My OCI card application has been pending for over a year. What RTI questions help identify the stage and the reason for the delay?

An OCI card application delayed beyond a year almost certainly has a specific administrative reason — it may be stuck at document verification, a police security check, or an internal referral to another MHA division. An RTI to the CPIO of the Bureau of Immigration can ask: (1) the current stage at which your application bearing the reference number stands in the processing chain; (2) whether a police clearance or security verification has been initiated, and if so, its current status and the date it was initiated; (3) whether any deficiency notice or query was issued against your application and the date of such notice; and (4) the standard processing timeline for OCI card applications of your category (first-time applicant, minor, renunciation of foreign citizenship, etc.) and the specific reason for the delay in your case. These are administrative, procedural matters held by BoI as a public authority under Section 2(h) of the RTI Act, 2005, and are fully disclosable. The RTI response will often identify exactly which sub-stage is causing the delay and give you a factual basis to follow up or file a formal representation to the Ministry.

My FRRO visa extension application has been pending for three months and my current visa is expiring. How does RTI help?

When a visa extension or conversion application is pending at a Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) and the current visa validity is expiring, an RTI application creates an important official record of the delay. File an RTI with the CPIO of the relevant FRRO (the city office where you submitted the extension application) asking: (1) the current status of your extension application as on the date of the RTI; (2) whether there is any deficiency or additional document required; (3) the standard SLA for extension applications of your visa category; and (4) the reason why the SLA has not been met. The significance of RTI in this situation is that it generates a formal, time-stamped record that you had a pending application — this can be critical if you face any immigration action for overstay while your application was pending. In urgent cases, note that if the matter involves a genuine risk to your liberty or legal status, you can request an expedited response on life/liberty grounds under the 48-hour provision of Section 7(1) of the RTI Act, 2005, though this is intended for matters directly involving life or physical liberty and should not be used routinely.

What is the Long Term Visa (LTV) for Pakistani and Bangladeshi minorities, and how does RTI help when the application is stalled?

The Long Term Visa (LTV) is a special category visa granted by the Ministry of Home Affairs to religious minority members — Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis, and Christians — who have migrated from Pakistan or Bangladesh to India and are living in India without a long-term residential status. LTV is a pathway to long-term legal residence and eventual citizenship. Applications are processed through the Ministry of Home Affairs, and the process is administered by the Bureau of Immigration and state police/intelligence authorities who conduct verification. LTV processing can take several years and is frequently stalled at the police/intelligence verification stage. RTI is a particularly important tool in LTV cases because applicants often have no other official channel to know the status of their application. An RTI to the CPIO of the Bureau of Immigration can ask: (1) whether the LTV application bearing the reference number was received and its current stage; (2) whether a police verification report has been submitted to MHA and its outcome; (3) whether any decision — grant or rejection — has been made and the reason. Note that while the administrative processing status of an LTV application is disclosable, specific security clearance details may be withheld under Section 8(1)(a) of the RTI Act if disclosure would prejudice national security or intelligence operations.

Which immigration matters are genuinely exempt from RTI under Section 8(1)(a), and which administrative matters must be disclosed?

Section 8(1)(a) of the RTI Act, 2005, exempts disclosure of information that would prejudicially affect the sovereignty and integrity of India, the security of the State, strategic, scientific or economic interests of the State, or relations with a foreign State, or lead to incitement of an offence. Section 8(1)(b) exempts information expressly forbidden by a court or the disclosure of which constitutes contempt of court. In the context of Bureau of Immigration and FRRO matters, what is genuinely exempt includes: intelligence assessments of a specific individual conducted by the Intelligence Bureau or other agencies (lookout circulars, surveillance records, adverse security inputs); specific grounds of rejection where disclosure would reveal intelligence sources or methods; and information about ongoing covert immigration enforcement operations. What must be disclosed includes: the administrative processing status of an OCI card, visa extension, or LTV application (what stage it is at, whether documents were received); the standard policy or circular governing processing timelines for a category of visa or registration; the fact of whether a complaint was received and the action taken on administrative matters; and the provisions of any policy, rule, or circular governing FRRO or BoI procedures. The key distinction is between administrative processing records (disclosable) and intelligence or security assessments of an individual (potentially exempt). CPIO denials of OCI or visa extension status information on vague national security grounds are challengeable before the First Appellate Authority and the CIC.

