OCI Card

I got my new OCI card in 15 business days (1 calendar month.) I am posting my experiences here in the hope it is helpful to others. Note that YMMV (your mileage may vary) and please consult the CKGS website for processing times etc.

I called CKGS before applying. They were very helpful and knowledgeable. Per their advice (NYC consulate) I first applied for Renunciation Certificate (RC) and then for OCI. RC is required for OCI application so - in NYC at least - it is not possible to apply together. RC took 3 days and OCI card took 15 business days. The whole thing was done in about 1 month. Very fast. (Note that in other consulates eg DC or SFO you may be able to apply for RC+OCI together - but the processing time is much longer 45-60 business days / 2-3 calendar months. I am also told that DC consulate is doing some computer upgrades so they are slower.)

The main thing is to review the CKGS website thoroughly and present all documents in the order provided in the checklist. CKGS office in NYC is efficient - provided you are well prepared. (Some people were waiting in line but did not have all the doc/s or had other errors in their forms or photos etc - and they got delayed.)

The other insight I got from CKGS officers in NYC was that it goes faster if everything is matching and in order. They said that in many cases there are differences eg name or address or other things across the applications or websites (eg "Arun Rajendranath" is now "Arun R Nath" in the US - esp after US Naturalization.) Such changes are not a problem in themselves - the applicant has to just make sure they are handled properly and written properly in the RC / OCI applications.

Timeline (all dates below in 2019)

Part 1: Renunciation
--------------------
3/29 - Filled online application and got appointment for (Tue) 4/2 in NYC CKGS
4/2 - Application "received" and "verified" and later "complete"
4/3 - Application "Under Process", "Reviewed" and "In Transit"
4/4 - Renunciation Certificate "Received" at CKGS, at "Sorting Facility"
4/4 - Renunciation Certificate picked up by UPS
4/5 330PM - Delivered Renunciation Certificate + Old Indian Passport at home
NB - Old Indian Passport now has a new stamp "cancelled due to holder becoming a foreign citizen".

Part 2: OCI Card
--------------------
-- STATUS on CKGS Website
4/10 - Provided my documents incl US Passport - in person at CKGS counter NYC
4/10 - Application "Received" and "Verified", later "Under Process" at CKGS
4/10 - Application "In Transit" to Consulate
4/11 - Application "Under Process" at Consulate
4/11 - Passport "Reviewed" and "In Transit to CKGS", later Picked up by UPS
4/12 930AM - US Passport delivered at home
NB - US Passport was returned in 2 days which was important because I was due to travel to Europe in April.

5/6 - OCI Card "Received" at CKGS and at "Sorting Facility"
5/7 11AM: - OCI Card delivered at home

-- STATUS on Indian Govt Website for OCI
Date of Acknowledgement 4/12
Docs Printing Status PROCESSED 5/2/19
Dispatched from MEA(OCI) Delhi 5/2/19
Docs Received at NY CGI on 5/2/19
NB: 5/2/19 was a Thursday

Good luck !!

Hello,
Do I need to apostille my minor son's birth certificate for oci application? Son is US born, bot me and my wife are Indian born and currently on H1B and H4 visa. Thanks.

I am applying for my 2 year son's oci card. I am a civil engineer, however I do not see any option for engineer in the drop down list in the father's profession field. Should I choose 'others'? Thanks a lot for your help.

This site was very helpful. Thank you all for sharing your experience.

My OCI process went smoothly. From application submission to receiving the new OCI card took about a month.

########### CKGS Renunciation Tracking ###########
May 03, 2019 - Friday01:36 pm Renunciation Certificate picked up by UPS.
Your AWB Number is xxxxxxxxxxxxx
May 02, 2019 - Thursday12:17 pmRenunciation Certificate ‘Received’ at the CKGS application centre and is at the ‘Sorting Facility’ where it is being processed for delivery.
May 01, 2019 - Wednesday03:51 pmApplication 'Reviewed' by Embassy and ‘In Transit’ to CKGS Application Centre.
Mar 29, 2019 - Friday10:44 amApplication is 'Under Process' at Embassy for decision making.
Mar 29, 2019 - Friday09:15 amApplication is 'In Transit' to the Embassy.
Mar 28, 2019 - Thursday05:50 pmApplication is ‘Under Process’ at CKGS.
Mar 28, 2019 - Thursday05:22 pmApplication Verification is ‘Complete’.
Mar 28, 2019 - Thursday02:05 pmApplication ‘Received’ by CKGS and 'Not Verified'.
########### ###########

Renunciation completed in 35 days, The certificate has a stamp with April 1st date, but took almost a month to ship it to me. Same for my wife.

