India Dual Citizenship Mega Thread (Merged)

[mangal969]

Gaurav2005,
I agree the person could have been more suttle but his point is valid.The GoI on one hand is trying to create an investment atmosphere and on the other hand exposing such inefficiencies.
View the whole OIC incident purely as a foreigner,a person who does not have any connection with India.A major ministry declares the scheme operation on December 2.The Prime minister himself formally inaugrates the scheme on January 7 issuing two of the cards.Then on January 13 a minister comes out with a statement that they have received 8000 applications and will begin processing within a month {Ignoring the applications taken a year ago}.
Now would you want to deal in any way with a government that functions like this ?

And I can agree that the process leading to GC was long and tedious,but nowhere did the President or USCIS promise a limit of 15 days or give us a bunch of false dates.
In the case of OIC however it is inbuilt into the law that the processing should take a maximum of 15 days unless there are case specific special circumstances.They knew this then why did the MHA declare the scheme operational on December 2 ? Why did the PM formally launch the scheme by issuing two OIC cards when the infrastructure for processing did not exist ? Why did embassies start accepting applications with no idea on what to do with them ? There even isnt any consensus between embassies as to the requirements for application-some require notarised copies while for others self attested is OK.The no of photographs required vary from none to 8 ! Priviliges aside,is it right for a responsible government to behave this way ?

 

[PIO1]

I can understand the frustration of this person who wrote to the PM/PMO.

But really, what rights do we have (as US citizens and having wilfully given up the Indian citizenship) to demand better service from the GoI ? Lets not forget that we are no longer Indian citizens to demand and scold the Indian Govt officers. Whatever they are trying to offer to the people of Indian origin is a bonus for us. And they dont have to do that. Lets go easy.

When we went through the long, painful process of H1, GC and USC, did someone on the forum write to the President of United States complaining about the delays in the processing ?

Its one thing to complain and another thing to call names like lethargic, inefficient and all that particularly when writing to PM.

It is easy to sterotype PIOs as Americans in search of a better life, willfully giving up their citizenship.

Don't forget that some PIOs were kidnapped at the age of 14 to work as indentured labourers in Fiji. Others never "voluntarily acquired" foreign citizenship, but had their citizenship taken from them unconstitutionally by the establishment. In such case they have every right to demand their rights be restored.

As for the Americans, I do not personally know a single PIO who became a US citizen who would have given up his Indian Citizenship if given the choice. What's wrong in anyone asking that their application made under OCI legislation, be processed in a timely manner? Foreigners and Indians are all human beings, and have every right to be respected, treated with fairness, and to be held accountable to any law in any country.

Acquiring Indian Citizenship is an accident of laws. Being Indian is much deeper than this.

 

[PIO1]

Gaurav2005,
I agree the person could have been more suttle but his point is valid.The GoI on one hand is trying to create an investment atmosphere and on the other hand exposing such inefficiencies.
View the whole OIC incident purely as a foreigner,a person who does not have any connection with India.A major ministry declares the scheme operation on December 2.The Prime minister himself formally inaugrates the scheme on January 7 issuing two of the cards.Then on January 13 a minister comes out with a statement that they have received 8000 applications and will begin processing within a month {Ignoring the applications taken a year ago}.
Now would you want to deal in any way with a government that functions like this ?

And I can agree that the process leading to GC was long and tedious,but nowhere did the President or USCIS promise a limit of 15 days or give us a bunch of false dates.
In the case of OIC however it is inbuilt into the law that the processing should take a maximum of 15 days unless there are case specific special circumstances.They knew this then why did the MHA declare the scheme operational on December 2 ? Why did the PM formally launch the scheme by issuing two OIC cards when the infrastructure for processing did not exist ? Why did embassies start accepting applications with no idea on what to do with them ? There even isnt any consensus between embassies as to the requirements for application-some require notarised copies while for others self attested is OK.The no of photographs required vary from none to 8 ! Priviliges aside,is it right for a responsible government to behave this way ?

Friends, I warned you that it was not ready! But I guess some people don't know what to do with all their money!

