1. When one gains foreign citizenship one automatically loses indian citizenship then why one needs to renounce indian citizenship before applying for OCI?
2. Secondly why could not the Indian governement just ask for surrender of indian passports & issue OCI to "eligible" people if it did not want to give "full rights" to "dual citizens"? Wouldn't this method have been easy? i.e just take current indian passport & give OCI to eligible people by charging some fees.
Now OCI is just a "visa" and PIO's will have no rights to go back if OCI is cancelled for some reasons isn't that risky? like many may be having false 498a cases registered etc and being a criminal offense they could loose their OCI if they did not mention it etc when applying?or if found out later or even when applying back for Indian citizenship.
Of course for those who don't want to go back ever there is no problem but for those who plan to return later it is definately a problem as they are could be loosing their rights even to their go/visit their country of birth/parents if OCI is cancelled for some reasons.
Also tomorrow if world recession takes place (say 20-30 years from now -no one knows what could happen 20-30 years from now) & if PIO are in a country where they could face backlash from locals due to unemployments etc then it will be difficult for PIO to return to India if their OCI is cancelled for some reasons
Also by renouncing Indian citizenship and if tomorrow some radical party like shiv sena comes to power & they say you betrayed us by taking foreign citizenship etc and if they change laws it will be difficult to go back/gain Indian citizenship later for PIO's in backalsh hit countries.
I think the OCI is a mockery and all people should urge the Indian governemnt to grant OCI not as a "visa" but as a citizenship with limited rights.
Those who feel I am right should petition the Indian governemnt /PM to consider OCI not as a "visa" but as a citizenship with limited rights with the right to get back full citizenship later (as it is now --after 5 years with one year stay in India --that is OK) but OCI should not be considered as a "VISA"
Atleast if one is partial citizen they can appeal any decision in India court but with "visa" they are "helpless". Indian courts will not take their case as they not Indian citizens but "Visa holders"
Also in other countries when changing a procedure/rule etc public opinion is sought and time is given but in India any rules can change anytime without notice and those who are considering opting for foreign citizenship with the hope that they can regain Indian citizenship after 5 years of OCI will find themselves nowhere if suddenly the rules are changed and as they are not citizens but visa holders they cant appeal in courts also
Also why should one renounce Indian citizenship when citizenship law says thay one automatically looses Indian citizenship on gaining another so why should I renounce? Tomorrow if some radical government comes they will say...... see your signature you have already renounced your citizenship hence the Indian govt should just take back Full Indian passport and give OCI to eligible people without renouncing etc
Hence please petition the prime minister/Indian goverment to consider OCI not as a "visa" and keep the procedure simple - ie take back full indian passport and give partial Indian passport ie OCI to eligible persons with option to regain full citizenship after 5 years as it is now
Jai Hind
2. Secondly why could not the Indian governement just ask for surrender of indian passports & issue OCI to "eligible" people if it did not want to give "full rights" to "dual citizens"? Wouldn't this method have been easy? i.e just take current indian passport & give OCI to eligible people by charging some fees.
Now OCI is just a "visa" and PIO's will have no rights to go back if OCI is cancelled for some reasons isn't that risky? like many may be having false 498a cases registered etc and being a criminal offense they could loose their OCI if they did not mention it etc when applying?or if found out later or even when applying back for Indian citizenship.
Of course for those who don't want to go back ever there is no problem but for those who plan to return later it is definately a problem as they are could be loosing their rights even to their go/visit their country of birth/parents if OCI is cancelled for some reasons.
Also tomorrow if world recession takes place (say 20-30 years from now -no one knows what could happen 20-30 years from now) & if PIO are in a country where they could face backlash from locals due to unemployments etc then it will be difficult for PIO to return to India if their OCI is cancelled for some reasons
Also by renouncing Indian citizenship and if tomorrow some radical party like shiv sena comes to power & they say you betrayed us by taking foreign citizenship etc and if they change laws it will be difficult to go back/gain Indian citizenship later for PIO's in backalsh hit countries.
I think the OCI is a mockery and all people should urge the Indian governemnt to grant OCI not as a "visa" but as a citizenship with limited rights.
Those who feel I am right should petition the Indian governemnt /PM to consider OCI not as a "visa" but as a citizenship with limited rights with the right to get back full citizenship later (as it is now --after 5 years with one year stay in India --that is OK) but OCI should not be considered as a "VISA"
Atleast if one is partial citizen they can appeal any decision in India court but with "visa" they are "helpless". Indian courts will not take their case as they not Indian citizens but "Visa holders"
Also in other countries when changing a procedure/rule etc public opinion is sought and time is given but in India any rules can change anytime without notice and those who are considering opting for foreign citizenship with the hope that they can regain Indian citizenship after 5 years of OCI will find themselves nowhere if suddenly the rules are changed and as they are not citizens but visa holders they cant appeal in courts also
Also why should one renounce Indian citizenship when citizenship law says thay one automatically looses Indian citizenship on gaining another so why should I renounce? Tomorrow if some radical government comes they will say...... see your signature you have already renounced your citizenship hence the Indian govt should just take back Full Indian passport and give OCI to eligible people without renouncing etc
Hence please petition the prime minister/Indian goverment to consider OCI not as a "visa" and keep the procedure simple - ie take back full indian passport and give partial Indian passport ie OCI to eligible persons with option to regain full citizenship after 5 years as it is now
Jai Hind