High Level Steps for Indian OCI Card Processing

Here I will provide you with connected steps and checklist to help you get your OCI card easily.

Prerequisite items:

• 1. Get your 2 inch x 2 inch photo from officeworks or Australia-Post in advance in Hardcopy and Softcopy format too. Microsoft Word with soft copy — Actual Photo Specifications for Passports.docx (vfsglobal.com) Passport and ID photos | Officeworks. Carrying your USB drive to the officeworks when you are going for a photo session.
• 2. Get two attested copies of the Australian passport & Australian Citizenship document from JP (Justice of peace).
• 3. Find your JP and get an appointment from them to sign your documents— Find a Justice of the Peace by appointment | Department of Justice and Community Safety Victoria. JP is also sitting at 202 Bourke Street, Melbourne East VIC 3002 from Monday to Friday at the police station too.
• 4. Must carry Xerox of Indian passport.
• 5. Use the Adobe supplied online image resizer you have received in step 1. Change Image size to 200 x 200 Free Image Resizer: Resize Photos Online | Adobe Express. Select Resize to custom → Width & Height close to 200 px. This will be useful in Part-A of OCI form filled along with the signature scan. I will trust adobe compared to other image resizers available on the internet.

• 6. Scan your signature taken on plain paper in 1:3 ratio.

Filling forms:

1. Both OCI application and Indian passport surrender can be done together.
2. [OCI form] Fill Part-A & Part-B OCI-Services (ociservices.gov.in) as per instructions provided on their site. You will need to upload a soft copy of the photo you have resized using adobe online utility for Part-A. Once Part-B is filled you need to print and sign it.
3. [Indian passport surrender] Fill out and complete the form to surrender the Indian Passport — Passport Seva at Indian Embassies and Consulates (passportindia.gov.in).
4. Take the printout of the form printed in steps 1 and 2. Sign the printed form.
5. Carry 2 hardcopy of photographs.
6. Carry 2 JP attested copies of Australian passport, citizenship certificate and Indian passport (not required to be JP attested).
7. Please read and go through checklist one more time. Your individual context can be different.

Visiting VFS office — Melbourne:

1. The cost of surrender (147+ AU $) and OCI card (414 AU$), so in total 564.84 AU $ for one person as on 11th Sep 2023.
2. VFS staff is good and helpful.
3. [Walk-in vs Appointment] You can do walk-in to the address Level 12, 55 Swanston Street, Melbourne Victoria 3000. They open appointment one per each month so if you want to visit with an appointment keep trying on their site. You will need half day at least, if you are doing walk-in on peak time. Try to be as early as possible, if you want to save time.
4. Your resized photo and signature should be on your laptop for reupload purposes which you are carrying to VFS office, if you are required to fix any information on Part-A or Part-B. You may be asked to adjust your uploaded photo not meeting quality standards. Remember that the adobe image resizer is safe for such a thing.
5. Keep all information handy on your laptop in case you need to completely refill Part-A or Part-B or citizenship surrender form while you will be waiting at VFS office area.

How do you avoid exorbitant money charges by a nearby cafe during your visit to VFS office?

1. Must carry your laptop in case you need to edit or upload any details again. This will save 40 $ and lots of time.
2. For any print outs you can visit the nearest office work which is only 300 mtr. away. You can email your document to officeworks@printme.com to generate printouts and use their kiosk to take a printout. This will cost 10 cents and will save 2 $ for each page.
3. For photo visit nearest officeworks or Australia post. This will cost half.