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Surrender of Indian Passport and applying for OCI

nithi
- 59 posts
May 27, 2012 10:57:32 AM CEST

Hello All,

We would like to surrender our Indian passport and apply for OCI. We would like to know the procedures to do the above.

We have looked through the Indian website but we are not completely clear about the process. It would be great if someone could share their exp with us.

Kindly let us know the exact documents required and fee's to be paid.

Please let us know the complete process time (renounciation of Indian citizenship, surrender of indian passport and receival of OCI)

Thanks in adavcne for your time.

Regards,

Nithi
blackwater
- 326 posts
May 27, 2012 10:14:04 PM CEST

You have to go to Indian embassy at Den Haag between 9 to 12. Fill The form for renunciation of the Indian nationality, fill the last page ie FORM XXIII, that will be ur certificate.if all is well u will get in 1 hours time,u have to shed 188 Euros.

For OCI you have to go VFS office close to Indian embassy fill the OCI form,make sure the photo should be of Indian embassy specification. bring photocopies of Indian passport return certificate and dutch passport bring originals also,u might need uitreksel from gemeente stating when u got dutch citizenship and ur current address. if u need more info pls feel free to ask
nithi
- 59 posts
June 3, 2012 8:55:13 PM CEST

Hi Blackwater,

Thank you very much for your reply. We are going tomorrow to Den Haag to apply for OCI. Hope everything goes well.

Thanks,
Nithi
sundance_jr_in
- 34 posts
July 17, 2012 8:25:29 PM CEST

Hi Nithi and Blackwater

Wanted to know your experience with the INdian consulate in the hague for OCI application. How long do they take? I have applied 2 months back but see no acknowledgement or status update. Will be grateful if you can share your experience of getting OCI in the netherlands
blackwater
- 326 posts
July 23, 2012 11:39:34 AM CEST

if all goes well it OCI should come in 3 months. if there is some discrepancy than u have to furnish required documents and wait more. i got it in 3 months
danzindd
- 95 posts
July 27, 2012 11:20:16 AM CEST

Is it necessary to give Indian passport back to the Indian embassy, when you go for the renunciation of the Indian nationality. Or do they simply cancel it and return the passport back to you?
nithi
- 59 posts
July 28, 2012 10:25:47 AM CEST

Hi Danzi,

Yes the Indian embassy will take away your passport and then give you the singed renunciation document. You have to then submit a copy of the above document while applying for an OCI card.

Regards, Nithi
TomdeHeer
- 8 posts
July 31, 2012 10:25:59 AM CEST

Nithi, Do you still need some help with your OCI? Or did it work out? grt. Tom de Heer deheer@lrbadvocaten.nl
blackwater
- 326 posts
August 2, 2012 6:35:47 PM CEST

danzindd said:

Is it necessary to give Indian passport back to the Indian embassy, when you go for the renunciation of the Indian nationality. Or do they simply cancel it and return the passport back to you?

It's a law to return Indian passport to Indian embassy as soon as u get ur foriegn passport, failing to do that result in criminal proceeding and fine up to 50,000 INR.

No, Indian embassy will not return ur passport. They will give u renunciation certificate. So,its better to photocopy ur Indian passport before returning to Indian embassy.

Keep that renunciation certificate safe. As you will need it till you are alive on this planet earth

This post was edited by blackwater at August 2, 2012 6:37:53 PM CEST
nithi
- 59 posts
August 17, 2012 7:21:04 PM CEST

Hi sundance_jr_in,

Did you already received your OCI ? Please let me know,
Thx
Nithi
bosschenaar
- 17 posts
August 25, 2012 5:14:29 PM CEST

I'd applied for the OCI card on Jun 15 2012. I havent received any updates. The website has nothing. VFS knows nothing about the status, except that apparently other folks who applied in June are also still waiting. Does anyone know how long it actually takes to get the OCI card in the Netherlands ? Nithi, Sundance - maybe you have some updates based on your cases ?
cheers
blackwater
- 326 posts
August 27, 2012 2:08:55 PM CEST

bosschenaar said:
I'd applied for the OCI card on Jun 15 2012. I havent received any updates. The website has nothing. VFS knows nothing about the status, except that apparently other folks who applied in June are also still waiting. Does anyone know how long it actually takes to get the OCI card in the Netherlands ? Nithi, Sundance - maybe you have some updates based on your cases ? cheers

VFS people are useless. I had bad experience with them. My bro-in-law has applied for OCI, when after 6 months we have received no info, i called VFS many times,every time they said, we have not heard anything from embassy. At last i wrote a letter to ambassdor and also logded complaint online on embassy website. For few weeks i heard nothing. i went to embassy myself and checked that few documents were missing. Embassy people also told me they send msg via VFS,i said i heard nothing from them,they said they send bro-in-law Email also, which we have never received.

