Does Wise allow after return to india for non-US citizens. should we open one for back up to bank account

Hi, I need to renew my passport (I'm also opting for Tatkal), and I've been trying to use VFS' discounted courier service for generating the shipping label but I keep running into this error. I emailed them about it yesterday but they have not replied yet and tomorrow is Sunday.

Has anyone encountered this error before and managed to get it resolved successfully? I have never had any issues getting packages delivered to my address, including FedEx packages, and I typed in my address exactly as it shows on USPS' address lookup database.

Hi everyone, I have an issue.

My Pan card and Aadhar in India are under my maiden name but Australian passport and citizenship are under married name.

I want to revert to my maiden name as I thought would be easier to do a name change here where i reside rather than for aadhar and pan. I have some small assets in my maiden name in India and am worried the name change will cause issues there hence the name change here. I want to take OCI but since I can link it back to my existing Aadhar I would prefer a name match.

Any thoughts or advise from those who may have faced a similar situation?

Thank you in advance.

Guys, i applied for both surrender certificate and OCI application at once and got everything back saying its the wrong form. I dont understand what this means cause it is the surrender certificate form i got from passport seva portal. Thr only thing is when i created my avcount to get my indian padsport renewed, it was done in berlin. So the address that it shows on the surrender certificate is berlin one. Is that the issue? Anyone experienced anything similar? Do i have to pay again?

Hey, I am trying to open NRE and NRO account and couple bank I contacted , they asked me to send details like my PAN Card , passport , Visa etc but its weird they are asking all the details including ssn through email. I asked Bank like HDFC and they told they dont have a portal yet and everything is fine on email which I believe ofc SSN especially should not be sent over unencrypted email.

How did you all had your account opened?

Hi guys, need some guidance.

I got Canadian passport. Because I had only 1 name on Indian passport "Rahul", my Canadian passport has "Rahul" in last name with given name empty.

I am planning to get this fixed. For OCI, I can take 2 paths:

1 - Apply OCI with current passport

Pros: name on my Indian passport and Canadian citizenship, Canadian passport matches

Cons: After getting OCI, when I update name on Canadian passport, I would have to apply for name change at OCI too.

2- Apply for OCI after name changed at Canada passport, citizenship certificate.

Pros: Single apply for OCI after I get name situation sorted out

Cons: BLS, Indian embassy might feel weird about mismatch name in Canada passport, Canada citizenship certificate if they compare it to Indian passport

Any thoughts?

Hi everyone,

My daughter will be traveling to India in November 2026 to stay with her grandparents for four years. We have applied for her OCI card in the USA, but it has not been approved yet.

Can she travel to India on her approved e-Visa and, once her OCI is approved, download her e-OCI while she is in India? Will she be able to use her OCI documentation along with her valid U.S. passport when returning to the USA after four years?

Could anyone please clarify whether this process is allowed or if we need to take any additional steps to ensure that she can legally stay in India for four years and return to the USA without any issues?

Thank you in advance for your guidance!

27-Aug-26: Shipped via Fedex
28-Aug-26: In Transit
31-Aug-26: Delivered to VFS
01-Sep-26: Confirmation email from VFS
03-Sep-26: Email from VFS stating in-transit to consulate
04-Sep-26: Status updated on ociservices website to in-process
14-Oct-26: Approved and e-oci card generated - email notification from consulate

6 weeks from the time consulate received the application.

no change in VFS status - still shows being processed at consulate

- I bought 2-way shipping label from VFS - $60 - wasn't required at all - nothing is returned from VFS for OCI application and wasted money. Could have just sent it myself for < $20

-

Hello, so I submitted me and my sister’s OCI application last month and mine returned because I didn’t put my middle name. I redid my application and I’m sending it again. I’m not sure if I’ll get a refund but I hope I do because 300$ is crazy. They also ask that everything is uploaded clearly which it is. I don’t know what I’m doing wrong

As for my sister’s application they’re asking me about my father’s name change?? I’m so confused as to what they want. My father has never changed his name??

Any ways I need someone to help me look over my application before I send out another one. Do you have any recommendations? Also will I get a refund?

I live in Germany with my spouse and this topic is a source of long explanations and frustration with my in-laws and extended family in the US. Most of them have never lived in Europe. They have no idea about the cultural nuances and differences between North America and Europe. They have no idea about the practical realities: homeownership rates, salaries, cars, and so on.