 

[atlantathrasher]

PIO1. YOU hit the nail in the head. none of us wanted to give up our indian citizenships, we were forced to due to the backward laws. in todays world, dual or plural citizenships are a reality enhancing global mobility and investment.

It is easy to sterotype PIOs as Americans in search of a better life, willfully giving up their citizenship.

Don't forget that some PIOs were kidnapped at the age of 14 to work as indentured labourers in Fiji. Others never "voluntarily acquired" foreign citizenship, but had their citizenship taken from them unconstitutionally by the establishment. In such case they have every right to demand their rights be restored.

As for the Americans, I do not personally know a single PIO who became a US citizen who would have given up his Indian Citizenship if given the choice. What's wrong in anyone asking that their application made under OCI legislation, be processed in a timely manner? Foreigners and Indians are all human beings, and have every right to be respected, treated with fairness, and to be held accountable to any law in any country.

Acquiring Indian Citizenship is an accident of laws. Being Indian is much deeper than this.

 

[rbcool]

OIC - Application question

I just completed online part A of OCI online registration. After submitting the application, 'Print' dialogue box automatically poped up. As I don't have printer ready, I printed the form to pdf file. After that I completed part-a vanished and I was returned back to the registration screen again.

Now, when I opened the pdf soft copy of PART-A that I just printed, I see there are two rectangle boxes on top. One says Signature. What is the second box for ? It looks when I saved it to PDF I lost some image and I only see "X" mark in the second box.

Anyone who had applied OIC, please advise if both the boxes are meant for signature or I should leave the second box blank. Thank you for your help.

 

[mangal969]

I just completed online part A of OCI online registration. After submitting the application, 'Print' dialogue box automatically poped up. As I don't have printer ready, I printed the form to pdf file. After that I completed part-a vanished and I was returned back to the registration screen again.

Now, when I opened the pdf soft copy of PART-A that I just printed, I see there are two rectangle boxes on top. One says Signature. What is the second box for ? It looks when I saved it to PDF I lost some image and I only see "X" mark in the second box.

Anyone who had applied OIC, please advise if both the boxes are meant for signature or I should leave the second box blank. Thank you for your help.

Just leave the box with the X blank and sign in the box above it (where it mentions signature).Whatever image was supposed to be there, nobody has been able to get it.

 

[malgudi]

just curious ... where are you seeing the requirement for 35x35mm? The SF consulate is saying 2x2inches ...

Hello everyone

2. Any resolution on where we can get 35x35mm photographs ?

Thanks a lot

 

[mangal969]

SF wants 2 x 2 inches other embassies (NY,Houston,Washington,Chicago) want 35 x 35 cms (approx 1.37 x 1.37 inches)

 

[boggavarapu]

Create New India, Calls Manmohan

http://www.centralchronicle.com/20060108/0801001.htm

 

[boggavarapu]

India' First Dual Citizen

http://images.theglobalindian.com/index.php?page=album.21.382&p=1

 

[Hotdiggety]

http://images.theglobalindian.com/index.php?page=album.21.382&p=1

I hate beating this subject to death, but they're not dual citizens.

In any case, there seems to be a serious disconnect between the PM's office, and what's actually going on. Manmohan Singh may be big on concepts, but if we measure him against results, then he is proving to be very inept. Ironically, we have a parallel situation in Canada right now. A highly-thought-about Finance Minister became the PM 2 years ago. He has proven to be really incompetent in his new role, and is about to be thrown out next week, thank goodness.

I really feel for those of you who applied a year ago, and are hanging in limbo now. For those who haven't applied yet, my strong advice would be to not get into this for at least a few months. Be patient and let them get their act together first. This looks like it could still take a while.

 

[qwert97]

reply regrading old applications

As per this reply from the local embassy clearly MHA is printing the OCI cards and also the Visa stickers. The embassy will just affix the visa stickers

--------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Sir/Madame,

Thanks for your mail.
The applications for OCI submitted in 2004 or early 2005 are being dealt with by the Ministry of Home Affairs, New Delhi. Once we hear from them, we would let you know. You need not reapply in the new scheme. We would seek your foreign passports when we receive the visa stickers.





