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Status of OCI in India when foreign passport expires.

Posted: Fri Aug 20, 2010 7:21 pm
by sridhartoronto
Is there anyone here who has relocated to India after OCI and let his/her foreign passport expire?

AFAIK it is perfectly legal to stay in India beyond the expiry of your passport if you are an OCI. Problem only arises if you need to leave India at short notice.

Any guru here see a problem with this?

Status of OCI in India when foreign passport expires.

Posted: Fri Aug 20, 2010 9:15 pm
by ycl1688
there is no problem unless you determined never to set foot out of india. What would it cost you to keep the foreign passport live ?
it is upto you.

Status of OCI in India when foreign passport expires.

Posted: Mon Aug 23, 2010 2:18 pm
by sridhartoronto
"What would it cost you to keep the foreign passport live ?"

Next to nothing if you are in Bangalore but is a big problem if you are in Bapatla or any similar small town. After sending my kid off to college I may want to retire in one of the smaller towns where everybody knows everything about everyone else. I want nobody to know that I'am a firangi. Otherwise I have to beg relatives to let me use their address.

"there is no problem unless you determined never to set foot out of india"

Supposedly passports are available in two weeks. In case I want to go , I can easily spend a couple of weeks in Chennai or Delhi and pick it up and leave.

Status of OCI in India when foreign passport expires.

Posted: Mon Aug 23, 2010 4:05 pm
by spiritual
OP - I don't understand the question. How can you leave India if your passport has expired?
You cannot to travel to any country using the OCI - you need a valid passport for that.

OCI is a lifelong visa to enter/stay/work in India.

If you are between the ages of 20 and 50 years, there is no need to renew your OCI if you get a new passport.
But you will need to carry the new passport + old passport with OCI sticker + OCI Registration booklet every time you want to re-enter India.

If you are under the age of 20 then you need to get a new OCI visa sticker + Registration booklet whenever you get a new passport.
The new visa/booklet should have the recent photo of the person.
You should apply for the new OCI under the OCI Miscellaneous Services category.

Status of OCI in India when foreign passport expires.

Posted: Fri Aug 27, 2010 1:55 pm
by rajbulland
sridhartoronto,
If you hold OCI from legal perspective you are not an Indian Citizen. You are a citizen of the country from your passport has been issued. OCI is mere facilitation for you to stay in India as long as you want without any visa hurdles. If your passport is expired it does not affect your living in India nor your right bestowed being an OCI. It will only matter when you have to depart from the airport or if you are needed to submit your nationality proof. Expired passport will not be accepted. So to avoid all this - the best is to get passport renewed periodically.

Status of OCI in India when foreign passport expires.

Posted: Tue Aug 23, 2011 1:54 pm
by jaygandhi
If you have a Foreign passport (for example Canadian Passport) and OCI and suppose the Foreign passport Expires, one can get the Foreign Passport renewed in India by applying to the Foreign Country Consulate General in India ( Normally in New Delhi) . Once the new Passport arrives, a renewed OCI should be applied /needed for age less than 20 and more than 55yrs....

Status of OCI in India when foreign passport expires.

Posted: Tue Aug 23, 2011 8:47 pm
by gurusw
Does the US passport need to be valid for 6 months from the date of entry to USA, or can I travel to USA today if my passport is expiring next week? Would immigration officials in India stipulate the US passport to be valid for x days in case I am travelling to USA?

Asking this because US requires foreign passports to be valid for 6 months from the date of entry.

Status of OCI in India when foreign passport expires.

Posted: Tue Aug 23, 2011 9:19 pm
by okonomi
Most airlines* would issue a boarding pass if the flight is going to the home country (passport issuing nation) of the traveller, and you are travelling home on an unexpired passport. US immigration would let you enter even if you land on the day your passport expires (note: normally, you would not have got on the plane if your passport had expired already, and even if your ticket is to your own home country).
* There could be delays in boarding if there happens to be an untrained ticket agent, no supervisor present to help out, flight overbooked, etc. etc.
It is best to pay attention to the expiry date of the passports, and visit the local consulate before travel plans. US consulates abroad can renew passports in a month or less.