The Bureau of Immigration or FRRO has not responded to my RTI application within 30 days. What should I do?

If the CPIO of the Bureau of Immigration or the relevant FRRO does not respond within 30 days of receipt of your RTI application, you have the following options under the RTI Act, 2005. First, file a First Appeal under Section 19(1) of the RTI Act with the First Appellate Authority (FAA) at the Bureau of Immigration or the relevant FRRO within 30 days of the date of the decision or the expiry of the 30-day response period, whichever is applicable. The FAA is a senior officer designated above the CPIO. On the RTI Online portal, the first appeal option appears in your application's tracking section once the 30-day window has elapsed. If the FAA also does not respond within the prescribed period, or if the FAA's response is inadequate or unsatisfactory, file a Second Appeal with the Central Information Commission (CIC) under Section 19(3) of the RTI Act within 90 days of the FAA's decision or the date on which the FAA's decision should have been made. Since the Bureau of Immigration and all FRROs operate under the Ministry of Home Affairs — a Central Government ministry — the second appellate authority is the CIC, not a State Information Commission. The CIC has the power to direct the CPIO to provide the information and to impose a penalty of up to ₹25,000 on the CPIO under Section 20 of the RTI Act for failure to respond without reasonable cause. Second appeals to the CIC can be filed online at cic.gov.in.

Home/Guides/How to File RTI with Bureau of Immigration or FRRO — OCI Card, Visa Extension and LTV Status

Central Government

How to File RTI with Bureau of Immigration or FRRO — OCI Card, Visa Extension and LTV Status

Step-by-step guide to file an RTI with the Bureau of Immigration (BoI) or Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) under the Ministry of Home Affairs for OCI card application status, FRRO visa extension or conversion status, Long Term Visa (LTV) status for Pakistani/Bangladeshi minorities, and immigration policy clarifications. Includes a ready-to-use sample RTI draft.

Updated 24 May 2026

Quick Facts

MinistryMinistry of Home Affairs

Address RTI ToCPIO, Bureau of Immigration, East Block-VIII, Level-2, R.K. Puram, New Delhi – 110066 / CPIO, FRRO (relevant city office)

Application Fee₹10 under RTI (Regulation of Fee and Cost) Rules, 2005. Free for BPL cardholders.

Response Time30 days from receipt (Section 7(1), RTI Act 2005). 48 hours if the matter involves life or liberty.

File Online Athttps://rtionline.gov.in

All information on this page is based on the Right to Information Act, 2005 (Act No. 22 of 2005) and the RTI (Regulation of Fee and Cost) Rules, 2005. First Appeal: Section 19(1). Second Appeal to CIC/SIC: Section 19(3).

The Bureau of Immigration (BoI) is a Central Government body under the Ministry of Home Affairs, responsible for immigration control and management at international airports, seaports, and land immigration check posts across India. The Bureau operates through a network of Foreigners Regional Registration Offices (FRROs) in major cities and Foreigners Registration Offices (FROs) at the district level, which handle the registration of foreign nationals, visa extension and conversion, and immigration compliance. The Ministry of Home Affairs also administers the Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card scheme and the Long Term Visa (LTV) for religious minorities from Pakistan and Bangladesh.

The Bureau of Immigration and all FRROs are public authorities under Section 2(h) of the Right to Information Act, 2005. Their administrative records — including the processing status of OCI applications, visa extension and conversion applications, and LTV applications, as well as the policies and circulars governing processing timelines — are subject to disclosure under the RTI Act. Citizens can file RTI applications to obtain formal, documented information from BoI or the relevant FRRO when applications are delayed, rejected without explanation, or stalled at an undisclosed stage.

Important note: RTI to the Bureau of Immigration or FRRO is for matters within the jurisdiction of Indian immigration authorities — such as OCI card processing, FRRO registration, visa extension and conversion, and LTV. Standard tourist, business, or work visas issued by foreign governments to Indian citizens are outside the jurisdiction of BoI and cannot be the subject of an RTI to BoI or MHA.

