This petition seeks to simplify the process of updating OCI cards. The present process is extremely tedious and expensive, requiring over a dozen documents, many of which must be notarized, adding to the time and expense of the OCI renewal. Most of these documents are redundant since they were already submitted when the OCI card was granted. Some of the reasons for OCI card updates include (1) change of address, (2) change of job, (3) renewal of US passport requiring an passport number update on the OCI. The last of these is especially frequent since US passports for minors are valid only for five years. Thus an adult couple in the USA who obtain OCI status for their children soon after birth will have to undergo this process at least four times for each child before adulthood – even if they never change address or occupation. Thus, this process affects a large number of NRIs very frequently.

Our specific case illustrates the problems with the current process. We are naturalized US citizens with minor children, all with OCI status. We seek to change our residential address on our OCI cards. Both the previous and new addresses are within the USA.

• As adult US passport holders, we are currently required to provide a notarized copy of the naturalization and/or notarized birth certificate, and our renounced Indian passport as Proof of Indian Origin. All these documents were provided when we obtained the OCI card. Indeed, the whole purpose of the OCI card is as a proof of Indian origin and is respected by the Indian government to start bank accounts in India, purchase or sell property, etc. Why cannot that same OCI card itself serve as proof of Indian origin for consular services when the goal is simply an address change?
• Our children, as minor US passport holders are currently required provide a notarized copy of their own birth certificate, parent’s marriage certificate, and parents’ renounced Indian passport as Proof of Indian Origin. Once again, these documents were provided when the child applied for and obtained an OCI card. Both parents’ names are already on the child’s OCI cards. Once again, for an address change, the old OCI card should be sufficient Proof of Indian Origin.

The process as it stands, has a seven-page checklist of documents available on https://www.in.ckgs.us/oci/oci-categories/misc-change-address-us-adult.shtml This process is so intimidating, expensive, and time-consuming, that many OCI holders simply would not bother to update their OCI cards at all. Instead, the OCI update process should require ONLY the documentation needed to prove the specific change requested.

We petition that for change of information on a current OCI card, the submission of following documents should suffice:

• the OCI card that needs to be updated,
• notarized copies of current US passport (for verification) 

AND, depending on the change in the OCI card needed, the following Notarised documents should be required:

• For change of address: Proof of new address (e.g. residential utility bill, driver’s license, property tax bill.)
• For updating USA passport number upon passport renewal: Old and New US passport 
• For change of occupation: Proof of new employment (e.g. letter from employer)
• For name change: Proof of name change (e.g. court order, marriage certificate, driver’s license.)