Surrender Certificate question - Clarification needed.

O

OCIIndia

Registered Users (C)
-Born in India.
-Never held Indian passport-- came to US with name in mother's passport.
-US citizen for over 20+ years.
-OCI since 2007.

How do I get surrender certificate or Renunciation Certificate? I never held Indian passport. What do I surrender?

Thanks in advance.
 
This is one of those things where not many people will have an answer.
You have to try and convince the consulate about your background and hope they listen.
If I had to be convinced of this, I would want to see your mother's expired passport, your complete GC history and then your naturalization certificate or certificate of citizenship, along with a letter explaining all of these in time sequence. Also, the previously issues Indian visas might help.
Meeting consulate people in person will be better than doing it over email.
I think out of all the things listed, the first GC you were issued and the documentation on the basis of which you were issued that GC are the key evidence.
But I am not Indian government, you never know. I also realize tracking 20-30 year old documents can not be easy, so start with the consulate babus.
 
I am assuming that the OP has the OCI card in hand. My impression is that SC is never needed at a POE; it is only required when consular services are asked for. So, if the OP has the OCI card already (and, I presume, a US passport with the U-visa), why does he need the SC?
 
Thanks for replies.

Yes I have the OCI card - got it in 2007. Luckily, I do have mother's passport too. It has 'cancelled' stamp. And yes I do have a b/w copy of my one and only green card too. Mother's passport has my name and the US entry stamp by US immigration.

Emails to SF consulate last year were not answered. There phoneline was busy all the time. There attitude is 'all the answers are on the website'.

Two weeks ago, I messaged TraVisa Outsourcing because it is now doing surrender certificate applications for SF consulate. Same thing. No reply. They think they have answered it in FAQ but I can't find any answers for my particular case. I am sure there are others like me in similar situation.

I have travelled to India with the OCI. Last visit was just a few months ago. They didn't ask for Surrender Certificate at port of entry.

I believe I am supposed to renounce Indian citizenship and get the certificate but no way to do it it seems. Personal visit to SF consulate is long ways driving from here.
 
Unless you need to renew your passport soon, there is no urgency to worry about it. They are not going to check SC at airport, it will be needed only when you have a new passport. And even with new passport, you can travel with new + old passport .. .the only time you are forced to change it (once) is when you change passport after turning 50.

Keep on them, but do not worry if it is not urgent. Hopefully with many many people like you complaining, they will improve their processes. But such things usually take months (or more).

If I take the approach of "all answers are on website" ... what I recall they say is (paraphrasing) that if you do not have your old Indian passport, you need to show how you got your GC and submit all documentation which was done for getting that GC. Filing FOIA might get you a copy of paperwork your mother did for getting your GC.
 
sanjoseaug20 said:
Unless you need to renew your passport soon, there is no urgency to worry about it. They are not going to check SC at airport, it will be needed only when you have a new passport. And even with new passport, you can travel with new + old passport .. .the only time you are forced to change it (once) is when you change passport after turning 50.
Click to expand...
Thanks for replying with valuable information. Neither Travisa Outsourcing nor Indian consulate SF mention this getting new OCI at age 50. I recall reading on it somewhere on OCI webpage from Indian govt. I can't find that PDF file anymore. Please post a link if you can. Thanks!
 
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