Applicant Frequently Asked Questions

OCI card reissue is generally required once after obtaining a new passport after turning 20. Other passport-update requirements can apply by age and circumstances; check the current official OCI miscellaneous-services instructions.

No. Carry your valid foreign passport and valid OCI card. You generally do not need the old passport containing the U-visa sticker.

No. OCI provides specified benefits, including a multiple-entry lifelong visa, but does not grant voting rights or an Indian passport.

A foreign-origin spouse of an Indian citizen or eligible OCI cardholder may qualify if the marriage is registered and has subsisted continuously for at least two years before applying, subject to all other rules.

Report the loss to the police and apply for OCI reissue under the lost-card category with the required supporting documentation.

e-OCI is the electronic version of an existing OCI card. Use the official OCI portal for current access and download instructions; it does not confer a new immigration status.

Generally, you can apply for reissue within one year before expiry. Some student cases and changes to personal particulars have different conditions.

The San Francisco Consulate lists a normal processing time of around three weeks. Police verification or additional clearances can extend this substantially; timelines are not guaranteed.

Yes, you can apply for reissue, but fresh police verification may be required.

No. Apply for passport reissue under the exhausted-pages category.

Report the loss to local police, obtain the report and apply for reissue under the lost-passport category.

No. Tatkaal has eligibility restrictions and consular approval requirements; lost, damaged or expired passport cases may not qualify. Confirm the latest rules before applying.

These generally require a passport reissue with supporting evidence specific to the requested change.

Use only the official Government of India e-Visa portal: indianvisaonline.gov.in/evisa/tvoa.html. Beware of lookalike commercial sites.

The Consulate states that validity begins on the date the visa is issued, not the planned departure date.

For a regular visa, the Consulate generally permits travel with both the old passport containing the valid visa and the new passport, provided personal details have not changed. Different e-Visa instructions may apply.

The Consulate lists at least two blank pages for visa applicants; check the current requirements for your visa type.

No. The Consulate advises against confirming travel arrangements until a visa decision has been made.

No. The permitted purpose, duration and entry conditions depend on the e-Visa category. Verify eligibility and permitted activities on the official portal.

Applicants may be asked for an Indian police clearance for immigration, residency, employment or similar purposes. The receiving authority determines whether one is required.

Follow the Government of India Passport Seva PCC application process and the current VFS submission checklist for your consular jurisdiction.

The Consulate states that PCC issuance depends on clearance from the relevant police authority in India.

The Consulate guidance includes passport evidence, valid U.S. status, U.S. address proof and a photograph. Always use the current VFS checklist for your applicant category.

No. Consular jurisdiction depends on your U.S. residence. Choose the correct Indian Mission and application center for your state.

Yes. The Consulate instructs applicants who acquire foreign citizenship to surrender their last Indian passport for cancellation and obtain the applicable certificate.

The San Francisco Consulate FAQ treats these terms as equivalent in this process.

The Consulate states that a U.S. passport copy and number are required, so applicants should first obtain their U.S. passport.

The Consulate describes a lost-passport renunciation category. Follow the current VFS instructions for evidence and application details.

No. The Consulate states that applicants must also complete the prescribed VFS submission process with the physical application and required documents.

The Consulate OCI FAQ states that former Indian citizens need the applicable renunciation/surrender certificate for their OCI application.

Yes. Eligible Indian citizens may apply through U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Trusted Traveler Programs portal.

No. The Consulate also requires the Indian-side GEP background-verification application through Passport Seva and submission according to the current VFS process.

The Consulate lists the printed application, current passport copy, present address proof and applicable fees; check the latest VFS checklist.

The Consulate explicitly states there is no fixed processing timeline because multiple government departments are involved.

No. Approval depends on the relevant U.S. and Indian screening processes; VIGS cannot approve or expedite government decisions.