GOPIO has been in the forefront to take up issues of common interest of the Indian community living outside India for the last 21 years since its inception. It recommended and campaigned with Govt. of India on PIO Card, Overseas Indian Citizenship (OCI), Ministry for Overseas Indians and in 2010 issues in the surrender of old Indian passport by naturalized citizens. Although Govt. of India relented on the high passport surrender fee of $175 to $20, we have been getting feedback from the community on the difficulties and nightmares they go through to get the Surrender Certificate from Indian missions abroad and in the issuance of entry visas. These new rules were decided by the Home Ministry officials on the security concerns so that no one will misuse the old passport. However, GOPIO feels that these decisions were taken arbitrarily without proper thinking and has caused enormous problems for NRIs and PIOs who are especially the naturalized citizens of other countries. Indirectly, Govt. of India is telling you that to visit Mother India, you will have to first pay an enormous amount and then go through all hassles. GOPIO presented an appeal in July 2010 to Mr. Vayalar Ravi, Minister for overseas Indian Affairs on the Passport Surrender rules which GOPIO has recommended that they should be changed without compromising on the security concerns raised by Home Ministry. These include the following:
1. Reduce the passport surrender fee of $175 from those who became naturalized citizens after June 1, 2010 to $20 and give 3 months for surrender and if not surrendered, charge a fee of $175. 2. GOPIO suggests that those who have become naturalized citizen before 2000 and whose Indian passports are already expired need not obtain surrender certificate since those passports are no more valid travel documents. 3. GOPIO also requested that Government of India should relax the current rigid requirements to obtain surrender certificates for those whose passports have been misplaced or lost. 4. Increase the staff at Indian Missions handling the passports and visa especially in countries such as the USA, UK, Canada, Australia till these issues are resolved.
We want to make a new representation to Govt. of India on the difficulties NRIs/PIOs face in these issues. GOPIO would like to hear your experience in the Indian passport surrender issues as well as obtaining your Indian visas and OCI/PIO cards from Indian missions abroad. Please write to us at gopio-intl@sbcglobal.net or gopio@optonline.net or visit http://www.gopio.net.
GOPIO has been in the forefront to take up issues of common interest of the Indian community living outside India for the last 21 years since its inception. It recommended and campaigned with Govt. of India on PIO Card, Overseas Indian Citizenship (OCI), Ministry for Overseas Indians and in 2010 issues in the surrender of old Indian passport by naturalized citizens. Although Govt. of India relented on the high passport surrender fee of $175 to $20, we have been getting feedback from the community on the difficulties and nightmares they go through to get the Surrender Certificate from Indian missions abroad and in the issuance of entry visas. These new rules were decided by the Home Ministry officials on the security concerns so that no one will misuse the old passport. However, GOPIO feels that these decisions were taken arbitrarily without proper thinking and has caused enormous problems for NRIs and PIOs who are especially the naturalized citizens of other countries. GOPIO presented an appeal in July 2010 to Mr. Vayalar Ravi, Minister for overseas Indian Affairs on the Passport Surrender rules which GOPIO has recommended that they should be changed without compromising on the security concerns raised by Home Ministry. We want to make a new representation to Govt. of India on the difficulties NRIs/PIOs face in these issues. GOPIO would like to hear your experience in the Indian passport surrender issues as well as obtaining your Indian visas and OCI/PIO cards from Indian missions abroad. Please write to us at gopio-intl@sbcglobal.net or gopio@optonline.net or visit http://www.gopio.net.
I have paid $240 per passport as penalty for 3 passports and did fight on this issue for 3 months with CGI Canada but nothing happened. Finally paid penalty and got Surrender certificates for expired passports.
This is totally unfair. Govt of India wants to make money as they know NRIs has no time to fight.
GOPIO should again start online petition and take this issue with govt. of India immediately. GOI should remove this penalty and refund to those who already paid this heavy amount of penalty.
There is no logic to retroactive enforcement of surrender certificates rules which were relaxed by GOI in June 2010. This news was published in various News papers and not implemented by CGI Office.
I sent my passport to Houston, TX consulate and they returned it after 3 months saying that I need to pay $250 penalty in addition to $20 service fee.
