206. Passport surrender certificate required to get access to consular services

Q. Hiya I went to apply for OCI and was told by the officer at the Indian High Commisson that i need to surrender my Indian passport and obtain a surrender certificate. I later on read on the internet on the NIR WEBSITE http://www.nriinformation.com/surrender_passport.htm that i do not requrie one and also mentioned the same on the Indian Consulte in Canada. I acquired foreign citizenship 20 years ago in Kenya in 1989 and my Indian passport has a cancelled stamp on it with corners cut in NAIROBI. I applied for British Citizen and reciecved this in 16 JULY 2010 in the UK. I went to VFS Global to get tourist visa but was advised that I need a surrender Certificate. I have been advised at the counter that I need a certificate before I can apply for tourist visa? Please can you claify if I have cancelled my Indian Passport in 1989 do I still need a surender certificate to apply for an OCI and an Indian tourist Visa? I have no trouble in the past for applying for Indian tourist visas. But it seems to be that there are always changes to rules but not mentioned and clear on the Indian High Commision UK website. I would apprecitae some advice as soon as possible as I am due to go to India in 2 weeks time. Kind Regards Gitesh A. As rules for passport surrender are uniform, here is a link to the Chicago Indian consulate website that clearly states that if you have acquired US (foreign) Citizenship on or before 31 May 2010 and if you have "Canceled" stamp on your Indian passport, then there is a no requirement of acquiring "Surrender Certificate" http://www.indianconsulate.com/5OtherConsularServices/1CitizenshipRenunciation.html Here is what the Indian Consulate in Toronto has on their website: Those who acquired foreign citizenship on 31 May, 2010 or earlier need not pay the Renunciation Fee. They must however get their Indian Passport, whether already expired or not, duly canceled. With effect from November 1, 2010, Indian passports can be submitted to the VFS Centres for onward transmission to the High Commission of India (Mission) or the Consulate General of India (Consulate) in Toronto or Vancouver, as applicable. Necessary entries in the records would be made by the Mission/Consulate, Indian passports canceled and returned to the applicant through VFS Centres. A miscellaneous service fee of C$ 20 is charged in such cases, in addition to the VFS charges of C$ 21.75. Payments may be made by cash/credit/debit cards or Money order/Bank draft payable to “VF Services Canada Inc”. So if the passport you have is not accepted as 'duly canceled' then you have no choice but to get a surrender certificate before you can avail any consular services from Indian consulates abroad. Confusion on canceled stamp: There needs to be some misconception when it comes to passport cancellation stamp. Normally when a passport expires and a new one is requested, the expired passport is returned to you after stamping it canceled and a new passport is then issued. When you acquire foreign citizen and inform the consulate that you have take foreign citizenship, then your passport, in the past was normally stamped canceled along with a notification of the reason of cancellation i.e 'acquired Canadian Citizenship'
Disclaimer: Information provided is for general knowledge only and should not be deemed to be professional advice. For professional advice kindly consult a professional accountant, immigration advisor or the Indian consulate. Rules and regulations do change from time to time. Please note that in case of any variation between what has been stated on this website and the relevant Act, Rules, Regulations, Policy Statements etc. the latter shall prevail. © Copyright 2006 Nriinformation.com
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206. Passport surrender

certificate required to get

access to consular services

Q. Hiya I went to apply for OCI and was told by the officer at the Indian High Commisson that i need to surrender my Indian passport and obtain a surrender certificate. I later on read on the internet on the NIR WEBSITE http://www.nriinformation.com/surrender_passpo rt.htm that i do not requrie one and also mentioned the same on the Indian Consulte in Canada. I acquired foreign citizenship 20 years ago in Kenya in 1989 and my Indian passport has a cancelled stamp on it with corners cut in NAIROBI. I applied for British Citizen and reciecved this in 16 JULY 2010 in the UK. I went to VFS Global to get tourist visa but was advised that I need a surrender Certificate. I have been advised at the counter that I need a certificate before I can apply for tourist visa? Please can you claify if I have cancelled my Indian Passport in 1989 do I still need a surender certificate to apply for an OCI and an Indian tourist Visa? I have no trouble in the past for applying for Indian tourist visas. But it seems to be that there are always changes to rules but not mentioned and clear on the Indian High Commision UK website. I would apprecitae some advice as soon as possible as I am due to go to India in 2 weeks time. Kind Regards Gitesh A. As rules for passport surrender are uniform, here is a link to the Chicago Indian consulate website that clearly states that if you have acquired US (foreign) Citizenship on or before 31 May 2010 and if you have "Canceled" stamp on your Indian passport, then there is a no requirement of acquiring "Surrender Certificate" http://www.indianconsulate.com/5OtherConsularServices/1Citize nshipRenunciation.html Here is what the Indian Consulate in Toronto has on their website: Those who acquired foreign citizenship on 31 May, 2010 or earlier need not pay the Renunciation Fee. They must however get their Indian Passport, whether already expired or not, duly canceled. With effect from November 1, 2010, Indian passports can be submitted to the VFS Centres for onward transmission to the High Commission of India (Mission) or the Consulate General of India (Consulate) in Toronto or Vancouver, as applicable. Necessary entries in the records would be made by the Mission/Consulate, Indian passports canceled and returned to the applicant through VFS Centres. A miscellaneous service fee of C$ 20 is charged in such cases, in addition to the VFS charges of C$ 21.75. Payments may be made by cash/credit/debit cards or Money order/Bank draft payable to “VF Services Canada Inc”. So if the passport you have is not accepted as 'duly canceled' then you have no choice but to get a surrender certificate before you can avail any consular services from Indian consulates abroad. Confusion on canceled stamp: There needs to be some misconception when it comes to passport cancellation stamp. Normally when a passport expires and a new one is requested, the expired passport is returned to you after stamping it canceled and a new passport is then issued. When you acquire foreign citizen and inform the consulate that you have take foreign citizenship, then your passport, in the past was normally stamped canceled along with a notification of the reason of cancellation i.e 'acquired Canadian Citizenship'
Disclaimer: Information provided is for general knowledge only and should not be deemed to be professional advice. For professional advice kindly consult a professional accountant, immigration advisor or the Indian consulate. Rules and regulations do change from time to time. Please note that in case of any variation between what has been stated on this website and the relevant Act, Rules, Regulations, Policy Statements etc. the latter shall prevail. © Copyright 2006 Nriinformation.com
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