Surrendring Indian passport

[sukhdevuk]

RAJ

I was there this morning as well and submitted my application for a surrender certificate, but was pleasantly surprised that they have asked me to come back on Tuesday to collect it. But then I was told that I will have to go there again to SUBMIT my surrender certificate, in order for them to issue me PIO.The lady at PIO counter told me that the PIO counter will be closed for the whole next week because of PM's visit

[saabu]

Dear friends,

I am in the same situation like some of the members in this forum.

I have just applied for my OCI card and then realised that a new rule is now enforced in the HCI [only Indian mission abroad, I think] London about paying a fee of £90.00 and surrendering the Indian Passport first.

This is a dictatorial rule and should be protested.

I came across this site [url] http://www.gopetition.co.uk/petitions/s ... ports.html [url] where you can sign a petition requesting the HCI London to scrap this fee. This has been an initiative of our ever enterprising Malyalee friends. I encourage and request as many members to sign this petition to make it successful.

With regards,

Saabu

[RagsKasthuri]

Hi

Can anyone tell me

1) How we are supposed to make the payment of £90.00? Is this supposed to be British Postal Order?

2) Can we surrender the passport by Post?

3) If I send it to the Consulate General of India in Edinburgh, can someone confirm the address to be:
Passport Section
17 Rutland Square, Edinburgh EH1 2BB

Thanks
Rags

[skubendr]

I am planning to go to India first week of December. Before applying for visa I came to know we need to submit a surrender certificate. I want to apply directly in HCI london.

- Do we need to go early in the morning and take tokens for surrendering also?

- Can we come and collect the certificate in person from HCI London? How log does it usually take and do they tell when to come and collect it?

- What documents are required?

[skubendr]

RAJ

I was there this morning as well and submitted my application for a surrender certificate, but was pleasantly surprised that they have asked me to come back on Tuesday to collect it. But then I was told that I will have to go there again to SUBMIT my surrender certificate, in order for them to issue me PIO.The lady at PIO counter told me that the PIO counter will be closed for the whole next week because of PM's visit

hi sukhdevuk,

sorry I don't understand, did you mean PIO counter is closed from 26th-30th Oct.

I was about to go to surrender the passport tomorrow.

[twinkletwinkle]

http://www.indianconsulate.org.hk/main. ... ge&XID=159

At Hongkong consulate website it is written we can use Indian Passport for travel for 3 months after obtaining foreign citizenship.

It is a joke that India have different rules at different consulates. -No offence meant-

Quick Question - Do we get cancelled passport back or consulate at London keep Passport with them once we surrender passport ?

[mallikz]

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

did any one get information from Right of Information Act 2005? Has any one applied for this?

When I treid the link page is not displaying!

[Gaj]

Dear friends,

I still hold an India passport. I find it disgusting about HCI (Govt of India)charging for surrender of passports. Govt of India knows that even after acquiring other passport/Nationality people will travel to India so they are just trying
to make money out of this.This needs to be fought. Also challenged in an Indian court. Can all people sign the petition in the ukmalyalee link given in the forum. I am starting a mail-chain to inform as many people.
We can also send a mail to Indian PM on his email address which can be found on the govt of india directory website.Please don't back off.

GAJ

[sukhdevuk]

Hi guys

WOW.....guess what?....I got my PIO card this afternoon.

As I said earlier, they were supposed to give me my PIO card last Thursday and then phoned me on Wednesday to say that I need to have a surrender certificate in order to get PIO. I went there again on Friday morning to surrender my India passport and was given a date of this afternoon to collect the certificate.
After getting my certificate, I went straight to PIO counter but the lady there said that I need to go back in the morning to submit the surrender certificate and then I will be given a new date for PIO collection.
I tried very hard to persuade her to let me have my PIO card today and after some pleading, she asked me to wait for half an hour and then gave me my PIO card. So I saved two trips to IHC
I would suggest that people who are applying now, go there early in the morning to submit papers. But its pity that staff generally there are not very helpful and in some cases very rude.
Another point I would like to make here........£90 is fee for surrender certificate only if you had not travelled on your Indian passport after acquring British Passport. If you are one of those unlucky people who did travel on their Indian passport after getting the British passport, you will be asked to pay penalty for EACH TRIP you made. There was this old lady who was asked to pay £625 as penalty because she made a number of trips on her Indian passport.
With the peak season for travelling to India approaching fast, you should get your surrender certificate as soon as you can and try get there in person because postal applications can take as much as 8-10 weeks for PIO CARD, I was told

[sukhdevuk]

Skubendr

PIO counter is still open....sorry I was given the wrong information that it would be closed.
Download the form from their website, which also tells you what documents you will need....I surrendered my passport on Friday and my certificate was ready this afternoon....although you can submit your application Monday to Friday but collection of certicates is only twice a week..Tuesday and Thursday.

