Surrendring Indian passport

[redwinemaestro]

Not a question but a rant! No appointments available for surrender of Indian passport. What is the logic behind this surrendering passport in person, especially during covid times? Why can't it be an online payment and send documents by post thing? Are HCI staff so keen to see my handsome face? Isn't there anyone sensible in High Commission of India?
Many countries have moved to a fully online system for visa/citizenship/passport applications including id verification and photos.

[msengu]

Can someone please help me with this query?

My daughter is born in the United Kingdom and has Indian passport which has expired in 2019. We applied for British Nationality for her and we are expecting to get that soon.

Do we need to surrender her expired Indian passport? or can we directly apply for an OCI/Indian visa?

You need the passport surrender certificate to apply for OCI.
1. Apply for UK passport - You may need the Indian passport
2. Surrender Indian passport (You can apply online for surrender during the UK passport application is in progress. It is difficult to get the VFS appointment due to Covid)
3. Apply for OCI.

[msengu]

Not a question but a rant! No appointments available for surrender of Indian passport. What is the logic behind this surrendering passport in person, especially during covid times? Why can't it be an online payment and send documents by post thing? Are HCI staff so keen to see my handsome face? Isn't there anyone sensible in High Commission of India?
Many countries have moved to a fully online system for visa/citizenship/passport applications including id verification and photos.

Agreed. Have the same feeling.

[CloudNinja]

Does anybody know when VFS/HCI London release new appointment slots? I have been trying to check multiple times everyday but seem to always lose.

@6:30 PM

Ensure you keep all the details in hand, also try to load the direct URL, instead of navigating through the home page, cos it's pretty slow around 6:30 pm..

e.g. to book oci appointment during the month of May @ London Goswell,
https://www.hcilondon.gov.in/appointmen ... iceid=9#dw

Good Luck.

[New_Citizen]

Hi Guys,
I have submitted my application for passport renewal on November 2020 and had an appointment in Dec 2020 which got cancelled due to Covid situations. Now I'm in the search of an new appointment, my question is do I have submit a new application now or can I use the old application?
Also, my passport expired on Jan 2021, does that mean I will have to submit a new application?

[santa]

Hi all

Quick question- my county is Buckinghamshire and according to jurisdiction I should book an appointment at either London- Hounslow or Goswell. But no appointments available. However there are lots of appointments for Birmingham and Leicester center. So I was wondering if I can apply to surrender my Indian passport in either Birmingham or Leicester

[santa]

Hi all

Quick question- my county is Buckinghamshire and according to jurisdiction I should book an appointment at either London- Hounslow or Goswell. But no appointments available. However there are lots of appointments for Birmingham and Leicester center. So I was wondering if I can apply to surrender my Indian passport in either Birmingham or Leicester

[Ss682]

Appointments were being released at 6:30 PM UK time. (Not sure if the time will be adjusted due to daylight savings)
Best days to try booking appointment or access the site are Fri- Sun, as there have been many companies now a days who book appointment in lieu of fees and they are off on these days.

When filling up the form for appointment, select the time where most slots are available

[msengu]

Appointments were being released at 6:30 PM UK time. (Not sure if the time will be adjusted due to daylight savings)
Best days to try booking appointment or access the site are Fri- Sun, as there have been many companies now a days who book appointment in lieu of fees and they are off on these days.

When filling up the form for appointment, select the time where most slots are available

Now the appointment release time is 7:30pm BST(00:00 IST)

[New_Citizen]

Hi Guys, I managed to make an appointment for May on last friday. I used the tips and information from immigration board to book the appointment. The slots opened at 6.30 pm (UK time), Not sure if it opens any other time but this is how it worked for me. I booked before daylight saving time change, so probably it might be 7.30pm now.

The date goes green in colour when slots become available. The website is damn slow so I would suggest keep your appointment booking page ready with your location and preferred month( so that you don’t have to navigate month in the calendar).I kept the month to May because as per HCI email I received, red coloured cross out dates are already booked and grey ones are yet to be released which I could only found in May. Hope this helps!

[redwinemaestro]

Are new appointments released only on Friday or every week day?

[santa]

Are new appointments released only on Friday or every week day?

Just available to book an appointment today at 7:30 pm, checked yesterday but no new appointments were released. Not sure how they are managing this but it’s good to check everyday at 7:30 pm

[santa]

Are new appointments released only on Friday or every week day?

