NEW DELHI: Bowing to tens of thousands Global Organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO International) petitioners over submission of old passports and “renunciation charges”, the government of India has backtracked and withdrawn the notification, say media reports.
Penalty charges for retaining a passport despite acquiring foreign citizenship for over three years have also been waived off.
PIOs had begun an online petition to protest against a notification by the ministry of external affairs (MEA) issued on May 13 that mandated that PIOs who had acquired citizenship of other countries would have to surrender their old passports and there would be a penalty of Rs 10,000 for retaining the passport for above three years. The new order also said that Rs 7,000 would be charged if applicants for overseas citizen card or PIO card claimed that their passport was lost or misplaced.
The government has now issued a clarification that PIOs will not be asked to pay any renunciation charges. The ministry of home affairs (MHA) has informed Indian embassies that the order will hold only for those Indian citizens who are in the process of acquiring foreign citizenship and will not be applied with retrospective effect. The other concern was that PIOs may have to pay Rs 10,000 for just possessing an old passport. This has also been addressed. The penalty charges will only apply if the PIO — who is already a foreign citizen — uses his or her old passport for travelling or buying property or other uses that are considered illegal under Indian law.
The decision was taken in a meeting held by overseas Indian affairs secretary Didar Singh with senior officials from MHA and MEA on May 26.
One petitioner, in his comments posted on this website had said that when he got the PIO card he was told by the Consulate officials that there was no need to surrender the passport then why they are imposing penalty for not doing so.
The New York based-Global Organisation of PIOs (GOPIO) in its online petition to PM Manmohan Singh pointed out that imposition of a rule with retrospective effect could cause “unimaginable hardship” in thousands of cases. “A large majority of new citizens did not have any use for their old Indian passports and may have lost, misplaced or never kept in their possession after naturalization,” the petition said. PIOs have expressed concern that this would cause delay in getting visas and visiting India in emergency situations.
The overseas Indian affairs ministry had also issued a new set of guidelines by which those PIOs who do not have primary evidence — that is documents to prove their Indian citizenship or proof of being born/or parents or even grandparents having been born in India — have now been allowed secondary evidence. Secondary evidence includes passports of foreign countries indicating that India is the place of birth or any other documents including a “nativity certificate” issued by the state district collector
The earlier notice posted on the website of several Indian embassies and consulates stipulated that Persons of Indian Origin who have acquired citizenship of other countries are required to surrender their Indian passports within 90 days of their acquisition of citizenship of the countries of their adoption and obtain ‘Surrender Certificate’ from the nearest Indian Consulate. There should not be any objection in surrendering the old Indian passport. However, the new rules should not be applied retroactively. Retroactive enforcement of the new rules and requiring people of Indian origin who got citizenship of other countries years ago, to obtain “surrender Certificate” by paying hefty service fee and penalty for not surrendering within certain time is a rule that is unwarranted, burdensome and not well thought out. In the meantime, a person of Indian origin applying for an Indian visa, OCI/PIO card or wanting other consular services is denied any such service without complying with the new rules.
Per Section 9 of the Citizenship Act 1955, “Any citizen of India who by naturalization, registration or otherwise voluntarily acquires, or has at any time between the 26th January, 1950 and the commencement of this Act voluntarily acquired, the citizenship of another country shall, upon such acquisition or, as the case may be, such commencement, cease to be a citizen of India.” Thus, Indians who have acquired citizenship of other countries are covered under Section 9 and their Indian citizenship is automatically terminated on acquiring citizenship of another country. The same Act has provisions for renouncing citizenship of India. Per Section 8, “any citizen of India of full age and capacity, who is also a citizen or national of another country, makes in the prescribed manner a declaration renouncing his Indian citizenship, the declaration shall be registered by the prescribed authority; and, upon such registration, that person shall cease to be a citizen of India.” Renunciation of citizenship has to be applied on a prescribed form, while automatic termination of citizenship, covered under Section 9, requires no formal application to the Indian government.
There are a few millions of people who have obtained citizenship of other countries over the last fifty five years, since the passage of Indian Citizenship Act 1955. The Indian Passport does not contain any instruction for surrender (per Passport issued in 1974 by Indian Consulate in the US) except the ones issued by the High Commission of India in Canada which stamps passports with warning that states, “If the holder acquires nationality of another country, he should surrender this passport forthwith to the nearest Indian Mission abroad.” Many of the former Indian citizens have been travelling to India on passports of countries of their adoption but with Indian visas granted by the same consulates whose websites now have postings of new rules. If the law or rules did exist in the past, Indian embassies and consulates everywhere should have asked for the surrender of Indian passports before granting Indian visas for the first time to Persons of Indian Origin who had acquired citizenship of other countries. Requiring surrender of Indian passports after the lapse of many years of acquisition of such citizenship, would cause undue hardship and delay in getting consular services.