They don't understand that Europeans have a completely different perspective toward life. Life is less materialistic, consumerist, and money-oriented than in the US. Nobody cares about your corporate title outside of your office. The wealth gap is much smaller, and people working blue-collar jobs also earn a very good wage. That even the VP of our company takes a bike to work and doesn't own a car. That grabbing a kiosk beer and hanging out by the river or on the beach is how we meet up with friends.

They can't stop comparing their materialistic American lifestyle with ours and constantly have this judgmental undertone, making us feel like we are either being thrifty or don't make enough money. The constant comparison and materialism are honestly exhausting to deal with. Not just with the in-laws, but with most of my relatives in the US. This also comes up in their expectations about gifts and so on.

There are two main reasons why Indians leave India: to make money and to escape the bad infrastructure and environment. Traffic, politics, pollution, bureaucracy, pick your poison. Very few people are open-minded and emigrate for the purpose of experiencing a new culture and forming a new perspective.

With these things in mind, the US wins. Hands down. Higher salaries, low taxes, great infrastructure and amenities. And the culture shock is milder compared to Europe because all of us grow up watching American movies, TV shows, and politics. Plus, it's a newer country and a land of immigrants, so the culture is more "sterile" (for lack of a better term) compared to European countries. You can live in New Jersey for twenty years and keep your Indian social life mostly intact, just with better roads and a bigger house.

Germany, France, the Netherlands, and Switzerland all have extremely rich histories and deep cultural norms and nuances that most people have no prior exposure to. The Indian diaspora here is much smaller. So the culture shock is big. Plus, non-EU immigration in Europe is not viewed in the same way as it is in the US. Immigration to Europe was mostly limited to blue-collar workers from Southern and Eastern European countries, North Africa, and Turkey. White-collar Indian immigration is a relatively recent phenomenon. The Indian diaspora is much smaller (barring the UK). Unlike in the US, you don't have temples, desi grocery stores, and Bharatanatyam classes everywhere. The Indian communities are smaller. Germany doesn’t offer that trade.

And to be fair, Europe isn’t an upgrade in every way. The bureaucracy is painful, salaries are lower, careers move slowly. If your priority is wealth, and for many families supporting parents back home it absolutely should be, the US math is hard to argue with.

What I got instead is quieter. Strong worker rights. Walkable cities. Leisurely evenings without long commutes. Access to dozens of countries with just three-hour flights, the chance to experience so many cultures, cuisines. And above all, peace.

My humble request to new immigrants is that if you come to Europe expecting an American lifestyle, you’ll be miserable. Not because Europe is bad, but because you’re not comparing apples to apples.

Hi, I’m planning to travel to India with my baby born in July. We both are Canadian passport holders. I recently surrendered my Indian passport as well and I’ll be applying from the Toronto/Brampton area.

I want to ask if someone has recently applied for OCI and how long it took to receive it?

I was planning on just going on e-visa but I read online that a return ticket has to be booked for e-visa. I want to book my return while I stay there because I don’t know specifically the return time yet. So looking into applying for OCI as long as I receive it before January 2027.

Both me and baby will stay at my parents place for 3-4 months and not planning to stay more than 6 months by any chance.

Thank you in advance for any guidance.

The amount of unwanted stares and attention she gets is honestly frustrating. I am 6'4, a mixed martial artist, and physically capable of seriously hurting someone in a matter of seconds if I ever lose control. The genuine fear of doing something stupid in the heat of the moment, ruining my own life and ending up in jail, along with the impact it would have on the people I love, is what has kept my hands tied so far.

There have been a few instances recently where I came very close to getting into a physical confrontation with a bunch of as******. Thankfully, they either apologised, backed off or ran away before things escalated.

Anyway, we have mutually decided to limit her travels to India for the time being, but it still bothers me that this is something we even have to think about. Whenever she is there, she prefers not to go out unless it's the occasional outing with my mom and sisters. She ends up staying inside the house like a caged bird, and it genuinely pains me to see her like that.

Btw, she always dresses appropriately. In fact, she's very conservatively dressed, even by Indian standards. Full sleeves, traditional kurta-salwaar with a chunni, or something similar but I guess it doesn't make much of a difference. I understand that some people are genuinely curious when they see a white person, and I can look past that. But 20-30% are just pure ****heads, and you can tell from the way they stare that it's not innocent curiosity.

