India Dual Citizenship Mega Thread (Merged)

The India Dual Citizenship will be Operational:

  • In 2003

    Votes: 4 20.0%

  • In 2004

    Votes: 11 55.0%

  • Sometime after 2004

    Votes: 4 20.0%

  • I am skeptical if this will happen

    Votes: 1 5.0%
  • Total voters
    20
  • Poll closed .
Excellent news ! Other embassies will follow suit (Hopefully).
The NY embassy has also removed their old webpage (finally) and have created a new section for the OCI card.But that section right now is blank.Maybe they will have the information up by tomorrow.
The first OCI's will get their cards within the next few hours-and we'll have to wait about 12 weeks.
 
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SF consulate seems to be coming up with it's own set of rules.The form clearly states the documents should be self-notarized while the SF website is saying the copies have to be notarised by a notary public.And notaries generally do not certify copies of passports (by my experience).
Someone in that area should clarify it with them tomorrow itself.
 
Finally High Commission in London, UK has started some action. The website has been updated and they will be accepting applications from Monday 9th Jan 2006. They will charge GBP 165 for direct OCI or GBP 18 for PIO to OCI. And are expecting 8 to 12 weeks for the cards to be ready.

http://hcilondon.net/Overseas-Indian-Citizenship/indexnew.html

This High Commission will start accepting applications for OCI with effect from January 9, 2006. Application for OCI services can be made at the OCI services counter at the High Commission between 0930 hrs to 1130 hrs on all working days. Please reach the High Commission security counter early to obtain the entry token for the OCI services counter as these are issued in limited numbers. Tokens will be issued to applicants on first come first served basis. Applicants are advised to ensure that no column of the application is left unattended. Apart from affixing photographs and signatures at the designated places on the application, it may also be ensured that the requisite numbers of spare photographs (08 in all) of prescribed size are enclosed with the application. The existing foreign passport, cancelled or expired Indian Passport if available and their photocopies also need to be enclosed along with the application.

Fee for OCI services will be as under:

S.No. Particulars of different services of Overseas Citizenship of India scheme. Fee in £ stg
1. Registration as an Overseas Citizen of India under Sec 7A of the Act. 165.00
2. Renunciation of Overseas Citizenship of India. 018.00
3. Issue of duplicate certificate to Overseas Citizen of India. 018.00
4. Registration as an Overseas Citizen of India of Person of Indian origin Cardholder. 018.00
5. Fee for transferring visa from expired passport to new passport. 004.00
6. Refund of fee on rejection of OCI application for registration. 138.00

The fee will be collected in cash or in British Postal Orders only. In case, you are paying fee in cash please bring exact amount. If paying by postal orders, only crossed postal orders in favour of the High Commission of India, London will be accepted. Please note that cheques and drafts are not accepted for payment of fees.

We expect the OCI cards to be ready for collection in approximately 8 to 12 weeks and we request that no enquiry should be made for at least 12 weeks after submission of application.

For more information on OCI and to apply online and download application, please click www.mha.nic.in
 
mangal969 said:
I know of a person who is a PIO card holder who had to report to the FRRO when taking up employment.I assumed it was for an employment visa.Maybe it was just to pass the information to the government.I may be wrong.


Update: I was wrong.I verified with my friend.You do not need an employment Visa if you are a PIO card holder. Some companies however do insist on a police clearance certificate (whatever that is).
Click to expand...

Thanks mangal969. This is quite a relief.

Does anyone know any groups, message boards by returning Indians - PIOs mainly to share their experience in India. It would be of immense help to all the people who are or would be returning to India on a PIO / in future OCI.
 
US Passport with app?

I recently got US citizenship. Got some doubts.

Guess we need to send both US Passport (for the "U" visa sticker) and the old Indian passport (for them to cancel and return)?

Is 12 weeks from people who apply on Jan 9th? or is that how long it takes?
Say we apply on April 9th, will we receive the OCI in 15 days+transit time.
 
delmarca said:
I recently got US citizenship. Got some doubts.

Guess we need to send both US Passport (for the "U" visa sticker) and the old Indian passport (for them to cancel and return)?

Is 12 weeks from people who apply on Jan 9th? or is that how long it takes?
Say we apply on April 9th, will we receive the OCI in 15 days+transit time.
Click to expand...
Take your Indian passport in person, but don't mail it - they can cancel it on the spot. Alternatively if you live away from the consulate, send it for cancelling, and then apply for OCI when you get it back.

When you apply for the OCI don't send your US passport, but send a photocopy of the main ID page. (Take the original for reference.)

If I sent my passport when I applied in 2004, it would have gone lost in space like the fee and application - because it has yet to be processed.