The new rules also require that an applicant who has lost, damaged or surrendered his/her Indian passport to a foreign Government, he/she should furnish certified copies of the following documents:
Details of last held Indian passport (Passport No., Date of Issue & Place of issue). The onus of providing details rest on the applicant.
- Official documents submitted to authorities of new country at the time of obtaining citizenship/naturalization & documents used for entry such as US Form I -130.
- Notarized letter explaining reasons for loss.
- Police report.
A large majority of the new citizens did not have any use for their old Indian passports and may have lost, misplaced or never kept in their possession after naturalization. The production of items 1 and 2 above, in particular, will not be easy and could take months to obtain from the immigration authorities. In the meantime, consular services will not be available to visit the mother country, even for emergency situations.
The Government of India is urged to reconsider the retroactive enforcement of the new rules as many thousands of people who have acquired citizenship of other countries could suffer undue and unnecessary hardship for no fault of their own. Indians who have been naturalized for years should be given the same 90 days to obtain “surrender certificate” as being allowed to those Indians who become citizens of other countries now and heretofore, without fees and penalties. The minimum service fee of $175 (USD) for the surrender certificate is also very high and should be reduced to a reasonable amount of $25 (USD).
GOPIO urges Indian community groups, organizations and individuals to join in protesting against the new rules by writing to the Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) at psfs@mea.gov.in and Secretary Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs (MOIA) at secretary@moia.nic.in with a copy to GOPIO at GOPIO-Intl@sbcglobal.net.
For more information, please contact GOPIO International at +1-818-708-3885, Email: GOPIO-Intl@sbcglobal.net.
Related posts:
May 26th, 2010 at 12:44 am
Dear Sir
What we will happen to people who wait without paying the penalty and surrender their passport with the hope that these protests will bear some fruit?
I have an OCI card and while applying for it, the Passport authorities did not ask whether I had surrendered my passport or not and they simply wanted itscopies only. I think it was the case with other applicants too. They should have asked for it at that time before issuing the OCI instead of coming with such a huge penalty.
best regards
Santhosh
May 29th, 2010 at 6:55 am
Hello all,
I strongly oppose new rules requiring Indian passports within 90 days along with high fees. Many Many NRIs are currently upset with Govt. of India on this issue and media is playing role in spreading their voices. For example, local radio station in my area in New Jersey, USA – EBC Radio has started a discussion today on the same with many responses from audiences as well as sympathy of assemblyman (Arun).
First of all, members of Indian consulates are not organized enough to work with paperwork and inquiries of many NRIs on this issue. Also, Many NRIs can not afford high fees on such short notices, as it is due within 90 days and for each family member. Besides, we already pay enough fees on OCI cards and Visas, additional fees only make things worse. Currently, there is an opposition in this regard and many NRIs and media has decided to appear in front of Indian consulate in NY on June 4th between 2:30- 4:00 pm to have their voices heard.
At last, my appeal is to not make NRIs feel bad of being an Indian but proud so that we can feel free to visit our motherland proudly. You(Govt.) can not promote NRI visits to India and charge unreasonable fees at the same time. Thank you! Jai Hind!
May 31st, 2010 at 10:35 pm
Hello Santosh,
Your point is very valid. I am forwarding your query to the Consulate. Shall keep you updated. — Editor
June 1st, 2010 at 4:29 am
The indian consulate is asking to submit a copy of US naturalization certificate alongwith the application of surrender.
This is what the US naturalization certificate states
“It is punishable by US law to copy ,print of photograph is certificate ”
Can we submit the photocopy as requested by Indian consulate?
June 1st, 2010 at 6:38 am
hi all,
I have multiple visa for travel to India, at the time of getting my visa I took my Indian passport to consulate office in NY but they said they do not need it. Now it mean I have to penalised for their irresponsibilty. I got US citizen in Jan. 2003 and my Indian passport expired in sept.2004 and I took my passport to Consulate office in 2003 when I went there to get visa for travel to India and they said they don’t need the passport. now on web it says if you kept passport beyond year 2005 you pay $250 as penality along with $175 fee. Its really shame that they are making us to pay for their own irresponsibilities. It is shame on the Govt of India which penalise the general public who want to go to their mother land rather than taking any action against those who takes payment from the govt. but fails to fulfill their duties as responsible employees of the govt., who donot keep themselves awear of the rules of the Govt..
I know there are going to be many more people who might had tried to surrender their passport but consulate people due to their own ignorence might have not taken their passports.
I think it time to take action and J and Santosh both are right on their points.
June 2nd, 2010 at 7:21 am
There ae several of us who already have an OCI and there is really no need to approach the Indian Consulate for any services in the future. What is stopping us from not paying this penalty or returning our passports (and incure the fine) considering that we have the OCI card already? Is the Immigration in India requesting for a passport surrender form at the port of entry?
