Surrendring Indian passport

[mallikz]

Can some one please let us know how to fill a group petition and send it to India High commission here in London and Minstry of External Affairs.

[peejay]

Can some one please let us know how to fill a group petition and send it to India High commission here in London and Minstry of External Affairs.

My understanding is that this is only applicable in UK at the moment. I have checked US and canadian indian embassy site and couldnt find anything on surrendering indian passport!!! Great hei....

[zaidir]

I have sent a complaint to the Administration Department as below. If nothing comes out of this, I suggest you should all try and do something similar i.e. email, call or send a letter. If you search on Google you will also find the direct contact nos for HCI staff including High Commissioner and all secretaries/ministers whom you should try and call to register your complaint at the state of affairs at HCI.

Currently the situation here is worse than the 'babudom' seen ages ago in India.

###############################################

From: Zaidi, Rehan
Sent: 16 October 2009 14:58
To: 'administration@hcilondon.in'
Subject: Complaint - Unacceptable treatment at High Commission of India London

Shri Nalin Suri
High Commissioner of India
London

Dear Sir

It is with great regret that I have to approach you directly about the sad state of affairs at the High Commission in London when it comes to the services being offered.

I have my own personal experience which I have recounted below but I was also aghast to see the treatment meted out to several individuals; young and old, men and women across the spectrum who had visited the high commission in person on the 8th and 9th of October. This included but was not limited to intemperate language, a total lack of empathy and seriously unprofessional attitude from a section of the staff. Although most of the staff are generally courteous and try to be helpful but they lack basic training and are unfortunately no more than mechanical rubber stamps.

I have been in the UK for about 11 years as a NRI before deciding to take up British nationality on September 2nd 2009 along with my wife (also a NRI at the time) and our newborn son. Although it was a difficult decision to give up my Indian citizenship of about 35 years, the availability of the OCI facility (which in itself is a highly misleading name - but that's a separate subject altogether) offered some succour. As a law abiding citizen, when I applied for the OCI citizenship for our family, I surrendered my Indian passport together with my wife's on the 16th of Sep. I was given receipts for submission of the OCI application and asked to check online on the status of the same. However there was no mention of a 'surrender certificate' for our Indian passports and no mention of any fee etc. on the surrender form that we were asked to fill up.

My wife had long planned to travel to India via Dubai on the 15th of Oct. I therefore waited till the 5th Oct to see if there was any progress on our OCI applications. As this was showing 'in progress', she duly applied for a visa at the VFS office in Victoria on her British passport. However the office declined to accept the application saying that there was a 'new policy' from the high commission requiring all new British passport holders to submit a 'surrender certificate' with the application. No amount of explanation that our Indian passports were already with the OCI wing and we were not given a surrender certificate, made any difference. Exasperated, we tried to get in touch with the High Commission on the telephone numbers provided on the website. Unfortunately nobody picked up any of the direct numbers provided for the Passport or OCI sections over 2 days. Voicemail messages for recordings saying 'we will get back to you within 24 hours' went unreturned too. Emails to both departments came back as being undeliverable. Thoroughly disillusioned with the state of affairs, I travelled in person to the High Commission on the 8th of Oct to enquire and was duly told to leave my details and that someone would call back by the evening. Nobody contacted me as promised and I had to go back again on the 9th of October. After being sent from one window to another and being asked to wait 'patiently', the OCI counter brought out our surrendered Indian passports and asked me to take these to the Passport counter where the clerk announced that a new policy of surrendering passports was in force and I would need to pay £90 and collect my certificate after 7-10 working days. The fact that I had already 'surrendered' my passport on the 16th when no such policy was in force made no difference to them and the Passport window declined any knowledge of matters attended to by the OCI people. No amount of pleading that my wife could not wait for 7-10 days as she was travelling on the 15th made any difference and I was bluntly asked to go away (which was much more polite than what others experienced. Some were called liars to their face, others including an old gentleman was 'punished' by being asked to bugger off as he had the temitry to get a letter from a British MP of Indian descent in support of expediting his long pending application)

I am aware that you have only recently taken up this esteemed office, however the apathy and unprofessionalism shown by the representative office of India in a foreign country is indeed sad and deplorable. Most Indian citizens going through the grind over the two days I witnessed took this behaviour from the staff with an air of helplessness (a staff member actually smirked and remarked 'yahan sabki ***** hai'). However I do not accept this attitude of taking things lying down and I hope you will agree that things should be much better.