so bottom line is that there is no coordianation between embassy and VFS.

i suggest you to go to embassy and checked urself may they need few more documents from you
Iamsterdam
- 20 posts
August 29, 2012 2:28:47 PM CEST

i have few questions related to the above:
1. can we apply for dutch passport before surrendering indian passport?
2. if in the meanwhile we have make india trip then do we have to take return visa on dutch passport as oci procedure may take 2-3 months?
thanks in advance
blackwater
- 326 posts
August 29, 2012 3:37:59 PM CEST

blackwater said:

Iamsterdam said:
i have few questions related to the above: 1. can we apply for dutch passport before surrendering indian passport? 2. if in the meanwhile we have make india trip then do we have to take return visa on dutch passport as oci procedure may take 2-3 months? thanks in advance

1) Nooooooooooooooooooo.com'mon yaar ,if u surrender ur indian passport then u will have no ID at all. com'mon yaar

Secondly Indian embassy needs ur dutch passport copy when u surrender ur Indian Passport.

2) It is advisable not to travel to India when u applied for your Dutch passport. once u received ur Dutch passport(1 week) apply for tourist Indian visa and go

if u cant wait 3 to 6 months.

or

Apply OCI card and return ur Indian passport at the same time and wait for 3 to 6 months

This post was edited by blackwater at August 29, 2012 3:41:38 PM CEST
Iamsterdam
- 20 posts
August 29, 2012 3:59:50 PM CEST

1. ya that is why i asked..
then firstly i have to apply for dutch passport and once i recive it i can surrender the indian one...so answer of question is YES not noooo:)
2. I remember that one of my friend travelled back to india on indian passport just after naturalisation in nl.....so thought if there is other option? any loophole...don't know
anyways I got it, thanks !
blackwater
- 326 posts
August 30, 2012 5:21:06 PM CEST

Iamsterdam said:
1. ya that is why i asked.. then firstly i have to apply for dutch passport and once i recive it i can surrender the indian one...so answer of question is YES not noooo:) 2. I remember that one of my friend travelled back to india on indian passport just after naturalisation in nl.....so thought if there is other option? any loophole...don't know anyways I got it, thanks !

I said "no" that u cant surrender Indian passport before getting dutch one.

2) you can travel to india after naturalisation.naturalisation and appllying for dutch passport is 2 different things. You can apply for dutch passport within 6 months of ur naturalisation ceremony.

There is always a loop pole. Even u can keep both indian and dutch passport for life but once u get caught, u know what i mean.

you very well know how well behaved indian immigration officals are

BTW its a criminal offence if u dont surrender ur indian passport after getting the dutch one.

Good luck

This post was edited by blackwater at August 30, 2012 5:28:14 PM CEST
nithi
- 59 posts
September 10, 2012 4:41:35 PM CEST

sundance_jr_in said:

Hi Nithi and Blackwater

Wanted to know your experience with the INdian consulate in the hague for OCI application. How long do they take? I have applied 2 months back but see no acknowledgement or status update. Will be grateful if you can share your experience of getting OCI in the netherlands

Hi Sundance,

Did you get your OCI card or not yet? We applied on the 5 'th of June and have heard nothing from them. They want us to come in person to know the status. We have booked tickets to go to India in the mid of October and its crucial and we need to decide if we need to take a visitors visa to India:( if you could share your experience it would be great.

cheers,

Nithi
nithi
- 59 posts
September 10, 2012 4:45:19 PM CEST

bosschenaar said:
I'd applied for the OCI card on Jun 15 2012. I havent received any updates. The website has nothing. VFS knows nothing about the status, except that apparently other folks who applied in June are also still waiting. Does anyone know how long it actually takes to get the OCI card in the Netherlands ? Nithi, Sundance - maybe you have some updates based on your cases ? cheers

Hi Bosschenaar,

We applied on the 5'th of June and have not heard anything so far. When we called them they say they want us to come in person to know the status. When we called VFS they say it looks like they have not started the process it self and dcouments are just lying there. I am not sure if i have to go with this answer becasue how can it take so long even to start the process. Did you call them or have you been there in person?Kindly share your experience.