June 2nd, 2010 at 7:43 am
Great News, the fee has been dropped to $20. The fee has been dropped to $20, check out the Indian consulte web site.
http://www.cgisf.org/
LATEST NEWS: In supercession of previous rules, Government of India has decided that Persons of Indian origin who have already acquired foreign citizenship uptil 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 01 June 2010 will have to submit declaration of renunciation of their Indian citizenship forms as given on website and fees of USD 175.00
June 2nd, 2010 at 8:40 am
Can we all sign the petition?
http://www.petitiononline.com/ip100521/petition.html
This is mockery of our own making. The rules are there since 1955 and never been implemented and now due to the Govt mistakes – they want us to pay. This is ridiculous and laughable. Each consulate has their own interpretation of the rules . NY Consulate is asking even OCI holders to get the Surrender Certifcate, where as SFO Consulate says they do not even issue a Surrender Certificate. How laughable can our Govt reps be?
In fact – we need to sue the Indian Govt for not implementing those rules and make them pay us the same fee for all the current OCI/PIO/Visa card holders. If we are democratic country – this is what should happen in Democracy. Let’s see where we head with this.
This reminds of the Joke we have about Lallu Prasad – who applies for a job at Microsoft. After sometime he receives a letter from Bill Gates who regrets to inform him about the job opening. But Lallu – misinterprets the letter saying that he was offered the job. This is how our guys interpret the rules – but luckily it took them only 55 years to recognize(since 1955).
Go figure!!!
June 2nd, 2010 at 5:04 pm
Yes anyone can sign the petition. Shal get it forwarded to you. — Editor
June 2nd, 2010 at 5:06 pm
In fact go to the link http://www.petitiononline.com/ip100521/petition.html and sign it.
June 3rd, 2010 at 4:12 am
Can someone raise the protest for the ones who paid $175 in order to comply with the new rule set by Govt. of India. We need to have signature based petition of protest file against collected money too. I’m planning send following email to COnsul General – NY following email. Please suggest.
————————————————————————–
Dear Sir,
I noticed recent change on your website that the fees for Renunciation / Surrender certificate has been waived – which is definitely a welcome decision. My only question is that your office has arranged special one day camp on Saturday 29th May 2010 (just a day ahead of waiver decision) and collected and issued Renunciation / surrender certificates to thousands of people (which includes me). We all waited for long hours to get the certificate so that we can apply for Entry visa or PIO or OCI as we can not apply without the certificate (as per new policy). I understand that the cases which has been processed are not going to be refunded back. Do you think it’s a fair decision by Govt. of India for someone who is complying with all your new immigration rules and trying to follow the process ? Why someone who has spent long hours in queue to get the Surrender certificate on a week-end day should be penalized ($175 fees) for following and complying with the rules set by Govt. of India ?
I just would like to know what’s my fault – Is that I was trying to comply with new rule set by Govt. of India for foreign citizens of PIO ?
Or
Is that I came on Saturday when special camp was arranged by Newyork Consul General and not waited like many others (who were already having Tourist visa or PIO or OCI with them) ?
Or
Is that I wanted to visit my old parents back in India and which can be done only upon receiving either Visa (1-2 weeks time) , PIO (around 2-3 weeks time) or OCI (around 3-4 months time) and which I can apply for only upon receiving Surrender certificate ?
I request you to re-consider the decision and refund $155 back to ALL who have applied and collected Surrender certificate in last few days against submission of copy of Surrender certificate and copy of receipt (paid $175 issued by Consulate) and treat everyone with equality.
Appreciate your positive support and response for the same.
Look forward to hear from you soon.
Thanks,
Sam
June 3rd, 2010 at 10:03 am
I am referring your concern to the GOPIO activists — Editor
June 4th, 2010 at 3:17 am
I agree with Sam. I also waited for 6 hours on the special money making camp on Saturday May 30th. I paid $175 each for mine and my wife’s passport surrender.
It is not our fault if the Indian Consulate does not have their act together.
We need a refund of $155.
Alternately you could help and complain to the Better Business Bureau of New York about this corrupt practices.
June 7th, 2010 at 2:44 am
I totally agree….. is there anyway to get our money back from these thieves…
June 8th, 2010 at 12:59 am
I agree we need a refund of $155. It is not fair to take advantage of somebody who was in need to get Indian visa. It is totally unfair. Rule should be same for everybody who got citizenship before June 1st.
June 8th, 2010 at 1:02 am
I absolutely agree. I paid $175 for my passport surrender. My OCI application is taking for ever because of this unthought requirement. I need to leave for India wihhin a week. No response on my e-mails from the Indian consulate. Now I need to go in person and get the Visa. In my case, I have already spent the OCI fee, surrender certificate fee and now I have to pay for the visa beacuse someone didnot think through. I need a rrrefund of $155 and I don’t even want OCI anymore! Need refund on my OCI as well.
June 8th, 2010 at 1:16 am
I want a refund of $155. My OCI application has been delayed due to this unthought requirement. I need to leave for India in a few days so I personaly have to got to the Indian consulate to get the visa. The surrender certificate application was sent to the consulate with $195 about two weeks ago. I was expecting the Indian consulate to expedite the appllication process and grant my OCI to avoid addiitonal visa fee. There is no response to my e-mails from the Indian consulate. At this pont I don’t even want OCI if they will refund my money for the same. The Indian Govt.should refund my money.
