Comments on: What is Better, OCI Card or Indian Tourist Visa, for Indian-Origin Foreign Citizens and Nationals

By: Indian Eagle

Indian Eagle — Sun, 08 Mar 2026 13:53:07 +0000

In reply to Soni. Hi Soni! If your 5-year visa is still valid, you can travel to India.

By: Soni

Soni — Sat, 07 Mar 2026 00:07:21 +0000

I am US Citizen.If I have 5 years visa for India and if I apply for OCI and if it hasn’t come yet, can I travel to India using my 5 years visa?

By: GK Patel

GK Patel — Sat, 30 Mar 2024 16:33:00 +0000

What about biometric collection?

Used to be that paper visas required issued in the US required no biometrics, but I believe OCI cards now do.

Considering the problems with biometrics and the way the GOI uses them, anything which avoids biometrics is better.

By: indianeagle

indianeagle — Thu, 15 Feb 2024 16:03:24 +0000

In reply to AL. Hi Asheth! You can apply for an e-tourist visa to India. However, we have little knowledge of your scenario.

By: AL

AL — Thu, 15 Feb 2024 06:29:54 +0000

I have Oci but my name changed on my new USA passport. My new passport was issued 2 years back but I did not realize that OCI needs to be reissued. I now need to travel to India urgently. Can I get E Visa and go? Renew the OCi card after I am back. If yes, what do I enter in the field for Previous Visa type and number when filing for EVisa

By: indianeagle

indianeagle — Fri, 11 Aug 2023 13:42:10 +0000

In reply to MJ. Hi MJ! We have little idea of your scenario. In our knowledge, parents/a parent of a minor US citizen can apply for an OCI Card in India. We recommend that you contact the Indian Embassy or a consulate in the US for the correct and complete information.

By: MJ

MJ — Thu, 10 Aug 2023 22:16:45 +0000

I am a US citizen with OCI currently in the US and I am planning to take my US citizen baby to India on tourist evisa as my husband is currently in India (he’s Indian citizen) and it will be difficult to apply for the baby’s entry visa or OCI without him here in the US to sign the applications and provide his notarized documents. I was planning to apply for the baby’s OCI in India. But then on the OCI website it says “Foreign nationals cannot apply for OCI in India while on Tourist Visa, Missionary Visa and Mountaineering Visa.” Does that mean I won’t be able to apply for the baby’s OCI in India, even though one parent is Indian citizen and other parent is OCI? We are re-locating to India permanently.

By: indianeagle

indianeagle — Mon, 07 Aug 2023 13:23:27 +0000

In reply to Pradeep. Hi Pradeep! Whether it is a regular paper tourist visa or e-visa, US citizens can stay a maximum of 180 days in one calendar year.

By: Pradeep

Pradeep — Sun, 06 Aug 2023 02:33:23 +0000

What is best between e-visa and OCI? How long can we stay in India with e-visa?

By: indianeagle

indianeagle — Mon, 08 May 2023 15:36:20 +0000

In reply to Yash. Hi Yash! In our knowledge, you can travel with the e-visa and enter India.