1. CGI Houston visited Dallas in Aug 2010 and the only fees they mentioned were a) $175 for people getting Foreign Nationality after June 1 2010 b) $25 for people who got Foreign Nationality before May 31, 2010 c) if somebody traveled on Indian Passport after getting Foreign Nationality - a penalty of $250/per travel, max to $1250
This was clearly told and was on CGI Houston website till Oct 2010. Recently they changed to include a $250 penalty even if somebody has not traveled on Indian Passport. THIS IS TOTALLY UNFAIR - this is like gaming the system and looting Indian community.
It seems that Only Houston consulates in US and Toronto & Vancouver consulates in Canada are charging this Penalty. NY, Chicago and SFO consulates are not.
my questions are a) why should some consulates make these arbitrary rules b) does it really take 3 months to issue/respond to Surrender Certificates.
CGI Houston guys never pick the phone, never respond to emails.
Request GOPIO to raise this issue with relevant Indian Authorities to resolve this. This whole experience has left a bad taste in Indian Community. The rules are very unclear and I think no thought was given to it before implementing. Seems like a knee-jerk reaction..
The High commission of India, Birmingham, UK charged a full PP surrender fee. On showing them the new rule and information from GOPIO they totally refused to pay the refund saying that they have no such information from Govt of India and would wait for such information before they take any action!!!!!
My name is TANGRI,BAL KRISHAN and I am from TORONTO.I really want to thank to your organisation for fighting all over on passport surrender issue.
Pl note that despite of all those new amendments ,Consulate General Of INDIA -Toronto still not willing to listen and wants me to pay $240.00 per passport as penalty for not surrendering passport for over three years . Pl note that I have to surrender 3 passports and those were never used for travel to India or any other purpose. though the following link shows these penalities whave been waived off by Govt of India ECONOMIC TIMES LINK SHOWING THESE CHARGES AND PENALTIES HAVE BEEN WAIVED OFF,
on 02 jun 2010 applied fro visa for my family members and myself..till date 20 dec 2010..neither a visa nor have i got my passport back...have benn going back and forth between indian consulate in san fran and travisia office..and adding insult to injury..lady at the indian consulate in san francisco asks " why is it taking so long ? "..pretty disgusting..have to contact my local congressman to get my passport back...forget indian visa or india..good-bye and good-luck !!
OMGGG. IAM SO DISSAPOINTED WITH THE SERVICE OF INDIAN CONSULATE OF SAN FRANCISCO I DONT EVEN KNOW IF THIS IS THE WRITE PLACE TO POST ANYTHING ABOUT IT BUT IAM GOING TO DO IT ANYWAYS SINCE I AM SO FRUSTRATED.! I HAVE GIVEN MY PASSPORT FOR RENEWAL FOR 9 MONTHS!!! AND THEY STILL NOT HAVE GIVEN MY PASSPORT.I USED MY PASSPORT AS IDENTIFICATION AND I CANNOT USE CREDIT CARDS AT STORE BECAUSE I DONT HAVE A VALID ID!! PLEASE IF ANYONE HAS ANY SUGGESTIONS AND ANYWHERE I CAN GO FOR HELP PLEASEE RPLY. THX.
As per the Indian Citizenship Act of 1955, Section 9 details that once an individual acquires the nationality of a foreign country their Indian Nationality is automatically terminated. As per my reading of the relevant Acts there is no requirement in Indian Law to formally renounce the Indian Citizenship in such cases where the Citizenship is automatically terminated as the individual is no longer an Indian National.
Recent updates to the passport surrender process includes the so called concession meaning that Indians who acquired foreign nationality prior to 01 Jun 2010 only pay the miscellaneous fee instead of the full "renunciation fee". There is no date specified in the Indian Citizenship Act of 1955 hence the arbitrary cut off for determining which fee applies to applicants who wish to surrendering passports is not in compliance with the Act and is therefore not legal. Therefore until the Citizenship Act 1955 is clarified by an Amendment, the renunciation fee being charged by Indian missions should be totally suspended.
Like some of the other posts, I sent my family's passports to Houston for renunciation. Per the June 1, 2010 "New Guidelines", ironically enough posted on Houston CGI's own website, I sent each application with the $20 fee.
After almost 3 months, they were returned because they did not have the "correct fee" - $250 per passport.
Totally ridiculous. All my dealings with CGI Houston have been horrendous. To the point that if I did not have to deal with them, I would not. I'd get rid of that whole bunch and replace them with a private firm who may actually be accountable and know what customer service is.
