OCI Harassment at Mumbai Airport

[OCIfromNJ]

After turning 50, I went on the Govt. of India's OCI website and uploaded my new U.S. Passport details as well as my changed address and also uploaded a recent picture. I was sent an acknowledgement after a couple of months notifying me that my revised details have been acknowledged and were now in the system. I was also informed that there was no need for a new physical OCI card since the system already 'knows' my new details since I had uploaded them. I still had my doubts (and correctly so) and before a recent trip to India, I sent a query to the consulate whether I needed a new Physical OCI card. The consulate's response was prompt and informed me that no physical new OCI card was needed. The existing OCI card was good to go since my revised details had already been updated into the system. Any immigration should be able to type in my OCI number and pull up my new passport and address particulars.

Fast forward to the actual India trip and upon entry, using the existing OCI card was not a problem at arrivals. In departures immigration however on my way back to the U.S., I was asked why my OCI card didn't reflect my new passport number. This question annoyed the heck out of me and I pulled out the acknowledgement from the OCI's govt website which states that my new details had been uploaded. The officer won't budge. She said she'll have to check this with her manager. She came back and informed me that she's letting me through this time however I needed to get a new OCI card. By this time I was extremely angry. I had done my due diligence and checked the process with the consulate before I left for India. Not only the consulate but the Indian Government's OCI website also states that there was no need to get a new physical card after uploading the most recent documents on the MHA website.

After I exited the immigration I requested to speak with the immigration officer’s manager. This was a very nasty experience. He simply won’t let me speak and was extremely rude.
So I questioned myself, even after following the procedure to the T, I still got this treatment ?

1. Precisely which part of this process is difficult to understand by the immigration authorities at Mumbai Airport ? Shouldn’t they be following govt. guidelines which

very clearly state that no new OCI card is required and that updating details online was sufficient ?

1. Why did I need to educate them on things made very clear by the Indian govt. themselves ?
2. Isn’t it the responsibility of the authorities to educate the immigration officers on these matters ?
3. Why isn’t there consistency between the information given by the consulate in NY / govt. MHA website and the immigration authorities at the airport ?
4. Or is it that the objective is only to flex muscle and to harass the traveler regardless of the fact whether they’re actually correct ?

[Liberty48]

OCIfromNJ , thanks for sharing your experience. It is pity the officers don't know a lot about the OCI. They process foreigner immigration faster than OCI and citizen immigration. Once they swipe the passport through the reader, they should have everything in front of them. I wonder why they stare at it for minutes. Some go to check with their colleagues. They should be sent to other countries, particularly the EU to observe how it works there. I suggest carrying old passports and a copy of the MHA notices. I wish someday things change and the immigration/emigration experience will be a happy one.

[samverma]

This is truly crazy. I think that many immigration officials enjoy harassing innocent rule following people. You did everything by the book and had proof. Still, they decided to give you a hard time. Truly sad situation. Thanks for sharing.

[BillyKaiser]

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[Liberty48]

I am really sorry you have gone through this. The immigration officers don't get updates from MHRA, or they don't read them, OCI holders seem to have to prove themselves more than foreign passport holders. Once they become government employees, they become arrogant, I guess. I suggest not arguing with them. Just feel sorry for their ignorance, and walk away. Thanks for posting your experience. This is the best we can do for each other.

I did the exact same thing with my OCI after turning 50. No issues going in or returning back. I did carry the printed email too. I had it in the OCI, and the officer just wondered what it was and gave it to me! I had my old passport too, in case they ask. Maybe we have to print every MHRA notice and take it during India trips

[dvpatel]

Slated to fly to India on 1/8/2023 and in the same boat. Passports were renewed in April 2021 and the OCI updates were completed. Took 2+ months for approval but it is approved. I turned 50 last month in November.

I typically fly via one of the middle-eastern airlines directly to AMD and bypass the BOM (Mumbai airport). This time, the air fare difference was more than double so I am stuck going through BOM and this atrocious airline they call Vistara.

Pray for me guys.