I call upon you to urgently look into these matters. Obviously my own situation as described above needs attention but I am also conscious that many others are facing what I have faced today on a daily basis. The retrospective application of the fee for surrendering passports in unfair on people who already submitted their applications before the rule was announced. Even for new applicants the fee is excessive and there is no consistency with the fee for surrendering passports at other Indian consulates worldwide many of whom do not charge a fee altogether.

I look forward to receiving a response from your office at the earliest. If like my other email/communication (attached above) there is no response, I will have to take this up with the MEA in India and/or the PMO.

Kind Regards

Rehan
###############################################

[zaidir]

Here's the list of contact nos for HCI staff. Please be sensible with using the telephone nos. Whatever the rights and wrongs of the current situation, people at HCI have work to do so try and be sensible and call the personal secretaries of people whom you'd like to convey your complaints to before trying the direct line nos.

http://hcilondon.in/AnnexI.pdf

[llNicell]

I'm really worried about the kind of rules that High commission is implementing now a days.

How to sign a group petition, I dont have any idea about this. Can some one please help.

Is there any other better approcach? any suggestions?

I think we shd send the petition to London High commissioner and Deputy, and also to PM.

thanks

Everyone has the right to seek information from HCI – London about the recent changes of rules to surrender passport and justification of unreasonable £90 fee. Everyone including PIO/OCI/ foreign national (if affected) has this right under RTI act 2005 http://righttoinformation.gov.in/

We can ask HCI to provide: Indian act under which this policy has been changed, name of person(s), their authorities & certified copies of notes /meetings held for changing this policy and justification for £90 fee…..and many more questions which you may think…..
I had received an email from Vijay Mehta HCI – London about seeking information under RTI act 2005 and he replied to me. The extract has been cut and pasted here
====
Please refer to your E-mail seeking advice on how to make a request through the High Commission of India, London for obtaining information under the Right to Information Act 2005.
2. For obtaining information under the RTI Act please submit the following:
a) Application
b) Copy of the passport
c) Fee of Rs. 10/- to be paid in Pounds (Exchange Rate £ 1= Rs. 80.56) in the form of a Postal Order or Bank Cheque.
Email your query on Second Secretary (Press & Information) (ss.pni@hcilondon.in
If required call Vijay K Mehta
Second Secretary (Press & Information)/PIO
High Commission of India
Aldwych, London
WC2B 4NA
Tel. No. 020 7632 3142
Fax No. 020 7632 3204

[keshgrover]

I'm really worried about the kind of rules that High commission is implementing now a days.

How to sign a group petition, I dont have any idea about this. Can some one please help.

Is there any other better approcach? any suggestions?

I think we shd send the petition to London High commissioner and Deputy, and also to PM.

thanks

Everyone has the right to seek information from HCI – London about the recent changes of rules to surrender passport and justification of unreasonable £90 fee. Everyone including PIO/OCI/ foreign national (if affected) has this right under RTI act 2005 http://righttoinformation.gov.in/

We can ask HCI to provide: Indian act under which this policy has been changed, name of person(s), their authorities & certified copies of notes /meetings held for changing this policy and justification for £90 fee…..and many more questions which you may think…..
I had received an email from Vijay Mehta HCI – London about seeking information under RTI act 2005 and he replied to me. The extract has been cut and pasted here
====
Please refer to your E-mail seeking advice on how to make a request through the High Commission of India, London for obtaining information under the Right to Information Act 2005.
2. For obtaining information under the RTI Act please submit the following:
a) Application
b) Copy of the passport
c) Fee of Rs. 10/- to be paid in Pounds (Exchange Rate £ 1= Rs. 80.56) in the form of a Postal Order or Bank Cheque.
Email your query on Second Secretary (Press & Information) (ss.pni@hcilondon.in
If required call Vijay K Mehta
Second Secretary (Press & Information)/PIO
High Commission of India
Aldwych, London
WC2B 4NA
Tel. No. 020 7632 3142
Fax No. 020 7632 3204

What about taking this to media? Let me try Sahara. I will keep you guys updated on this.

