Frequently Asked Questions

OCI Assistant is a document preparation service. Here is what we do for you:

• Guide you through a step-by-step application wizard
• Generate your personalised document checklist based on your specific situation
• Auto-fill affidavits and required forms with your details
• Validate uploaded file formats and sizes to meet government standards
• Package all your documents with clear, step-by-step submission instructions

VFS mailing/appointment are completed by you — we equip you with everything you need to do that confidently.

Our one-time service fee covers the full OCI Assistant service:

• Personalised document checklist tailored to your application type
• Auto-generated, pre-filled affidavits and forms
• Document upload with format and size validation
• Organised file package ready for submission
• Step-by-step submission instructions for the Govt. portal and VFS

No. Our service fee covers OCI Assistant's document preparation service only. Government application fees and VFS service charges are separate and paid directly to those agencies at the time of submission.

For current government and VFS fee schedules, visit ociservices.gov.in and the VFS Global website.

Yes. All documents and personal information are stored securely on Google Cloud infrastructure with encryption in transit and at rest. Access controls ensure your files are never exposed to unauthorised parties.

Your uploaded documents and generated forms are automatically and permanently deleted 7 days after your upload is submitted. No action is required on your part.

You can also delete all your data at any time before the 7-day period using the Delete My Data option in your account.

Only you and authorized OCI Assistant staff if you need assistance with your application can access your documents.

Your documents are never shared with any third parties, including VFS Global or the Indian Government. You are responsible for submitting your own documents through the official channels.

Most applicants complete the OCI Assistant process — from answering the questionnaire to receiving their final document package — in under 60 minutes.

The main variable is notarisation. Certain affidavits require a notary public to sign and stamp before you upload them. Depending on your local notary's availability, this can take anywhere from same-day to a few days.

Yes. Your progress is automatically saved at every step. You can log out at any time and return to your application later — simply log back in and you will be taken back to exactly where you left off.

You can also manage multiple applications from your account dashboard, which is useful if you are preparing applications for more than one family member.

Once you complete the document upload, you will receive a complete, organised file package along with step-by-step instructions for:

• Submitting your application on the Government of India OCI portal (ociservices.gov.in)
• Paying the fees and mailing to or scheduling an appointment with VFS Global

From that point, your application is in the hands of VFS and the Indian government. Processing times vary — check the VFS website for current timelines.

We accept the following file formats:

• PDF — preferred format for all documents
• JPEG / JPG — accepted for photos and scanned documents
• PNG — accepted for photos and scanned documents

JPEG and PNG images are automatically validated for format and size to ensure they meet government requirements before your package is assembled.

If a category requires multiple documents, all uploaded files for that category are automatically combined into a single PDF — as required by the government submission standards.