I was able to book an appointment today at 7:30 pm, I have been checking since last couple of days but no new appointments were released. Not sure how they are managing the days when they release new appointments but it’s good to check everyday at 7:30 pm

[lifeRockss1]

has anyone tried cancelling the appointment or changing the location?

The search of appointment by passport number only gives an option of print, no option to amend/cancel the appointment.

[redwinemaestro]

Not a question but a rant! No appointments available for surrender of Indian passport. What is the logic behind this surrendering passport in person, especially during covid times? Why can't it be an online payment and send documents by post thing? Are HCI staff so keen to see my handsome face? Isn't there anyone sensible in High Commission of India?
Many countries have moved to a fully online system for visa/citizenship/passport applications including id verification and photos.

I posted a polite version of this comment in HCI London facebook page, and their page admin deleted the comment!

[Indian 6699]

Hi Many thanks for all the members In this thread.
I am about to surrender my Indian passport, I had few questions if anyone help in this will be much appreciated.

1. Will they return back my passport which is given for surrender ?
2. How does the surrender certificate looks ? I tried Google for any image but couldn't find it .

3. On appointment day do I had to take pre-paid post cover ? Or had to use the service available form desk in VFS ? I heard most time they refuse royal mail . How many covers I need to buy before hand ?

Please help .....

[tier2g]

Can someone please advise for the document checklist for surrender passport?

[mesn]

Hi Many thanks for all the members In this thread.
I am about to surrender my Indian passport, I had few questions if anyone help in this will be much appreciated.

1. Will they return back my passport which is given for surrender ?
2. How does the surrender certificate looks ? I tried Google for any image but couldn't find it .

3. On appointment day do I had to take pre-paid post cover ? Or had to use the service available form desk in VFS ? I heard most time they refuse royal mail . How many covers I need to buy before hand ?

Please help .....

1. Yes. Corners cut and stamped cancelled.
2. Not sure (I have an appointment for my son on 22Apr and will know more). Would assume an A4 size document.
3. You can pay VFS for this service.

[mesn]

Can someone please advise for the document checklist for surrender passport?

https://www.vfsglobal.com/india/uk/Surrender.html

[tier2g]

Can someone please advise for the document checklist for surrender passport?

https://www.vfsglobal.com/india/uk/Surrender.html

Thanks

[vkpaidisetty]

Not a question but a rant! No appointments available for surrender of Indian passport. What is the logic behind this surrendering passport in person, especially during covid times? Why can't it be an online payment and send documents by post thing? Are HCI staff so keen to see my handsome face? Isn't there anyone sensible in High Commission of India?
Many countries have moved to a fully online system for visa/citizenship/passport applications including id verification and photos.

I second that! The application process is outdated and they very lazy to update it.
This is our typical great Indian system how they treat their citizens.
They don't need face to face unless you submit biometircs.
May be should start a petition

[qoolnaren]

Person 1
Application Date : 25/02/2021
Postal / In-person: In-person (30/04/2021)
VFS office: London - VFS, Hounslow
Online Status (Surrender Certificate Printed): 04/05/2021
Received Surrender certificate: DX (07/05/2021)

Person 2
Application Date : 25/02/2021
Postal / In-person: In-person (30/04/2021)
VFS office: London - VFS, Hounslow
Online Status (Surrender Certificate Printed): 10/05/2021
Received Surrender certificate: DX (12/05/2021)

[lifeRockss1]

Super impressed with the processing speed.

Applied in-person last week (20th May) and received the letter today.

Hope OCI is fast as well.

[abeer1987]

Hello
I live in Essex and have same issue with getting appointment. I could not get appointment in london but manage to get one in Birmimgham on 29 june. I hope the offices are open because I dont want to travel for 2 hours only to find the centre closed. Did anyone submit the application for surrender recently? Please let me know. Thank you.

[SinghSam]

U can submit ur application in any VFS centre at the moment but you need to fill up the form address to that area , so if u going to Birmingham u need to choose Birmingham when u filling up ur online form on the HCI website not London.
I had been to Edinburgh last week but when I went to desk I been told I need to make another user name id on HCI website and fill up the form again choosing Edinburgh.
It was a queue at the VFS centre as there was only 1 computer to fill up the form .