[twinkletwinkle]

CHIEF PASSPORT OFFICER
Shri R. Swaminathan,

Joint Secretary (CPV) & Chief Passport Officer,

Ministry of External Affairs,

Room No. 20, 1st Floor, Patiala House Annexe, New Delhi-110001

Tel: 91-11-23384519,23384497,Fax:23782821
Email: grv.jscpv@mea.gov.in

PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER (PUBLIC GRIEVANCES)
Public Relations Officer (Public Grievances)

Tel: 91-11-23384519, 23384497 Fax:23384461
Email:grv.jscpv@mea.gov.in

[mallikz]

Thanks all for your replies.

As advised by Zaidir and IINicell, I will email to HighCommissioner about the issue also I will use the Right of Inforamtion Act to get the details.

In case you guys have received any reply or response from the Highcommission please post it here, this will help us a lot.

Zaidir - Have you got any reply from HCI London? in case you received reply please post here.


Peejay - Can you please confirm that the Passport submission and £90 fee is only applicable in HCI London? how did you check with the other HCI around the world? any link or email etc?

[bob1001]

I think we should organise a protest in front of the high commission, i am not one who support this, but the callous attitude of indian high commission is so pathetic and getting beyond my nerves. Let everyone know the problems we are facing , the attitude of HCI, call and no one answers or phones are engaged, write to them no reply, go in person and you face "i dont give a damn attitude", absolutely unfriendly nature, no information when to pick up documents, come after few day we will see attitude.... come on guys let press know what these guys are up to, their customer service handling abilities, ....patetic....Organise an evening rally .. then these guys will come back to earth and deal with applications in a better way.........

[syamraj]

As I've alreayd mentioned, it was the situation on the 13th of October. HCI London is still working on getting this process streamlined. They might have started dealing with the postal applications. In fact, Birmingham consulate started doing it 12th October. One could have got back the cancelled version of Indian passport back with no charge while HCI London was still charging £90.

They use to give the cancelled Indian passport back earlier, but they don't do that anymore.

http://www.immigrationboards.com/viewto ... &start=600
Syamraj, you sure that we cant apply by post? In above message Raj has mentioned that he has spoken to HCI and they are ok with posting for surrender certificate.

OK guys, I had spent my whole day yesterday at HCI London. I got it yesterday (13/09/2009). Now a days they are asking to come back after 2 to 3 days. When this rule was introduced, it took some time for them to get themselves organized. It's still little bit chaotic as they made so many mistakes in the certificate I had to wait for 1 hr and they've done the corrections 7 times. So, please check your details in your certificate there itself before taking it home.

Now they have uploaded the form (http://hcilondon.in/notice.php) in the web page. They are still not entertaining any postal application for this service.

Another important information that I've realized is about the OCI and PIO processing times. They are much less (6 weeks for OCI) if you apply in person. Postal applications are taking minimum 3 months. They have a big backlog due to this new surrender certificate rule.

They can give the surrender certificate on the same day, if it's an emergency. I've submitted my Indian passport for the cancellation on 25th of August and got no response from them. So, I went to the consulate yeterday to get it back and get the surrender certificate. They realised that it's their mistake not processing my cancellation for so long, they aggreed to give me the surrender certificate on the same day.

