My OCI application has been under process for several weeks. Should I be concerned?

I would be careful about booking non-refundable flights while the OCI application is pending.

My understanding from the official guidance is that processing times are estimates, not guaranteed completion dates. The Consulate General of India in Auckland specifically advises applicants to make travel arrangements after the OCI card has been issued and notes that there is no urgent or fast-track OCI service.

cgiauckland.gov.in

If you have an urgent reason to travel, contact the Indian mission responsible for your application and ask what options apply to your circumstances. Depending on your citizenship and eligibility, a visa may be an alternative while the OCI application is pending.

Also, don't assume that an “Under Process” status means your application has been rejected or that a problem has been found. It may simply still be undergoing the required checks.

I'd keep the acknowledgement email, application reference, payment receipt and document-submission confirmation together. If you contact the mission, those details will help them identify your case.

The advice may differ for a fresh OCI application, a reissue or a miscellaneous-services request, so make sure you're comparing your application with the correct category.

One thing I'd check before contacting anyone is whether your application was formally acknowledged by the mission.

The Indian government's OCI FAQ explains that an application can show “Application received and is under process” after the mission or FRRO verifies the supporting documents and acknowledges the application in the online system.

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If your status has already been “Under Process” for several weeks, that generally indicates the application has moved beyond the initial online submission stage. It doesn't tell you exactly which internal checks have been completed, though.

I would do three things:

• Check the current processing-time guidance published by the Indian mission responsible for your application.
• Look for emails requesting corrections, additional documents or clarification.
• If the published timeframe has passed, send a concise enquiry with your application number, acknowledgement date and current status.

I wouldn't submit a second OCI application just because the first one hasn't moved. First, ask the relevant authority whether anything is outstanding or whether the application is still being processed.

Mine stayed at “Under Process” for several weeks too, so I wouldn't assume there is a problem just because the status hasn't changed.

I applied from New Zealand, and the waiting period was longer than I had expected. The main thing I learned was to distinguish the date I submitted the online form from the date the Indian mission acknowledged the application. Those dates aren't necessarily the same.

The Consulate General of India in Auckland publishes an indicative processing time of approximately 45 working days for a fresh OCI application, counted from submission. It also notes that processing can vary. Other missions may publish different timelines, so check the guidance for Canada rather than using New Zealand's estimate as a deadline.

cgiauckland.gov.in

I'd check the status using the application registration number and passport details, and keep an eye on the email account you used when applying, including the spam folder.

If you're still within the published timeframe for your jurisdiction and haven't received a document query, I wouldn't panic. If the expected period has passed, contact the relevant application centre or Indian mission with your acknowledgement date and reference number.