Q592. Is it compulsory to transfer

OCI Visa to new passport if over

50 years . . .

Question: Sir, We obtained our OCI cards & U-visas at age 70 yrs. Our US passports expired two years later. Do we still need to get these U-visas transferred from our expired old passports to our current new passports? I guess, since we are both above 50 years old, we need not do that. Please clarify. Thank you. Keshav & Devi. Answer: As per rules, 'OCI registration certificate and visa have got to be re-issued each time a new passport is issued up to the completion of 20 years of age and once after completion of 50 years of age.' It is not compulsory for those people who get OCI registration after age 50 to get their OCI U Visa transfered to a new passport. They can simply continue to travel with their new valid passport provided they also carry with them the old expired passport that has the OCI U Visa stamp as well as the OCI booklet. I had last year inquired about this issue with the Indian Consulate and here is an excerpt showing part of the clarification sent to me: With reference to your email, we would like to inform that as we have escalataed your issue and we have received an update stating that its not mandatory to transfer your oci. However, its upto your wish if you want to transfer it you could or else you could travel to India by carrying your old passport which has oci visa, oci booklet and valid passport.