BoI vs. FRRO vs. Ministry of External Affairs (Passports) — Who to File RTI With

It is important to file the RTI with the correct authority. Immigration matters (BoI/FRRO/MHA) and passport or consular matters (MEA/RPOs) are handled by entirely separate ministries with different CPIOs, portals, and second appeal bodies.

Matter	Authority Responsible	RTI Portal	Second Appeal
OCI card application	Bureau of Immigration / Ministry of Home Affairs	rtionline.gov.in → Ministry of Home Affairs → Bureau of Immigration	CIC
Visa extension / conversion for foreign nationals in India	FRRO (relevant city office) under Ministry of Home Affairs	rtionline.gov.in → Ministry of Home Affairs → FRRO (city)	CIC
Registration of foreign nationals (FRRO registration)	FRRO (relevant city office) under Ministry of Home Affairs	rtionline.gov.in → Ministry of Home Affairs → FRRO (city)	CIC
Long Term Visa (LTV) for Pakistani/Bangladeshi minorities	Ministry of Home Affairs / Bureau of Immigration	rtionline.gov.in → Ministry of Home Affairs → Bureau of Immigration	CIC
Indian passport — new issuance, renewal, name change	Regional Passport Office (RPO) under Ministry of External Affairs	rtionline.gov.in → Ministry of External Affairs → RPO (city)	CIC
Visa issued by a foreign government to Indian citizens	Foreign government / that country's embassy	Not applicable — outside RTI Act jurisdiction	Not applicable
Emergency Certificate / Travel Document	Regional Passport Office (RPO) / MEA	rtionline.gov.in → Ministry of External Affairs → RPO (city)	CIC

Note: Delhi Police and the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) are Central Government bodies. RTI about their functions is filed with MHA and the second appeal body is the CIC — not the Delhi Information Commission — even though they operate in Delhi.

Common RTI Use Cases

Issue	What to Ask	What to Expect
OCI card application pending with no update	Current stage of processing; whether security verification is complete; reason for delay vs. published SLA	Confirmation of current stage; name of sub-unit holding the file; often triggers expeditious processing once an official record of delay exists
OCI card application rejected	Specific reason for rejection with reference to the applicable rule or circular	Written grounds for rejection — required for a formal appeal or re-application
FRRO visa extension/conversion pending	Status of the extension application; whether deficiency exists; SLA for the category	Identifies whether the application is pending at FRRO, at MHA, or awaiting police verification
LTV application stalled	Whether the application was received; current stage; whether police verification report has been submitted	Identifies the bottleneck — often the police verification stage — and provides a basis for follow-up with the state police
FRRO registration certificate delayed	Whether the registration application was received complete; reason for non-issuance	Confirms administrative gap; useful for foreign nationals who need proof of registration for employment or tenancy
Complaint about a foreigner's illegal stay	Whether a complaint was received; action taken	Admissible for general administrative complaints; intelligence or surveillance action will not be disclosed
Processing timeline policy	Copy of circular or guideline governing SLA for OCI/visa extension/LTV processing	Provides the official standard against which the delay can be measured in an appeal or complaint

What RTI Can and Cannot Get from BoI and FRRO

Disclosable Information

The following categories of information are administrative in nature and must be disclosed by BoI and FRROs under the RTI Act, 2005:

The current processing stage of a named OCI, visa extension, or LTV application identified by its reference number
Whether an application was received, is pending, has been approved, or has been rejected
The specific reason for rejection of an OCI card or visa extension application, with reference to the applicable rule, regulation, or circular
The standard processing timeline (SLA or internal guideline) prescribed for a category of application
The provisions of any policy, rule, circular, or office memorandum governing FRRO or BoI procedures
Whether a complaint was received on an administrative matter and the action taken

Exempt Information — What RTI Cannot Compel

Section 8(1)(a) of the RTI Act, 2005, exempts information whose disclosure would prejudicially affect the sovereignty and integrity of India, the security of the State, strategic interests of the State, or relations with foreign States. In the context of BoI and FRRO, this means:

