"Surrender Certificate" for Indian Passport required for USC from May 2010

Anu_Global · Post by **Anu_Global** » Tue May 03, 2011 7:58 pm

This is new to me until I read the article in TOI:

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tech/careers/job-trends/Indian-diaspora-protest-over-new-visa-rules/articleshow/8145150.cms

I searched Indian Embassy site for this and found out to be true:

http://www.indianembassy.org/index.php?option=com_content&id=175

So what is this now??? why there is any need for this certificate when we alreadyhave OCI??
another scheme of making money it seems...

Charging $250 as a penalty if you have not surrendered your Indian Passport after acquiring USC beyond 3 years!!

"After acquisition of foreign citizenship, an Indian passport cannot be used for travel after three months of the naturalization date. If the Indian passport expires on or after Jan 1, 2005, and the Indian passport is not surrendered beyond three years after the naturalization date, a penalty of $250.00 will be charged. In addition, a penalty of $250.00 will be charged in each case of misuse of the Indian passport for travel after three months of acquisition of foreign citizenship, which may go up to $1250.00 total"

Anybody has gone thru this process? pls share your experience...

(another headache)

Hyd ki · Post by **Hyd ki** » Tue May 03, 2011 9:02 pm

Thanks for informing us about this new headache.

I do not understand how this effects me. Really appreciate if somebody shed some light on my situation.

I got my US passport and OCI in 2009. I came to India for good and I have no plans to go out of country in near future. So if I dont have this surrender certificate, what would happen?

Anu_Global · Post by **Anu_Global** » Tue May 03, 2011 9:22 pm

I guess it will only come into picture when somebody is entering or going out of India...so one more document to carry from now on...

Isn't OCI serves the same purpose?

but I think to make sure that everybody has surrendered their Indian Passport once they acquire new one. So that there will be no misuse of the older one but still the penalty is quite high.

ycl1688 · Post by **ycl1688** » Tue May 03, 2011 9:30 pm

To get rid of this headache is to say you lost your indian passport and get an loss of indian passport Affidavit of Loss form to get renunciation form if necessary.
I understand if you already have oci in hand why bother.

jaado · Post by **jaado** » Tue May 03, 2011 9:57 pm

Its pretty much required for folks who are getting citizenship lately and would like to apply for OCI/PIO/Visa to India. Atleast for the folks here most of the services are handled by Travisa and they are much much better than Indian Consulate in keep things informed.
For folks who became USC before June 2010 i guess you only need to pay $20 for some fee..

essjay · Post by **essjay** » Tue May 03, 2011 10:50 pm

Renunciation certificate is necessary when you have to apply for OCI, PIO, Visa etc. If you already have OCI, you should be fine. However, the next time you interact with a consulate it is possible that they may ask you to produce it before processing your request.

My understanding is that is not required when entering India.

srinivas74 · Post by **srinivas74** » Wed May 04, 2011 1:31 pm

Hello All

Surrender Certificate is not required if you got your US or other nationality citizenship before May 2010.

I m sure you must have cancelled your indian passport and got your OCI. As long as you got your OCI before May 2010 then its fine.

Its only for people who got their OCI after this date, they are asking for Surrender certificate.

If you still want a surrender certificate you can go look at the website of your nearest consulate and under misc. services you can pay around 20 dollars or so.

Hope this helps.

S

ycl1688 · Post by **ycl1688** » Wed May 04, 2011 7:44 pm

srinivas74;386532Hello All

Surrender Certificate is not required if you got your US or other nationality citizenship before May 2010.

I m sure you must have cancelled your indian passport and got your OCI. As long as you got your OCI before May 2010 then its fine.

Its only for people who got their OCI after this date, they are asking for Surrender certificate.

If you still want a surrender certificate you can go look at the website of your nearest consulate and under misc. services you can pay around 20 dollars or so.

Hope this helps.

S

To make life easier get the surrender certificate for $20 or so like you suggested. Use this as bible make copies store it in safety vault, file cabinet and everywhere you can think of. The idea is every time you need a favor from indian diplomatic crop you have to show this piece of paper. Even you got OCI you might have to get the U visa stamp
when your US passport expired. You never know when it will come to use.

srinivas74 · Post by **srinivas74** » Wed May 04, 2011 8:19 pm

Yeah I would agree with ycl1688, its better to get it and there is a fee waiver also for people who got foreign nationality before May 2010, it will cost you around 20 dollars only instead of paying 175 US dollars. so better get it

S

itsme · Post by **itsme** » Thu May 05, 2011 7:58 am

Friends,

I applied for Renunciation certificate ($175), at San Francisco Indian Consulate by Mail, two weeks back.
(Due to lack of time, for a travel in June, I have not applied for OCI at this time).

I just got a cancelled Indian passport back by mail,
with a stamp on the first page that says "passport is cancelled on acquiring US citizeship".
I was expecting that, I will get Renunciation certificate with consulate signature and stamp.
But I did not get any such certificate.

Is that how it is supposed to be ? , Or the consulate missed to send one to me.
Those who already did this process, please advise me,
if I need to followup with Travisa/Consulate, for the Renunciation certificate.

The reason I am concerned for this is, when I am ready to apply for OCI in July/Aug,
how can I submit copy of surrender certificate , with OCI application;
OR is it enough to submit first page of cancelled passport ?
(One of the requirements for OCI application, for those naturalized after May 1, 2010 is:
to submit a copy of "◦A Certificate of Renunciation issued by a Consulate of India")

Please advise me with your experience on Renunciation Certificate process.

regards