[sukhdevuk]

Twinkle..

You wont get your surrendered passport back.

[klal]

sukhdevuk,

Thanks for the update and the info. I was worried about the penalty business as I could find no clear info. on the HCI website. Now I know where I stand and won't have a penalty to pay.

Hi guys

WOW.....guess what?....I got my PIO card this afternoon.

As I said earlier, they were supposed to give me my PIO card last Thursday and then phoned me on Wednesday to say that I need to have a surrender certificate in order to get PIO. I went there again on Friday morning to surrender my India passport and was given a date of this afternoon to collect the certificate.
After getting my certificate, I went straight to PIO counter but the lady there said that I need to go back in the morning to submit the surrender certificate and then I will be given a new date for PIO collection.
I tried very hard to persuade her to let me have my PIO card today and after some pleading, she asked me to wait for half an hour and then gave me my PIO card. So I saved two trips to IHC
I would suggest that people who are applying now, go there early in the morning to submit papers. But its pity that staff generally there are not very helpful and in some cases very rude.
Another point I would like to make here........£90 is fee for surrender certificate only if you had not travelled on your Indian passport after acquring British Passport. If you are one of those unlucky people who did travel on their Indian passport after getting the British passport, you will be asked to pay penalty for EACH TRIP you made. There was this old lady who was asked to pay £625 as penalty because she made a number of trips on her Indian passport.
With the peak season for travelling to India approaching fast, you should get your surrender certificate as soon as you can and try get there in person because postal applications can take as much as 8-10 weeks for PIO CARD, I was told

[desiboy]

Can someone please clarify what happens in this instance - or what I have to do ?

I am a British Citizen through naturalization. I want to apply for the OCI but I didn't keep my Indian passport carefully after receiving the English passport and now can't find it!

How can I get a surrender certificate or how can I declare it lost and then apply for surrender certificate? or Do I not need a surrender certificate if i've lost my Indian passport?

Any advise appreciated.

[ravik2609]

Hello All,

Does anyone know its possible to surrender indian passport in India and possibly avoid paying the GBP 90 fee.

Basically I received my daughter's British passport yesterday and I am travelling to India alone in december so was wondering if the above is possible.

Thanks .

Ravi

[Gaj]

Hello All,

Does anyone know its possible to surrender indian passport in India and possibly avoid paying the GBP 90 fee.

Basically I received my daughter's British passport yesterday and I am travelling to India alone in december so was wondering if the above is possible.

Thanks .

Ravi

For you , you will have to take a VISA to travel to India on the British passport and then carry your Indian passport with you unless you have PIO or OCI. I think you can carry your daughters Indian passport to India for surrender. Better check. Of course the HCI LOndon wiill say no least they loose the 90 pounds.
---Gaj

[Gaj]

The best way to avoid this illegal surrender fee is to take a visa to India £ 17on your British Passport , carry you Indian Passport and surrender it thers with a certificate from the local authority and apply for PIO or OCI in India only. Can anyone comment if this idea is wrong ?
I am still and Indian passport holder so I am thinking of challenging this in Mumbai HIgh Court when in India.

Gaj

[msbabu]

The best way to avoid this illegal surrender fee is to take a visa to India £ 17on your British Passport , carry you Indian Passport and surrender it thers with a certificate from the local authority and apply for PIO or OCI in India only. Can anyone comment if this idea is wrong ?
I am still and Indian passport holder so I am thinking of challenging this in Mumbai HIgh Court when in India.

Gaj

I think its not a valid way, cause you need to apply for SC to get a visa to india, its not only for OCI/PIO.

[Gaj]

The best way to avoid this illegal surrender fee is to take a visa to India £ 17on your British Passport , carry you Indian Passport and surrender it thers with a certificate from the local authority and apply for PIO or OCI in India only. Can anyone comment if this idea is wrong ?
I am still and Indian passport holder so I am thinking of challenging this in Mumbai HIgh Court when in India.

