Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) cardholders who are either below 20 years or above 50 years of age and have renewed their passports without updating their cards are eligible to travel to India on the strength of the document till June 30, 2020, subject to them carrying both the old and new passports along with the OCI card, stated an official Indian Home Ministry notification issued on Tuesday.
The Foreigners Division of the Home Ministry issued an office memorandum directing relevant government agencies and airlines that OCI card holders not aged between 20 and 50 years who have renewed their passport can travel to India as long as they also display their old cancelled passport in their possession.
The move, welcomed by Indian-Americans, comes after a large number of OCI cardholders in the last few months complained that they were being subject to harassment by both immigration authorities and airline officials in implementing a little-known provision of the OCI, which was not being enforced so far.
Many Indian-Americans have complained that they were not aware that every time an OCI cardholder below the age of 20 and above the age of 50 years renewed their passport they had to update their OCI card too.
The notification asserted that the instructions regarding re-issuance of the OCI card on renewal of passport or on attaining the specified age is a requirement expected to be timely complied by OCI cardholders.
