OCI Card Application In The USA

Securing an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card is an empowering opportunity for U.S. residents with roots in India, providing a clear and beneficial path to dual citizenship.

This article provides a step-by-step guide on how to get an OCI card in the USA, clarifies the OCI eligibility for U.S. citizens, and offers practical tips to ensure a smooth and successful OCI card application process in the USA.

Table of contents

• OCI eligibility for US citizens
• How to apply for an OCI card in the USA? Step-by-step process
• OCI application for minors
• OCI application photo requirements
• Get an OCI photo online!
• Take an OCI photo with phone
• How to create a digital signature for the OCI card application? 7ID feature
• How to upload a signature for an OCI for minor?
• OCI photo rejected: what to do
• OCI fees in the USA

OCI Eligibility for US Citizens

To be eligible for the Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) card, US applicants must meet the following conditions:

• Indian ancestry: You should have immediate family members such as parents, grandparents, or great-grandparents of Indian origin, supported by appropriate documents such as an Indian passport.
• Previous Indian citizenship: Individuals who were Indian citizens at any time on or after January 26, 1950, are eligible to apply for an OCI card.
• Residence in regions added to India after 1947: If you were a resident of a region that joined India after August 15, 1947, you can apply for an OCI card.
• Minor children of Indian parents or parents holding an OCI card can also apply.
• Spouses of foreign origin married to Indian citizens or OCI cardholders can apply if their marriage is at least two years old before the application.
• No ancestry from Pakistan or Bangladesh, as it disqualifies you from getting the OCI card.
• No ties to conflict areas, such as Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, China, or Afghanistan.
• Not an asylum seeker or a refugee: Refugees or asylees are not eligible for the OCI card.
• Nationality of parents is known: Incomplete information about the citizenship of your parents on your birth certificate also disqualifies you from obtaining an OCI card.

How to Apply for an OCI Card in the USA? Step-by-step Process

To learn how to apply for an OCI card for India from the USA, use the following OCI application checklist:

• Step 1: Find the appropriate OCI card category (adult, minor, or spouse of OCI cardholder) based on your needs.
• Step 2: Gather all the necessary documents for your application, such as your passport, citizenship certificate, birth certificate, marriage certificate (if applicable), and other required documentation.
• Step 3: Complete the online application form on the official website. You may need to create a new account to access the form.
• Step 4: Follow the portal instructions and upload scanned copies of the required documents. Step 5: Pay the applicable application fee for your category and country of residence. Note that the fee may vary depending on the applicant's location and whether the applicant holds a PIO card.
• Step 6: After submitting your online application and payment, schedule an appointment at the designated government office for document review and biometric capture.

Processing time for OCI applications is typically 8–10 weeks but may vary depending on the consulate's workload and the specifics of the application.

OCI Application for Minors

How to apply for an OCI card for a newborn in the USA? Follow this OCI minor checklist and provide the required documentation:

• Complete the OCI Application Form: For minors, a parent or guardian may sign and notarize the form. For newborns and minors under the age of 5, a thumb impression is required instead of a signature.
• Provide proof of Indian origin: Provide relevant documents such as an Indian passport, birth certificate, domicile certificate, or residence certificate.
• Provide the required documents:
  • Original and copies of the OCI Application Form.
  • Notarized Parental Authorization Form for OCI for Minors.
  • Passport number, e-mail ID, and mobile phone number.
  • Recent 2×2 color full-face photographs of the minor.
  • The signature of the minor must match the one on the application form.
  • Proof of residence.
• Pay applicable fees, which vary depending on the age of the applicant. In general, the fees for minors are lower than those for adults.

It should be noted that the validity period of the OCI card for baby is the same as for adults. Minors do not need to have their OCI card reissued until they reach the age of 20.

OCI Application Photo Requirements

The requirements for an OCI card application photo are as follows:

• The photo should be a 2×2 inch square (minimum size 51×51 mm or 200×200 pixels, with a maximum digital size of 1500×1500 pixels).
• Your face should occupy 80% of the total photo area.
• The background of the OCI photo should be light; white is not acceptable. The image should be in JPG or JPEG format only.
• The digital image file size should not exceed 500 KB.

Here is an example:

Get an OCI Photo Online!

Obtaining an OCI card image has never been easier or faster than with Visafoto.com. The 24/7 platform completes the process in seconds. It automatically adjusts the photo's dimensions, head size, and background to ensure that your photo fully meets the requirements.