Cheers,

Nithi
sundance_jr_in
- 34 posts
September 11, 2012 12:18:43 PM CEST

Nithi,
I recently received my OCI (after 3.5 months). I think it is best to check with the embassy if you haven't heard anyting for 3 months. .. have you tried tracking your application on the government website? October seems quite near so you may want to check with embassy on the status of OCI before you apply for the visitors visa. Hope this helps.
bosschenaar
- 17 posts
September 11, 2012 1:40:35 PM CEST

Quick update: i went to VFS to get a business visa for India as the OCI hadn't come. I asked about the status and he looked up my application and said it seems fine (i.e. no further docs required). The other piece of info i got from a friend recently was that he'd applied in April 2012 and hasn't heard anything yet. Looks like this may be a long haul . Yet another example of how ridiculous the bureaucracy is - it should have been a simple matter for the embassy to take my indian passport and give me an OCI card then and there, but that would be too easy , wouldn't it ? :)
cheers
ChakdeIndia
- 52 posts
September 11, 2012 1:47:07 PM CEST

so true bosschenaar,

I also applied for my OCI same as Nithi on 1st of June 2012, and still no news.
I mean how hard is it to just issue an OCI, when they are charging so much heavily.
This is soo typical Indian sarkari system, where everything has to be so sluggish.
even I don't understand what this stupid VFS guys are doing.. all they do is tell you the status which you can check urself anyway on the website.
Really all we can do is wait and wait for that lucky day to come
Bharatiya
- 12 posts
September 22, 2012 8:29:57 PM CEST

Dear all,

Thanks for sharing your experiences . I am also going to apply OCI card within few weeks.
One thing I do not understand. The website of Indian Embassy indicates that we can apply for OCI directly at the Embassy. While the website of VFS Global tells to submit to their office. Does anyone have experience on where to apply? Is it correct that I could apply at either the Embassy directly or at VFS Global?
Also It is not clear to me how much I need to pay for OCI including all taxes. Can somebody share his recent experience?

In addition of what Blackwater said about the renunciation fees: there is also 12 euro’s service fees for passport surrender certificate next to the 185 euro for application fees.
Renunciation fee: 185
Passport surrender certificate: 12

Thanks in advance,

BKDB
ChakdeIndia
- 52 posts
September 23, 2012 11:12:04 AM CEST

bkdb said:
Dear all, Thanks for sharing your experiences . I am also going to apply OCI card within few weeks. One thing I do not understand. The website of Indian Embassy indicates that we can apply for OCI directly at the Embassy. While the website of VFS Global tells to submit to their office. Does anyone have experience on where to apply? Is it correct that I could apply at either the Embassy directly or at VFS Global? Also It is not clear to me how much I need to pay for OCI including all taxes. Can somebody share his recent experience? In addition of what Blackwater said about the renunciation fees: there is also 12 euro’s service fees for passport surrender certificate next to the 185 euro for application fees. Renunciation fee: 185 Passport surrender certificate: 12 Thanks in advance, BKDB

Hi bkdb,

Welcome to the world you wrong and misleading info by out Indian Govt website.

You cannot apply at Indian Embassy for OCI. You have to fill an online form "PART A" available on Indian embassy's website and then take the print out along with the rest of the documents mentioned under VFS website . See link "http://www.vfsglobal.com/india/netherlands/OCI_CheckList.html"

Once your documents are ready, please make sure the first thing you do is to go to Indian embassy to surrender your passport and get " Declaration of Renunciation of Indian Citizenship" signed certificate from them.

TIP :- PLease please make sure never ever loose this certifcate till your last breathe, as without this you can get into some seriousl problem, but not to exagerrate, please keep it in a safe place" where mites , rats , birds or your partner cannot chew this :D

Anways, the total damage at Indian embassy for surrendering your passport will be 185 EURO and then with the "" Declaration of Renunciation of Indian Citizenship" certificate you have to go ot VFS to apply for OCI. There you have to pay a fee of 249,50 EUROS

TIP :- I would recommend to take the photograph at VFS centre only , as it is much cheaper. coz outside they rip you off for the size of photo spec they ask for in application.

Finally when everything is done and dusted, wait till your hair start growing grey to get OCI in your hands and please do not even try to track your OCI status before 3 months .

Sirf intezaar karo .

Hope ab kuch clear ho gaya hoga appko.
Bharatiya
- 12 posts
September 23, 2012 8:20:18 PM CEST

Dear ChakdeIndia,

Thanks for your quick response and good advice/tips. In a few weeks I will apply, so will wait and see as you suggest.

Thanks again
BKDB
bosschenaar
- 17 posts
October 4, 2012 12:51:43 PM CEST

Another update from me - i got a call from VFS after 3 months of the OCI application date. Apparently, they were missing a document - this despite me asking repeatedly (and them confirming) whether any more documents were needed. What was funnier was what document was missing - i had given a no-objection letter from my wife to apply for the kids OCI. Apparently, the Government of India in its all-knowing wisdom also needed a no-objection letter from me for my kids' application ! The fact that I was the one who had applied was immaterial - the great bureaucratic machine needed a letter ! Ah well, i guess it was my mistake to expect common sense from the GoI :). Anyway, i sent the letter and i also asked if this meant that the 3 month counter was reset. The lady apologetically said "oh, no sir - it will only take another month or so!". So fingers still crossed, lets see how this develops - i'm betting on sometime in 2013 :)