Intelligence Bureau assessments, adverse security inputs, or lookout circulars relating to a specific individual
Specific grounds for rejection where disclosure would reveal intelligence sources, methods, or the basis of a security assessment
Details of ongoing covert immigration enforcement operations
Inter-agency correspondence relating to a security-sensitive individual

The distinction is between administrative processing records (disclosable) and security and intelligence assessments (exempt). A CPIO cannot use Section 8(1)(a) as a blanket refusal to disclose the status of an OCI card or visa extension application — that is an administrative fact, not a security secret. Vague or overbroad invocations of security exemptions are challengeable before the First Appellate Authority and the CIC.

Where to File

Filing on the RTI Online Portal

All BoI and FRRO RTI applications should be filed at rtionline.gov.in:

Visit rtionline.gov.in and click Submit Request
Select Ministry of Home Affairs as the ministry
Under the ministry, select Bureau of Immigration (for OCI card and LTV matters handled at BoI headquarters) or the relevant FRRO office (for visa extension, conversion, and foreign national registration matters handled at a specific city FRRO)
Paste your application text (the portal allows up to 3,000 characters; attach as PDF if longer)
Pay ₹10 online via net banking, debit/credit card, or UPI; BPL cardholders select the fee exemption and attach a self-attested copy of their BPL card

Major FRRO Offices

FRROs operate in the following cities and handle immigration matters for foreign nationals present in their jurisdiction:

City	FRRO Office
Delhi	East Block-VIII, Level-2, R.K. Puram, New Delhi – 110066
Mumbai	Annex-II Building, Office of the Commissioner of Police, D.N. Road, Mumbai
Chennai	Shastri Bhawan, 26, Haddows Road, Chennai
Kolkata	237 A.J.C. Bose Road, Kolkata
Bengaluru	Manipal Centre, 47, Dickenson Road, Bengaluru
Hyderabad	Public Gardens Road, Nampally, Hyderabad
Amritsar	Near Wagah Border, Amritsar
Kochi	Lakeshore Hospital Road, Kochi
Lucknow	Hazratganj, Lucknow
Pune	Tadiwala Road, Pune

For matters that originated at and are handled by a specific city FRRO (such as a visa extension filed in Bengaluru), file the RTI with the CPIO of that FRRO rather than BoI headquarters. If you are unsure, you can file with BoI headquarters, and it is BoI's obligation to transfer the application to the correct CPIO under Section 6(3) of the RTI Act.

What Specific Information Can You Ask For

The following is a numbered list of specific, concrete information requests that are appropriate for BoI and FRRO RTI applications:

OCI card application status: The current stage at which your OCI card application bearing reference number XXX stands, whether it has been approved, rejected, or is under processing, and the sub-unit or division of BoI or MHA currently holding the file.
FRRO visa extension or conversion status: Whether your visa extension or conversion application filed at FRRO city on date has been decided; if pending, the reason for the pendency and the stage at which it is held; if rejected, the specific reason with reference to the applicable Foreigners Act provision, rule, or circular.
LTV application status: The current status of your Long Term Visa application bearing reference number XXX, whether a police verification report has been submitted to MHA, and whether any decision — grant or rejection — has been taken.
Processing timeline policy: A copy of the circular, office memorandum, or internal guideline prescribing the standard processing timeline for OCI card / visa extension / LTV applications of your category, as currently in force.
Rejection reason: If your application was rejected, the complete grounds for rejection including the specific section, rule, or circular applied, and whether any opportunity was given to respond to the grounds before the rejection was finalised.
Complaint action: Whether a complaint or representation submitted by you regarding your application was received by BoI or the FRRO, the date of receipt, and the status of any inquiry or action taken in response.

