83. Name Change for OCI Holder . . .

Question: Hello Sir, I am an Indian Citizen and my Wife is a USA citizen (and OCI card holder). We are currently residing in Pune, India. We intend to change my wife's name to post marriage name on all her official documents. WE HAVE THE MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE. ******************* Query ********************* 1) Since we are in India currently, can we go ahead and change the name in the India documents mentioned below ? In the future when we go to USA, we would then change the name in US documents. IS IT LEGAL to have such scenario wherein some documents would have different name than other documents. The joining link between these documents would then be the marriage certificate. 2) The US passport has a OCI visa sticker. Now if we change the name on the OCI booklet, how do we go ahead and change the name on the OCI visa sticker in the US passport, since we are not changing the name on the US passport ? Answer: Having a different name on your 'Visa' and 'Passport' can lead to serious issues and cause problems you may want to avoid. Travel or entry can be denied in such cases and you should proceed with caution and make the change in a legal manner. The OCI Visa is pasted on your US Passport and the name on the 'Visa' and Passport must match to be valid. You cannot get one changed and not the other. I suggest you contact the US Consulate in Mumbai about name change on passport and the Foreigners Registration Office (Mumbai) for information on the procedure to change the OCI visa sticker. Here is the link to the US Consulate in Mumbai https://in.usembassy.gov/embassy-consulates/mumbai/ The FRRO office in Mumbai is located on the 3rd Floor, Special Branch Bldg, Badruddin Tayabji Lane. (Behind St. Xavier's College)