So the question I have is - what happens if we just don't go through this silly renunciation process. What's the downside? What's the problem. I am not sure I've understood why it is NECESSARY to go through this nonsense and what the problem would be if I decided "to hell with it".
India does not like NRI (Not Required Indians) and India does not like Foreign Tourist as well
I refer to the interview with Sheela Bhatt with India’s diaspora minister dated December 31, 2010. I would like to point out an additional serious problem that nobody is talking about. The infamous 2-month no entry rule for the foreigners holding Tourist visa has created an enormous problem for people of neighboring countries like Nepal, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka. Thousands of foreign tourists of origin from neighboring countries regularly land at New Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai or Chennai, spend a few days and go to their motherland for family visit. They used to do this because of convenience (more cheaper and connecting flights etc.), and because many of them have strong ties with India (e.g., relatives, friends etc.). Now they find that they can go home, but cannot come back to India to catch their return flights due to a dumbest 2-month no entry visa rule created by the Home Ministry in the name of homeland security. Now thousands are avoiding India and go to Bangkok, Singapore and other places instead. Who is losing millions of dollars in tourist revenue? It is India. In addition, this rule has a tremendous impact on thousands of tourist who enter India first and make a short side trip to Nepal, Sri Lanka, or Maldives, etc. This will hit hard on the tourism industry, especially in places like Goa. The two-month gap is too long for many tourists. If the Home Ministry thinks that they will deter all future David Headleys in this way, they are kidding themselves. We need progressive and forward looking minsters in India, not another set of bureaucratic leaders. I request all responsible and honorable persons in India and USA to start a protest movement to repeal this stupid restriction for tourists. India has an enormous potential to develop tourism. Let us make India as a tourist mecca, where every genuine tourist can come, stay and enjoy the beauty and serenity of India.
GOPIO has been in the forefront to take up issues of common interest of the Indian community living outside India for the last 21 years since its inception. It recommended and campaigned with Govt. of India on PIO Card, Overseas Indian Citizenship (OCI), Ministry for Overseas Indians and in 2010 issues in the surrender of old Indian passport by naturalized citizens. Although Govt. of India relented on the high passport surrender fee of $175 to $20, we have been getting feedback from the community on the difficulties and nightmares they go through to get the Surrender Certificate from Indian missions abroad and in the issuance of entry visas. These new rules were decided by the Home Ministry officials on the security concerns so that no one will misuse the old passport. However, GOPIO feels that these decisions were taken arbitrarily without proper thinking and has caused enormous problems for NRIs and PIOs who are especially the naturalized citizens of other countries. Indirectly, Govt. of India is telling you that to visit Mother India, you will have to first pay an enormous amount and then go through all hassles. GOPIO presented an appeal in July 2010 to Mr. Vayalar Ravi, Minister for overseas Indian Affairs on the Passport Surrender rules which GOPIO has recommended that they should be changed without compromising on the security concerns raised by Home Ministry. These include the following:
ReplyDelete1. Reduce the passport surrender fee of $175 from those who became naturalized citizens after June 1, 2010 to $20 and give 3 months for surrender and if not surrendered, charge a fee of $175.
2. GOPIO suggests that those who have become naturalized citizen before 2000 and whose Indian passports are already expired need not obtain surrender certificate since those passports are no more valid travel documents.
3. GOPIO also requested that Government of India should relax the current rigid requirements to obtain surrender certificates for those whose passports have been misplaced or lost.
4. Increase the staff at Indian Missions handling the passports and visa especially in countries such as the USA, UK, Canada, Australia till these issues are resolved.
We want to make a new representation to Govt. of India on the difficulties NRIs/PIOs face in these issues. GOPIO would like to hear your experience in the Indian passport surrender issues as well as obtaining your Indian visas and OCI/PIO cards from Indian missions abroad. Please write to us at gopio-intl@sbcglobal.net or gopio@optonline.net or visit http://www.gopio.net.
