| GOPIO NEWS SPECIAL BULLETIN June 15, 2010 A Publication of the Global Organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO) |
| Issue: IX-7 | June 15, 2010 | |
| Join Our List | ![Join Our Mailing List]() | NOTE: GOPIO News is a FREE bi-monthly newsletter of GOPIO International, based in the USA. We need your help in reaching out more NRIs/PIOs around the world. Please go to the bottom of the news bulletin and click the FORWARD button and type e-mail addresses of your friends and relatives. One could also subscribe this newsletter by visiting www.gopio.net and type in the e-mail address. All preivous issues of GOPIO News are provided at GOPIO News Archives. If you do not wish to receive this newsletter in future, please click SafeUnsubscribe at the end of this newsletter. | | GOVT. OF INDIA RELENTS FURTHER ON THE NEW RULES ON INDIAN PASSPORT SURRENDER AND RENUNCIATION OF INDIAN CITIZENSHIP | | Global Organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO) Inc. PO Box 560117 New York, New York 11356 USA Web: www.gopio.net, E-mail: gopio-intl@sbcglobal.net Tel: +1-718-939-8194 FOR IMMEDIATE ATTENTION OF NRI AND PIOs The Global Organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO International) acknowledges with gratitude the substantial achievement realized with remarkably quick action when the government of India issued a clarification on June 1, 2010 "that PIOs will not be asked to pay any renunciation charges". There still remained valid issues that needed prompt remedial action by the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs (MOIA) and the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). For this reason, GOPIO had continued its appeal to the Government of India on behalf the global Indian community in pursuit of fairness and equitable treatment of those Indians who have become citizens of other countries. These concerns include lost, misplaced or missing passports, substantiation documents, surrender forms, fees and cut-off dates. GOPIO has brought these concerns to the attention of Hon. Vayalar Ravi, Minister of MOIA. We are pleased to announce that the following communiqué from Dr. A. Didar Singh, Secretary, Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs (MOIA) has substantially resolved the matter and eased the burden previously placed on Indians who acquired citizenship of other countries. ***************** From: Dr. A. Didar Singh
Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs (MOIA) Date: Tue, Jun 15, 2010 at 1:11 AM Subject: passport surrender issue D.O.No.OI-15014/02/2009-DS 11th June 2010 Dear Overseas Indian, This Ministry received a large number of representations from PIOs, particularly in the U.S.A., protesting the recent circulars hosted on the websites of our Missions in the US regarding the levy of registration charges for 'declaration of renunciation of Indian Citizenship' and the imposition of penalties for delayed surrender or non-surrender of Indian passports last held by them. Some of these representations and petitions were also addressed to the Hon'ble Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs, as also the Hon'ble Prime Minister. 2. I write this to inform you that in appreciation of the sentiments expressed in many of these representations and petitions, I had taken up the issues raised therein with the Ministry of Home Affairs (which administers the Citizenship Act and the Rules made thereunder, which provide for the levy of a fee of Rs.7000/- for registration of a declaration of renunciation of Indian citizenship by a PIO) and the Ministry of External Affairs (which administers the Passport Act and Rules, which provide for penalties for delayed surrender or non-surrender of Indian passports last held by PIOs, as also their misuse). 3. I am glad to report that following my demarche interventions MHA had issued a circular communication on 01.06.2010, clarifying that the fee of Rs.7000/- for registration of a 'declaration of renunciation of Indian citizenship' will only be charged from PIOs, who intend to acquire foreign nationality/citizenship in future and those who have already acquired such foreign citizenship in the past, will, by virtue of Section 9 of the Citizenship Act, 1955, cease to be Indian citizens forthwith, upon such acquisition of foreign citizenship and they will not be required to make such a 'declaration of renunciation of Indian citizenship'. 4. As regards the surrender of Indian passports last held by such PIOs, it has been clarified by MEA vide their circular letter dated 03.05.2010 [para 2(viii)] that there would be no need to surrender a passport which expired before 2005. 5. I trust with these clarifications issued by MHA and MEA, the grievance expressed by you PIOs, stands redressed. * With regards, Yours sincerely, Sd/- Dr. A. Didar Singh) Copy to: JS(PMO), JS(CPV), JS(Foreigners), MHA All Indian Missions in US (Washington, NY, Chicago, San Francisco, Houston) HCI, London *************** Earlier GOPIO had sent a letter to Minsiter Vayalar Ravi on the remaining issues of Indian Passport Surrender, parts of which are reproduced below: However, there are still valid issues that need prompt remedial action by the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs and the Ministry of External Affairs. These concerns include the following which need to be addressed in a timely and equitable manner: 1. A large majority of the people of Indian Origin who have become citizens of other countries did not have any use for their old Indian passports and may have lost, misplaced or never kept in their possession after acquiring citizenship of other countries. Those who still have their passports have no problem in surrendering their old passports to obtain Surrender Certificate. But those who do not have their passports with them are required to furnish certified copies of the following documents: - Details of last held Indian passport (Passport No., Date of Issue & Place of issue). The onus of providing details rest on the applicant.
- Official documents submitted to authorities of new country at the time of obtaining citizenship/naturalization & documents used for entry such as US Form I -130.
- Notarized letter explaining reasons for loss.
- Police report.
