Renunciation of Indian citizenship - how long?
- Thread starter desertman
- Start date
sanjoseaug20
Registered Users (C)
This is the hot topic nowadays since Indian consulates have started collecting USD 175 to formally renounce citizenship. Check the OCI boards ... they are burning with rage.
I presume the OP is talking about "being forced to renounce Indian citizenship for USD 175".
To OP, this concept is pretty new. The rules are just being defined. I do not think there is much data available on this.
Greedy Indian consulate. Not only to they charge for renunciation, they overcharge. Their instructions state that the fee is 7000 INR, which is $155 US, yet they charge $175 US .
http://www.indiacgny.org/php/showHighLightDet.php?h_id=136&key=0
http://www.xe.com/ucc/convert.cgi?Amount=7000&From=INR&To=USD&image.x=61&image.y=14&image=Submit
http://www.indiacgny.org/php/showHighLightDet.php?h_id=136&key=0
http://www.xe.com/ucc/convert.cgi?Amount=7000&From=INR&To=USD&image.x=61&image.y=14&image=Submit
You guys think it is greedy and unfair by Indian consulate. Here is the story with Russian embassy:
"American Citizens Also Holding Russian Passports: Dual U.S./Russian nationals who enter Russia on Russian passports face several possible difficulties. Russian authorities will not permit departure from Russia if the person’s Russian passport has expired or has been lost, whether or not the traveler also has a valid U.S. passport. In these cases the traveler will be required to obtain a new Russian passport, a process that can take several months. In order to apply for a Russian visa in a U.S. passport, however, Russian consular officials normally require a person to renounce his or her Russian citizenship.
Russian external passports extended by Russian consulates or embassies overseas are not considered valid for departure from Russia no matter how long the extension. Bearers of such passports will have to apply for a new passport inside the country. Males of conscript age (18 - 27 years old) who are deemed to be Russian citizens may experience problems if they have not satisfied their military service requirement. "
So to do it you have to do tonns of paperwork, proof a lot of things including completing military service. It takes many many months if not even having to go there to be able to comlete them all othervise you risk being not let back to US. Nobody cares there for your US cit-p, you will be detained in Russia until you finalize it. And on top $400-500, oh, thats just a starter fees.
"American Citizens Also Holding Russian Passports: Dual U.S./Russian nationals who enter Russia on Russian passports face several possible difficulties. Russian authorities will not permit departure from Russia if the person’s Russian passport has expired or has been lost, whether or not the traveler also has a valid U.S. passport. In these cases the traveler will be required to obtain a new Russian passport, a process that can take several months. In order to apply for a Russian visa in a U.S. passport, however, Russian consular officials normally require a person to renounce his or her Russian citizenship.
Russian external passports extended by Russian consulates or embassies overseas are not considered valid for departure from Russia no matter how long the extension. Bearers of such passports will have to apply for a new passport inside the country. Males of conscript age (18 - 27 years old) who are deemed to be Russian citizens may experience problems if they have not satisfied their military service requirement. "
So to do it you have to do tonns of paperwork, proof a lot of things including completing military service. It takes many many months if not even having to go there to be able to comlete them all othervise you risk being not let back to US. Nobody cares there for your US cit-p, you will be detained in Russia until you finalize it. And on top $400-500, oh, thats just a starter fees.
cafeconleche
Registered Users (C)
Russia has made life hard for its citizens for decades. India has always been a cakewalk comparatively.
Triple Citizen
Registered Users (C)
Isn't that an instantaneous event, as soon as an Indian acquires any other citizenship? How do the Indian consulates collect the $175 if one never goes to the Indian consulate after becoming a US (or any other) citizen?
It is one of those typical government things that no one thought through. How can you renounce something that is already lost (as an act of taking oath of citizenship of another country)? I think it is just a way to milk the NRIs.
Now they have also made it more expensive for people of Indian origin to get a regular visa - they can no longer get the tourist visa but have to apply for the Entry visa which costs $40 more and can only be given for 5 years at most.
Triple Citizen
Registered Users (C)
The consulate says penalties will be added if you don't surrender your Indian passport within 3 months of obtaining US citizenship. Since those who previously had Indian citizenship and wish to travel to India would either need a visa, OCI or PIO, they would need to be in contact with the consulate to do so, and hence the consulate would have their information on file.
Of course, if someone who previously held Indian citizenship never returns to India again, then there would be no way for the Indian consulate to impose it's cancellation fees.
Triple Citizen
Registered Users (C)
sanjoseaug20
Registered Users (C)
In the past year (or so), I have seen only one person who fits the bill - sanjay73 as I recall did not step off the US soil during his 5 years on GC. He might be able to avoid this penalty ;-)
I'm asking for a friend who is Indian citizen and in the process of getting his German citizenship. Germany does not allow dual citizenship. Therefore, at a certain point in the process, an applicant has to formally renounce his first citizenship before he actually gets the German citizenship.
I'm trying to determine how long the whole process might take and therefore would like to know how long the process of renouncing the Indian citizenship takes.
BTW, renouncing the Indian citizenship is not really anything new. It is regulated in the "Citizenship Act" from 1955 and there are some official places where you can download a form for it (see attachment to this post).
Does anybody here know how long the process of renouncing the Indian citizenship takes? This would help my friend a lot.
Do we have to pay this $175 to handover the Indian passport to Indian Consulate after becoming US Citizen? Or is that a separate process?
Renouncing Indian citizenship at a consulate usually takes 1-3 weeks. Have your friend contact the nearest consulate to determine how long it takes as each consulate as different processing times.
Also, individuals who recently applied for OCI should check their email. They should be getting mail regarding this as well. Something like following
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Meanwhile, the Consulate has received instructions from the Government of India that applicants for all services, including OCI/PIO applications (including those whose applications are under process or whose OCI documents have not yet been delivered) are required to submit a Surrender Certificate for cancellation of the Indian passport and renunciation of the Indian citizenship. Details are posted on our website: www.indiacgny.org. Kindly note that submission of Surrender Certificate is a mandatory requirement and the OCI/PIO applications can not be processed nor can OCI documents be issued without the aforementioned certificate. This is not applicable to the foreign-born children who never held Indian passports. However, their parents held the Indian citizenship in the past and they are advised to obtain the Surrender Certificate for future reference.
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Meanwhile, the Consulate has received instructions from the Government of India that applicants for all services, including OCI/PIO applications (including those whose applications are under process or whose OCI documents have not yet been delivered) are required to submit a Surrender Certificate for cancellation of the Indian passport and renunciation of the Indian citizenship. Details are posted on our website: www.indiacgny.org. Kindly note that submission of Surrender Certificate is a mandatory requirement and the OCI/PIO applications can not be processed nor can OCI documents be issued without the aforementioned certificate. This is not applicable to the foreign-born children who never held Indian passports. However, their parents held the Indian citizenship in the past and they are advised to obtain the Surrender Certificate for future reference.
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How about persons who got OCI approved recently in last couple of months.
I got my OCI approved in first week of April. At that time I got Indian PP cancelled by consulate and OCI issued. Do we still have to shell out $175 for this purpose or it is only for new application where processing is not yet complete. Another point to note is this requirement is not listed on web sites of all the consulates. Not sure whether it will create problems when you travel to India and have not paid $175.
Any thoughts ??
If your OCI is already approved, then it doesn't apply to you since you already got PP cancelled.
Separate process.