I got it back after about 14 days in total. They told me to come back after 10 days. when i went after 10 days and waited for good 2 hours from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm. They told me to come again the next day as the lady on the order side of window told me there is some sort of panetly.
She was unable to tell me what the panelty is or what it means. so tired i returned back home. Went after 2 days booked a day off. This time in morning the gentlemen looked at my file and said there is no panelty. Not sure what they are on with, but finally i go my surrender certificate that day.
HTH

and after how many days did u get ur cancelled passport back

[syamraj]

I absolutely agree with you. I've seen few people there in the consulate ready to burst into tears if you just touch them. People like me come from long way (I live 150 miles away from London) taking off from work and knowing that their work can not get done due to some silly reasons.

[/quote][/quote][/quote]

Do you expect that much efficiancy from HCI. They crooks making money out of us. It does not even cost £10 in India to get a Indian passport and they are asking for £90 to surrender it. It is rediculous.[/quote]

[RAJ2007]

just to update you all.

I surrendered my son’s Indian PP on 5th Oct and received certificate on 16th Oct09.
Timeline:
5th Oct – posted Indian PP, photocopy of British passport, Photocopy of naturalisation cert, postal order £90 and a covering letter (since the app form was not available at that time), self addressed envelope with spl delivery stamp.
16th Oct- received certificate (Indian PP retained by the HCI London)

[mallikz]

just to update you all.

I surrendered my son’s Indian PP on 5th Oct and received certificate on 16th Oct09.
Timeline:
5th Oct – posted Indian PP, photocopy of British passport, Photocopy of naturalisation cert, postal order £90 and a covering letter (since the app form was not available at that time), self addressed envelope with spl delivery stamp.
16th Oct- received certificate (Indian PP retained by the HCI London)

Raj - good to know that you received the cert.

But one question in my mind, why they are charging £90? and that to in UK only? who made the decision?
Also this should be same across the globe, not just like in UK.

Did anyone asked about this in HCI London when visited to sumbit their Passports?

[zaidir]

Success !

It seems my earlier email to the administration department at the HCI has elicited a response. I was called today by a gentleman from the HCI to discuss the grievances I had raised in my email.

I had to explain the whole story to him agian but there seems to be a ray of hope that people do actually listen to complaints at the HCI. I have been told that a senior member of staff will look into my complaint and get back to me within a couple of days.

I will keep the forum posted on any updates.

[dolphin_m70]

hi all
I know it is ridiculous that to surrender the passport we have to pay 90 pounds. I need to goto india next week(due to some emergency). they asked me to pay 190 pounds for surrendering my passport
what do u say abt this and the way they humiliate u is way beyond description
so for me and my son it'll be around 450(surrender + visa).

Could anyone pls post a format for the consent letter for child(to be submitted at vfs) that would be a great help


thanks

[zaidir]

hi all
I know it is ridiculous that to surrender the passport we have to pay 90 pounds. I need to goto india next week(due to some emergency). they asked me to pay 190 pounds for surrendering my passport
what do u say abt this and the way they humiliate u is way beyond description
so for me and my son it'll be around 450(surrender + visa).
cheers

£450 is a lot of money. A non penalty case should only require a £90 fee. I believe HCI has started a penalty regime and are charging people who have travelled on their Indian passports since acquiring foreign nationality. So £90 is the fee for a straightforward case i.e. where the person has not used the Indian passport since acquiring a foreign one. However the fee goes up depending on how many times one has used the passport to travel which is deemed 'illegal'.

[dolphin_m70]

hi all
I know it is ridiculous that to surrender the passport we have to pay 90 pounds. I need to goto india next week(due to some emergency). they asked me to pay 190 pounds for surrendering my passport
what do u say abt this and the way they humiliate u is way beyond description
so for me and my son it'll be around 450(surrender + visa).
cheers

£450 is a lot of money. A non penalty case should only require a £90 fee. I believe HCI has started a penalty regime and are charging people who have travelled on their Indian passports since acquiring foreign nationality. So £90 is the fee for a straightforward case i.e. where the person has not used the Indian passport since acquiring a foreign one. However the fee goes up depending on how many times one has used the passport to travel which is deemed 'illegal'.

thx for the reply. the thing is i havent travelled yet with indian ppt till now after aquiring the new ppt , so how can they penalise me. and also they are not penalising they are charging 190 pounds for emergency situation.
i dont think anyother country charge there nationals to surrender there ppts.

