anandp

Is it true that if you hold OCI then your UK citizenship doesn't help if you're in India?

I've heard that from many that you can choose to travel on either your UK passport or on OCI, but if you're in India, then you cannot get help from the British embassy if you need it.

Bipat

The OCI card will be stamped in your British Passport. You must carry your passport.
You will still be a British citizen so I see no reason why you should not get Consular help if this is necessary, although we have no personal experience of needing such help.


Having read your other question you are unlikely to get OCI without more evidence.
http://hcilondon.in/oci.php

Bally_Singh

Anandp,

Yes its true you should apply for an PIO instead of OCI, i unfortuantly came to know about this after getting a OCI done.

Saying that the Embassy will still help you but priority would be for PIO holders, this is in terms of incase you need to be evacuated from the country, so only in extreme circumstances.

oddjob1952

Not so when I got my PIO card (wife and kids have OCI) I had to sign to accept that I can not get help from BHC in India. Also when carrying your British passport you must also carry the old passport that the OCI/PIO card is issued to if you have not transferred the card to your new passport. I was asked last time at check in to produce the old passport which I always carry for this reason having seen a person turned away as he did not have the old passport.

I am looking forward to settling back in India later in the summer as I am giving up full time work, al be it I shall be back in a few weeks trying to get aircraft out of India for the owning bank I will let you guess who the were operated by.lol

ken

Bipat

Husband and children recently got OCI, they didn't have to sign anything. Why would you? it is actually an unlimited 'visa' with privileges not a change in nationality. You are still a British citizen, with a British passport.
Obviously you need to carry an old passport if that is the only one with the 'U' visa stamped in it! Also the card.

Just seen your other OCI post. Children of a person eligible for OCI do not need to have been born in India for OCI regardless of age.

oddjob1952

Not so my 2nd son was born in the UK he got OCI only because he was under 18 when his mother got her OCI if he was over 18 then he would have got PIO like me. Also while still a British citizen holding OCI/PIO you have rights under Indian law but it also comes with a level of responsibility also, you can not go running to the BHC if you get into problems with the Indian authorities. That was what I was told and made to sign in the IHC in London when I got my PIO card.

Ken

Bipat

Ken I can assure you as I said, husband and children have just got OCI, in January 2013. (having not bothered for last 4 decades) husband needed it for new particular bank account.
They have not signed anything, children are in their 30s and 40s all born in UK. Were persuaded to do so by OH in case rules changed and they then could not get it.
Maybe rules were different when you applied. Things were made easier when BJP were in power.

http://hcilondon.in/oci.php

nonthaburi

http://articles.economictimes.indiat...lar-assistance

This might clarify things a little bit , I think it's fairly recent.

anandp

Pindoria Solicitors had the same kind of response from the UK Foreign Office too a while back but the concern is that these things could change overnight.

Not much we can do about it, but with the only major differences being 15yr vs lifelong visa and police registration requirements after 180 days, I'll stick with PIO.

Bipat

Thank you for finding that, a really useful link.