Renunciation Certificate mandatory for OCI application?

[whois_ashish]

I have applied for the renunciation certificate on 25 Spetember. I am still waiting for the certificate to be delivered. No news yet from embassy or the VFS.

[akr2500448]

@whois_ashish could you please provide your experience on the day, what documents was submitted, timeline and any tips in the below topic?
other-countries/renunciation-of-indian- ... 40547.html

[dolphin21]

It is mentioned on the website (https://indiancitizenshiponline.nic.in/Renounce) that the following need to be uploaded as part of the online application.

- Indian Passport including expired ones (Please upload both front page and bio page of the passport)

Does this mean the back pages of the passport showing parents' name, address etc don't need to be uploaded?

[dolphin21]

I applied for an OCI card on 4th September 2023 with a surrender certificate and no one at the kiosk/desk informed me renunciation certificate would be required.

Yesterday, I received an email asking me to submit the renunciation certificate until then application would be pending.

This is utterly ridiculous, The rule came into effect on 8th September but the application was submitted on 4th September. It is frustrating to deal with Indian government offices.

I am in a similar position and replied to the email to confirm this but but have not received a reply as yet. Are you planning to apply for renunciation?

[whois_ashish]

I have applied for the renunciation certificate on 25 Spetember. I am still waiting for the certificate to be delivered. No news yet from embassy or the VFS.

My application status has been updated to
File Status: Application Received. Don't know how long it will take to actually get the certificate.

Documents are standard as mentioned on the website. Merge all documents to a single file that you can upload. I missed including the payment confirmation. You will need that incase you plan to pay before hand. You can get the payment receipt by clicking on reprint payment receipt

[MV11304]

I applied for an OCI card on 4th September 2023 with a surrender certificate and no one at the kiosk/desk informed me renunciation certificate would be required.

Yesterday, I received an email asking me to submit the renunciation certificate until then application would be pending.

This is utterly ridiculous, The rule came into effect on 8th September but the application was submitted on 4th September. It is frustrating to deal with Indian government offices.

Hi,

I am in same situation as you. I applied on 6th Spetember 2023 and just 2 weeks ago received an email asking me to submit renunciation certificate. I applied for the renunciation certificate now, do I need to submit the receipt of the same? Do you know where we need to submit? Thanks.

[ashu.doc]

Hi guys

Please help me out here, I have submitted the form for renunciation, but stopped before online payment, now when I am trying to open the page I cant see the payment page, it says application submitted?
The other question is, it seems by looking at the appointments that the witnessing of the form is only available at Birmingham and London. Is it not possible in Manchester VFS? Do I need to have witnessing done before I can apply for OCI?

Thanks in advance

[learner1947]

Better to make payment in the VFS centre because if you pay online and there is any mistake in your application, you will have to redo the application and pay the fees again. YOU WON'T GET THE REFUND FOR THE PREVIOUS APPLICATION.

You can only do the renunciation at London, Birmingham and Edinburgh centres. By witness signature means 'signature of a HCI official'.

You need to do both surrender of passport and renunciation of Indian Citizenship before able to apply for OCI. However, as it seems you can apply for OCI with surrender certificate while your renunciation application has been submitted (along with the witness signature) and is in the process.

Hi guys

Please help me out here, I have submitted the form for renunciation, but stopped before online payment, now when I am trying to open the page I cant see the payment page, it says application submitted?
The other question is, it seems by looking at the appointments that the witnessing of the form is only available at Birmingham and London. Is it not possible in Manchester VFS? Do I need to have witnessing done before I can apply for OCI?

Thanks in advance

[ashu.doc]

Thank you so much.

Since I have not paid for renunciation certificate the VFS website and consular website advice:

https://visa.vfsglobal.com/one-pager/in ... n-passport

https://cgibirmingham.gov.in/page/display/84/67

That I pay £79 at a VFS centre before coming for witness signing.
Am I correct to think that consulate can't take payment for the renunciation certificate at their office?
Its frustrating that I have to go separately to VFS office for the payment.
Is it possible to submit application of surrender certificate (VFS office) before renunciation certificate and I can pay for renunciation at the same time?

Thanks in advance

[GauravB86]

I have applied for Renunciation Certificate and paid at VFS Goswell on 25th October. The file status still says
'Application Received'. It has been more than 60 days already but have not received the certificate yet.

