Latest rule change: NO fee required for passport surrender

Some of the statements seems contradictory. "Those who currently hold an Overseas Citizen of India card or a Person of Indian Origin card are not required to undertake these procedures" and "Some of the Indian passports were cancelled when people took up the US citizenship, but it is not enough and a surrender certificate is necessary, Dayal said.". Which one is true?
 
My understanding is:

1) If you became a US citizen on or before May 31, 2010 and have NOT canceled your Indian passport OR obtained surrender certificate, you are required to pay $20 to get your passport canceled with "Canceled due to acquisition of Foreign nationality" stamp. A surrender certificate may or may not be given. Do this before you apply for any OCI/PIO/visa or renewal. Existing Indian visas/PIO/OCI is valid and no surrender certificate will be required at Indian immigration. Date is established by either showing a copy of naturalization certificate (dated on or before 5/31/2010) OR a US passport issued on or before 5/31/2010. Children who automatically gain US citizenship should show parents' naturalization certificate for date.

2) If you became a US citizen on or before may 31, 2010 and have canceled your Indian passport OR obtained surrender certificate (as part of an India visa application), you are not required to pay anything. A copy of your Indian passport showing the "Canceled due to acquisition of Foreign nationality" stamp or a copy of any surrender certificate issued is required before you apply for any OCI/PIO/visa or visa renewal. Date is established by either showing a copy of naturalization certificate (dated on or before 5/31/2010) OR a US passport issued on or before 5/31/2010. Children who automatically gain US citizenship should show parents' naturalization certificate for date.

3) If you became a US citizen ON or AFTER June 1, 2010 a surrender certificate is required and the fee is $175 per applicant before any visa/OCI/PIO can be issued. There are no additional penalties.
 
For those who fall under the "On-or-Before May-31-2010" category, are they still required to fill the "SC Form" and pay $20.00 or should they use the "Miscellaneous Form"...
Cancellation is not an option yet in the "Miscellaneous" section, i believe...
 
gc4us said:
For those who fall under the "On-or-Before May-31-2010" category, are they still required to fill the "SC Form" and pay $20.00 or should they use the "Miscellaneous Form"...
Cancellation is not an option yet in the "Miscellaneous" section, i believe...
Click to expand...
Was going to mail my wife's and my apps today, what luck I checked online before sending it out ! That's 350$ I can put to a better use. I also fall in the "On-or-Before May-31-2010" category. Does this mean I have to get the Surrender certificate before I can apply for OCI ?
gc4us - could you link to the 'Miscellaneous Form' you are referring to ?
 
Hi koblu,
Like the $175.00 rule and the chaos after that.... I think, they have published the $20.00 rule..... Now after another phase of chaos with people pulling out hairs and bugging the consulates with more questions... they will add more guidelines on what each category (Pre-May-31-2010 and Post-May-31-2010) should submit...
The Miscellaneous form i was referring to is at http://www.indianembassy.org/newsite/misc_guide.asp..... Please note that is this from the DC site.... There must be a section for this topic in your "Branch" as well....

Good luck,
V!
 
New Update to NY site

New update as of noon today (they've removed the earlier link they posted this morning). Still no definite instructions on whether a form needs to be filled, what all needs to be sent in etc. WTF is up with these nincompoops ?

Fees for Obtaining Surrender / Renunciation Certificate
In supersession of the rules regarding Surrender/Renunciation Certificate the Government of India have decided as follow:-
Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) who have already acquired foreign citizenship voluntarily till May 31, 2010 shall cease to be Indian citizens upon their acquiring foreign citizenship. However, such persons are required to surrender their Indian passports, whether valid or expired, to the Indian Consulate so that the passport is not misused. Such persons are not required to pay any fee under the Citizenship Act. However, they will have to pay US$ 20/- for Surrender/Cancellation of the passports.
Those Indian citizens, who intend to acquire foreign citizenship on or after 1st June 2010 will have to submit a declaration of renunciation of their Indian citizenship with payment of US$ 175/- as per fee structure under Rule 23 of the Citizenship Rules, 2009.
 
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fees paid

What happes to people who already paid fees?
will they getting money orders back from consulate?
 
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