Appeals

First Appeal — First Appellate Authority (FAA) at BoI or FRRO

If the CPIO of BoI or the relevant FRRO:

Does not respond within 30 days of receipt of your RTI application, or
Provides an incomplete, incorrect, or unsatisfactory response,

file a First Appeal under Section 19(1) of the RTI Act with the First Appellate Authority (FAA) at the same body (BoI headquarters or the relevant FRRO). The appeal must be filed within 30 days of the date of the decision or the expiry of the 30-day response period, whichever is applicable. The FAA is a senior officer designated above the CPIO. On the RTI Online portal, the first appeal option appears in your application's tracking page once the 30-day window has elapsed or a response has been received.

Second Appeal — Central Information Commission (CIC)

If the FAA does not respond within the prescribed period, or if the FAA's decision is unsatisfactory, file a Second Appeal with the Central Information Commission (CIC) under Section 19(3) of the RTI Act within 90 days of the FAA's decision or the date on which the FAA's decision should have been made.

The Bureau of Immigration and all FRROs are Central Government bodies under the Ministry of Home Affairs. The second appeal body is therefore the CIC — not any State Information Commission.

The CIC can:

Direct the CPIO to provide the information
Impose a penalty of up to ₹25,000 on the CPIO under Section 20 of the RTI Act for failure to provide information without reasonable cause
Recommend disciplinary action against the CPIO in cases of malafide denial

Second appeals to the CIC can be filed online at cic.gov.in.

Sample RTI Application Draft

To,
The Central Public Information Officer (CPIO),
Bureau of Immigration / Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO),
[Full address of the relevant FRRO or BoI headquarters: East Block-VIII, Level-2, R.K. Puram, New Delhi – 110066 for BoI HQ; or the relevant FRRO city office]

Subject: Application under the Right to Information Act, 2005 — Status of OCI / Visa Extension / LTV Application and Related Policy Information

Sir/Madam,

I, [Your Full Name], residing at [Your Full Address], submit this application under Section 6 of the Right to Information Act, 2005, to seek the following information:

My application details:
  Type of Application: [OCI Card / Visa Extension / Visa Conversion / Long Term Visa (LTV)]
  Application Reference Number / File Number: [Your reference number as issued at submission]
  Applicant Name (as on passport): [Full Name as on Passport]
  Nationality: [Country of Citizenship / Country of Origin]
  Date of Application Submission: [DD/MM/YYYY]
  FRRO / Office where application was filed: [Name and city of the FRRO or MHA office]

Information sought:

1. Please provide the current status of my [OCI card / visa extension / visa conversion / LTV] application bearing reference number [XXX], submitted on [DD/MM/YYYY] at [FRRO/MHA office name]. Specifically: whether the application has been received, is under processing, has been approved, rejected, or is pending any further action, and the current stage at which it stands as on the date of this RTI application.

2. If the application has been rejected or is pending additional documents or action, please provide: (a) the specific reason(s) for rejection or the nature of the deficiency or requirement that is pending, with reference to the applicable rule, regulation, or circular; and (b) the date on which such a decision or requirement was communicated or recorded.

3. Please provide the standard processing timeline (Service Level Agreement or internal guideline) prescribed by the Bureau of Immigration / Ministry of Home Affairs for processing [OCI card / visa extension / LTV] applications of this category, and the specific reason(s) why this timeline has not been met in my case, if applicable.

4. Please provide a copy of the circular, office memorandum, or policy document issued by the Bureau of Immigration or Ministry of Home Affairs that governs the processing procedure and timeline for [OCI card applications / visa extension and conversion applications at FRROs / Long Term Visa applications for Pakistani/Bangladeshi minorities], as currently in force.

5. Whether a complaint or representation bearing reference number [complaint reference, if applicable] submitted by me or on my behalf regarding this application was received by the [FRRO / Bureau of Immigration / MHA]. If yes: (a) the date of receipt; (b) the current status of the complaint; and (c) any action taken or pending in response.

I am enclosing the application fee of Rs. 10 [via online payment; Reference No.: [Payment Ref]].

I request the above information within 30 days as required under Section 7(1) of the RTI Act, 2005.

Yours sincerely,

[Your Full Name]
[Your Complete Address]
Phone: [Your 10-digit Mobile Number]
Email: [[email protected]]
Date: [DD/MM/YYYY]

Replace all text in [square brackets] with your actual details before filing. Do not include the brackets in your submission.

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