########### CKGS OCI Tracking ###########
Apr 02, 2019 - Tuesday12:10 pmPassport picked up by .
Your AWB Number is xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Your OCI Application will continue and take the pre-defined processing time.
Apr 02, 2019 - Tuesday11:39 amOriginal Passport ‘Received’ at the CKGS application centre and is at the ‘Sorting Facility’ where it is being processed for delivery.
Your OCI Application will continue and take the pre-defined processing time.
Apr 01, 2019 - Monday12:22 pmPassport 'Reviewed' by Embassy and is ‘In Transit’ to CKGS Application Centre.
Mar 29, 2019 - Friday10:44 amApplication is 'Under Process' at Embassy for decision making.
Mar 29, 2019 - Friday09:15 amApplication is 'In Transit' to the Embassy.
Mar 28, 2019 - Thursday05:50 pmApplication is ‘Under Process’ at CKGS.
Mar 28, 2019 - Thursday05:22 pmApplication Verification is ‘Complete’.
Mar 28, 2019 - Thursday02:05 pmApplication ‘Received’ by CKGS and 'Not Verified'.

########### OCI Indian website ###########
Date Of Acknowledgment 30-MAR-2019
Registration Status at Mission WASHINGTON DC
Documents Printing Status UNDER-PROCESS
#################################

Please respond with your details if you applied in D.C. with similar category (Adult - New OCI Card + Renunciation).

This is for my daughter, I know "All PIO cards are valid until September 30, 2019".
But posting the details here anyway.

############ CKGS Tracking ############
Mar 22, 2019 - Friday11:17 amApplication is 'Under Process' at Embassy for decision making.
Mar 22, 2019 - Friday09:47 amApplication is 'In Transit' to the Embassy.
Mar 20, 2019 - Wednesday04:58 pmApplication is ‘Under Process’ at CKGS.
Mar 20, 2019 - Wednesday11:36 amApplication Verification is ‘Complete’.
Mar 20, 2019 - Wednesday11:31 amApplication ‘Received’ by CKGS and 'Not Verified'.
############ Indian website ############
Date Of Acknowledgment 23-MAR-2019
OCI- Number A338xxxx
Documents Printing Status PROCESSED On 30-APR-2019
Dispatched From MEA (OCI ) NEW DELHI On
Document received At WASHINGTON DC On
############

I sent both my son's and daughter's applications on same day, but CKGS delayed my daughter's application by 2 days.

my son's PROCESSED On 10-APR-2019
my daughter's PROCESSED On 30-APR-2019

20 days difference in processing for the application received after 2 days. I am not sure what other extra processing needed for my daughter's application. Btw, her PIO was issued in Chicago, but this OCI application is D.C.

This is for my son, I know "All PIO cards are valid until September 30, 2019".
But posting the details here anyway.

############ CKGS Tracking ############
Mar 20, 2019 - Wednesday11:02 amApplication is 'Under Process' at Embassy for decision making.
Mar 20, 2019 - Wednesday09:48 amApplication is 'In Transit' to the Embassy.
Mar 19, 2019 - Tuesday04:15 pmApplication is ‘Under Process’ at CKGS.
Mar 19, 2019 - Tuesday03:29 pmApplication Verification is ‘Complete’.
Mar 19, 2019 - Tuesday03:20 pmApplication ‘Received’ by CKGS and 'Not Verified'.
############ Indian website ############
Date Of Acknowledgment 21-MAR-2019
OCI- Number A338xxxx
Documents Printing Status PROCESSED On 10-APR-2019
Dispatched From MEA (OCI ) NEW DELHI On 24-APR-2019
Document received At WASHINGTON DC On 24-APR-2019
############

Status at government Website:
Date Of Acknowledgment: 16-FEB-2019
Registration Status at Mission: WASHINGTON DC
OCI - Number: A YYYY ZZZ
Documents Printing Status: PROCESSED On 08-APR-2019
Dispatched From MEA (OCI ) NEW DELHI On 09-APR-2019
Document received At WASHINGTON DC On 09-APR-2019

No updates since 9-Apr. After a week called CKGS to inquire, they informed normally takes two weeks from embassy to CKGS and then additional one week to deliver it to hand.
After three weeks called CKGS again and this time they informed don't have any update and informed status is still Under Process. I told Government website notes it as processed but they don't have that update. They won't have another status until embassy dispatches OCI card to them.

It has been four weeks and still awaiting!

I see the document was printed on 25th Apr but the OCI has not bee dispatched for the last 10 days. has this happened to anyone?

Documents Printing Status PROCESSED On 25-APR-2019
Dispatched From MEA (OCI ) NEW DELHI On
Document received At WASHINGTON DC On

CKGS:
Mar 19, 2019 - Application is ‘Verified and Reprocessed’ at CKGS.
Mar 20, 2019 - Application is ‘Under Process’ at CKGS.
Mar 22, 2019 - Application is 'Under Process' at Consulate for decision making.
Mar 22, 2019 - Original Passport ‘Received’ at the CKGS application centre and is at the ‘Sorting Facility’ where it is being processed for delivery.

OCI:
Date Of Acknowledgment 23-MAR-2019
Registration Status at Mission SAN FRANCISCO
OCI- Number A YYYY ZZZ
Documents Printing Status PROCESSED On 26-APR-2019
Dispatched From MEA (OCI ) NEW DELHI On 29-APR-2019
Document received At SAN FRANCISCO On

CKGS:
Waiting on update form San Francisco consulate to CKGS.