India Dual Citizenship Mega Thread (Merged)

[PIO1]

What a progress the country has made. The idiots who dont know C of Cricket are going to discuss this. Why do we have cricket control boards ????

Must be a problem with the letter C, we seem to be having a similar problem with politians implementing the C bit in OCI too

While I was going through the bills of OCI, there was a constitution amendment bill (can you believe it!) to require the govt to invest in sport http://rajyasabha.nic.in/bills-ls-rs/2005/LXXX_2005.pdf. Not sure if it was passed. Sport like everything else in India is controlled by the govt and cronies. This is why one of the largest countries in the world is unable to win a single Gold Medal in olympics. It is also why a country of Cricket fanatics struggles to build a professional team. Like everything else that they have messed up, the solution is simple, all the government has to do is butt out!

Same thing with dual citizenship - after the constitution is amended, they don't need to have registration, certificates, U-Visas or smart cards.

 

[qwert97]

Consulate general of India in Toronto, Canada has updated their website

http://www.cgitoronto.ca/

High commission of India in Ottawa, Canada have also updated thier website
http://www.hciottawa.ca/ocoi.html

No mention of when they will start accepting applications but it is a good start. They have actually put in email addresses of the people who can be contacted regarding OCI.

 

[Hotdiggety]

Consulate general of India in Toronto, Canada has updated their website

http://www.cgitoronto.ca/

High commission of India in Ottawa, Canada have also updated thier website
http://www.hciottawa.ca/ocoi.html

No mention of when they will start accepting applications but it is a good start. They have actually put in email addresses of the people who can be contacted regarding OCI.

And right off the bat, they're ripping us off. They want C$421 with the application, which is about US$362 at today's exchange rate, instead of the prescribed US$ 275.

Some things never change.

 

[qwert97]

And right off the bat, they're ripping us off. They want C$421 with the application, which is about US$362 at today's exchange rate, instead of the prescribed US$ 275.

Some things never change.

They are using the conversion rate as at Dec04/Jan 05

 

[Hotdiggety]

They are using the conversion rate as at Dec04/Jan 05

Anyway, I've e-mailed them about it. I've said that this could just be an error. They may have meant to say C$321, and someone may have typed in C$421 instead. C$321 would make a whole lot more sense, and would be in line with current exchange-rates.

You (and other Canadians who might be lurking here) might want to e-mail them about it too, just to make sure they get the message.

 

[qwert97]

oci

Anyway, I've e-mailed them about it. I've said that this could just be an error. They may have meant to say C$321, and someone may have typed in C$421 instead. C$321 would make a whole lot more sense, and would be in line with current exchange-rates.

You (and other Canadians who might be lurking here) might want to e-mail them about it too, just to make sure they get the message.

I had made an application in Dec 04 and paid them USD with my application. I have different issues like how they will dispose off earlier received applications etc. I have sent them an email as well.

Hotdiggity, do you deal with Consulate general of Toronto; if so we can join hands since two applicants are better than one.

I doubt the application fees of C$421 is a typo. They have used the same exchange rate in converting the application fees of PIO to OCI (Canadian $40 equivelent to $25 US) and refund if the application is rejected ( C$ 381 for US$ 250). I think they want to protect themselves from the exchange rate fluctuations by charging a higher rate. I am not saying that this is the right way to go since they should give an option to the applicants to submit a USD draft,if they so chose.

 

[Hotdiggety]

Hotdiggity, do you deal with Consulate general of Toronto; if so we can join hands since two applicants are better than one.

I wouldn't exactly say I deal with them. I prefer not to have anything to do with them, to the extent I can. However, my wife wants to go to India soon, so I'll probably have to send her there to get a short-term visa. I have no further involvement with them.

If you've already applied for an OIC, you have my sympathies. I'll probably eventually get that visa at least for my wife, because she seems to connect much better with India than I do. However, I'm going to wait until at least a few people tell me that they've got their U visas, and things are going relatively smoothly with the process. I've already almost been deported once, thanks to this consulate, and I have no desire to repeat the experience.

 

[PIO1]

...I've already almost been deported once, thanks to this consulate, and I have no desire to repeat the experience.

