Can I visit India after Naturalisation and before acquiring UK Passport?

[sumahi2012]

I received my UK naturalisation certificate last week (6th Nov’24). So far, I have held Indian passport with ILR. I have old ILR stamp/sticker, and don’t need/have a BRP card. So unlike those who have a BRP card (and are required to surrender within 5 days of naturalisation), I don’t need to surrender my ILR.

When I applied for naturalisation in Aug’24, I wasn’t even expecting to get it approved before the end of this year (since it usually takes around 6 months).

I am due and booked to travel to India in the last week of Dec’24 (between 22nd Dec- and 4th Jan). Since this is for an important family event, the visit can’t be cancelled/postponed.

I have the following 2 options for travelling to India. I would appreciate if forum members (especially those who have had similar experience) can guide and provide their opinion.


OPTION 1:

* I apply for UK passport in next couple of days. Given that processing time for new UK passport currently is 8-11 days (within 3 weeks official timeframe), I should hopefully have my new UK passport (and Indian passport returned to me) by end of Nov’24 (or 1st week of Dec’24)

* I then book an appointment with VFS, London and surrender my Indian passport. I understand that it takes 3-5 days to get surrender certificate.

* By the end of 1st week of Dec’24, I apply for Indian e-visa on my British passport. I assume this would take me another 3-4 days. OCI obviously can’t be processed within this short time-frame.

* Can I apply for e-Visa without applying/waiting for the surrender certificate?

Am I am being too optimistic with the above timescales? I can’t afford delay in any of the above steps; otherwise I will end up having to forgo my trip.


OPTION 2:

* I choose not to apply for UK passport before my India trip (since there’s 3 months of grace period after naturalisation to still be able to travel on Indian passport). I can apply after my return in Jan’24 and hopefully have enough time to obtain UK passport, surrender Indian passport and apply for OCI (without being stressed about the process taking longer than expected).

* Since I don’t have a BRP card but only ILR stamp/sticker on my Indian passport, I shouldn’t have any problem with the onward and return trip. Moreover, airline/immigration in India wouldn’t know (or be bothered) about my actual naturalisation (and loss of ILR status).

* How will the UK Immigration treat my arrival? I assume that the UK Border officer will have information about my naturalisation in the system, without even asking me.

* Will I be questioned for travelling on Indian passport (after naturalisation)? Will I be prevented from entering UK with ILR sticker? Will my ILR status be considered to have expired?

So far, I had been inclined towards Option 2 and hence didn’t bother applying for UK passport immediately after naturalisation (losing a week in doing so). After reading one of the other threads here (https://www.immigrationboards.com/other ... 41171.html), I’m now concerned that Option 2 has certain risks; i.e. UK Border officer may make it bit difficult upon arrival.


If Option 2 is relatively risk-free, then I would rather go with it and avoid the stress of unnecessary time pressure under Option 1.

What would you recommend?

[sumahi2012]

What about the 3rd option - where I acquire the British Passport by 1st week of Dec, but don't surrender Indian passport immediately. I travel to India on Indian passport and return to UK on UK passport. After my return in 1st week of Jan, I surrender my Indian passport and start the process of acquiring OCI card.

What are the risks with Option 3? How long (officially) do I have from the time I acquire UK passport to surrender Indian passport?

Appreciate any response to the above queries.
@AmazonianX @Zimba @immg83 @Ticktack @meself2 @alterhase58

[sathyauk]

I received my UK naturalisation certificate last week (6th Nov’24). So far, I have held Indian passport with ILR. I have old ILR stamp/sticker, and don’t need/have a BRP card. So unlike those who have a BRP card (and are required to surrender within 5 days of naturalisation), I don’t need to surrender my ILR.

When I applied for naturalisation in Aug’24, I wasn’t even expecting to get it approved before the end of this year (since it usually takes around 6 months).

I am due and booked to travel to India in the last week of Dec’24 (between 22nd Dec- and 4th Jan). Since this is for an important family event, the visit can’t be cancelled/postponed.

I have the following 2 options for travelling to India. I would appreciate if forum members (especially those who have had similar experience) can guide and provide their opinion.


OPTION 1:

* I apply for UK passport in next couple of days. Given that processing time for new UK passport currently is 8-11 days (within 3 weeks official timeframe), I should hopefully have my new UK passport (and Indian passport returned to me) by end of Nov’24 (or 1st week of Dec’24)


* I then book an appointment with VFS, London and surrender my Indian passport. I understand that it takes 3-5 days to get surrender certificate.
You get e-visa in 24 hours time. You have 3 years to surrender your Indian passport with caution not using Indian passport for any reasons.

* By the end of 1st week of Dec’24, I apply for Indian e-visa on my British passport. I assume this would take me another 3-4 days. OCI obviously can’t be processed within this short time-frame.You get e-visa in 24 hours time.

* Can I apply for e-Visa without applying/waiting for the surrender certificate?You can apply for e-visa

Am I am being too optimistic with the above timescales? I can’t afford delay in any of the above steps; otherwise I will end up having to forgo my trip.


OPTION 2:

* I choose not to apply for UK passport before my India trip (since there’s 3 months of grace period after naturalisation to still be able to travel on Indian passport). I can apply after my return in Jan’24 and hopefully have enough time to obtain UK passport, surrender Indian passport and apply for OCI (without being stressed about the process taking longer than expected).

