This is important information for anyone who was once an Indian citizen but now has naturalized or obtained other country’s citizenship. On June 1, 2010, the US government issued a new law requiring everyone to obtain a “Surrender Certificate” canceling their Indian passports (even expired ones) if there is no CANCELLATION stamp on your Indian passport.
Please read: http://news.rediff.com/report/2010/jun/02/citizenship-rules-changes-relief-to-indian-community.htm
For anyone who has obtained US Citizenship on or before May 31, 2010, you only have to pay $20 fee. All those who obtain foreign citizenship after June 1, 2010, your fee for obtaining Surrender certificate will be $175.00.
Travel will NOT be impacted. Anyone who already has an OCI card will not need to present a Surrender certificate at the consulate in order to travel to or from India. However, it seems like in the future, penalties will be issued for those who fail to obtain these Surrender certificates.
Everyone, please check your Indian passports to see if it was ever officially canceled.
Want to share this post?
5 Responses to Ex-Indian Citizens – Important Information
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
This is ridiculous, another goverment red tape, may be will get cancelled, but for not it looks like we need to do that.
Here is more info,
Renunciation of Indian citizenship:
Persons of Indian origin who have already acquired foreign citizenship until 31 May 2010 will not be required to pay renunciation fees of USD 175.00, he/she will be required to pay Miscellaneous fees of USD 20.00 when getting the old Indian passport cancelled/surrendered.
In future those Indian citizens who acquire foreign citizenship on or after June 1 2010 will have to submit declaration of renunciation of their Indian citizenship and a fees of USD 175.00.
If the applicant has already renounced Indian citizenship, he/she should have one of the following as proof:
o A Certificate of Renunciation issued by a Embassy of India or,
o An Indian Passport that contains a stamp that specifically renounces the citizenship.
If the applicant has NOT renounced their Indian citizenship, or does not have proof, the following must be provided:
o Two (2) copies of the completed renunciation form. The application for renunciation may be made on the form in the embassy/consulate of appropriate jurisdiction. If the application is submitted at counter the form should be signed in person. If application is sent by post the signature should be notarized and an additional check of USD 20/- may be sent for mailing charges.
o Renunciation fee of $175 (for those who acquired foreign citizenship on or after June 1 2010 ) or $20 (for those who acquired foreign citizenship until 31 May 2010 ) with a separate Money Order payable to ‘Embassy of India’.
o To be provided only in cases where US passport is issued on or after June 1 2010 while naturalization took place on or before May 31 2010: Copy of the Naturalization Certificate. For minors who were not issued naturalization certificates, the parents must write a statement that the minors citizenship was obtained through the parents, and provide a copy of the parents naturalization certificate.
o Most recent Indian passport that was issued in India/abroad. Applicant must provide photocopies of the first three pages of the passport and the last two pages of the passport. In case passport has been lost, a police report must be filed which specifically mentions loss of passport and submit the same.
Top
Note: In case of any assistance/complaints in respect of passport services, the following officers may be contacted during office hours.
(i)
Assistant Consular Officer
Phone: (202) 939-9861
(ii)
Attaché (Consular)
Phone: (202) 939-9832
Where is the address it needs to be sent, anyone knows?
Mahendra
It is Indian Govt that has done this and not US govt.
The address to send your Passport and application is your nearby consular office like for us it is New york, for KY people it is Chicago.
Travel will be affected if have not submitted this application you can not travel to India even if you have all the visas.
Jayanti
Actually, I think for KY folks, their consulate is technically Washington D.C.