Relaxation By Indian Embassy In Passport Surrender Rules

After strong objections from the Global Organization of People of Indian origin (GOPIO International) on the issue of surrendering Indian passports on acquisition upon US citizenship were expressed, the external Affairs Ministry (MEA) agreed to eliminate the surrender certificate and the OCI application, to be accompanied US passport, from those who had become naturalized citizens more than 10 years ago.

Just a week later the Indian Embassy in Washington DC denied any such release from the Ministry of External Affairs after the GOPIO had welcomed the press release that it did not have to surrender the 10 year old passport to obtain a surrender certificate.

The Indian Embassy has something else in mind. A mail sent by Nikhilesh M Dhirar, second secretary, Press, Information and Culture, Washington DC, to India Abroad said, "We have been informed that an India [ Images ]n passport is to be presented for cancellation and issue of a surrender certificate (Renunciation of India citizenship) irrespective of the time frame of naturalization

The mail also mentioned the details of the penalty that will be levied for misuse of Indian Passport after acquiring foreign citizenship, were also mentioned on the website of the Embassy.

Earlier in Jan 2011, a GOPIO delegation had presented a memorandum to the Ministry for External Affairs, bringing to their notice the hardships and delays that the people had to undergo for obtaining a visa to India. It was these bureaucratic procedures that were distancing NRI and PIO communities from India. In fact the biggest hurdle was the clause of the surrender certificate requirement, that was enforced. People who had obtained a foreign citizenship more than 10 years ago, could not surrender their Indian passports as they lose their validity after 10 years.

These problems were brought to the notice of a high ranking official from MEA, who along with a high level delegation visited the US in May 2011, to look into this visa issue.
A circular was then issued to all Indian Missions, which said:

(i) Registration of surrender certificate: Since visa and other applicants (for consular services) of Indian origin are being put to discomfort by the request for surrender certificate every time they seek a service, all Missions/Posts have been advised to register the surrender certificate, electronically or otherwise, at the first occasion it is presented. Such a record will ensure that PIOs will no longer be required to produce the certificate on every occasion of approaching the Mission/Post for consular assistance.

(ii) 'Deemed surrender' cases: In order to deal with instances where a Person of Indian Origin was in possession of an Indian passport that expired more than 10 years ago, and where in the intervening period, he/she has acquired foreign citizenship, all Missions/Posts have been advised to treat such cases as 'Deemed surrender.' On the production of documents showing the acquisition of foreign nationality more than 10 years ago, such persons will be issued 'deemed surrender' certificates, without causing the additional burden of producing passports which may not be in the possession of the Person of Indian Origin."

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