Giving up Indian Citizenship - What are your feelings

b2b · Post by **b2b** » Fri Aug 31, 2007 7:18 pm

Indian constitution does not allow dual citizenship. Therefore, one loses INC the moment one takes up another citizenship.

In most case this may be a difficult decision emotionally. And now with stellar progress of Indian economy it may be seen a difficult decision otherwise as well.

GOI introduced PIO and now OCI. Do those help to some extent over these feelings of loosing a part of being Indian or far from it one still yearns for the INC.

vijay · Post by **vijay** » Fri Aug 31, 2007 11:55 pm

I recently applied for the USC etc. It was an emotionally disturbing process. My wife did not feel that way being more practical of the two of us. She quantified it as paperwork that makes life more easier in the long run what with kids being USC.
I kind of felt like the umbilical cord was being cut.

nand · Post by **nand** » Sat Sep 01, 2007 12:02 am

I too find it gut wrenching. why cant GOI allow true dual. I rationalize it as being caught in bureaucratic hell. some babus decide you cannot be a citizen of x if you are a citizen of y. phir bhi dil se hindustani

mn_op · Post by **mn_op** » Sat Sep 01, 2007 2:44 am

MeraNaseebR2I;42507Aren't you still attached to your mother and that love is ever lasting and mutual?

Same is the case with citizenship. Yup it is hard to leave your mom's (parent's home) and come outside, yet we all do. Same is true of country or motherland.

I agree with your wife. Being practical is the right way to approach this.[/quote]

While accepting citizenship of other country is a very practical decision, its a difficult decision neverthless.

Citizenship is much more than a matter of convenience...otherwise words like 'patriot' wouldn't have been such a weighty words.

vivmat · Post by **vivmat** » Sat Sep 01, 2007 4:06 am

I voted for:
Extremely difficult to lose INC - OCI or no OCI

and it really is. Our time to apply has come and I am not too happy with the thought of giving up my Indian citizenship. My wife is a little more neutral (or you can say practical) on this issue.

If we go ahead with getting our USC it will be ironical - lived in the US as "outsiders/immigrants" for 10 years and then go back to our own country as "outsiders" having relinquished our INC.

It is quite a dilema (emotionally). Financially and tax wise is another matter.

realgoogler · Post by **realgoogler** » Sat Sep 01, 2007 4:12 am

But I believe OCI gives a hope that India still considers us special than others. Others meaning other nationals who are not of indian origin.

babu_babu · Post by **babu_babu** » Sat Sep 01, 2007 6:51 am

Converted USCs will be loosing great opportunity (final career destination to some) to get into Politics. Other than that nothing much difference.

Infact, most of the born rich families are into politics and their sons/daughters will always keep an eye on politics, where ever they are. It will be difficult for them to keep switching the citizenship.

b2b · Post by **b2b** » Sat Sep 01, 2007 1:49 pm

It will be intersting also to get experiences of those who have already lost INC for some time. How do they feel when they look back on the decision? What would be their advice to people who are wannabe US / other foreign citizenships?

sagarthanawala · Post by **sagarthanawala** » Sat Sep 01, 2007 5:01 pm

Hello,

Losing Indian Citizenship is a strict no-no. You can only go for USC if you have verry few relatives or if parents have passed away . The reason we feel "disturbed" is becasue we come from a very "rooted" culture.

"Traditions" still work in India. People still point fingers if you don't provide for your parents.

And lastly, "how many people are going to cry when you die ?" .

In US, it could be ur kids and some relatives. Mostly, it will be very, very lonely once your cross into 70's. thats the time when taking stock will be a hard. And India will hold the salvation key.

Lastly, India is poised to be a super-power and it pays to stay with the winning side [as you all have seen happening in US].

Practical thinking is good till the time you are making a career or have to achieve somethings. After that, its the pull on your heart strings that count.

dbs · Post by **dbs** » Sat Sep 01, 2007 6:01 pm

b2b;42629It will be intersting also to get experiences of those who have already lost INC for some time. How do they feel when they look back on the decision? What would be their advice to people who are wannabe US / other foreign citizenships?

It was a straight forward decision for me. I took uk citizenship (OCI only a gleam in politicians eye) so that I did not have to get visa's or wp to work in rest of europe. I knew we were coming back though the date was not set.

My wife stuck to Indian Citizenship, till she realised the difference it made to travelling abroad. By that time ofcourse, OCI, had been announced and we realised that we can return and stay as a native just with OCI.

Now most of our neighbours and relatives do not know or realise that we have a foreign citizenship. We have not been treated as foreigners in India. We are living just like other Indians. We are still Indians, whether in UK or in India, we still root for India in cricket matches and always will ( even now that we are loosing).

I look upon british citizenship as a life long multi-entry visa to most countries in the world.