Post
by BroMo » Tue Sep 25, 2012 9:49 am
Thanks for your help Manoj.
Now to give everyone an update of my day trip to the HCI.
Well the day arrived and went yesterday (Monday 24th) and I had a 40% success rate (My Wifes and Sons applications) (Mine, and My Parents were refuse). (Hopefully, will only know properly once it’s granted for the 2).
I arrived at 0830 outside the HCI the queue was about one and half line long outside the embassy, people were getting the tokens for PIO, Passport Services, Consular Services etc (NOT OCI thats supposed to start at 1230). It was absolutely chucking it down with rain but thankfully they have the covers out that covers the first line and I brought my own big umbrella as well.
As soon as I joined the queue I saw someone jump the queue right at the front and there was a little punch up going on. Very entertaining but totally unwarranted. I can understand by the HCI staff act the way they do sometimes when the public act like that.
Anyway got my token for the PIO as had to submit my fathers I was number 9 for that service which was good. Got inside pass the security. (Had 2 closed bags on me, one with documents and one with snacks and lunch for the day as was expecting a looong day, but they were not checked!!). Anyway went inside and sat down it was about 0900 and starting chatting to a nice fellow called Hasesh , it passed the time. The PIO counter opened on time at 0930 and there was just one lady processing them but on average it took her about 5 minutes for each token.
I got to the counter at around 10:20. She was quite friendly as I asked her I would actually like to apply for my fathers OCI, but if these documents are not sufficient for that then PIO will do (I cam prepared with both applications). She was good and explained why she could not accept my documents for my father for either PIO or OCI. I Had the following:
1, British Passport
2, Naturlisation Document
3, Notarised Affidavit for loss of Indian Passport Surrender letter from UK Home Office in 1984.
4. Indian School Certficate notarised in India.
She explained although the School Certficate is notarised, as it is a recent copy it has to be stamped by a first class indian magistrate. This is why it will not be accepted for PIO and you would need more evidence such as a Nativity Certificate for OCI if you have no more documents such as Birth Certficate or Cancelled Indian Passport.
I then proceeded to show her my other OCI Document for my mother who had more evidence including her fathers Indian Passport. But her birth certificate was again a notarised copy and not stamped by a indian Magistrate so won’t be accepted. She then spotted my mothers marriage certificate which showed her maiden name and fathers name and she said it might be accepted by OCI Department but they only arrive at 1330 into the office.
That was fine so I collected my things and went outside to queue again for the OCI token. (Roughly around 1025) The queue was already started and I got token number 27 which was not too bad. They only started issuing the token at around 12:10 (Which was earlier than the 12:30 stated time) by 12:20 the queue was massive with about 90 tokens issued)
I went out of the HCI and went to a local coffee shop for a break as the OCI counter only opens at 1330. Now there are 2 counters for OCI so looking at how PIO applicants were being process at 1 every 5 minutes, I thought they will be processing 2 tokens every 5 minutes or so at a maximum as it is a longer process meaning my turn will be around 14:30 ish.
I came back at 1330 just in case they opened the counters early, but they opened bang on 1330. The Counters shutters opened but no tokens were called as they just setting up but people still approached the counters and one of the Counter staff shouted at them to sit down in Hindi, quite rudely I must say. But I can understand why they might get like that if this happens to them every day. i.e. They are trying to set up the counters and people come and disturb then when there token isn’t even called yet. I think if the public respected the rules a bit more maybe the staff will mellow a little and be more helpful.
Anyway. I got seen at around 1415ish. (In the interim I did see some Agents attending the counter and processing quite a few applications, although this is not allowed, but I think HCI allows them as they know the agents!!!, its not right really)
Went in, The counter staff was not rude per se but very quick in asking what he wanted. I showed him my mother s application and he confirmed, cant accept it as no magistrate stamp on Mothers Birth Certificate and Marriage Certificate is not enough proof to link Mother to her Fathers Indian Passport. This meant that I could not submit my own application as that link was broken. That was fine.
So then submitted my Wifes and Sons as. We had my Wifes Fathers cancelled Indian Passport, his surrender certificate, uk Passport etc and my wifes birth certificate which linked the Indian Origin. These two applications were processed very quickly less than 10 minutes and I was out of there with my Acknowledgement slip by 1430.
So there we have it. I think I know exactly what is required now for my parents OCI applications, but can only do that in India. Will wait and see how long it takes for my wife and sons OCI to come through.