Can't you and qwert97 apply in the US?

And send a letter to them to ask them to explain the fees.

I looked at a few consulates here are the fees for OCI (and PIO Upgrade) converted to US dollars at today's rates:

Australia US$297($27)
Canada US$366($35)
New Zealand US$297($28)
UAE US$275($27) ************ <---- here is your benchmark!
Saudi Arabia US$279($26)

So ... Canada is the worst. I could not find UK. Question, why is canada charging more than UAE??????

 

[qwert97]

I wouldn't exactly say I deal with them. I prefer not to have anything to do with them, to the extent I can. However, my wife wants to go to India soon, so I'll probably have to send her there to get a short-term visa. I have no further involvement with them.

If you've already applied for an OIC, you have my sympathies. I'll probably eventually get that visa at least for my wife, because she seems to connect much better with India than I do. However, I'm going to wait until at least a few people tell me that they've got their U visas, and things are going relatively smoothly with the process. I've already almost been deported once, thanks to this consulate, and I have no desire to repeat the experience.

I don't deal with them as well. But in the last year I have built a one sided relationship with them. I send them emails, they don't reply but I don't give up. I keep writing to them with a copy to consulate general as well. One of these days they will have to start responding to me. I am planning to write to the Ambassador in Ottawa since she is responsible for all the Consulate Generals. I hate the chaos at that office. If you need visa you need to take a Vacation and spend the whole day at that office. I will suggest that you plan ahead and use their drop box facility for your wife's visa. They process the visa in 10 business days but the good thing is that they FEDEX the passport back to you (at additional cost of course).

 

[Hotdiggety]

Can't you and qwert97 apply in the US?

And send a letter to them to ask them to explain the fees.

We could if we lived there, but I at least don't. Not to worry, I sometimes run into the consul at the occasional dinner party. I'll be sure to ask him some uncomfortable questions. In any case, even if they are over-charging us, it's the sort of thing where you close your eyes and pay up, but then let everyone know what they're doing.

 

[PIO1]

While I was doing my research on a previous posts, you guys added a couple, so in case you missed it:

I looked at a few consulates here are the fees for OCI (and PIO Upgrade) converted to US dollars at today's rates:

Australia US$297($27)
Canada US$366($35)
New Zealand US$297($28)
UAE US$275($27) ************ <---- here is your benchmark!
Saudi Arabia US$279($26)

So ... Canada is the worst. I could not find UK. Question, why is canada charging more than UAE??????

 

[qwert97]

We could if we lived there, but I at least don't. Not to worry, I sometimes run into the consul at the occasional dinner party. I'll be sure to ask him some uncomfortable questions. In any case, even if they are over-charging us, it's the sort of thing where you close your eyes and pay up, but then let everyone know what they're doing.

Perhaps you should also ask him how they are going to dispose off the already received applications (not through the shredder I hope!) and what does it take for anybody in the COnsulate general office to reply to emails or return phone calls.

 

[mangal969]

Maybe you ask the consulate officials in Canada-they may already be accepting OCI appications right now
The price thoughis something to question.Three possibilities come to mind-
1.Typo
2.They added charges to courier you your OCI card and Passport after stamping
3.They want more money

 

[hornplease]

greetings

greetings all.
my email to the Consul General in Toronto regarding the fee for the OCI application reads below. i think we need to badger them with emails even if (as in most cases) they do not reply.
Dear Sir or Madam,
As per the announcements by the Indian PM and the MHA, the application
fee for the OCI should be US $ 275 or its equivalent in local currency.
Please see http://www.mha.nic.in/oci/broch.pdf
US$275 in Canadian Dollars is CAN $318 whereas on your website you have
put the figure at CAN$ 421 which is CAN$100 in excess than what should
be the cost !!! How did you arrive at the CAN $421 figure. who did the math ? PLEASE CORRECT THIS - or this shall be known to all major indian dailies in New Delhi that the Indian High commisions in Canada are going against the directive of the MHA and PMO and taking undue advantage of this pathetic situation

 

[PIO1]

...PLEASE CORRECT THIS - or this shall be known to all major indian dailies in New Delhi that the Indian High commisions in Canada are going against the directive of the MHA and PMO and taking undue advantage of this pathetic situation

Nice email ... but the biggest scam, is that people are paying this much money thinking they are getting dual citizenship, when in fact, all they get is a visa!

