oath just a week apart for spouses: is it better to submit India OCI/renunciation process together

[ramboy 3]

Dear VJ forum members of Indian origin,

 

my wife and I have the oath ceremony scheduled a week apart. Would it be better to wait the week and start  the renunciation/OCI process together? Why i ask is : a peek at the renunciation form shows the form asks about spouse’s status of citizenship. when my OCI application  is being processed, the wife’s OCI application  will need to be filed with my status that will be “neither here not there “(ie I might have the US citizenship but my Indian citizenship renunciation process would still not be complete yet if I file first)

 

to avoid confusion and delays, would it be better to submit  both  renunciation/OCI applications together?

 

thanks In advance for sharing any experience and advice 

[saladboye 166]

9 hours ago, ramboy said:

Dear VJ forum members of Indian origin,

 

my wife and I have the oath ceremony scheduled a week apart. Would it be better to wait the week and start  the renunciation/OCI process together? Why i ask is : a peek at the renunciation form shows the form asks about spouse’s status of citizenship. when my OCI application  is being processed, the wife’s OCI application  will need to be filed with my status that will be “neither here not there “(ie I might have the US citizenship but my Indian citizenship renunciation process would still not be complete yet if I file first)

 

to avoid confusion and delays, would it be better to submit  both  renunciation/OCI applications together?

 

thanks In advance for sharing any experience and advice 

nope, you will still have to pay the shipping fees separately.

 

It may help to wait for both your oath to be done AND also have your passport.

 

My advice, do the oath together , a week's difference isn't much.

 

Here is what I would do:

 

1. Attend oath [takes the day, its 4-6 hours long]
   1. Pre-fill and take this SSN form with you.
      There may be SSA staff on site during oath to update your SSN info. They may have form lying around for you to fill but if you bring your own prefilled form, you can likely get ahead and get out quickly. Some locations have a token system and they make you wait for your number, if you see any of that at tables nearby, wait for 15 min and go grab it after they make a note of the first number, that way you are in front of the line.
   2. If the voter's office rep is there (He likely wont give the form until after oath is done ) but make sure to register to vote. Every vote matters
   3. Make sure the date of birth, marraige statues etc is correct including your name
2. Stop by walmart/staples or office depot on the way home from oath and grab a clear plastic sleeve to protect your nat cert
3. Go home and apply for passport and scan the nat cert for a digital copy, make a note of your nat cert number
4. Start figuring out what you will need  for OCI and go from there. (takes 30-45 days to get OCI)

 

NOTE For OCI:

1. They need 2 passport photo taht are different than one that you will have on your US passport
2. Make sure to include the middle name on all OCI forms, if there is no option for middlename, add a space and enter it under given name.

 

 

 

 

 

[ramboy 3]

4 minutes ago, saladboye said:

 

 

@saladboye thanks for the info. I appreciate your help.

 

To clarify:

Take oaths on scheduled dates,  apply for respective passport on day of oath at USPS (with the nat certificate/copy etc), retaining a digital copy for our records (while original is with USPS/Passport office).

 

We both have SSN numbers. So apart from updating status change to US Citizen, I assume nothing more with SSA to be done.

 

After both passports received in hand, apply for India citizenship renunciation/OCI process for both at the same time (each application is separate, but submitted at the same time).

 

Complete the rest of OCI process.

 

Neither of us have a middle name. Is there anything to be careful about to ensure that middle name  is blank in the OCI/CKGS form?

We don't want "NA" as our new middle name 😀

 

Thanks for your response and help.

[saladboye 166]

1 hour ago, ramboy said:

We both have SSN numbers. So apart from updating status change to US Citizen, I assume nothing more with SSA to be done.

Yes, SSA may have their staff at the oath ceremony to update your records, coming in prepared will help you save hour or two. once done you will get a new SSN card, its the same but for some unknown reason they ask to shred the old one , whatever.

 

1 hour ago, ramboy said:

After both passports received in hand, apply for India citizenship renunciation/OCI process for both at the same time (each application is separate, but submitted at the same time).

Submit same time but in seperate envelopes that is likely prepaid on fedex.

 

1 hour ago, ramboy said:

Neither of us have a middle name. Is there anything to be careful about to ensure that middle name  is blank in the OCI/CKGS form?

If you dont have middle name it wont show up. basicallyt name should match exactly as is with your US passort.

 

 

Also the reason I asked to apply for passport is because you will mail in your us passport. They return it back to you in ❤️ days after verifying it.

 

If you have intentions to travel before the OCi arrives, just apply for regular visitors, its fine.

[ramboy 3]

3 hours ago, saladboye said:

 

Thanks @saladboye!