All you have to do is take a photo with your camera against any background and upload it to the Visafoto website. You'll get two types of photos: a digital one for online applications and a printable one

Take an image with a smartphone or camera against any background, upload it here and instantly get a professional photo for your visa, passport, or ID.

You will have two types of photos: a digital one for electronic applications and another one suitable for printing.

Take an OCI Photo With a Phone

Introducing the best OCI Photo Editor — the 7ID App.

The 7ID Photo App can help simplify the next step in your OCI card application process by making it easy and stress-free to take a photo for your documents. Here's how to take a photo suitable for an OCI card using your phone and the 7ID Photo App:

• If possible, choose a setting with good natural light.
• Stabilize your smartphone on a firm surface to ensure your shots are clear and sharp.
• Maintain a straight posture, sitting or standing, looking straight at the camera with a neutral expression or a small smile without showing your teeth.
• Keep your eyes open.
• Upload your captured photo to the 7ID app, available for Android and iOS.

Now let 7ID do the rest:

Picture resizing: The app will automatically resize your image to fit the specified OCI photo dimensions and correctly position your head and eyes.
Background color adjustment: The 7ID app allows you to set the background color of the photo to plain light, which is the official document standard.
Printing template: Once your photo is ready, 7ID provides a printable template in the appropriate size, matching the image to various standard paper sizes, such as 10×15 cm (4×6 inches), A4, A5, and B5.
Advanced photo editing features (Expert option): The premium version of 7ID offers detailed editing, image enhancement, and effective background removal, which can be essential for important documents such as passports.

The 7ID photo app, with its instant photo editing, cropping, and background replacement features, ensures that your OCI card application photo seamlessly meets all requirements.

How to Create a Digital Signature for the OCI Card Application? 7ID Feature

The OCI Signature Maker feature of the 7ID app, developed by the Visafoto team, provides an easy way to quickly convert your physical signature into a digital file of the required size and format. The process is as follows:

1. Install the 7ID app on your Android or iPhone device.
2. Prepare your signature or thumbprint on a plain piece of paper.
3. Launch the 7ID app, navigate to the 'Signatures' section, and select 'New Signature'.
4. Take a photo of your written signature or thumb impression.
5. Select the 'India signature for OCI card application' option. The app will immediately generate the digital image file of your signature, ready for submission and meeting the required specifications.

How to Upload a Signature for an OCI for Minor?

To learn how to upload signature for OCI for minor, follow the instructions below:

1. Go to the OCI application website.
2. Complete the application form as instructed.
3. In the Applicant Photo/Signature Upload section, click the Browse button.
4. Upload the OCI signature image for minor provided by the 7ID App. You'll see your photo and signature on the next page. Click the “I have successfully uploaded” button.
5. You've completed the signature upload process.

OCI Photo Rejected: What to Do

An OCI photo may be rejected for a number of reasons, including:

• Incorrect size: The image does not meet the required dimensions (2in x 2in or 51 mm x 51 mm).
• Resolution problems: The image resolution is too low, resulting in a blurred or pixelated image.
• Improper lighting: Shadows on the face, uneven lighting, or too bright images may result in rejection.
• Orientation: The face is not centered, or the head is not square or straight to the camera.
• Facial Expression: A non-neutral facial expression, closed eyes, or a smile showing teeth can lead to rejection.
• Background Color: The background is not a solid white or light color, as required.
• Dress Code: Wearing uniforms, hats/caps, or sunglasses that obscure the face.
• Eyewear: Wearing thick-framed glasses or glasses that reflect light or cause shadows may disqualify the photo.
• Quality: The photo is not recent, overexposed, underexposed, or contains red eye.
• Digital alteration: Any type of photo editing or digital manipulation will result in the photo being disqualified.

To avoid the problem of “OCI photo rejected: what to do”, it is recommended to use professional services and tools, such as Visafoto.com and 7ID’s Expert Photo Editor feature, to ensure that the photos meet all requirements. Our refund policy has been the same since day one: If a government agency does not accept the photo, we will refund 100% of your payment.

OCI Fees in the USA

OCI card application fees vary depending on the location of the individual and whether the individual holds a PIO card.

When submitting an OCI application in the USA, PIO cardholders must pay a fee of $275 per applicant, while non-PIO cardholders must pay a fee of $100.