Travelling on Indian passport after naturalisation

[abig234]

Hello.

I am about to apply for British passport but I also need to travel to India. I understand Indian govt allows people to travel on Indian passport as long as the passport is surrendered within 90 days from Ceremony date.

But I just would like to understand if I apply for British Passport before travel and receive my British Passport before travel.... Will my existing Visa (i.e. PR Visa on Indian passport) be still valid for me to travel to the India and then re-enter into the UK. Do homeoffice cancel my existing visa after granting british passport?

This is because I may have time to apply for british passport before travel but do not have enough time to surrender Indian passport and apply for OCI. This is something I have to do only on my return.

And so I wanted to know if I should apply and get British passport before travel, but can still travel and be back on old PR Visa.

Please advise.

[Jambo]

If you have a British passport why not use that to enter UK and Indian passport to enter/exit India. That's common practice for dual nationals.

[ban.s]

this is not a British Citizenship question:

indian govt does allow grace period of 3 months for the surrender of indian passport but that doesn't mean you are allowed to use indian passport during that grace period. each travel will incur penalty.

you indian passport and PR will remain valid and technically you can use that to enter and leave india - no one will question that - however once you surrender your indian passport all entry/exit stamps will be verified before they issue you formal surrender ceriticate.

if you don't have time to apply for OCI, best bet would be surrender the passport and then apply for tourist visa.

ps: india doesn't recognise dual citizenship

[abig234]

Thanks for your reply. Really appreciate it.

But, I was reading an article and it is mentioned as "A grace period of three months is permitted from the date of acquisition of foreign citizenship and no penalty will be applied for travel using the Indian passport within three months of acquisition of foreign passport. However, once this grace period has passed the penalties for ignoring the need for Indian passport surrender will be applied. These include imprisonment of up to 5 years and a fine of up to $1250 USD. Traveling to India on an Indian passport can incur a fine of $250 per travel up to a maximum of $1250 USD."

This means I should be able to use Indian passport for travel? Isn't it?

[ban.s]

hi - just want to update the previously stated information - the grace period "does" allow travel on indian pp. so yes, your observation was correct.

3. A grace period of three months is allowed from the date of acquisition of foreign citizenship, for the purpose of travel on Indian passport. Therefore, no penalty will be leviable for travel on Indian passport within three months of acquisition of foreign passport.

[umittal]

Hi Friends

I am on ILR and going to apply for Naturalization at council office in Swindon on 28th July(4 days from now). I will need to travel to India in Sept 2014 for a week.

Looking at Naturalization waiting times I don't think I will have my Naturalization certificate by then as its taking 2-3 months.

Now my question is

A) If my certificate is not there by then am I subjected to any restriction because I have made the application?
B) If my certificate do arrive by then what is the procedure I should follow for traveling to India?
C) I have gone through the procedure discussed to travel in this forum but all concerned had BP. In case you only have NC and not BP and are within 3 months of NC what procedure should be followed?
D) Is ILR valid after NC?
E) From when Grace period is calculated? i.e When you make your NC application or the day you receive your NC after ceremony?
F) How long it takes to get BP after NC?

Regards
umittal

[ban.s]

Hi Friends

I am on ILR and going to apply for Naturalization at council office in Swindon on 28th July(4 days from now). I will need to travel to India in Sept 2014 for a week.

Looking at Naturalization waiting times I don't think I will have my Naturalization certificate by then as its taking 2-3 months.

Now my question is

A) If my certificate is not there by then am I subjected to any restriction because I have made the application?
B) If my certificate do arrive by then what is the procedure I should follow for traveling to India?
C) I have gone through the procedure discussed to travel in this forum but all concerned had BP. In case you only have NC and not BP and are within 3 months of NC what procedure should be followed?
D) Is ILR valid after NC?
E) From when Grace period is calculated? i.e When you make your NC application or the day you receive your NC after ceremony?
F) How long it takes to get BP after NC?

Regards
umittal

Please don't post same question in multiple threads.

You are permitted to travel on Indian passport as an Indian citizen upto 3 months from the date you attend the citizenship ceremony. All your questions have answers in this form or in the British Citizenship section. Take your time to review these sections.

Also see --> http://www.immigrationboards.com/other- ... 41754.html

[umittal]

Hi ban.s

Thanks for your reply.

Yes I have reviewed some of the sections and gathered some info. Based on that I am going to attempt to answer my questions below.

Please correct if I have misunderstood something

A) If my certificate is not there by then am I subjected to any restriction because I have made the application?
Ans) No restriction apply it only starts after the day I get my NC ?

B) If my certificate do arrive by then what is the procedure I should follow for traveling to India?
Ans) Same as before... I can still use my Indian passport + ILR at Heathrow ?

C) I have gone through the procedure discussed to travel in this forum but all concerned had BP. In case you only have NC and not BP and are within 3 months of NC what procedure should be followed?
Ans) Can use Indian Passport + ILR at heathrow ?
D) Is ILR valid after NC?
Ans) Yes ?
E) From when Grace period is calculated? i.e When you make your NC application or the day you receive your NC after ceremony?
Ans) From ceremony date
F) How long it takes to get BP after NC?
Ans) Don't know yet

Can you please clear the point regrading ILR validity after NC?

Regards
umittal

[ban.s]

Hi ban.s

Thanks for your reply.

Yes I have reviewed some of the sections and gathered some info. Based on that I am going to attempt to answer my questions below.

Please correct if I have misunderstood something

A) If my certificate is not there by then am I subjected to any restriction because I have made the application?
Ans) No restriction apply it only starts after the day I get my NC ?

B) If my certificate do arrive by then what is the procedure I should follow for traveling to India?
Ans) Same as before... I can still use my Indian passport + ILR at Heathrow ?

C) I have gone through the procedure discussed to travel in this forum but all concerned had BP. In case you only have NC and not BP and are within 3 months of NC what procedure should be followed?
Ans) Can use Indian Passport + ILR at heathrow ?
D) Is ILR valid after NC?
Ans) Yes ?

A, B, C, D: yes, yes, yes, yes.
ILR doesn't become invalid on its own. After naturalisation it just becomes irrelevant for practical purposes. Just also carry the naturalisation certificate if it arrives on time.

[umittal]

Thanks a lot for your help

[keerthi]

Hi,

My situation will be like this with in next 2 weeks, due to the passport delays, where I will not have time to apply for Surrender Cert and Visa which will take atleast 8 working days.

I understand that

1. Exit and Entry to UK - British Passport

2. Entry and Exit from India - Indian Passport

Please can someone clarify what nationality should I mention in the British Airways website - Passenger information - Should it be British or Indian.

Any help is much appreciated.

Regards,
Keerthi

[ban.s]

I presume you have ILR - either in old vignette format in the passport or as a BRP.

use your indian passport/ILR for departure from UK, arrival in india, departure from India.

as you'll be using Indian passport for travel, so nationality is Indian.

after you have returned and landed in the UK airport, then only use your British passport for exit. You can use e-border gates - just swipe the biometric passport and exit.

[keerthi]

Thanks ban.S, this is very clear.

Regards,
Keerthi

[antouk]

I did the same, just got back from India.

@ban.s : I might have to pay penalty form my kids(their naturlization dates are far earlier than ours). You have any idea how they collect the penalty amount?

[ban.s]

Penatly is collected through VFS and is payable prior to the issue of surrender certificate.

[antouk]

Penatly is collected through VFS and is payable prior to the issue of surrender certificate.

Oh sorry forgot to mention, i am doing a postal application. So will VFS contact me for the penalty money?