* Since I don’t have a BRP card but only ILR stamp/sticker on my Indian passport, I shouldn’t have any problem with the onward and return trip. Moreover, airline/immigration in India wouldn’t know (or be bothered) about my actual naturalisation (and loss of ILR status).

* How will the UK Immigration treat my arrival? I assume that the UK Border officer will have information about my naturalisation in the system, without even asking me.

* Will I be questioned for travelling on Indian passport (after naturalisation)? Will I be prevented from entering UK with ILR sticker? Will my ILR status be considered to have expired?

So far, I had been inclined towards Option 2 and hence didn’t bother applying for UK passport immediately after naturalisation (losing a week in doing so). After reading one of the other threads here (https://www.immigrationboards.com/other ... 41171.html), I’m now concerned that Option 2 has certain risks; i.e. UK Border officer may make it bit difficult upon arrival.


If Option 2 is relatively risk-free, then I would rather go with it and avoid the stress of unnecessary time pressure under Option 1.Option 1 is easy and risk free but option 2 is high risk because once you receive your naturalization you Indian citizenship will be ceased by default, so you can't use your India passport, they will cause problems when you apply for OCI

What would you recommend?

[sathyauk]

What about the 3rd option - where I acquire the British Passport by 1st week of Dec, but don't surrender Indian passport immediately. I travel to India on Indian passport and return to UK on UK passport. After my return in 1st week of Jan, I surrender my Indian passport and start the process of acquiring OCI card.

What are the risks with Option 3? How long (officially) do I have from the time I acquire UK passport to surrender Indian passport?Its illegal to do this way, I would not think about option 3

Appreciate any response to the above queries.
@AmazonianX @Zimba @immg83 @Ticktack @meself2 @alterhase58

[sumahi2012]

Option 1 is easy and risk free but option 2 is high risk because once you receive your naturalization you Indian citizenship will be ceased by default, so you can't use your India passport, they will cause problems when you apply for OCI

Thanks for responding. Appreciate your answer to e-visa timescale.

Indian passport is valid for 3 months (from the date of naturalisation) and it can be used to travel for that period (provided UK passport hasn't been obtained in that time period).

The only risk is upon arrival in the UK, where the UK border officer may query about the ILR status (which expires on naturalisation). In my case, I have ILR vignette/sticker (instead of BRP card which is required to be surrender within 5 days of naturalisation).

[sumahi2012]

What about the 3rd option - where I acquire the British Passport by 1st week of Dec, but don't surrender Indian passport immediately. I travel to India on Indian passport and return to UK on UK passport. After my return in 1st week of Jan, I surrender my Indian passport and start the process of acquiring OCI card.

What are the risks with Option 3? How long (officially) do I have from the time I acquire UK passport to surrender Indian passport?

Its illegal to do this way, I would not think about option 3

I understand that it is impermissible (as per Indian immigration law) to use the Indian passport after obtaining the UK passport.

But how would Indian immigration officials (at the time of arrival in India and at the point of departure from India) know that I have secured UK passport in the interim? Nowhere in my Indian passport would there be a record/mark (unless UK home office or border agency marks so in that passport at the time of issuing UK passport). Do UK and Indian systems share information?

I'm not trying to be cheeky, but just need to know how much information each side of immigration systems share.

[sathyauk]

What about the 3rd option - where I acquire the British Passport by 1st week of Dec, but don't surrender Indian passport immediately. I travel to India on Indian passport and return to UK on UK passport. After my return in 1st week of Jan, I surrender my Indian passport and start the process of acquiring OCI card.

What are the risks with Option 3? How long (officially) do I have from the time I acquire UK passport to surrender Indian passport?

Its illegal to do this way, I would not think about option 3

I understand that it is impermissible (as per Indian immigration law) to use the Indian passport after obtaining the UK passport.

But how would Indian immigration officials (at the time of arrival in India and at the point of departure from India) know that I have secured UK passport in the interim? Nowhere in my Indian passport would there be a record/mark (unless UK home office or border agency marks so in that passport at the time of issuing UK passport). Do UK and Indian systems share information?

I'm not trying to be cheeky, but just need to know how much information each side of immigration systems share.

Your ILR will be void immediately after receiving your naturalization. I don't know how you can use your ILR after receiving naturalization

[sumahi2012]

What about the 3rd option - where I acquire the British Passport by 1st week of Dec, but don't surrender Indian passport immediately. I travel to India on Indian passport and return to UK on UK passport. After my return in 1st week of Jan, I surrender my Indian passport and start the process of acquiring OCI card.

I understand that it is impermissible (as per Indian immigration law) to use the Indian passport after obtaining the UK passport.

But how would Indian immigration officials (at the time of arrival in India and at the point of departure from India) know that I have secured UK passport in the interim? Nowhere in my Indian passport would there be a record/mark (unless UK home office or border agency marks so in that passport at the time of issuing UK passport). Do UK and Indian systems share information?

I'm not trying to be cheeky, but just need to know how much information each side of immigration systems share.

Your ILR will be void immediately after receiving your naturalization. I don't know how you can use your ILR after receiving naturalization

The actual experience of those who have done so is here:
https://www.immigrationboards.com/viewt ... 8&start=25

ILR vignette/sticker on the passport is enough at departure from India. At Heathrow, I will have to produce Naturalisation certificate if asked (since ILR is void); but as per the above thread, I may not even be asked to do so.