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ukbalaji

Apologies if it is the wrong forum.

I got naturalized as a British citizen couple of weeks ago, and have now applied for a British passport. My British passport should hopefully arrive in the next few weeks, after which I guess I am supposed to surrender my Indian passport. I am not clear on the proper sequence of steps to be followed : getting Indian visa / surrender old Indian passport / obtaining PIO/OCI card.

Right now I cannot travel to India (legally) since I am awaiting my British passport and automatically lost my Indian citizenship. But I wish to get my papers organized soon, so that I can travel to India at short notice if necessary. I would like to get the OCI card, but I am not sure how long it is taking these days to get it at the Indian embassy in London. If it takes 3 months, I am not sure I want to stay that long without being able to travel to India if necessary. Altho I dont have any immediate travel plans, I want to keep the travel option open.

My friend in the US was advising me to go ahead and get the PIO card soon (which apparently takes only 1 week in the US), and then apply for the OCI card, the advantage being that I will not need to hand over my passport to the Indian embassy until the very end of the OCI application process. Not sure if this is true, tho'. Is this a good idea ?

By the way, will I still need an Indian visa stamp even if I get the PIO / OCI card ?

Thanks a lot in advance.

Cheers
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sushdmehta · Posted: Sun May 09, 2010 7:31 pm Post subject:

1. Surrender Indian passport
2. Apply for Indian visa (if need to travel at short notice) and/or apply for OCI / PIO card.

regards

keshgrover · Senior Member Joined: 09 Dec 2007 Posts: 369

sushdmehta

ukbalaji · Posted: Mon May 10, 2010 9:27 am Post subject:

Thanks for the response, everyone.

Any idea how long the PIO / OCI card process takes these days ? That might help me make a decision.

If I want peace of mind, there doesnt seem to be much difference cost-wise. A PIO card (Â£215) followed by OCI (Â£18) would cost a total of Â£233. A 6-month "entry visa" (http://in.vfsglobal.co.uk/visa-fees.aspx) (Â£55) followed by OCI (Â£165) would set me back Â£220. The latter might be preferable if I can get the visa in a day.

How does it work tho', if one has obtained a visa, and then their OCI application is being processed, but they need to travel urgently to India ? Will the consulate return the passport quickly so the person can travel ? where is the passport held ? Is it in the U.K or in Delhi ? do they keep it for the entire duration of the OCI application process ? does it make a difference if one already has a PIO card ? As I mentioned above, my friend was suggesting that if you apply for an OCI after getting the PIO, then you hand over your passport only at the last step of the OCI application process, apparently. I am not sure where to verify this, tho'.

Cheers.
_________________
There is no such thing as gravity. It so happens the earth just sucks !

sushdmehta · Posted: Mon May 10, 2010 10:18 am Post subject:

mrlookforward · BANNED Joined: 02 Jan 2009 Posts: 902

llNicell · Member of Standing Joined: 07 Mar 2008 Posts: 117

ukbalaji · Posted: Tue May 11, 2010 9:30 am Post subject: Ta

Thanks again to everyone for the replies. Much appreciated.

Regards
_________________
There is no such thing as gravity. It so happens the earth just sucks !

ukbalaji · Posted: Wed May 26, 2010 12:54 pm Post subject:

While surrending the Indian passport (that has become invalid), do I also need to surrender the older (cancelled) Indian passport(s) ? Or, do I need to only surrender the last one ?

Also, I suppose I dont need to make an appointment to surrender the passport ? is it just walk-in, assuming I have all the necessary materials ? I hope I havent missed anything in the list of items below.

*) Â£90 cash
*) Self addressed special delivery envelope
*) As per http://hcilondon.in/applicationform.pdf, below items
*) photocopy of British passport (all pages)
*) Photocopy of last Indian passport (I will make copies of all pages just in case)
*) The actual Indian passport (last one)
*) copy of British naturalization certificate.
*) wondering if I should also carry my previous cancelled Indian passports

Cheers.
_________________
There is no such thing as gravity. It so happens the earth just sucks !

pushpanathan · Newbie Joined: 07 Jun 2010 Posts: 1

I see a link to obtain the timeline for processing a PIO, but couldn't get the information there. Could someone please advise approximate time frame as i have a similar requirement as ukbalaji. thanks

vid_k · Newbie Joined: 03 Aug 2011 Posts: 4

Hello,

Got the British Passport recently and looking at the options to surrender the Indian Passport and apply for an OCI card.

I know not to surrender the Indian passport is illegal - but is this a punishable offence?

Call me cheeky - but can we not always travel on our Indian passport when travelling to India and use the British passport when travelling to anywhere else.

I mean - who is to know whether citizen of India residing outside India has a passport from another country.

Thanks

Vid

PG1983 · Member of Standing Joined: 06 Sep 2010 Posts: 128

It is a punishable offence to travel on an Indian passport after acquiring Foreign citizenship. I think it is about £145 fine for each time you travel.

vid_k · Newbie Joined: 03 Aug 2011 Posts: 4

But my question is how would anyone know that we have 2 passports?