Parents applying for OCI status for US-born children must get an apostille from the Secretary of State that issued the birth certificate, not their state of residence, a step that can take weeks. Hospital birth certificates don't work; only official state-issued certificates are accepted. The full process through VFS Global takes 8-12 weeks.
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Applying for an OCI card for your US-born child? There's one document that trips up most parents. Let's fix that. Here's how it works step by step. First, and this is the big one, get your child's official state-issued US birth certificate apostilled. Since December 2024, an apostille for an issued birth certificate is required for OCI applications. And remember, this apostille must come from the Secretary of State of the same state that issued the birth certificate. Not the state where you currently live. Now here's a pro tip: start the postal process first because depending on your state, it can take anywhere from a few days to several weeks. Next, complete the online OCI application and upload your children's 2x2 photos. If your baby is too young to sign, a left thumb impression can be used instead. Then upload the required documents through the VFS Global portal, pay the fees, and courier the physical application package as instructed. OCI processing typically takes around 8 to 12 weeks, although timelines may vary. One more important point, a hospital-issued birth certificate won't be accepted. It must be the official state-issued birth certificate. So don't let the missing document delay your child's OCI card. Let VisaMint handle it for you. Link is in our bio, and don't forget to follow us and reach out anytime.
