(a) whether the Government has any details about the pending OCI applications in Britain during the last four years;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) the reasons for the pending OCI applications; and
(d) the steps taken to give OCI cards to the pending applicants?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
[GEN. (DR) V. K. SINGH (RETD)]
(a) & (b) There are 729 OCI applications pending with our High Commission in London for the period from February 24, 2014 to February 23, 2018 (last four years) for various reasons. There are 324 OCI applications (for the period January 01, 2014 to December 31, 2017) pending with our Consulate in Birmingham. There are a total of 213 OCI applications pending at our Consulate in Edinburgh (during the last four years) including the applications requiring mandatory waiting period of 21 days before the OCI Cards could be granted.
(c) No application, complete in all respect, is pending with our High Commission or Consulates in the UK. The reasons for pendency for majority of the OCI applications are, lack of minimum mandatory supporting documents or rejection on technical grounds (like photo specifications, illegible documents, etc.) or a lack of necessary clearances from the security agencies. The pendency is also because of ineligibility of the applicants or misrepresentation of facts by the applicants. There are also instances wherein applicants have not collected their OCI card for months.
(d) Several steps have been taken to address the issue of pendency, including contacting and reminding the applicants to complete the documentation process, submit mandatory documents and re-submit photos with correct specifications for further processing of the application. The Ministry also constantly coordinates with the security agencies for timely clearance of the OCI applications, especially in respect of foreign spouse-based OCI applications.