Can anyone pls confirm if they have received the renunciation certificate and what is the time frame?

[thevar]

Looks like every existing OCI / PIO card holders has to do the renunciation process. This is really crazy

https://cgibirmingham.gov.in/page/display/25

Doubt in this wording on this website : (https://indiancitizenshiponline.nic.in/renounce)

does it mean if i do renunciation of citizenship, my child who is indian and indian passport holder's citizenship ceases as well.. got confuse..

Indian citizens desiring to renounce the citizenship of India may please note that if any person(either FATHER OR MOTHER) ceases to be a citizen of India under sub - section (1) of Section 8 of the Citizenship Act, 1955, every minor child of that person shall cease to be a citizen of India under sub - section(2) of Section 8 of the Citizenship Act, 1955.However, such child may, within one year after attaining full age, make a declaration in the prescribed form and manner that he/she wishes to resume Indian Citizenship.

Hi Raththam - so did you get a final conclusive view of this Section 8 rule? Will the minor lose his/her citizenship if the parent renounces India citizenship? What happened in your case?

[thevar]

Please read the below, I think minor kids are safe

other-countries/section-8-2-in-indian-c ... 37261.html

Hi Sathyauk - did you have a personal experience in this matter that you wish to share for the benefit of all of us?

[thevar]

As someone mentioned in the post, we can't always rely on the words or emails from officials, because it seems like many Indian officials aren't entirely clear on the rules and they go with their assumptions.

If you take a look at the link below, you'll find the official definition of citizenship.

https://indiancitizenshiponline.nic.in/ ... e%20months)

Code: Select all

(1) By Birth (Section 3)

A person born in India on or after 26th January 1950 but before 1st July, 1987 is citizen of India by birth irrespective of the nationality of his parents.

A person born in India on or after 1st July,1987 but before 3rd December, 2004 is
considered citizen of India by birth if either of his parents is a citizen of India at the time of his birth.

A person born in India on or after 3rd December, 2004 is considered citizen of India by birth if both the parents are citizens of India or one of the parents is a citizen of India and the other is not an illegal migrant at the time of his birth.

So as per above, if either parent or both parents acquire citizenship in future, it does not take away the citizenship rights of the children.

However, it's worth noting that Section 8 of THE CITIZENSHIP ACT, 1955, may present a different perspective on this matter

Hi Kali2023 - yes quite confusing isn't it! So far and sadly - there is no concluding view available on this topic. If you have a personal experience, please feel free to share for the benefit of all of us.

[thevar]

As someone mentioned in the post, we can't always rely on the words or emails from officials, because it seems like many Indian officials aren't entirely clear on the rules and they go with their assumptions.

If you take a look at the link below, you'll find the official definition of citizenship.

https://indiancitizenshiponline.nic.in/ ... e%20months)

Code: Select all

(1) By Birth (Section 3)

A person born in India on or after 26th January 1950 but before 1st July, 1987 is citizen of India by birth irrespective of the nationality of his parents.

A person born in India on or after 1st July,1987 but before 3rd December, 2004 is
considered citizen of India by birth if either of his parents is a citizen of India at the time of his birth.

A person born in India on or after 3rd December, 2004 is considered citizen of India by birth if both the parents are citizens of India or one of the parents is a citizen of India and the other is not an illegal migrant at the time of his birth.

So as per above, if either parent or both parents acquire citizenship in future, it does not take away the citizenship rights of the children.

However, it's worth noting that Section 8 of THE CITIZENSHIP ACT, 1955, may present a different perspective on this matter

Hi Kali2023 - yes quite confusing isn't it! So far and sadly - there is no concluding view available on this topic. If you have a personal experience, please feel free to share for the benefit of all of us.

[learner1947]

Everything is done at the VFS centre, I did mine at VFS Goswell, wasn't required to visit Indian High Commission's office at all.

Yes, you can do both surrender and renunciation at the same day, but you will need two different appointments. I think, there is a limitation in the booking system which won't allow you to book two appointments at the same time for the same day. To surpass that (someone mentioned on this forum somewhere) that you can book one appointment with Indian Passport and other with your British Passport. I did both of my appointments separately i.e. on two different dates and at two different centres, hence can't guarantee this will work. Maybe you can try and help others. Good luck!

Thank you so much.

