Immigration questions often arise at the same time as marriage, employment, investment or a change in family circumstances. The intended activity, nationality, present immigration status and travel history must be considered together. Kothari & Jain assists with Indian immigration and citizenship-related legal questions, document preparation and coordination with appropriately qualified foreign counsel where another country’s law is involved.
Matters we can assess
- Indian visa-category and permitted-activity questions.
- Registration, extension and status-related issues involving the relevant Indian authorities.
- OCI eligibility and documentation questions, and distinctions between OCI and citizenship.
- Nationality, marriage, birth and family-document issues affecting an application.
- Responses to requests for information, discrepancies and adverse communications.
- Indian legal documentation required for a foreign immigration process.
Check the current framework
The Ministry of Home Affairs publishes the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025, its rules and related orders. Advice should therefore be checked against the applicable framework and current category-specific instructions rather than an old checklist.
The official OCI portal provides eligibility and application information. OCI registration is distinct from acquiring Indian citizenship. A family’s situation needs its own assessment; a marriage certificate, past residence or Indian ancestry should not be assumed to resolve every eligibility requirement.
Information needed before advice
Bring current and previous passports, visa or status documents, entry and exit details, registration records and application acknowledgments. Include any refusal or authority correspondence. For family matters, provide the relevant birth, marriage, divorce or adoption documents and identify differences in names or dates across records.
Explain the intended activity in India, proposed travel dates and any status expiry or response deadline. We can assess documentation gaps, the appropriate authority and whether other legal advice is required. A pending application should not be treated as permission to work, travel or remain without checking the applicable conditions.
Foreign-country eligibility, filing representation and legal opinions must be handled within the relevant licensing rules. Our engagement should state which Indian-law work the firm undertakes and which issues require foreign counsel, so responsibilities are clear from the outset.
Common questions
Does marrying an Indian citizen automatically grant a visa or citizenship?
No automatic outcome should be assumed. The relevant route, eligibility conditions and supporting evidence must be assessed and the competent authority decides the application.
Can I change the purpose of my stay after arrival?
Possibility and procedure depend on the present category and applicable instructions. Review the permitted activities before undertaking employment, business or another new activity.
Can the firm guarantee approval or a decision date?
No. A complete and consistent application helps present the case, but eligibility decisions, additional checks and processing are controlled by the relevant authorities.
Discuss the next step
To discuss the scope of assistance and arrange a consultation, contact the firm or call +91 87936 60616 or +91 78877 18191.