India’s Citizenship Act, 1955 was amended in August 2005 to introduce the Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) scheme. Under the plan, all Person of Indian Origin (PIOs) can register for OCI with certain exceptions. Overseas Citizenship of India Card is an immigration status given to foreign citizens of Indian origin. With OCI, you can live, work, or travel in India indefinitely.
The Government of India introduced OCI Cards concerning the massive demand from foreign nationals to acquire dual citizenship. Since India does not allow dual citizenship, the best alternative was to offer OCI to NRIs residing overseas. With OCI, NRIs get multiple-entry lifelong visas to visit India. Though an OCI card holder gets several benefits, it is not actual citizenship, so voting or holding government office in India won’t be possible for OCi card holders.
Benefits of Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) Card
Getting an OCI Card comes with a lot of benefits. Here are some:
- You get a multi-purpose, multi-entry lifelong visa to visit India.
- You can visit India indefinitely, whether for work or a living.
- You don’t need to report to the police for any length of staying in the country.
- You can have the same facilities as NRIs regarding financial, economic, and education.
- You can purchase residential and commercial properties, except agricultural lands.
- You need to pay taxes only on your taxable Indian income.
- You can open all types of bank accounts allowed to a resident customer.
- You can apply for an Aadhar Card after living in India for 182 days in 12 months.
Eligibility Criteria To Apply For OCI Card
You are eligible to apply for an OCI card if
- You became or were a citizen of India on/after 26.01.1950.
- You belonged to an area or territory that became part of India after 15.08.1947.
- Your children’s and grandchildren’s country allows dual citizenship in some form.
- Your spouse and minor can apply based on your eligibility.
Note: You cannot apply for OCI if you have ever been a citizen of Pakistan or Bangladesh.
Apply for OCI with Bilimoria & Associate
According to recent Rajya Sabha figures, 225,620 Indians called off their citizenship in 2022, the highest in the last 12 years. Moreover, 1.66 million Indians gave up their nationality since 2011. People renouncing their citizenship isn’t a new phenomenon. They do it for various reasons like getting a better quality of life, work and study. You can register for Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) and continue to take several procedural and financial benefits in India.
Bilimoria & Associate take care of all applicants’ formalities and legal proceedings. It includes:
- Checking the eligibility for OCI
- Assisting in the online application procedure
- Taking care of registration and Fees
- Helping to get OCI for clients living in India and abroad
- Assisting in getting OCI for Indian children born in the US
- Checking OCI card status
- Assisting in getting OCI for minors
- Verifying documents and submitting them
- Following up with the OCI card status and more
Applying for an OCI card can be a tedious process. Bilimoria & Associate provides the entire gamut of visa and immigration services. We are the top immigration consultant in Chennai that understands the criticality of the OCI application process. That’s why we have a dedicated and expert team handling the process for our clients. In addition, we have strong visa partners in various parts of the world and legal teams assisting us in submission and technicalities involved in the process. Apart from helping clients get OCI cards, we also offer immigration services in Chennai to various countries like Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the USA, the UK, and Europe. Please forward your resume to neville@bilimoriaassociate.com for us to assess and advise your eligibility. You can contact us at the office at +91 44 2822 7222 / 28239229 / 43508191 for a consultation or appointment.