Q.1029 Lost Passport with OCI

Stamp

Question: Dear Sir/Madam I have a question with regards to my mum’s passport and OCI : She had misplaced her British Passport which includes her OCI stamp. She had reported it stolen and then found it at home as she had to apply for a new passport can you please advise if she can still use the old passport for the OCI along with the OCI Document or does she have to have it Included in her new passport. Thanks Answer: As your mother now has a new passport, even though she found the original one, she needs to get some clarification before she heads to the airport to leave India. When a passport is lost or stolen and a new passport issued by the appropriate embassy or consulate, in your mother’s case UK consulate. An exit visa is required to leave India. This is because when leaving India, immigration authorities will check the entry stamp on the passport, but the new passport will not have this stamp. This is the reason an exit stamp is required.

Procedure in India when passport is

lost/stolen

• Report the loss of passport to the police. Get copy of report. [Referred to as FIR in India] • Report the loss to the embassy/consulate of your home country • Contact the Foreigner Regional Registration Office [FRRO] near your area of residence. They will advise on what formalities must be completed to get exit visa.

To issue exit visa, FRRO will require:

• Copy of the Police report • A letter from the concerned embassy with details of lost passport and visa • New passport or travel document Even though your mother found her old passport, UK authorities would have canceled the old passport when they issued a new passport. Before going to the airport for her flight back to UK, your mother may want to ensure she does not encounter any problems at point of departure by confirming with the FRRO whether the arrival stamp on the previous passport would allow her to leave India, if not she can apply for an exit visa. In case of lost passport I don’t think there is a fee involved.

OCI stamp on new passport

requirement

Production of passport with original OCI “U’ visa stamp is not required now. Valid passport and OCI card [booklet] are sufficient. As per modification made to the OCI scheme by the Government of India [vide Notice No. 26011/06/2015 – OCI dated 29th January 2015] OCI holders do not require to show the passport having OCI visa stamp. The OCI booklet is sufficient proof of OCI status. Here is an excerpt from the government announcement in this regard: From now on, registered OCI cardholders would carry their valid foreign passport and the OCI Registration Certificate for entry/exit from India. Immigration authorities in the Immigration Checkposts (ICPs) have been requested not to insist on production of the foreign passport containing the 'U' visa sticker in the case of OCI cardholders while they enter/exit India and the immigration clearance may be granted based on production of the OCI card and a valid passport. You mother may be able to use her OCI booklet provided this document has not been reported as lost or stolen and canceled by the authorities. If in doubt check with the authorities to avoid disappointment at point of departure.