June 8th, 2010 at 10:12 am
I paid $175 and got the surrender certificate. I never wanted to pay that $175 but I had to given the fact that I had to apply for OCI immediately. Now that the rule has changed again and reduced the feed to $20, I request the CGISF to refund $155 and treat everybody fairly.
Unfortunately CGISF doesn’t comply with US govt rules, otherwise I would have taken legal action.
I have had enough share of anxiety, confusion and frustration over past few weeks and hope that Govt of India keeps up with a professional image outside of the nation atleast.
June 8th, 2010 at 12:53 pm
If consulate does not refund the $155, it amounts to PLAIN CHEATING. Thousands of people like us whose OCI were held for SC or whose 90 day limit from NC were approaching or whose travel plans were finalised did not have any choice but to apply for the SC without any delay as otherwise it would incur more penalty. Why should people who try to comply law sooner than later be punished ? Does this mean , if we wait and watch for some more time , then they will reduce the fees further ? Does the consulate squeeze the people who want to follow the letter of the law to the fullest ?
CGNY have updated their website today stating No relaxation or refund of fees made. Here is the exact wording ‘Persons of Indian origin who acquired foreign citizenship on or before 31st May, 2010 should approach the Consulate for cancelling their passports if this has not been already done. They will have to pay cancellation charge of US $ 20 per person in addition to mailing charges of US $ 20. This relaxation will not cover applications processed before 1st June 2010.
‘
SFO web site is contradictory and still says ‘The issue of refund of any part of renunciation fee already paid by applicants till 31 May 2010, if applicable, has been taken up with the Government of India. The decision when received will be uniformly applied to those concerned and the information will be put on our website when available. Meanwhile no email/phone queries will be entertained. ‘
We do not know what their final call is, however this is totally unjustified considering the large sum for families.
Can attorneys, GOI associations please take up our plea as otherwise the individual voices will be lost.
PLEASE PLEASE HELP THIS JUST CAUSE.
June 8th, 2010 at 1:45 pm
your e mail ID has been removed from your comments — Editor
June 9th, 2010 at 4:41 am
I paid 525$ for 3 person for renunnciaton which I have not received yet… It is ridiculous to hear that now it cost only 25$. Day time robbery this is. I hope someone wakes up from gave (like Mahatma Gandhi) and does something to our country.
June 10th, 2010 at 10:44 pm
Yes I agree. Could you please let us know if there a petition filed for this refund ?
June 11th, 2010 at 12:39 am
I am forwarding your concern to GOPIO who are concerned with the issue — Editor
June 11th, 2010 at 3:11 pm
Why should a application be made for renouncing Indian passport before obtaining OCI?. Indian laws says that one automatically loses Indian citizenship on acquiring another citizenship.
If I renounce and later want to resume Indian citizenship, it could be a problem (my earlier signing of renunciation of Indian passport could become a hinderance as it would say I voluntarliy renounced Indain citizenship)
any ideas?
June 11th, 2010 at 10:25 pm
Dear Sir, I and my family members became citizens of USA 30 years ago.We do not know what happened to our Indian passports because we vaguely remember that either Indian consulate or Passport office took away our Indian passports to issue new passports or Visas.We were confused by the order of the Indian government and we are planning to cancel our plans to travel to India.Now I am glad that the order is rescinded.It would have been impossible for us to trace where or when our old India passports have been lost.We thank the government of India to give the ruling from now rather than retrospectively.We thank all POIs to appeal to the government.
June 11th, 2010 at 11:13 pm
The website now states that the new rule of $ 175 for surrender will only apply for Indians who obtain naturalization after June 1st 2010. Why is the Indian Government discriminating with the new US Citizens of Indian origin. For a family of 6 who have recently (as of yesterday) aquired US Citizenship, this is a HUGE financial hit, and may force new citizens to not want to go back to India in nay event. This is just another vehement act of the Indian Government to penalise NRI’s and it disgusts me so! Instead of encouraging new citizens to maintain close ties with the homeland, they are on the other hand alienating them with all these fees and paperwork.
They should reconsider this for all Citizens across the board, both new and old and there should not be any discriminating between old citizens and new.
Personally, I and my family will not be wanting to go back to India in any event because of these ridiculous fees, rules and paperwork. Its going to be India’s loss as more and more newly naturalized citizens choose to do so too!
June 12th, 2010 at 1:57 am
Complete unethical business, that peice of paper where they stamp and give it back sometimes without signature and asking $175 at first place and now not refunding to people who paid……..I thought this was done only by a Indian like me but here I see the whole gang ( Government) is doing it in front of World..
Shame on people who decide on this policy.
June 14th, 2010 at 12:39 am
I also paid 350$ for 2 people, please let me know where the petition can filed for the refund.