I always dreamt of moving back to my country when I'm around 50, something along the lines of semi-retirement, where I could work, teach or just do something for fun without the pressure of a full-time career. But experiences like these have genuinely made me question whether that's something I want anymore, which is honestly quite sad.

Just looking for some advice here. Has anyone else been in a similar situation? How do you deal with it, and what are my options? I haven't travelled much to other parts of the country, so is it the same in other regions of India?

Slightly complicated situation - estranged from family and want to change my first and last name so they don't find me. Getting married next year to my British partner and will take their surname.

Eligible for ILR and citizenship in 2028, will be eligibile for citizenship immediately after ILR due to marriage and meeting residency requirements (based on current rules anyway...)

Current Indian passport expires 2036 and the plan is to renounce citizenship asap and get OCI.

Struggling to figure out the best way to do this. This is the current timeline:

Get married in 2027 but no name change.

Get ILR in 2028, then change first and last name together through deed poll in the UK and simultaneously do a gazette or Indian newspaper notification (have friends in India who will do this).

Use UK deed poll document to change name on UK bills and university certificates.

Sign the affidavit provided by embassy and apply for Indian passport with new name? The website states they'll only accept school/uni documents with new name from UK if the applicant has ILR, and I absolutely don't want to go through the bureaucratic nightmare of dealing with my Indian school or university.

Hopefully receive Indian passport with new name.

Apply for naturalisation with new name.

Any advice/thoughts appreciated!

Im a 17 yo currently in 12th studying pcm i wanna move abroad get a job and settle abroad how can i????? I’ll go cybersecurity or in some cs field.
Anyone will guide me i’ll be grateful.

Looking for a reliable courier service from Uttar Pradesh region to USA for minimal personal stuff (Only Personal Worn Clothes- Nothing new) considering the recent tariffs etc.

Any recommendations would be appreciated!!

Hi everyone,

I’m an Indian national currently in Saudi Arabia. I registered for the Indian Embassy Riyadh Final Exit process on 15 October 2026 and received a registration reference number.

My Iqama has expired, and I’m waiting for the Embassy to contact me regarding the next steps.

I have a few questions:

How many days does it usually take to receive a response from the Indian Embassy?

How long does the complete Final Exit process take before I can return to India?

Will the Embassy contact me through WhatsApp, phone call, or email?

Has anyone recently completed this process? Could you please share your experience?

Any advice or recent experiences would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!🙏🏻

Did anyone applied for new born passport in Melbourne how many days does it take to get the passport. I have applied on 17september and still no update

Hi All

I’m looking for advice from anyone who has recently updated their passport particulars on their OCI card through the OCI Services Portal in the UK.

I am applying to update my OCI passport details more than three months after receiving my new passport.

The portal indicates that a US $25 late fee applies in such cases and advises applicants to contact the relevant Indian Mission, FRRO or service provider.

My application is currently showing as PENDING, but I haven’t received the late-fee payment link or proforma that I understand should be sent by email.

I have checked both my inbox and spam/junk folders.

I would really appreciate advice from anyone who has recently gone through this process, particularly through the Indian High Commission in London or VFS Global.

How can I obtain the late-fee payment link?

Should I contact VFS Global or the Indian High Commission directly? - I emailed the Indian High commission who have been unresponsive.

Thanks in advance

Seeking clarification on a fresh OCI application for my newborn son, who is UK born and has his UK passport. My wife and I both have Indian passports. Jurisdiction is London, applying either at Hounslow or Goswell.

I wonder if anyone has applied recently (post-July 2026 e-OCI change) for a minor:

1. Was your original documents retained and couriered back by VFS or checked at the counter and returned? If couriered, how long did it take?

2. Was your child's UK passport also retained or only copies provided?

3. As there is no physical card anymore that needs to be posted, was Royal Mail Special Delivery envelopes still required? If so, how many, or was a payment for VFS courier at the counter needed?

4. Was VFS asking for a paper apostille on the UK full birth certificate? VFS checklist says so, but MHA FAQ only asks for a copy of the birth certificate if both parents are Indian citizens.

5. What fee did you actually pay at the counter? I have read both £225.44 and £247.78.

Would it be possible to have recent timelines (from submission to originals back to e-OCI download)? Any help would be much appreciated!

Source: https://www.mea.gov.in/population-of-overseas-indians

Did anyone apply for medical visa for India from UK how long did it take?Not e-visa but the paper one.