Urgent help requested: OCI transfer to new passports

[K R]

Hi Everyone,

I am trying to pull everything together to apply for transfer of OCI to my kids' new passports. What a horrible web site and customer service! BLS is so frustrating. I must have called for clarifications tens of times, but they picked up only a couple of times and gave me conflicting information each time. I thought I would seek the help of fellow forum members instead.

We are in SFO jurisdiction. I will be applying to transfer OCIs of two kids to their new passports. Here are my questions:

1. Do I need to submit anything in original form at all? I know the kids' new passports need to be sent at the end of the processing, but how about their expired passports, current OCI cards or parents' cancelled Indian passports? Can I just send copies? Or, do they want originals?

2. Do I need to send expired passports and old OCI cards along with the new one at the end of the processing so that they can cancel the old OCI's?

3. What, if anything, needs to be notarized?

4. What, if anything, needs to be self-attested?


Thank you for any help!

[KC_2014]

Oci re issue help

Hi

I am also doing the same thing , trying to apply for OCI re-issue on new passport.

1) did you get any documents notarized ? If yes which one were those.

2) also which documents did you self attested ?

3) I also did the bls order form online, do you know where to put that one, is it on the envelope that we send it or inside it.

Please let me know.

KC

[K R]

Hi

I am also doing the same thing , trying to apply for OCI re-issue on new passport.

1) did you get any documents notarized ? If yes which one were those.

2) also which documents did you self attested ?

3) I also did the bls order form online, do you know where to put that one, is it on the envelope that we send it or inside it.

Please let me know.

KC

Hi,

I didn't get much help from the forum, but I kept calling BLS to get more info. They didn't always give me the consistent info either, but in the end, I decided to do too much than too little to avoid unnecessary delays in processing. This is what I did:

- The only one I got notarized was the 1 page OCI application.

- I self-attested all the copies of documents (passports, OCIs, naturalization certificates etc). Anything that I attached that was a copy of an original was self-attested.

- Each application needs to have a BLS order form attached to it (inside the envelope). When you create it, the web site also gives you shipping label. That's the one you put on top of the envelope.

- I sent two copies of the entire application (including the 1 page OCI application, order form, copies of documents etc). I marked the second set as "second set" just to clarify. Don't know if they need/want a second set or not.

As for the originals, I sent the current OCI card and expired US passport.

I sent my packet earlier this week. BLS received it on Wednesday and updated the status on Thursday saying that the application was processed and ready to be sent to Consulate. So, I think it passed their initial QA and they have everything they need. I may have done something I really didn't need to, but when I doubt, I decided to do too much and it seems to have worked.

Good luck!

[KC_2014]

Hi,

I didn't get much help from the forum, but I kept calling BLS to get more info. They didn't always give me the consistent info either, but in the end, I decided to do too much than too little to avoid unnecessary delays in processing. This is what I did:

- The only one I got notarized was the 1 page OCI application.

- I self-attested all the copies of documents (passports, OCIs, naturalization certificates etc). Anything that I attached that was a copy of an original was self-attested.

- Each application needs to have a BLS order form attached to it (inside the envelope). When you create it, the web site also gives you shipping label. That's the one you put on top of the envelope.

- I sent two copies of the entire application (including the 1 page OCI application, order form, copies of documents etc). I marked the second set as "second set" just to clarify. Don't know if they need/want a second set or not.

As for the originals, I sent the current OCI card and expired US passport.

I sent my packet earlier this week. BLS received it on Wednesday and updated the status on Thursday saying that the application was processed and ready to be sent to Consulate. So, I think it passed their initial QA and they have everything they need. I may have done something I really didn't need to, but when I doubt, I decided to do too much and it seems to have worked.

Good luck!

Thank you for your help. I will get the first page of application notarized and the others self attested

One more questions, did you get 2 copies of the OCI application also notarized and sent 2 sets with photos on each. Even I have been trying to reach out to BLS and no luck with that.

Thank you so much for your prompt reply.

KC

[K R]

Thank you for your help. I will get the first page of application notarized and the others self attested

One more questions, did you get 2 copies of the OCI application also notarized and sent 2 sets with photos on each. Even I have been trying to reach out to BLS and no luck with that.

Thank you so much for your prompt reply.

KC

That is correct - 2 copies of the OCI application were notarized with 2 photos as well. I sent two kids' applications, so I had four sets in total.

[KC_2014]

Regarding shipping method

Hi KR

I was wondering which shipping method did you use. I have made USPS express mail labels which have to be handwritten. But I just read that they won't except any airway bills that are handwritten , they need printed ones.

Which one did you send ?

Thanks
KC

[K R]

Hi KR

I was wondering which shipping method did you use. I have made USPS express mail labels which have to be handwritten. But I just read that they won't except any airway bills that are handwritten , they need printed ones.

Which one did you send ?

Thanks
KC

Are you asking about your mail to them? Or, the return mail from BLS? I don't think they care how you send them the applications (I used UPS). As far as the return, I paid $28 for their return FedEx option and included copy of that receipt in each application.

[KC_2014]

Hi KR

For sending my documents as well as the return shipping method. I will be sending it by USPS express as well as my return is the same , so those air bills have to be handwritten.

I had read a post in here where some one used USPS and did get his kid's OCI reissued from Houston.

But wanted to see what method you used . Thanks hope it should work.

Thanks
KC

[K R]

Hi KR

For sending my documents as well as the return shipping method. I will be sending it by USPS express as well as my return is the same , so those air bills have to be handwritten.

I had read a post in here where some one used USPS and did get his kid's OCI reissued from Houston.

But wanted to see what method you used . Thanks hope it should work.

Thanks
KC

I was confused by their instructions too, so I decided to put it in their hands by paying for FedEx. It costs more than enclosing a prepaid envelope, but it was one less thing to worry about!

[KC_2014]

Hi KR

Just wanted to check , did you get your child's name /signature also notarized. I know the parents signature needs to be notarized on the OCI registration form but let me know if you did the child's too below the picture.

Thanks
KC

[K R]

Hi KR

Just wanted to check , did you get your child's name /signature also notarized. I know the parents signature needs to be notarized on the OCI registration form but let me know if you did the child's too below the picture.

Thanks
KC

No, I did not get children's signatures notarized. When I went to the notary, kids had not even signed on the form.

[KC_2014]

No, I did not get children's signatures notarized. When I went to the notary, kids had not even signed on the form.

Do you know if we receive the old OCI booklet and old passport when we receive the child's new OCI ?

KC

[K R]

Do you know if we receive the old OCI booklet and old passport when we receive the child's new OCI ?

KC

I am not sure because mine is still being processed, but my guess would be that the expired originals will be returned to us.

[KC_2014]

I am not sure because mine is still being processed, but my guess would be that the expired originals will be returned to us.

Hi KR

I just went to the notary to get the OCI registration form notarized, she said that she cannot notarize it as it does not have a sign which says a notary can sign here and also she said that as they are all self attested copies, and there is no proof that it might be true and there is a section of declaration where it says that all the attached documents are true to my knowledge.

Did you come across the same problem ? We will be trying to go to our bank later and see if they can do it.

Thanks
KC

[K R]

Hi KR

I just went to the notary to get the OCI registration form notarized, she said that she cannot notarize it as it does not have a sign which says a notary can sign here and also she said that as they are all self attested copies, and there is no proof that it might be true and there is a section of declaration where it says that all the attached documents are true to my knowledge.

Did you come across the same problem ? We will be trying to go to our bank later and see if they can do it.

Thanks
KC

No such issues for me. Are you trying to notarize self-attested copies? That's not necessary. All I got notarized was the original application form. All copies were just self-attested.