June 14th, 2010 at 8:35 pm
Please contact GOPIO.com who filed the original petition — Editor
June 16th, 2010 at 8:17 pm
We would like to open up an invitation for guest bloggers to submit their own blog posts to be published here onhttp://sanjal.co.uk/blog.
The articles you submit must be original posts.
SanJal
June 17th, 2010 at 3:41 am
Hi, I applied for visa 3 weeks ago and paid my renunciation fee of $175.
I got my citizenship in April. will I be refunded the amt of $155?
June 20th, 2010 at 11:40 am
a class action law suit is necessary to bring justice to this mockery.
June 22nd, 2010 at 6:19 am
Hi
I paid £90.00, just for surrendering my passport. Any one found a way or procedure to get refund..
Regards
J.Singh
June 22nd, 2010 at 11:48 am
I agree we need refund of $175 *3. After rule changed I got a call from NY consulate to pay $20 each for me and my family. We paid that hoping we will get surrender certificate and refund. Haven’t seen anything yet.
June 26th, 2010 at 1:53 am
I acquired U S citizenship by naturalisation on 19th August 2009. I obtained a 10 year visa from Indian consulate in Houston shortly thereafter. I had submitted my U S Passport as well as the Indian passport to the embassy while applying for the visa. The visa was issued on 25th September 2009. At the same time the consulate CANCELLED my Indian passpoert and returned it to me. Is it required that I should now again surrender the passport to the embassy with a fee? I want to obey the law. Please let me know what the law is at present.
June 27th, 2010 at 9:32 am
I too paid $350.00 for the renunciation/surrender certificate for me and my husband. I have made repeated attempts to get the amount back. I too had get a phone call saying that they will refund back the money, but haven’t received anything and the NY consulate website obnoxiously mentions that prior cases will not be opened and no refunds will be issued. In these hard economic times, it is totally inconsiderate of the Indian Government to say that they will not refund the money.
I do request that a petition be done to followup for the refund.
July 4th, 2010 at 4:11 am
I have payed £180 towards surrender certificate for mine and my husbands Indian passports, it is so unfair if they dont refund the difference . Can anyone please let me know what is the procedure for the refund.
July 7th, 2010 at 12:54 am
Dear Sir.
I am staying in India after I become I.O C.
What is the procedure to surrender my Indian Pasport in India?
Pl. reply.
C A Patel
July 14th, 2010 at 12:27 am
I paid $ 100 (5×20) + $ 20 for return mail to cancell our passports.
After learning that this is not required anymore, I sent an email to consulate office, but did not receive any positive response.
The passports were received by the Consulate office on June 16th, but as 07/12/10 we have not received passports back, eventhough it is stated in the web page that the passports will be returned after 7 working days.
We must do something about this irresponsible team of consulate office.
Hope we can unitedly fight for this corrupt system.
July 22nd, 2010 at 9:41 am
It is not clear about some problems.My wife and children(one Indian Passport)became citizens of USA in 1983.We went to India a number of times on US passport.My wife’s Indian passport was not returned to her when she got the US passport or Indian VISA in 1983.Essentially the old Indian passport was lost.We have valid VISA to go to India and US Passport now.We do not want to get OCI or POI.We are confused about what we have to do.We just want to go as visitors for 2-4 weeks.If any body can clarify I will appreciate.thanks.
July 23rd, 2010 at 10:53 pm
Hi,
I got my citizenship in 1992 and have no idea what happened to my Indian passport.
Thanks for your helpful post. Of the three items you have mentioned as requirements by the consulate:
>> 1. Official documents submitted to authorities of new country at the time of obtaining citizenship/naturalization & documents used for entry such as US Form I -130. <> 3. Police report. <<
I went to the police station and they said that they will not issue police reports for lost passports – some new rule after 9/11. They asked me to contact INS! Any idea what can be done about this?
Thanks.
August 5th, 2010 at 4:56 am
In Canada, Consulate Offices is still asking for Penalty of $240 for not surrendering Indian Passports. They are saying penalty is not waived. Only Fee is reduced for those who acquired Foreign Citizen before June 01, 2010
August 11th, 2010 at 2:22 am
I had my Indian Passport cancelled when I applied for PIO Card. My Indian Passport has a stamp ‘CANCELLED’. Consulate (NY)’s website very clearly states that if the passport was cancelled, no further action is required – meaning it is not necessary to apply for surrender certificate. However, my question is: Am I expected to carry my cancelled Indian Passport along with PIO Card and US Passport everytime I travel to India?
August 15th, 2010 at 10:55 pm
As per News Published in various News Papers that Penalty charges for retaining a passport despite acquiring foreign citizenship for over three years have also been waived off for those who acquired before 31 May, 2010.
But CGI Toronto Canada is still Charging Penalty u/s 12(1A) for not surrendering passports in 3 years. When I contacted them, they said it is as per Instructions fronm Govt of India.
Is it applicable?????.