GOPIO has been in the forefront to take up issues of common interest of the Indian community living outside India for the last 21 years since its inception. It recommended and campaigned with Govt. of India on PIO Card, Overseas Indian Citizenship (OCI), Ministry for Overseas Indians and in 2010 issues in the surrender of old Indian passport by naturalized citizens. Although Govt. of India relented on the high passport surrender fee of $175 to $20, we have been getting feedback from the community on the difficulties and nightmares they go through to get the Surrender Certificate from Indian missions abroad and in the issuance of entry visas. These new rules were decided by the Home Ministry officials on the security concerns so that no one will misuse the old passport. However, GOPIO feels that these decisions were taken arbitrarily without proper thinking and has caused enormous problems for NRIs and PIOs who are especially the naturalized citizens of other countries. GOPIO presented an appeal in July 2010 to Mr. Vayalar Ravi, Minister for overseas Indian Affairs on the Passport Surrender rules which GOPIO has recommended that they should be changed without compromising on the security concerns raised by Home Ministry. We want to make a new representation to Govt. of India on the difficulties NRIs/PIOs face in these issues. GOPIO would like to hear your experience in the Indian passport surrender issues as well as obtaining your Indian visas and OCI/PIO cards from Indian missions abroad. Please write to us at gopio-intl@sbcglobal.net or gopio@optonline.net or visit http://www.gopio.net.
ReplyDeleteGOPIO should take up this issue with govt. of India immediately.
ReplyDeleteInnoresearch
I have paid $240 per passport as penalty for 3 passports and did fight on this issue for 3 months with CGI Canada but nothing happened. Finally paid penalty and got Surrender certificates for expired passports.
ReplyDeleteThis is totally unfair. Govt of India wants to make money as they know NRIs has no time to fight.
GOPIO should again start online petition and take this issue with govt. of India immediately. GOI should remove this penalty and refund to those who already paid this heavy amount of penalty.
There is no logic to retroactive enforcement of surrender certificates rules which were relaxed by GOI in June 2010. This news was published in various News papers and not implemented by CGI Office.
December 10, 2010 12:52 PM
I sent my passport to Houston, TX consulate and they returned it after 3 months saying that I need to pay $250 penalty in addition to $20 service fee.
ReplyDelete1. CGI Houston visited Dallas in Aug 2010 and the only fees they mentioned were
a) $175 for people getting Foreign Nationality after June 1 2010
b) $25 for people who got Foreign Nationality before May 31, 2010
c) if somebody traveled on Indian Passport after getting Foreign Nationality - a penalty of $250/per travel, max to $1250
This was clearly told and was on CGI Houston website till Oct 2010. Recently they changed to include a $250 penalty even if somebody has not traveled on Indian Passport. THIS IS TOTALLY UNFAIR - this is like gaming the system and looting Indian community.
It seems that Only Houston consulates in US and Toronto & Vancouver consulates in Canada are charging this Penalty. NY, Chicago and SFO consulates are not.
my questions are
a) why should some consulates make these arbitrary rules
b) does it really take 3 months to issue/respond to Surrender Certificates.
CGI Houston guys never pick the phone, never respond to emails.
Request GOPIO to raise this issue with relevant Indian Authorities to resolve this. This whole experience has left a bad taste in Indian Community. The rules are very unclear and I think no thought was given to it before implementing. Seems like a knee-jerk reaction..
The High commission of India, Birmingham, UK charged a full PP surrender fee. On showing them the new rule and information from GOPIO they totally refused to pay the refund saying that they have no such information from Govt of India and would wait for such information before they take any action!!!!!
ReplyDeletesee attached story - Community leader in Houston protesting against Indian consulate for new passport surrender rule, penalties and delay.
ReplyDeletehttp://apps.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/7336496.html
Hi,
ReplyDeleteMy name is TANGRI,BAL KRISHAN and I am from TORONTO.I really want to thank to your organisation for fighting all over on passport surrender issue.
Pl note that despite of all those new amendments ,Consulate General Of INDIA -Toronto still not willing to listen and wants me to pay $240.00 per passport as penalty for not surrendering passport for over three years . Pl note that I have to surrender 3 passports and those were never used for travel to India or any other purpose.
though the following link shows these penalities whave been waived off by Govt of India
ECONOMIC TIMES LINK SHOWING THESE CHARGES AND PENALTIES HAVE BEEN WAIVED OFF,
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/6004602.cms
BAL KRISHAN TANGRI
on 02 jun 2010 applied fro visa for my family members and myself..till date 20 dec 2010..neither a visa nor have i got my passport back...have benn going back and forth between indian consulate in san fran and travisia office..and adding insult to injury..lady at the indian consulate in san francisco asks " why is it taking so long ? "..pretty disgusting..have to contact my local congressman to get my passport back...forget indian visa or india..good-bye and good-luck !!
