Common Problems Faced During e-OCI Card Registration

One issue I had was actually caused by my own mistake.

I entered my name exactly as it appears on my US passport, but later noticed that my old Indian passport had a slightly different format because it included an additional name.

I stopped before submitting the application because I wasn't sure which version should be used.

I checked the instructions again and compared the information across my passport, surrender certificate and citizenship documents. That made me realize that you shouldn't simply assume that every field is supposed to be copied from the same document.

Another thing I'd suggest is taking screenshots of any error message you receive. If you eventually need to contact the appropriate support channel or Indian Mission, having the exact error message is much more useful than saying “the website wasn't working.”

Also, don't make changes to official documents to make them match the online form. If there is a genuine discrepancy, it is better to follow the applicable correction or clarification process.

My problem was different. I had no trouble with the photo or signature, but the document upload section kept giving me errors.

Some PDF files opened perfectly on my computer but wouldn't upload. I eventually found that the file size and format were the issue.

Another thing that caused confusion was the naming of documents. I had several files with generic names like “scan1.pdf” and “document2.pdf.” When I had to replace one later, I couldn't remember which file was which.

I renamed everything before uploading:

• Current passport
• Old Indian passport
• Surrender certificate
• Citizenship certificate
• Address proof
• Photograph
• Signature

That made the process much easier to manage.

I also noticed that people online were giving different answers about what should be uploaded in some sections. I wouldn't rely on an old forum post for a document requirement because the OCI process has changed over time.

If the website is rejecting a file, I'd first check the current file type, size and image specifications shown in the application rather than changing the actual document.

And if the application has already been finally submitted, don't assume you can simply edit every field. Some corrections may require following the process provided by the OCI system or the relevant Indian Mission.

I had several of these issues when I completed my OCI application.

The photograph was the biggest headache for me. I had a perfectly clear passport-style photograph, but the online system kept rejecting it. I eventually checked the image dimensions and file requirements again and created a new file rather than repeatedly uploading the same one.

The signature was similar. Mine looked fine on the original scan, but after resizing it, the image quality wasn't good enough. I scanned it again and that worked.

I also got confused about the passport information. Since I had become a US citizen, I had both my current US passport and my old Indian passport. I kept switching between the two while filling out the form.

What helped me was making a separate list of all the information from each document before starting the application again.

For the address, I used my current address where the application asked for current residential information. I didn't try to make it match my old Indian passport simply because the old address was different.

I'd recommend not rushing through the final submission. Check every field against the relevant document first.

The exact requirements can change, so I would still compare everything with the current official OCI instructions before submitting.