Gaj

I think its not a valid way, cause you need to apply for SC to get a visa to india, its not only for OCI/PIO.

How will they know if I have acquired citizenship recently. ? and that I have an Indian Passport. British citizens of indian origin also apply for visa to india.?

[Gaj]

I came to know of this passport fee issue only three days back. People fighting for this could have met the President of India when she was in London on Tuesday.

GajN

[msbabu]

The best way to avoid this illegal surrender fee is to take a visa to India £ 17on your British Passport , carry you Indian Passport and surrender it thers with a certificate from the local authority and apply for PIO or OCI in India only. Can anyone comment if this idea is wrong ?
I am still and Indian passport holder so I am thinking of challenging this in Mumbai HIgh Court when in India.

Gaj

I think its not a valid way, cause you need to apply for SC to get a visa to india, its not only for OCI/PIO.

How will they know if I have acquired citizenship recently. ? and that I have an Indian Passport. British citizens of indian origin also apply for visa to india.?

Hi

If you go through the questions on the visa form , then you will know that there is no way to hide the fact that you have been an indian acquired a foreign citizenship.

[klal]

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 opinion...

The best way to avoid this illegal surrender fee is to take a visa to India £ 17on your British Passport , carry you Indian Passport and surrender it thers with a certificate from the local authority and apply for PIO or OCI in India only. Can anyone comment if this idea is wrong ?
I am still and Indian passport holder so I am thinking of challenging this in Mumbai HIgh Court when in India.

Gaj

I think its not a valid way, cause you need to apply for SC to get a visa to india, its not only for OCI/PIO.

How will they know if I have acquired citizenship recently. ? and that I have an Indian Passport. British citizens of indian origin also apply for visa to india.?

[GoodFun]

I think this needs to be taken up with directly with Delhi rather than HCI as there must be some notification issued from Delhi regarding this.

Other consulates are following similar guidelines. See the link for HK consulate:
http://www.indianconsulate.org.hk/main. ... ge&XID=159

[ravik2609]

Hello All,

Does anyone know its possible to surrender indian passport in India and possibly avoid paying the GBP 90 fee.

Basically I received my daughter's British passport yesterday and I am travelling to India alone in december so was wondering if the above is possible.

Thanks .

Ravi

For you , you will have to take a VISA to travel to India on the British passport and then carry your Indian passport with you unless you have PIO or OCI. I think you can carry your daughters Indian passport to India for surrender. Better check. Of course the HCI LOndon wiill say no least they loose the 90 pounds.
---Gaj

I guess I wasn't clear enough with my question. Basically my daughter , who is 4 years old, acquired British Citizenship recently whereas I am still on Indian passport. I intend to travel to India in December alone and surrender my daughter's passport there. Now I am not sure if the surrender certificate is issued in India.

[zaidir]

Hello All,

Does anyone know its possible to surrender indian passport in India and possibly avoid paying the GBP 90 fee.

Basically I received my daughter's British passport yesterday and I am travelling to India alone in december so was wondering if the above is possible.

Thanks .

Ravi

For you , you will have to take a VISA to travel to India on the British passport and then carry your Indian passport with you unless you have PIO or OCI. I think you can carry your daughters Indian passport to India for surrender. Better check. Of course the HCI LOndon wiill say no least they loose the 90 pounds.
---Gaj

I guess I wasn't clear enough with my question. Basically my daughter , who is 4 years old, acquired British Citizenship recently whereas I am still on Indian passport. I intend to travel to India in December alone and surrender my daughter's passport there. Now I am not sure if the surrender certificate is issued in India.

It may not be possible. Although the requirement is to surrender your passport to the 'nearest Indian mission or office' I assume it means where you are currently resident. I tried to have my wife surrender her Indian passport in Dubai (she travelled there on her British passport) to avoid paying the fee but the consulate there suggested that she'd need to surrender the passport in London.

Please make your voices heard by contacting the HCI/MEA. An online petition against this has already raised 2000 + signatures. Please add your voice too at http://www.gopetition.co.uk/petitions/s ... /sign.html

[GoodFun]

Giving up citizenship does not seem to be FREE! See the following:

http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/briti ... ship/cost/