Since I have not paid for renunciation certificate the VFS website and consular website advice:

https://visa.vfsglobal.com/one-pager/in ... n-passport

https://cgibirmingham.gov.in/page/display/84/67

That I pay £79 at a VFS centre before coming for witness signing.
Am I correct to think that consulate can't take payment for the renunciation certificate at their office?
Its frustrating that I have to go separately to VFS office for the payment.
Is it possible to submit application of surrender certificate (VFS office) before renunciation certificate and I can pay for renunciation at the same time?

Thanks in advance

[karan270]

A successful trip hence am updating with hopefully some helpful info.

All appts done at VFS Goswell (so much better than the horrible Hounslow)

1st trip: Surrender cert on 22/12/23.

2nd trip: 12/1/24. 2 appts Booked OCI late morning 1130am, booked Renunciation 3pm

The VFS officer did not have any problems with what I was doing, he had some photo and sign upload issue with OCI which he uploaded himself and I was happy to pay extra £15 for this service. He made both applications OCI and Renun ready.

Then I had to come back at 3pm and show my email appt proof, take token and then wait for Consular officer to come at 330pm when they line up all the people for Renun signing.

I think the post UK Passport work which entails SC, RC and finally OCI can be done in 2 steps and it works nicely for them with SC in hand.

The system does not allow 2 appts on same IP address in 24 hours, hence I booked Renun first at work IP address and then OCI at home IP address in evening. nO issues. Also used Indian passport for Renun and UK passport info for OCI registration. Thank you all for all the useful info before hand. The HCI website is not that useful but you folks here are absolute legends.

[learner1947]

Glad that it all worked out okay for you.

I am going for my OCI next week. It seems they have no issue with doing OCI appointments without the renunciation certificate but just with the receipt of the renunciation application submission.

Did you have to provide a copy of the renunciation application?

Thanks!

[karan270]

No the OCI guy prepped my Renun file as well for the Consular officer to sign in the afternoon, so no extra copy needed in my case.

[learner1947]

Alright thanks!

No the OCI guy prepped my Renun file as well for the Consular officer to sign in the afternoon, so no extra copy needed in my case.

[jacksavvy]

Great to know that it all worked out well for you Karan!!

I have partially filled in the OCI application and sitting here ready to submit while I await the RC to be delivered so I can attach it along with all the necessary documentation.

I'm so inclined right now to just go ahead with the OCI application - with Renun receipt - because I really don't know how long still are they going to take to process my RC application (been more than 2 months already)

No the OCI guy prepped my Renun file as well for the Consular officer to sign in the afternoon, so no extra copy needed in my case.

[learner1947]

I was told at the OCI Appointment, HCIL will only issue OCI once renunciation certificate has been delivered and I will have to upload a copy of to my OCI application.

Regarding the timescales, I was also told renunciation is going to take around 2 months from the date of appointment.

You can email HCIL to find out the status of your application. It is a long shot because (I think) HCIL rarely replies to the emails but that's all you can do.

Let us know if you do end up getting a response from them.

Great to know that it all worked out well for you Karan!!

I have partially filled in the OCI application and sitting here ready to submit while I await the RC to be delivered so I can attach it along with all the necessary documentation.

I'm so inclined right now to just go ahead with the OCI application - with Renun receipt - because I really don't know how long still are they going to take to process my RC application (been more than 2 months already)

No the OCI guy prepped my Renun file as well for the Consular officer to sign in the afternoon, so no extra copy needed in my case.

[jacksavvy]

Do you happen to know which email ID I can use to reach out to HCIL via email?

I sent an email to a couple of address on the Contact page here: https://indiancitizenshiponline.nic.in/Home.aspx#

But its been a week since I sent that email too and as expected - no replies.

[learner1947]

https://www.hcilondon.gov.in/page/contact-us-sub/

I would email on all of the email addresses provided on the page. Good luck!

Do you happen to know which email ID I can use to reach out to HCIL via email?

I sent an email to a couple of address on the Contact page here: https://indiancitizenshiponline.nic.in/Home.aspx#

But its been a week since I sent that email too and as expected - no replies.

[jacksavvy]

Thanks! I have sent an email to all the email IDs on that link.

Let's see if I get any replies from these now.

[learner1947]

Has anyone received the RC in this week? If yes, please say your application submission date and date you received the RC on?

Thanks!