Can someone help me to get some Official Circular or Document to provide some proof to CGI Toronto that penalty has been waived off. They said News Papers Reports are not enough. They have already rejected my application on 19 July, 2010 and asked for Penalty of $240 plus Renunciation/Surrender Fee of $20 per Passport to get Surrender Certificate. My Passport is expired and never used it after Foreign (Canadian) Citizenship.
What is the Rule ???. Please reply. I have also contacted GOPIO but no answer so far.
August 27th, 2010 at 7:31 am
I came to the United States in the 1960′s and have no idea if I even had an Indian passport ( as I think in those days a child’s name was endorsed in the mother or father’s passport). Both my parents have passed away so there is no one I can ask .
So as per the procedure given by the Indian embassy to renunciate Indian citizenship, I sent in a sworn affidavit stating why I do not an old Indian passport, along with copies of my parents and my naturalization certificates.
They have denied my renunciation application saying that without an Indian passport, they wont issue me a renunciation certificate!! This is pure harassment!! Without that certificate I cannot apply for an OCI card or get an Indian Visa. Who do I complain to?? The Indian Embassy in Washington DC is of no help. No one picks up the phone or answers emails.
September 17th, 2010 at 3:19 am
The fee for $175 is ridiculous, well what else would you except from an inept government who relies on a foreign born Italian woman for advise on how to run india! They ain’t getting Amy of my money or support in the future!
September 17th, 2010 at 8:41 am
you are professional.
September 21st, 2010 at 1:09 pm
Dear Sir,
I have acquired Australian citizenship in August 2010 but had started the process in March 2010.
Will I have to pay $273 fee to cancel my Indian passport. Based on your article in The Indian Sub Continent Times on 25 May 2010 “Govt. bows to PIOs protest; rescinds order on passports” it seems like I will not have to pay this. But I have been advised otherwise by the counsulate. The text I am refrring to in the article is “The government has now issued a clarification that PIOs will not be asked to pay any renunciation charges. The ministry of home affairs (MHA) has informed Indian embassies that the order will hold only for those Indian citizens who are in the process of acquiring foreign citizenship and will not be applied with retrospective effect.
Can you please enlighten me.
Thanks.
September 22nd, 2010 at 9:33 am
The Indian Consulates in Canada are still levying a penalty of Cdn. $240 for retention of Indian passport for a period in excess of three years from the date of acquiring Canadian citizenship. The Consulate General of Toronto site was last updated on September 20, 2010 still indicating the above penalty amount. Here is the link:
http://www.cgitoronto.ca/Passport/passpSurrender.html
September 23rd, 2010 at 1:46 am
The penalty of $250 is too much. Why did the consulate ever give a visa if the law was always in place. Now all of a sudden the Indian govt. wants to penalize the people who received citizenship from other countries.
Is it our fault that they now chose to enforce the law.
October 29th, 2010 at 11:42 am
does anyone know what happened to the petition that was started for the passport retention penalty? or any new rules at the indian consulate? are they still charging $260 in canada.
December 15th, 2010 at 6:59 am
hi everybody
today i went to indian embassy for a oci card, they told me that if i want to deposite a application i have to pay 275euros for the retention of my passeport more than 3yrs.but i told them that i don’t know that i have to return my passeport after aquring the french citizenship that they told them that i am not an indian, because i have french citizenship. i felt very shame to hear that. their penalty is very high and they don’t think that people who have very less income can’t pay these type of penalitys.
so if there is a petition for this i am ready to agree with that and participate in this petition.
December 21st, 2010 at 10:37 am
I think we should pity ourselves that we are letting them get away with this ridiculous change. To just put a rubber stamp on passport saying it is cancelled they need $175. I just got my US citizenship and these fees are ridicuolous.
This guys have to be ashamed of themselves that they are on the world stage and trying to play these cheap tricks. We should sue these guys.
I have to apply for 4 OCI’s. OCI fees itself is ridicuoluous and now this surrender certificate drama will cost me arm and leg.
God help these guys.
December 21st, 2010 at 10:40 am
Lets start a petition for the people who has to apply for this surrender certificate and have to pay $175 going forward. This is ridicuolous fee and it has to be included in for OCI fees.
January 8th, 2011 at 2:51 am
Hello,
I would like to know the amount to be paid for surrendering Indian passport for those you have acquired a forigh nationality before 1 June 2010.
At the Indian embassy in Paris they are asking for 275€
February 7th, 2011 at 1:42 pm
Dear Sir,
May I have clarificaiton on the high fees changed in Australia for OCI / PIO applications, The rest of the world is paying close to half of the fees we are chaged here in Australia.
Why do we have that kind of difference in the fees structure.
Please align it with the current exchange rate and as per the prescribed fees listed for this bill.
Thanks
February 19th, 2011 at 5:49 am
Can anyone provide the website from Indian Government that clearly states the penalty fees for not renuncing the Passport?
