Does one need India Visa after OATH is taken?

M

Mudita

Registered Users (C)
Dear All,

N-400 is under process and we are awaiting OATH date. But ticket to India has been already purchased as we were not sure if OATH will happen before making a trip to India.

Now, if before leaving USA, we undergo the OATH, then does one need to Take Indian Visa??? Or it is allowed to Enter India without Visa?

FYI: Since oath would have just happened, we will be still holding Indian passport.

Would highly appreciate your comments and suggestions.

Regards,
Mudita
 
If you take oath before you leave you'll need to travel on your US passport and either get a visa or apply for OCI. You cannot travel on Indian passport once you take oath..
 
Thanks so much Bobsmyth for answering. thanks a lot.
I guess in that case we are in a trouble.
Our Interview date is 1st Oct 2009 and the person is leaving for india on 22nd OCT and coming back on 20th Nov.
Very Likely, that OATH will happen when the person is in India !!

We were thinking either req
 
Thanks so much Bobsmyth for answering. thanks a lot.
I guess in that case we are in a trouble.
Our Interview date is 1st Oct 2009 and the person is leaving for india on 22nd OCT and coming back on 20th Nov.
Very Likely, that OATH will happen when the person is in India !!

We were thinking
1) either reqquest the Office to make it between 1st Oct and 22nd Oct,
but are you saying that One NEEDS US PASSPORT to travel once OATH IS TAKEN?

2) OR request Officer to postpone OATH after 20th Nov?

OR
3) Come back to USA from India to attend the OATH?

What would you recommend?
Please suggest

Regards,
Mudita
 
Mudita said:
Thanks so much Bobsmyth for answering. thanks a lot.
I guess in that case we are in a trouble.
Our Interview date is 1st Oct 2009 and the person is leaving for india on 22nd OCT and coming back on 20th Nov.
Very Likely, that OATH will happen when the person is in India !!

We were thinking either req
Click to expand...
There are several possible scenarios:

Either you'll get a same day oath and have plenty of time to apply for US passport and visa

You get oath letter for an oath date after Nov 22

You get oath letter for an oath date while you're in India

If you really can't cancel India trip, make sure to have someone check your mail while you are in India. If you get the oath letter while in India for an oath date before your return to US you can always request to postpone oath.
 
Your should somehow try to request (not in your control though) if the Oath can take place within a week or so after the interview (if not on the same day) and then apply for expedited US passport. You may also be able to apply for a passport directly in person at one of the regional centers and get it within a couple of days by showing your travel ticket. VISA should take only a day or so if you can travel to a city that has Indian embassy/consulate.

The other option is to postpone either the Oath or the Interview until after you comeback. :)

Of course I hope I don't have to remind you that the last option is to postpone your trip or drop the idea altogether :D
 
Thank you so much guys.
I am overwhelmed to hear from you all.

Indeed we shall try as suggested by you guys.

I may guess that 20 days is toooo short and risky?? to do the following--
1. receive oath letter
2. perform oath
3. apply for us passport
4. apply and get the visa !!!!!!!

isnt it !! :-(....
 
Mudita said:
Thank you so much guys.

I may guess that 20 days is toooo short and risky?? to do the following--
1. receive oath letter
2. perform oath
3. apply for us passport
4. apply and get the visa !!!!!!!

isnt it !! :-(....
Click to expand...

It depends on where you are. As someone mentioned, same day oath is available in many places, but it depends on the location. If you have taken the oath, getting a passport (3 days max) and a visa (3 days max) is easy. You need to plan though - I booked my passport appointment even though the oath had not happened. If I waited for oath to book appointment, it would have added 10 days.

If you want same day passport and same day visa, it is all possible with some effort. Submit the documents by 9:30 AM (keeping some buffer), and it is highly likely you can get the documents back the same day. Mailing adds another overhead, so try to attend to these things in person.

In any case, you need to have a plan B.
 
Mudita said:
Thank you so much guys.
I am overwhelmed to hear from you all.

Indeed we shall try as suggested by you guys.

I may guess that 20 days is toooo short and risky?? to do the following--
1. receive oath letter
2. perform oath
3. apply for us passport
4. apply and get the visa !!!!!!!

isnt it !! :-(....
Click to expand...


When the person takes the oath, then Indian passport will be invalid (no matter if Indian passport is cancelled or not) since India doesn't allow dual citizenship.

If you can't cancel your trip to India, you can postpone the oath when you get the oath letter or someone checks your mailbox to see if the oath letter comes. (It may take several days to get a new oath date unfortunately.)

If your oath takes the place on the same day the interview occurs, you can apply for US passport and get US passport at the passport service (not post office) on the same day (right away after the oath is completed). After that, apply for India visa either at Indian embassy or Indian consulate (if you live near either one of them)
 
Mudita said:
1. receive oath letter
2. perform oath
3. apply for us passport
4. apply and get the visa !!!!!!!
Click to expand...

Not sure if you are aware of all the ramifications here if you do not get a same day Oath option.

At the Oath they take away your GC. That means you have no way of re-entering the US unless you have a US passport.

As has been stated, you can get passport expedited, all it takes is money. :) Usually 1 or 2 days but you have to do it in person at a passport facility and not a Post Office.

I have no idea about getting the Visa expedited but a call to the Embassy would clear that up.

If you miss the Oath date, you will need to request another oath date and if you do not do that in a timely manner they may consider the application abandoned.

It all sounds a little too tight and prone to disaster. Can you not delay until after the Oath and then go? Most e-tickets will have a $100 fee for changing the departure date, check with the airline.
 
Do the Indian authorities know if you take the oath or hold a US passport/citizenship?

I know of many people who hold both US and Indian and use the Indian PP for some countries.

Sorry for the stupid questions as I am not familiar with these issues and this site seems the best place to get this info.

Thanks in advance.
 
txapplicant said:
Do the Indian authorities know if you take the oath or hold a US passport/citizenship?

I know of many people who hold both US and Indian and use the Indian PP for some countries.

Sorry for the stupid questions as I am not familiar with these issues and this site seems the best place to get this info.

Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...
Whether Indian authorities know it or not, it is illegal to use Indian passport after one takes oath as a US citizen. It is easy to catch someone found using Indian passport and a US passport.
 
txapplicant said:
Do the Indian authorities know if you take the oath or hold a US passport/citizenship?

I know of many people who hold both US and Indian and use the Indian PP for some countries.

Sorry for the stupid questions as I am not familiar with these issues and this site seems the best place to get this info.

Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...

I believe they already have set up the intelligence computer system since Mumbai attacks. Therefore, the holder must use US passport and Indian visa in order to enter India after taking an oath to become a US citizen. It is not advisable to use Indian passport after taking an oath to become a US citizen.
 
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