 

[qwert97]

Maybe you ask the consulate officials in Canada-they may already be accepting OCI appications right now
The price thoughis something to question.Three possibilities come to mind-
1.Typo
2.They added charges to courier you your OCI card and Passport after stamping
3.They want more money

Canadian $ has been very volatile against the USD. Last December the CDN$ was trading at 1.37 against the USD and in June 2004 it was close to 1.53 against the USD. As the Canadian dollar become stronger it is now trading close to 1.16 against USD. If Canadian embassy sets the rate at today's conversion and if in the next 6 months the Cdn dollar goes down to the original level then the embassy starts loosing in conversion so they have put in the rate which is the worst case scenario. Even credit card companies card add about 5% to 10% to cover themselves for exchange rate fluctuations.

What they should probably do is that they should probably enpower themselves to revise the conversion rate every 3 months. But that is too much of the work since they may have to reprint all the forms etc so they have taken the easy way out and have taken the highest rate. I think that is the logic but we should keep firing them emails and hopefully they will bring the rate down.

Alternatively they should give the applicants an option to submit the draft in USD if applicants so chose. I think that is what we all should push for.

Knowing how consulate General in Toronto operates,I assume nobody received a reply to any of their emails Also the website does not give an indication of any timelines when the registration will begin and when the OCI will be handed out. When sending out emails it may be worthwhile to ask this question.

 

[hornplease]

i agree - all thats required is to provide an option to pay in usd .
but i think its more than that - im sure they have throught about providing an option to pay in usd, but then that would be giving too much away and making things 'convinient' which for a desi babu is a no no. they need to be dirty and bloody minded. but we need to keep the pressure on. send emails to the canadian high commision in tno and vancouver with copies to ottawa and editor of toi and ht

 

[PIO1]

Donation box

Canadian $ has been very volatile against the USD.

All other countries are in a similar position. Currency fluctuations affect the US and India too! There is nothing special about Canada that sets it apart. New Zealand had some ups and downs, but they don't charge so much. And currency fluctuations work both ways - why does this mean they should always charge more? You can ignore it for <10% (My credit card does not charge anything noticable for currency conversions btw - they do an immediate market conversion and a $1.50 service charge).

Govt fees should be based on a non-revenue, cost only model. USD$275 is not much for Americans, but I can tell you that it does not cost this much to process the application. Especially if you apply as a family. They should charge a legitimate processing fee based on cost. This is what made me furious with the original USD$1000 PIO. How much does a new Indian passport cost? It is, after all, a similar process. Anyway we ignore it because we can put up with it and it is cheaper than a 10 year LTV*, we kind of feel India needs the money and are too proud to penny pinch.

But this is no reason to justify blatant overcharging by Canada. The fact is if someone pays today, they are being overcharged by CAD$100 on top of the elevated OCI base charge (multiply it for a family) and that is crazy. If they want a donation, put a collection box at the front, but don't do this!


*Note: LTV and other Visa costs are based on reciprical visa charges by the other country, so if US charge USD$150 for a 10 year visa to an Indian, India charges the same of an American - check out Australia's visa charges! This should not be the rule for OCI. Unless, of course it is a Visa

 

[qwert97]

Oci

I got a response from Consulate General regarding the applications that were submitted in December 2004 and January 2005. Accordingly these applications are being dealt with in the Ministry of Home affairs, New Delhi. Once the applications are processed the MHA will forward the OCI certificate to the local embassy. Once the local embassy receives the OCI they will contact the applicants and affix the U Visa.

 

[PIO1]

I got a response from Consulate General regarding the applications that were submitted in December 2004 and January 2005. Accordingly these applications are being dealt with in the Ministry of Home affairs, New Delhi. Once the applications are processed the MHA will forward the OCI certificate to the local embassy. Once the local embassy receives the OCI they will contact the applicants and affix the U Visa.

How long did they say it takes to process? 15 days? 1 month? "Operational from 2 December 2005". Let's see.