With best wishes,

 

[mangal969]

http://images.theglobalindian.com/index.php?page=album.21.382&p=1

In some of the pics you can clearly see the U visa and the OCI card.
The OCI card does look like the passport and the U visa like a version of the US visa with digital photograph and all.
But i'd be able to tell you for sure when i get my OCI

I guess our theory of the OCI issued just being a cardboard replica is out the window-But then this begs the question-If they really are ready,why all this confusion and delay ???

 

[gaurav2005]

Guys
I just thought the language used in that letter particularly when communicating with a PM was inappropriate. Ofcourse, you are entitled to your opinions and I am to mine.

Coming back to the application,

The size 35mm x 35 mm is mentioned right on the application itself "Affix your photo of size 35x35mm".

Also, they are asking for a proof of relationship for minor applicants. Is the birth certificate considered proof of relationship ?

Thanks

 

[mangal969]

If the birth certificate has the name of the parent who forms the basis of the claim for the OCI it should be sufficient .
The "long form" of the birth certificate does have both the parents name.

 

[mangal969]

Guys
I just thought the language used in that letter particularly when communicating with a PM was inappropriate. Ofcourse, you are entitled to your opinions and I am to mine.

Coming back to the application,

The size 35mm x 35 mm is mentioned right on the application itself "Affix your photo of size 35x35mm".

Also, they are asking for a proof of relationship for minor applicants. Is the birth certificate considered proof of relationship ?

Thanks

Dont go entirely on what the form says.Go by the embassy website.
For ex
1.SF wanting 2x2 size photos
2.Instruction No 9 of the form clearly states that all documents are to be self attested.But the SF wants an attested copy of the US passport and NY seems to be asking for attested copy of Indian passport (Yours/parents)
3.The form has no mention of additional photographs.

 

[PIO1]

PBD OCIs were a proof of concept

In some of the pics you can clearly see the U visa and the OCI card.
The OCI card does look like the passport and the U visa like a version of the US visa with digital photograph and all.
But i'd be able to tell you for sure when i get my OCI

I guess our theory of the OCI issued just being a cardboard replica is out the window-But then this begs the question-If they really are ready,why all this confusion and delay ???

It proves nothing -for $100 you can buy a color scanner and printer in one... For 10 cents you can buy a glue stick I can't see much on those photos anyway

"Modalities in place" is about enacting policy from the legislation, building an office that can process 8000++ applications, establishing processes for the bureaucracy, being able to co-ordinate between MHA, MEA, the consulates and the police (for checks AND immigration), customs, government secure print house, training, communication, trial runs, and doing it all in the stipulated time. The sticker and booklet is 1% of the problem (assuming it's real!). Until they figure out the other 99% we won't see the first real OCI.

 

[malgudi]

Question re: SF consulate OCI procedures

Talk about non-standard procedures ... can somebody please clarify the following?

1. Do they need notarized copies of both passports (US and India)? Or is it just the US passport?

2. Since we've been asked to file in duplicate, does this mean that we need to notarize the 2nd copy of the passport(s) as well?

3. Should the Indian passport be "cancelled" by the consulate before I make copies for the OCI application? My Indian passport expired many moons ago and I never bothered to get it officially cancelled.

 

[mangal969]

Talk about non-standard procedures ... can somebody please clarify the following?

1. Do they need notarized copies of both passports (US and India)? Or is it just the US passport?
Be Safe-Notarise and send both ! They cant say that we cannot accept because it is notarised
2. Since we've been asked to file in duplicate, does this mean that we need to notarize the 2nd copy of the passport(s) as well?
Yes
3. Should the Indian passport be "cancelled" by the consulate before I make copies for the OCI application? My Indian passport expired many moons ago and I never bothered to get it officially cancelled.
I think you should-But call them and ask anyways

 

[Rajax]

I sent a notarized copy of the photo page of the US passports of my wife and mine for each set.

For evidence of Indian origin I sent them copies of our birth certificates, self attested. this is acceptable evidence per the list of documents to show indian origin..