March 8th, 2011 at 5:04 am
What is the link for the petition if anybody has started regarding high fees for indian passport renunciation
March 10th, 2011 at 6:07 pm
Travisa for OCI section is still charging $250 penalty fee for renunciation, which is a big burden on poor NRIs living abroad.
With a family member size of 4 ( 2 adults + 2 kids ), the whole OCI application is costing more than $1700.
Not everybody is rich as NRI. Please help
April 11th, 2011 at 11:18 pm
I paid £ 180 to surrender the passport of myself and my daughter. Now that this fee has been waived, it’s only unfair that I should be charged this amount and support the petition for refund of the charges minus the administration fee of £ 14 they now charge.
Happy to support a just cause.
May 4th, 2011 at 1:42 pm
So what happens now if you travel with a US passport and you did not surrender or cancelled the old indian passport?
Do they fine you in india? how much?
someone said that you dont have to surrender the old passport as of 2011. not sure if the rules were changed recently…….
May 5th, 2011 at 5:03 pm
“Penalty charges for retaining a passport despite acquiring foreign citizenship for over three years have also been waived off.”. Can Ashok provide an official link for the above as the Indian Hi Comm in Canada wants official proof not news clippings.
May 13th, 2011 at 7:05 am
I am a Canadian citizen and got citizenship and passport in 2007 and my Indian passport expired in 2008 and nobody asked me to surrender my Indian passport and in 2010 i went to India taking visa on canadian passport, that time also they did not ask me to surrender Indian Passport. What should I do now? because I can’t pay this huge amount because it is for 3 persons, myself, my husband and my son. should I wait? If I wait, will it be waived off or will it increase? PLEASE HELP ME. after hearing this, I can’t sleep.
May 26th, 2011 at 2:34 pm
i think they dont want to do anything for canadians because i just found a recent post on google that govt of india did waived the penalty charges for new york and san fran
Govt. of India Revokes New Rules for Surrender of Indian Passport
Government of India has relented in retroactive enforcement of the new rules due to the overwhelming opposition from the Indian Diaspora.
The latest notice posted on the website of Consul General of India in New York and San Francisco, says, “In supercession of previous rules, Government of India has decided that Persons of Indian origin who have already acquired foreign citizenship up 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 01 June 2010 will have to submit declaration of renunciation of their Indian citizenship forms as given on website and fees of USD 175.00.” On May 23, 2010, the Global Organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO International) initiated an on-line petition addressed to the Prime Minister of India, titled “Opposition to Retroactive Enforcement of New Rules for Surrender of Indian Passport”. As of this date, close to 29,000 people have signed this online petition to the Prime Minister of India against the retroactive enforcement of the new rules for surrender of Indian passports by naturalized citizens of other countries. By signing the petition, the former Indian citizens have expressed their strong opposition to the new rules and have vented their anger and frustration with their comments.
On May 28, 2010 GOPIO International sent a letter to Prime Minister of India, Hon. Dr Manmohan Singh, together with the first batch of over 19,000 signatures of people supporting the petition (the pdf file was about 1000 pages with signee names and comments), with the following requests:
To reconsider the retroactive enforcement of the new rules as many thousands of people could suffer undue and unnecessary hardship for no fault of their own. Indians who have been naturalized for years should be given the same 90 days window to obtain “surrender certificate” as being allowed to those Indians who become citizens of other countries now, without payment of fee or penalty.
To reduce the service fee from $175 to a reasonable amount of $25 (USD) after the first 90 days
In one week, close to 29,000 people went on line and signed the on-line petition which was addressed to the Prime Minister of India. There were many people, who in addition to signing the on-line petition, also vented their feelings in their emails directly to the secretary of Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs (MOIA) and Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
May 28th, 2011 at 3:55 pm
Now, reading these comments I am confused. Has the fee for surrenderring our old unused Indian passports been waived or not? There seem to be many here sayong that it has while the visa office want to charge (dosent mean they will, just that like everything Indian, it is all very opaque in that they ‘may’).
I was looking for four OCIs for my family, bur WILL NOT pay a fine, for something that is not my fault on matter of principle. If this means that I cannot visit the country where I was born and and grew up and where my face belongs to, then so be it.
It seems that our baboos in offices still labour under the yoke of colonisation and are convinced that just as an Indian breathes so he commits a crime! I was never told that I need to surrender my passport at any of the many times I asked for a Visa and spent many unpleasant hours in the visa offices in Birmingham, UK, who bye the way are a particularly unpleasant lot. Unless of course if you know someone, then you just breeze in and breeze out. Otherwise you need to go prepared to be made to feel like an idiot who they may condescent to scowl at.
Anyway, I could rant for ever about these less than humans; What is the current situation? Has the fine been waived or does it still stand?
I would be grateful if someone could give me a reliable answer, that can be substantiated.