The production of items 1 and 2 above will not be easy and could take months to obtain from the local or regional immigration authorities. There are many people who have had long term visas for India but do not have the old Indian passport with them. When their Indian visa comes up for renewal, although renewed earlier multiple times and visited India several times, they will not be able to renew it. In this category, there are people who visit India to meet relatives, to oversee the philanthropic projects they have initiated and/or attend/participate in international meets, such as PBD. We make the following suggestions in this respect: · For People of Indian Origin who have been citizens of their adopted countries for over ten years, the validity of their Indian passports which they had at the time of obtaining citizenship of the new countries had long expired. Their obsolete passports cannot be used in anyway and should no longer present security risks. The Government of India should relax the current rigid requirement and consider asking for the following documents to obtain Surrender Certificate: 1. Affidavit giving details of the passport and reasons for loss. 2. Police report, if necessary. 2. As per Section 9 of Indian Citizenship Act 1955, "Any citizen of India who by naturalization, registration or otherwise voluntarily acquires the citizenship of another country shall cease to be a citizen of India." Indian citizenship is thus automatically terminated on acquiring US citizenship. Therefore, Indians in the USA do not have dual citizenship of India and of USA. Indian Consulates require applicants for "Surrender Certificate" to submit "Renunciation of Indian citizenship" Form which starts with "Declaration of Renunciation of citizenship made by a citizen of India who is also a citizen or national of another country." Item 3 of the Form talks about the acquisition of US citizenship while item 4 talks of renouncing of Indian citizenship. Item 6 on the form says, "I ------------------------ do solemnly and sincerely declare that the foregoing particulars stated in this declaration are true and I make this solemn declaration conscientiously believing the same to be true." Anyone signing the current form to renounce Indian citizenship is doing so incorrectly and maybe doing so illegally as well. What is being asked amounts to surrendering something which a person does not have. We suggest that a simple "Surrender of Indian Passport Form" be designed for the purpose of surrender of Indian passport after acquisition of citizenship of the country of immigrant's domicile. 3. The service fee of $175 USD for Passport Surrender Certificate is unreasonably high and should be reduced to a reasonable amount. Doing so would preserve the loyalty of Indians who have acquired citizenship of other countries and would go a long way to remove the impression that the Government of India is gouging NRIs and PIOs. 4. Many people have paid the fee of $175 and penalty of $250 to obtain his/her surrender certificate prior to June 1, 2010. It may be administrative inconvenience to give refund but it will continue to be source of anger in the minds of many people and somewhat tarnish years of goodwill built by the mutual healthy relationship between India and its Diaspora. Timely attention is required to address these outstanding issues in a fair and equitable manner. Indians who have become citizens of other countries must not be made to feel that the Government of India is preying on them. Such negative feeling could diminish their loyalty and continuing support for their motherland. ***************** We at GOPIO International acknowledge the efforts of Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs (MOIA) and Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) to respond to our concerns promptly and take remedial action as noted above. We also acknowledge and appreciate the overwhelming support from the global Indian community from all corners of the world. We are convinced that this massive level of support made a tremendous difference in the outcome of our appeals, as we will continue to monitor and seek redress on issues and concerns affecting the global Indian community. For more information, please contact GOPIO International at +1-818-708-3885, Email: GOPIO-Intl@sbcglobal.net. |
| TRAVELLING TO INDIA AND SURRENDER CERTIFICATE | | As per clarification given by the Consul General of India, in his press conference on June 1, 2010 in New York, "Surrender Certificate" will not be checked when a person of Indian Origin lands in India with the passport of his/her adopted country, provided he/she has: 1. A valid visa for India. 2. OCI/PIO card with Indian Visa stamped in the Passport |
| GOPIO LIFE MEMBERSHIP AND CHAPTER FORMATION | | | GOPIO is a non-partisan, non-sectarian global organization with chapters in several countries, actively promoting the interests of people of Indian origin worldwide by monitoring and addressing current critical issues of concern, and by enhancing cooperation and communication between groups of Indians living in various countries. GOPIO Individual Life membership is open to all who believe in the mission of GOPIO. The one- time fee is $5,000 for Platinum Life Membership, $2,500 for Gold Life Membership and $1,500 Silver Life Membership and half the amount for each category for those from developing countries and India. GOPIO is looking forward to opening chapters in all major cities of the world so as to network people of Indian origin all over the world. If you do not have chapter in your city, please visit GOPIO website (www.gopio.net) and get details of chapter initiation (visit http://www.gopio.net/chapter_initiative.htm). Process involves sending a letter of intent to start a chapter by a committee of five people or more. For more information, contact: GOPIO Chairman - Inder Singh, Tarzana, California, USA, Tel: 818-708-3885, E-mail: gopio-intl@sbcglobal.net GOPIO President - Lord Daljit Rana, UK, Tel: +44 28-9807-8787, Email: president.gopiointl@googlemail.com GOPIO Executive Vice President - Ashook Ramsaran, Fresh Meadows, New York City, Tel: 718/939-8194, E-mail: ramsaran@aol.com To become a Life member of GOPIO, one can sign up online at http://gopio.net/online_membership.htm or fill up the form and send it with a check to: GOPIO International, PO Box 560117, New York NY 11356, USA. | | EDITORIAL BOARD | | | Chief Editor: Dr. Thomas Abraham, Founder President and Chairman Emeritus, GOPIO (Stamford, CT, USA) Editor: Ashook Ramsaran, GOPIO Executive Vice President (New York, USA) Webmasters: Prashant Gupta (Hyderabad, India) and Abu Thomas (New Rochelle, NY, USA) Contributors of this issue: Inder Singh (GOPIO Intl., Tarzan, California, USA) GOPIO NEWS welcomes NRI/PIO related stories from all over the world. Be a volunteer correspondent or reporter. Contact Dr. Thomas Abraham, Tel: 203-329-8010, E-mail: gopio@optonline.net.
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