You will need to get your passport "endorsed" with the visa, but I would do this one step at a time only when they issue the OCI card - come back to this board once the consulates have worked out the "modalities" and we might have a better way!

In terms of processing time, currently the ETA is 14+ months!!! It should be 15 days. So on 9 Jan, Monday everyone who applied should have their OCIs!
I would wait for some real OCIs have been processed, particularly of interest are OCI v2 applications received after the process is in full swing before getting a reasonable ETA.
 
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Fees for OCI around the world

basis said:
Finally High Commission in London, UK has started some action...
Click to expand...
UK is charging 4 Pounds for the U-Visa? It is $25 in the US! Anyway the fees are in the middle of the list, so not so bad.


Country OCI fee(PIO upgrade)

1. South Africa US$517($46)
2. Canada US$366($35)
3. New Zealand US$297($28)
4. Australia US$297($27)
5. UK US$291($32)
6. Saudi Arabia US$279($26)
7. Euro US$278(27)
8. UAE US$275($27)
9. US US$275($25)
 
First OCI Cards Issued

First OCI Cards Issued

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1362735.cms
http://us.rediff.com/news/2006/jan/07pbd3.htm?q=tp&file=.htm
http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_07010601,0008.htm

Two Indian Americans receive OCI card

HYDERABAD: Nivruti Rai and Iftekhar Shareef, both Indian Americans, received the first Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) cards from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at the inaugural ceremony of the fourth Pravasi Bharatiya Divas here on Saturday.

"I feel honoured to receive the first OCI card at the hands of the prime minister," Rai said.

"It is like reconnecting myself to Indian roots. I have been living in the US for 15 years. I got the US citizenship two years ago. I am really excited to have the dual citizenship," said Rai.

"We have been waiting for the dual citizenship for a long time," she said. Rai expects the OCI card would facilitate her multiple entries to India.

Rai, however, was not bothered about the lack of the voting right. "It does not really matter whether we get voting rights or not," she said.

Rai is presently based in Bangalore and works as senior manager with the Chipset group of Intel India. Hailing from Lucknow, she plans to shift back to the US in a few years.

Shareef was also proud to receive in his hometown the OCI card from the hands of the prime minister. "The need to have lifelong visa to visit India was being felt for long. The OCI card has fulfilled this need," said Shareef, a US citizen.

"Every time we visit India, we have to go through many formalities and report to police during our stay but with the OCI we will be saved from all this," said Shareef, president and chief executive officer of the Chicago-based National Bankcard Corporation.


http://us.rediff.com/news/2006/jan/07pbd3.htm?q=tp&file=.htm

Dr Singh presents first OCI cards

George Iype in Hyderabad | January 07, 2006 13:57 IST


Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Saturday inaugurated the 3rd Pravasi Bharatiya Divas in Hyderabad by fulfilling a promise that his government made last year - to grant Overseas Citizenship India cards to Persons of Indian Origin.

Dr Singh presented the first Overseas Citizenship India cards to two Persons of Indian Origin during the PBD inaugural ceremony - Nirvruti Rai and Iftar Ahmed Sherief.

"Last year at Mumbai, I had declared our government's intention to make sure that one day, every PIO living anywhere in the world can aspire to become a citizen of our sacred Motherland. Today we have delivered on our promise," Dr Singh said.

He said the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs will soon complete the process of rationalisation of categories for the OCI cards and ensure convergence of benefits. Oscar Fernandes, Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs said that the procedures to grant the OCI cards are being simplified.

On Saturday, the Ministry also released an OCI handbook, which explains the guidelines for getting OCI cards. The first OCI card, which Dr Singh presented comprises:

A multiple entry, multi-purpose lifelong visa for visiting India.
Exemption from registration with local police authority for any length of stay in India.
Parity with Non-Rresident Indians in respect of economic, financial and educational fields, except in relation to acquisition of agricultural or plantation properties.
Any other benefits to OCIs will be notified by the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs under Section 7B(1) of the Citizenship Act, 1955.

However, the OCI cardholder is not entitled to vote, be a member of Legislative Assembly or Legislative Council or Parliament, cannot hold constitutional posts such as president, vice-president, judge of the Supreme Court or High Court, etc and he/she cannot normally hold employment in the government.

A foreign national, who was eligible to become citizen of India on January 26, 1950 or was a citizen of India on or at anytime after January 26, 1950 or belonged to a territory that became part of India after August 15, 1947 and his/her children and grand children, provided his/her country of citizenship allows dual citizenship in some form or other under the local laws, is eligible for registration as OCI.

Minor children of such persons are also eligible for the OCI cards. However, if the applicant had ever been a citizen of Pakistan or Bangladesh, he/she will not be eligible for OCI.
 
