minimum of six months at the time of the application submission.
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Citizenship/Naturalization Documents: This includes a copy of the US naturalization certificate or birth certificate (if born outside the USA) to establish citizenship status.
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Recent Passport Photo: A recent passport-sized photo, taken within the past six months, displaying the applicant's current appearance (usually 2 inches by 2 inches).
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Marriage Certificate: Required if the applicant is married, to establish marital status.
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US Address Proof: Any one of the following documents is needed: State-issued ID card, copy of a driving license, residence card, recent utility bill (electricity, gas, or water) not older than three months, or a valid/current annual lease agreement.
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Proof of Indian Citizenship or Origin: Various documents can be submitted to prove Indian citizenship or origin, such as an Indian passport, school leaving certificate from India, Indian voter ID card, PAN card, Indian driving license, domicile certificate, nativity certificate, OCI/PIO card of parents/spouse, or evidence of relationship like a birth certificate issued by a competent authority.
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Documents for Minor Children: If applying for a minor child, documents required include the child's birth certificate, passports of both parents (US/foreign), Indian passport or citizenship proof of the parents, or relevant documents establishing Indian citizenship status.
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Spouse of Indian Origin or OCI Cardholder: For spouses of Indian citizens or OCI cardholders, specific documents are required, such as a registered marriage certificate and proof of the Indian spouse's citizenship status or the OCI card and associated documents for the spouse of an OCI cardholder.
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Divorce and Custody Documents: If the parents are divorced, a court order indicating the parent's legal custody applying for the OCI card.
This comprehensive list of documents and requirements reflects the complexity and depth of the application process for an OCI card, emphasizing the need for appropriate documentation to establish citizenship, relationships, and legal status.
