Q460. Is it compulsory to take OCI Booklet when visiting India?

Question: Dear Sir: I would highly appreciate if you could answer the following question for me. [ I have contacted many involved organizations including the New Delhi OCI Division of GOI on this question. But have not received any categorical 'Yes' or "No" answer to this. They all seem to be evading or non-committal on the answer]. I understand you are not in any way connected with any GOI organizations but are very knowledgeable in these affairs. Context: I have a valid US passport with the OCI U-Visa stamped on it. During my last visit to India in November 2012 I lost the OCI certification booklet somewhere in transit and could not produce it at the entry Airport in India [Kolkata]. The immigration official saw the passport with the U Visa stamp but asked for the OCI booklet also. I explained that I lost it and after consultation with a colleague he let me in based on the U Visa on the passport. I faced no problem leaving India a month later. Question: Is it absolutely essential to get a new OCI certification booklet for travel to India if you have a valid passport with U Visa stamp on it? Was the immigration official correct in letting me in or did he make an error and I should procure the certification before my next trip to India? Note: I don't plan to get the replacement for my lost OCI booklet. It's not worth the hassle [needs all the documents plus a face to face interview at consul office 900 miles from home]. I am a senior citizen and will go for 10-year visitor visa [likely to be lifetime] if I have to. Thanks in advance for your early response. BN Roy

Answer: While in the past there may have been no mandatory requirement to carry the OCI booklet when traveling to India, new guidelines were issued in April 2013. Now OCI holders, traveling to India, must carry the OCI booklet and their passport having 'U' visa sticker. Below, is an excerpt of what the Indian Embassy of Washington says on this topic: Immigration officers at airports do have the authority to use their discretion on whether to allow entry based on the documents presented by incoming passengers.