[zaidir]

hi all
I know it is ridiculous that to surrender the passport we have to pay 90 pounds. I need to goto india next week(due to some emergency). they asked me to pay 190 pounds for surrendering my passport
what do u say abt this and the way they humiliate u is way beyond description
so for me and my son it'll be around 450(surrender + visa).
cheers

£450 is a lot of money. A non penalty case should only require a £90 fee. I believe HCI has started a penalty regime and are charging people who have travelled on their Indian passports since acquiring foreign nationality. So £90 is the fee for a straightforward case i.e. where the person has not used the Indian passport since acquiring a foreign one. However the fee goes up depending on how many times one has used the passport to travel which is deemed 'illegal'.

thx for the reply. the thing is i havent travelled yet with indian ppt till now after aquiring the new ppt , so how can they penalise me. and also they are not penalising they are charging 190 pounds for emergency situation.
i dont think anyother country charge there nationals to surrender there ppts.

If its not a penalty case then its absolutely scandalous that they are asking you to pay £190. There is no fee structure for any 'emergency' case advertised anywhere by the HCI. I was in a similar situation because my wife needed to travel within a week and they said that the surrender certificate + visa could not be obtained within the time. However there was no mention of a separate fee for emergency cases.

I would suggest that you complain about the situation directly to the High Commisioner Mr. Nalin Surie as the situation is getting completely ridiculous now with the HCI coming up with new rules/fees on their whims and fancy.

[dolphin_m70]

hi zaidir
thx for the reply
could u pls tell me how much did u pay and how did u get it
so that i can also apply
because writing to the HC will take time
thx

[sukhdevuk]

I went there for my PIO card on 01/10/09 and they gave me adate 22/10/09, which is today, to come and collect my PIO card. I had a phone call late in the afternoon yesterday that my PIO card wont be ready for collection until I obtain a surrender certificate. Would they process my application any quicker since I have already apply for PIO card?

[mallikz]

Can Someone please prepare a template complaint against £90 and submission of passport, and place it ithe fourm. so that everyone can send emails or via post the the higher authorites?

is this a good idea?

[mallikz]

Success !

It seems my earlier email to the administration department at the HCI has elicited a response. I was called today by a gentleman from the HCI to discuss the grievances I had raised in my email.

I had to explain the whole story to him agian but there seems to be a ray of hope that people do actually listen to complaints at the HCI. I have been told that a senior member of staff will look into my complaint and get back to me within a couple of days.

I will keep the forum posted on any updates.

Hello Zaidir, have you got any response from HCI? can you please update the forum?

thanks

[RAJ2007]

sukhdevuk,

I don't understand the point that how could they accept your PIO appl on 1st October , when requirement for surrender cert. came into effect on 21st Sept. This is simply harrasing you. On 1st Oct they knew that you need a surrender cert. first, when why on earth they accepted your PIO appl.

I am going to go next week for PIO. I have received surrender cert recently. Let's see what I face. I simply hate to visit HCI. The moment I enter HCI I get the feeling of typical govt. office in India. The most unprofessional and arrogant behaviour. Sorry, i hope i haven't hurt anyone's feeling!

[sukhdevuk]

RAJ.....Thats what I can't understand that why didn't they point out to me on 01 OCT. And As I said they called me yesterday, just a day before I was supposed to go and collect my PIO CARD. The gentleman who called said that my PIO card is ready but NOT SIGNED until they receive a copy of surrender certificate. I intend to go there tomorrow morning to submit my application with £90 processing fee ( totally rip off ).

My concern right now is that do I have to go there first to give my expired passport in...then to collect a surrender certificate....again to submit surrender certificate and then finally to get my PIO card?

As far as the feeling as one enters the HCI London. I think you are not alone!

[RAJ2007]

I have submitted PIO appl. in person and they told me it will take 6 weeks, because of huge backlog. I expect to receive PIO begining of Dec.