Hi BSK, Yes, I only sent a photocopy of the Surrender Certificate. I did this for for two PIO applications - self and wife's. Had no problem at all. I note that HCI London have updated their PIO page. Loads more information there now. There's a paragraph that clearly mentions a copy of the Surrender...

You're right - NRI status will be ideal for you. It's going to have to be PIO or OCI. Check out the documents requirements and see which will be easier for you to fulfil. I have no way of backing this up but I was given the impression that PIOs are processed in London itself (unless there are compli...

Really depends on your requirements. If you intend living in India for a longish time, probably best to go for PIO or OCI. OCI may be even better if you're definitely gonna be staying longer than six months at a stretch. I'm not so sure about long-term visa - never even considered it, to be honest. ...

Hi, I just printed off two copies of the form and filled each one by hand. Make sure you use black ink! And for your records, best to make a photocopy of one of the completed forms - you might need to refer to it in case of clarifications or to help you fill another application. Cheers, Lal EDIT: I ...

Hi gidoc, Sorry about the delay in responding - haven't logged in here for a while. I did send the original British passport with the PIO application. Going thru the list of documents I had enclosed, this is what I had sent: 1. PIO Application form in duplicate 2. Copy of Indian Passport Surrender C...

Here's my situation - both my wife and I are PIO Card holders and therefore do not need visas to visit India. My son, born Indian and now a UK citizen surrendered his Indian passport recently. He will obviously need a visa to visit India. My daughter was born here after we had become British citizen...

Hi linearkieran, What is the nationality of your children as of now? Take a look at this link: http://www.immihelp.com/nri/overseascitizenshipindia/oci-eligibility.html Hope you get some useful answers. Unfortunately, I haven't done much fact-finding on this aspect. Cheers, Lal Hi Klal, I went throu...

Hmmmm...if storage space was the issue, they would have been better off returning the cancelled/defaced passports to the applicant right from the start. A little bit of foresight would have done them some good. I had surrendered my old Indian passports back in 2010. As was the practice at that time,...

I had surrendered my old Indian passports back in 2010. As was the practice at that time, they retained the passports and issued a Surrender Certificate. Just a couple of months ago, we surrendered my wife's old Indian passport. This time, they returned the passport, clipped at the corner and issued...

Thanks. PIO was more than adequate for our purpose. My experience with my own PIO application ago a year ago was positive (and at that time, I know PIO cards were being thumped out much faster than OCIs) and that's what helped me make my decision. Of course, I have the option of applying for OCI any...

Hope this is of some help...

I applied for a PIO card for my wife during May this year. HCI London issued the PIO card bang on target - 21 working days! Well done HCI!

Was about to apply for a PIO card for my wife only to be told by some sources that PIO cards are no longer being issued. Can anyone confirm this is the case? I've tried to contact the High Commission but no one seems to answer the call. The High Comm's website gives no indication of the PIO scheme b...

Guys,

Be careful. If you haven't surrendered your Indian passport within three years of acquiring foreign citizenship, be aware the Indian government is strictly applying penalties. The leniency shown earlier is apparently no longer there.

Krazydude, That doesn't sound right. I was an Indian citizen earlier - acquired British Citizenship and was clearly eligible for EITHER PIO or OCI. My children too have the same eligibility as both wife and I are former Indian citizens. The one exception, as I understand is when one/both of the pare...

I need to apply for a PIO or an OCI card for my wife depending on which is issued faster. I appreciate this is not an easy question to answer, but what is the general opinion?

Would appreciate any pointers.

Since the accounts were funded locally, they are non-repatriable. I do think there are circumstances in which you can repatriate even those funds - need to study RBI's rules though. So far, this is what I've found: "NRI/PIO may remit from the balances held in NRO account an amount not exceeding...

Thanks for the reply. Yes, we may want to close the accounts. Of course, there surely must be the option to convert the existing accounts into NRI and keep them live. Hi If they are local accounts then you are not allowed operate. This is also true for Indian Citizens who are NRI. Nri and OCI or pio...

Hope someone can throw some light on this. We have some old bank accounts in India which we would like to close on our next visit to India. Trouble is when the accounts had been opened, we were Indian citizens and now we are British. My query is: will the Indian bank permit us to operate/transact on...

Hi atika_aijaz,

Thanks for the answer. My mind at rest now!

Cheers,
Lal

atika_aijaz wrote:hi, i also had the same two questions.Here is the answer i got from VFS.
parent should sign all documents until the child is 18.
self attested means you sign ,but the guy at vfs centre said it is not needed anymore.

Thanks!

krazydude wrote:

Second Question: The VFS website mentions the documents submitted should be self-attested. What exactly do they expect there? Just a signature on each of the documents?

Signature/initial on each page.

I am going to surrender my son's Indian passport. He has just turned sixteen - can he sign the application form or do I need to sign it as his parent? Can't find any guidance at the HCI website. Any one with any idea please? Edit: Second Question: The VFS website mentions the documents submitted sho...

Applied for Indian Passport/Citizenship Surrender Certificate by post. Sent application by Special Delivery on 23rd Nov 2009, enclosing ALL of my Indian passports, copy of British Naturalisation Certificate, copies of Indian passports, copy of British Passport and a crossed PO for £90. Also enclose...

Be careful. Not a good idea to ever mess with the law. These days, I understand governments exchange information relating to acquisition of citizenship. If you don't agree with the law, challenge it if you have the resources but make sure you're not violating the law in the first place. Just my opin...

Thanks Raj. I am likely to apply for the surrender by post once the Royal Mail mess is out of the way.

RAJ2007 wrote:klal,

copy will do. i have submitted appl for PIO recently.

That's not a bad turnaround. And that too by post! How do you intend sorting out the spelling mistake? By the way, is anyone aware if the surrender certificate needs to be submitted with an OCI/PIO application? And if so, will it be returned or are they happy with a copy? Cheers, Lal Applied on 19.1...