Q.1122 Police officers applying

for OCI - Who is NOT eligible for

OCI

Question: Hello, I am a retired police officer with the Toronto Police Service. I met with Mr. Singh at the Toronto Consulate who advised me that no police officers from anywhere in the world are granted the same. It would be tantamount to opening a pandora's were his words. I just returned from India on a visit visa and met a friend who is currently employed with the New Zealand Police Service, as well as my wife's cousin's husband who is also a police officer with the same service. I have been informed by a contact that this stance is taken by the Indian Government towards just Canadian police members, because the Canadian Government voiced their displeasure about human rights violations by the Indian Police and armed Services. All this has occurred in the last three months. I do not know if this account is active but any assistance would be appreciated a lot. Regards, P.S. I was born in India and even worked as a flight purser for Air India. Answer: The information you received from your contact is not factual. Police officers worldwide are not eligible for OCI Registration and this policy does not apply exclusively to Canada. Some police officers may have slipped through the system perhaps by not declaring their profession or they may have got their OCI earlier before such restrictions were announced. I became aware of restrictions on police officers applying for OCI several years ago when an applicant in London who was a police officer wrote to me to express his concerns regarding police officers being denied OCI. Subsequently, I was contacted by another visitor of NRI Information who confirmed that he was denied OCI registration and told by the Indian consulate that police officers were not eligible. [See FAQ number 587 for details] As per current rules some applicants despite being eligible for OCI based on their Indian origin links through parents or grandparents etc. may not be eligible for OCI registration. Some of the categories that may make an individual not eligible for OCI Registration are listed below: [Source: https://www.in.ckgs.us/faq/oci/general-oci- questions/848/who-is-not-eligible-to-apply-for-an-oci-card#848]  Foreign military personnel (Armed Forces / Para-military / security / Police / Intelligence) either in service or retired – Not Eligible  Children of Foreign military personnel (Armed Forces / Para-military / security / Police / Intelligence) either in service or retired (Former Indian/ Foreign) – Not Eligible  Spouse of Foreign military personnel (Armed Forces / Para-military / security / Police / Intelligence) either in service or retired (Former Indian / Foreign) – Not Eligible  Civil Govt. servant working in Ministry of Defence as IT engineers / civil contractors – Not Eligible o Children of Civil Govt. servant working in Ministry of Defence as IT engineers / civil contractors (Former Indian / Foreign) – Eligible only after they are age 18 or over. Minor children not eligible. o Spouse of Civil Govt. servant working in Ministry of Defence as IT engineers / civil contractors ▪ Former Indian - Eligible ▪ Foreign National - Not Eligible  Former Bangladesh / Pakistan Nationals – Not Eligible  Children of Parents / Grandparents / Great grandparents who are of Bangladesh / Pakistan Origin (one or both, mother or father, of any descent) – Not Eligible  Child of Single Parent whose other parent’s personal particulars (Nationality) are not available – Not Eligible  Foreign born children o Foreign born children with one parent Indian and the other one foreign - Eligible o Foreign born children with both or single parent Indian National - Eligible o Foreign born children with both or single parents as former Indian National - Eligible o Foreign born children whose one parent is Indian, one is foreign and the Indian parent has deceased - Not Eligible o Foreign born children whose one parent is Indian, one is foreign and parents are divorced - Not Eligible  Foreign Spouse o Foreign Spouse whose, Indian origin spouse has deceased - Not Eligible o Foreign Spouse who have separated from their Indian origin spouse - Not Eligible o Applying on basis of Spouse and if marriage has NOT been registered and / or subsisted for a continuous period of two years immediately preceding the presentation of the OCI application - Not Eligible Please Note: Rules and regulations are subject to change at the discretion of the Government of India. Applicants should seek guidance from the Indian Consulate in their jurisdiction to ascertain latest information on eligibility.