Thanks
June 1st, 2011 at 7:39 pm
I am a Australian Citizen and I wish to travel to India on a tourist visa. I have been asked by VFS australia to pay the AUD 273 fee.My passport is already expired. why should I cancel my expired passport? It makes no sense. If Indian govt wants to rip off all overseas indians, let them charge by increasing the OCI fees, but dont play cheap tricks by charging people travelling by tourist visa’s.
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June 22nd, 2011 at 11:11 am
Hi you guys (who resides in US etc) are still lucky. I am living in Australia and you guys don’t believe that fee for surrender of Indian passport here is A$275 which was increase from A$25. Which is really disappointing.
My point is getting passport or renrewing passport is far lot cheaper than surrendering passport!!!! Why this gap? Why they need this much money for surrendering passport? where this money goes?
Don’t even ask for penalties.. it’s well above the fee for surrendering the passport.
Another interesting case that if you want to verify yourt Indian license, Indian Consulate here (Australia) charges A$65 which must be case on hand without any receipt. If you ask for receipt they don’t give it!!!! I think you guys can understand how they making money! This is now the money making business and not the service from Indian government.
August 3rd, 2011 at 9:12 am
This is unimaginable. The indian government has become so greedy. I can’t believe I have to pay $168 CAD to cancel my indian passport!!! The government of India has just setup a new cash cow to milk on people who just want to go back to India to visit family (not mentioning heavy fees on visas or PIO cards) I am very happy not being part of this ridiculous corrupt country. Unfortunately, I have family there whom I hope to get out soon.
I urge all my Canadian and American friends not to visit this horrible corrupt country.
October 8th, 2011 at 7:38 pm
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October 14th, 2011 at 10:34 pm
I know that in certain cases a PIO or OCI card holder IS eligible for a government job in India. If you know of any such cases, please let me know how you did it and what kind of government job – in a University? In an institute coming under the DAE? I need to know the precedents for such things.
October 17th, 2011 at 7:46 pm
Hi All,
Help!!
I am in the process of applying for a OCI. I fly to India in 8 weeks.
I applied for a surrender certificate ( for the OCI application process) and have been told to pay a fine of £145 because I have a british passport since 2003.
As I may not be going to India often. I may cancel my OCI application and get a tourist Visa.
1)My question is , Will this penalty prevent me getting a tourist visa if I don’t pay?
2) Also read that if I got UK passport before MAY 2010 I need only pay $20 fine.
Can someone please clarify what happen in practice and what the GOVT INDIA policy is on these two questions.
Many thanks
Munni
October 18th, 2011 at 4:30 am
The best people to answer your question will be the High Commission staff or visit their web site. We provide information what we receive from the high commissions.
Regards
The Indian Sub-continent Times
October 25th, 2011 at 7:42 am
$ 175 is rediculously high for passport renunciation. They manynot budge just with online petition. Will you guys join for a mass demonstration in front of New York Indian embassy?
I am sure that will make some difference! Thanks
November 4th, 2011 at 11:35 pm
I just got charged $250 dollars for not cancelling my indian passport in 3 years. I mean how am I supposed to cancel my indian passport if my mother naturalized me when I was under 18. My parents were not aware of these changes and this just makes me realize how much political corruption there is in India. I don’t have a sense of indian pride anymore.
November 12th, 2011 at 12:44 am
Hello Everybody,
I am really confused with all this. So are we supposed to pay the big fee for surrender certificate?
November 30th, 2011 at 12:12 am
I have been a US citizen for many years now. I am also an OCI card holder. I thought I should let you know of a recent crisis that occured when I went to SFO to take a Singapore Airlines flight to Delhi this month. I was the first person in the check-in counter. I produced my new US passport and the OCI card. The person doing the check-in wanted to know where my lifelong multiple entry visa was. Well, this was in my old US passport which expired after my trip to India last year. After several rounds of discussion, I was told I could not board the flight without showing the visa. This was never told to me from the SF Consular office. I asked how could anyone get an OCI card without getting a visa in the first case, but all this fell into deaf ears. No amount of appeal worked and I had to go back to San Diego, collect my old US passport, and re-arrange all my flights, costing me over $500.00 already. The SIA told me even if they let me board the flight, the Indian Immigration officer in Delhi might refuse me entry and obviously I could not take that risk. In case you want to know, I am in India to explore the possibility of running an inexpensive clinical trial for cancer when all other treatments have failed. What an irony!!
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January 13th, 2012 at 7:39 pm
Pleased to see something has changed in the recent funny visa policy.
Wondering what difference it makes and related to the indian authorities for those obtained naturalised before 1st June 2010 and those after, for the later one to pay Rs.7000/=?
Is there any convincing justification for this daylight robbery?
I have already paid to obtain Indian passport. I never wanted to denounce my indian citizenship, You (Indian authorities) demand to surrender ALSO WITH FEES!!!????. HOW PUNISHING IT IS.
Please someone advice what can do to abolish the surrender fee for those obtained foreign citizen after 1st June 2010.
Many thanks
January 13th, 2012 at 7:40 pm
Sorry. related cost i mean