Naturalized in 2009 - Surrender Certificate & Penalty Confusion

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phillygc

Registered Users (C)
I got naturalized in Feb 2009 and immediately applied for OCI. As part of the process, my Indian passport came back with a "Cancelled" stamp(just that, nothing more, nothing less) along with my OCI booklet an sticker.

Fast forward to now and am not clear on why the Travisa site is trying to charge a penalty of $250 for keeping my Indian passport 3 years beyond acquisition of foreign nationality! I am not able to get clear direction from anyone.

Even Travisa's instructions say the following:

If the most recent Indian passport is retained for more than 3 years after acquisition of citizenship of another country, a penalty of $250.00 will be automatically calculated as a part of the Order Form except where the most recent Indian passport expired before January 1, 2005 or where the most recent Indian passport shows a 'Cancelled' stamp. In addition, a penalty of $250.00 will be charged for each case of misuse of the Indian passport for travel after 3 months of acquisition of citizenship of another country subject to a maximum penalty of $1250.00.


But when I complete the form on Travisa's site, it is assessing a $250 fine. Do I just ignore the $250 fine and send the $28+$12? Anyone with similar experience please advise!

TIA.
 
I am applying for surrender certificate. My understanding is that unless my passport says "Cancelled due to acquisition of foreign citizenship", I have to get the surrender certificate. My passport just says "Cancelled".

I just want to avoid problems in the future.
 
I am also in the same situation exactly like you. I got my citizenship in 2006 and same time I surrendered my Indian passport and I got saying "Canceled". Now I applying OCI for my child and they are asking renunciation certificate or canceled passport due to acquiring foreign nationality.

I don't understand 3 yr period and after that $250 penalty.

phillygc said:
I am applying for surrender certificate. My understanding is that unless my passport says "Cancelled due to acquisition of foreign citizenship", I have to get the surrender certificate. My passport just says "Cancelled".

I just want to avoid problems in the future.
Click to expand...
 
I am also in the same situation exactly like you guys. I got my citizenship in 2009 and same time I surrendered my Indian passport and I got saying "Canceled". Now I am applying OCI for my US born child and they are asking renunciation certificate or canceled passport due to acquiring foreign nationality.

When I went to Travisa website to submit an online application, it automatically calculated the $250 fine. How can this be adjusted so that we don't get whipped for being genuine and surrending the Indian Passport prior to 2010?

Phillygc, were you able to get an answer to your post? Were you able to get exception to the $250 fine amount?
 
Ignore the $250 fine and send in your passport. It will be waived when they see the cancelled stamp on your passport
 
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