ReplyDeleteOMGGG. IAM SO DISSAPOINTED WITH THE SERVICE OF INDIAN CONSULATE OF SAN FRANCISCO I DONT EVEN KNOW IF THIS IS THE WRITE PLACE TO POST ANYTHING ABOUT IT BUT IAM GOING TO DO IT ANYWAYS SINCE I AM SO FRUSTRATED.! I HAVE GIVEN MY PASSPORT FOR RENEWAL FOR 9 MONTHS!!! AND THEY STILL NOT HAVE GIVEN MY PASSPORT.I USED MY PASSPORT AS IDENTIFICATION AND I CANNOT USE CREDIT CARDS AT STORE BECAUSE I DONT HAVE A VALID ID!! PLEASE IF ANYONE HAS ANY SUGGESTIONS AND ANYWHERE I CAN GO FOR HELP PLEASEE RPLY. THX.
ReplyDeleteAs per the Indian Citizenship Act of 1955, Section 9 details that once an individual acquires the nationality of a foreign country their Indian Nationality is automatically terminated. As per my reading of the relevant Acts there is no requirement in Indian Law to formally renounce the Indian Citizenship in such cases where the Citizenship is automatically terminated as the individual is no longer an Indian National.
ReplyDeleteRecent updates to the passport surrender process includes the so called concession meaning that Indians who acquired foreign nationality prior to 01 Jun 2010 only pay the miscellaneous fee instead of the full "renunciation fee". There is no date specified in the Indian Citizenship Act of 1955 hence the arbitrary cut off for determining which fee applies to applicants who wish to surrendering passports is not in compliance with the Act and is therefore not legal. Therefore until the Citizenship Act 1955 is clarified by an Amendment, the renunciation fee being charged by Indian missions should be totally suspended.
Like some of the other posts, I sent my family's passports to Houston for renunciation. Per the June 1, 2010 "New Guidelines", ironically enough posted on Houston CGI's own website, I sent each application with the $20 fee.
ReplyDeleteAfter almost 3 months, they were returned because they did not have the "correct fee" - $250 per passport.
Totally ridiculous. All my dealings with CGI Houston have been horrendous. To the point that if I did not have to deal with them, I would not. I'd get rid of that whole bunch and replace them with a private firm who may actually be accountable and know what customer service is.
So the question I have is - what happens if we just don't go through this silly renunciation process. What's the downside? What's the problem. I am not sure I've understood why it is NECESSARY to go through this nonsense and what the problem would be if I decided "to hell with it".
India does not like NRI (Not Required Indians) and India does not like Foreign Tourist as well
ReplyDeleteI refer to the interview with Sheela Bhatt with India’s diaspora minister dated December 31, 2010. I would like to point out an additional serious problem that nobody is talking about.
The infamous 2-month no entry rule for the foreigners holding Tourist visa has created an enormous problem for people of neighboring countries like Nepal, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka. Thousands of foreign tourists of origin from neighboring countries regularly land at New Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai or Chennai, spend a few days and go to their motherland for family visit. They used to do this because of convenience (more cheaper and connecting flights etc.), and because many of them have strong ties with India (e.g., relatives, friends etc.). Now they find that they can go home, but cannot come back to India to catch their return flights due to a dumbest 2-month no entry visa rule created by the Home Ministry in the name of homeland security. Now thousands are avoiding India and go to Bangkok, Singapore and other places instead. Who is losing millions of dollars in tourist revenue? It is India.
In addition, this rule has a tremendous impact on thousands of tourist who enter India first and make a short side trip to Nepal, Sri Lanka, or Maldives, etc. This will hit hard on the tourism industry, especially in places like Goa. The two-month gap is too long for many tourists. If the Home Ministry thinks that they will deter all future David Headleys in this way, they are kidding themselves. We need progressive and forward looking minsters in India, not another set of bureaucratic leaders. I request all responsible and honorable persons in India and USA to start a protest movement to repeal this stupid restriction for tourists. India has an enormous potential to develop tourism. Let us make India as a tourist mecca, where every genuine tourist can come, stay and enjoy the beauty and serenity of India.
Hello , who is monitoring this blog ? kind regards Rajindre Tewari
ReplyDelete