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PM: Ind considering voting rights for NRIs

http://web.mid-day.com/news/nation/2006/january/127960.htm

PM: Ind considering voting rights for NRIs

Hyderabad: Unveiling a string of initiatives for the benefit of NRIs, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today said the government would soon grant voting rights to overseas Indian workers and professionals, launch a liberal insurance scheme for them and modernise the process of emigration.

Inaugurating the 4th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, an annual convention of Indian diaspora, the prime minister launched Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) scheme that confers a hassle-free, life-long multiple entry visa for overseas Indians.

Amidst applause from a gathering of about 2,000 NRIs from across the world, Singh handed over the first set of OCI Cards and related documents to two NRIs - Nibriti Rai (US) and Ifthekar Ahmad Sharif - fulfilling a long-cherished dream of overseas Indians.

The OCI Cards, considered the first step towards conferring full citizenship rights, will enable overseas Indians holding foreign passports a free access to the country, obliterating the need for police verification.

"Of the three categories of NRIs, overseas Indians in Gulf are unique. They are NRIs who will never become naturalised citizens of those countries.

Their demand seeking voting rights at home has, therefore, a convincing political basis," the prime minister said. The proposal to grant voting rights to such a category of NRIs was at an advanced stage of consideration, he said adding "We hope to take appropriate measures in this regard very soon".
 
Great - the song and dance token OCIs have been issued! 7 Jan 06 has come and gone, and I have not had a call from the consulate yet ... ;)

The clock is ticking on the issuing the OCI for real applicants!
 
Hi

"However, the OCI cardholder is not entitled to vote, be a member of Legislative Assembly or Legislative Council or Parliament, cannot hold constitutional posts such as president, vice-president, judge of the Supreme Court or High Court, etc and he/she cannot normally hold employment in the government. "

The above was posted on this thread. I am particularly interested in the bit about government jobs as I find myself in a somewhat complicated situation. I acquired British citizenship recently and have am about to apply for my OIC card. I have been offered a teaching post at an Indian university, which is funded for the first three years by the University Grants Commision in India and later to be funded by the state. On the face of it, it looks like I am not entitled to take the job up since I have a British passport now. I had an Indian passport when I sent in my application for the job. Is there any way I could take the job up or get special permission to accept the job? I plan to be in India for a few years before returning to Britain, hence the job would be handy. Do I have to consult immigration lawyers as to what the definition of a government job is. The university is autonomous though not self-financing.

Any suggestion much appreciated, as would addresses of immigration lawyers who deal with this aspect of OIC restrictions. Thanks in advance.
 
NY embassy is also going to accept apps from Monday.They have however pegged the processing time at "one to four months,depending on your documentation"

Finally some progress !
 
Can the pio card holder start own business or work as a freelance professional. Or he /she needs only to be empoyed ?
 
mangal969 said:
Directly ask the FRRO.They probably would also start by Monday.
Click to expand...

What intrigues me is that there is still no mention of how and when the existing applications will be disposed.
 
kuniyil said:
Hi

"However, the OCI cardholder is not entitled to vote, be a member of Legislative Assembly or Legislative Council or Parliament, cannot hold constitutional posts such as president, vice-president, judge of the Supreme Court or High Court, etc and he/she cannot normally hold employment in the government. "

The above was posted on this thread. I am particularly interested in the bit about government jobs as I find myself in a somewhat complicated situation. I acquired British citizenship recently and have am about to apply for my OIC card. I have been offered a teaching post at an Indian university, which is funded for the first three years by the University Grants Commision in India and later to be funded by the state. On the face of it, it looks like I am not entitled to take the job up since I have a British passport now. I had an Indian passport when I sent in my application for the job. Is there any way I could take the job up or get special permission to accept the job? I plan to be in India for a few years before returning to Britain, hence the job would be handy. Do I have to consult immigration lawyers as to what the definition of a government job is. The university is autonomous though not self-financing.

Any suggestion much appreciated, as would addresses of immigration lawyers who deal with this aspect of OIC restrictions. Thanks in advance.
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Try to get advice directly from the Indian Consulate or The Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs.
 
qwert97 said:
What intrigues me is that there is still no mention of how and when the existing applications will be disposed.
Click to expand...


It is really disappointing that they managed to keep the pending applications for an year and that too fee already taken! No apology or acknowledgment for the long delay! It is a matter of real shame!! :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:
 
basis said:
Can the pio card holder start own business or work as a freelance professional. Or he /she needs only to be empoyed ?
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I don't think there will be any restrictions in both the scenarios. Indian Consulate will probably clarify the matter.
 
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