385. How to get life certificate

abroad for claiming Indian

pension . . .

Question: Dear Mr. Chand, We will apply for my mom's green card when she arrives in U.S this march. She earns pension as a retired government employee in Andhra Pradesh, India. Nri Guide Book Since green card processing restricts her from leaving the country and that Indian pensioners need to submit life certificate and non employment/re-employment certificate november of each year, How can I file these certificates from U.S.A? Are bank notarized certificates valid? Where in Andhra Pradesh, India do I need to file? What is the procedure to transfer her pension funds from her bank in A.P, India where they are credited to an account here in U.S.A? Thanks Joy Jerome Answer: What your mother will need is called a Life Certificate. She can easily get this document over the counter from any Indian Consulate abroad. They issue these certificate to pensioners and the certificate is valid throughout India. There is no fee for this type of certificate for pensioners. Normally the documentation required in addition to the pensioner personally being present before the consulate official, are: • Passport and proof of legal status in the United States • They may ask for the original pension book/pay order in case of civilian pensioners and Discharge Certificate in case of ex- servicemen. Your mother being a retired government employee, I doubt if she would have any problems. The certificates are sent to the Assistant Pension Payment Officer/Treasury official concerned. Your mother could verify the correct mailing address before coming to USA. Repatriation of pension income can be done by getting the pension (less applicable tax) deposited in an NRE account. Funds in these accounts are fully repatriable. Ask your mother to contact her bank and they can guide her in opening the NRE account as well as help her in setting up the pension deposit.