There's a text box asking for Canadian passport number in the online application to surrender my Indian Citizenship. However, that text box isn't a mandatory field, so I'm able to proceed with the application without having to fill in my Canadian passport number.
So my question is, can I go ahead and submit my Indian Citizenship Surrender Application while waiting for my Canadian passport to arrive? I plan on walking-in to the BLS office and getting it done with ASAP.
I applied for surrendering my Indian passport at BLS (Vancouver)
without having a Canadian passport.
CGI Vancouver says that a Canadian passport is required
if held. I don't hold one yet. Was heading to office and decided to try a walk-in at BLS to surrender my Indian citizenship/ passport. The attendant (at the entrance of BLS) told me that they do allow people to apply for surrendering Indian passport because I wasn't an Indian citizen any longer anyway. I'm glad that even the attending officer (who processed my application) understood that one doesn't need a Canadian passport to justify holding Canadian citizenship, along with the automatic renunciation of Indian citizenship that happens on the day one takes the oath.
I was just asked to write a letter stating why do I not have my Canadian passport - my passport won't be ready for pick up until Friday. It went really smooth. Was in and out in about 35 mins. There was 1 other person behind me who was also applying for surrendering Indian citizenship who didn't have a Canadian passport as well.
The attending officer also said that, in their opinion, BLS helpline hasn't been trained well to address these questions, and that most of the time the agents answering phone calls use the appropriate checklist to clarify document requirements. I was asked to directly visit BLS for any questions if at all.
P.S. I left the Canadian passport number text box blank in my application.