I had my first OCI added to my passport after I was 50 years old.?
The official rules are: (From the USA CKGS web site that processes OCI reissue) - It is very important that you follow the process defined on the CKGS website for OCI application at Visa for India from USA - CKGS USA OCI card holders should apply for RE-ISSUE of their OCI card if a NEW PASSPORT is issued. RULES 1. For an applicant who is 20 years of age or younger, OCI must be RE-ISSUED EACH TIME A NEW PASSPORT is issued. 2. For an applicant who is 50 years of age or older, OCI must be RE-ISSUED ONCE after the issuance of a new passport. 3. If the OCI card is issued for the first time after the age of 50 years, then there is no need for re-issuance of OCI. 4. For an applicant who is 21 to 49 years of age, there is NO need to re-issue OCI documents each time a new passport is issued. However, if the applicant desires, he / she can request re-issue of the OCI document to update the new passport number. My comments now: If you see rule (3), there is no need for you to get OCI reissued even if you renew your passport. I fall into this category; but I am still very nervous since: 1-The interpretation of above 4 rules will be done by a clerk(a check in agent) for ANY airline going into India; could be Vietname Airlines or Lufthansa or British Airlines. And each agent is different. Some may be good at above English and some may be not. Some may be broad in their application of above rules and some may not. For example the sentence in the rules say OCI card holders should apply for RE-ISSUE of their OCI card if a NEW PASSPORT is issued.. I got my OCI after I reached 50. Though I did renew my passport, an agent could stop reading at this sentencere and say my OCI is not valid as it points to your older Passport and your new passport number does not match. Imagine you having to now clarify the rules to the agent and convinving them that the rules are to be applied in a sequence. PLUS, you need to start doing some math: Date I applied for my OCI : May 21st 2009 My date of birth : July 2nd 1957 Take out May 21st 2009 from July 2nd 1957 = 51 years and some months. So, I WAS 50 when I applied for my OCI. YAY !!! etc. I am not belittling the agent; but explaining the complexiity of the rules. 2-The agent really wants to just see passport number 5432156 in your OCI and then compare the same number in the passport you are using to travel. Anything different, lot of explaining to do. As they say, it ALL depends on who is at the check in counter. My point is, in my case, though I do not need to reissue my OCI since I got my OCI first time when I was over 50, but since it does not match my latest passport, TO BE SAFE, (and avoid some $1500/- cost of ticket if I am not boarded), I am planning to renew my OCI (Or get a 10 year multiple entry Indian Visa.