Indian passport surrender question

[ajanarth]

Hey Folks, just a question regarding the passport surrender to consulate / BLS, can I surrender expired passport ? my passport expired two months ago and I am hoping to get my citizenship soon as May 2019 applicant awaiting for the oath ceremony. I am hesitant to renew my passport for few months and avoid tedious process of going through BLS international. However, the details in CGI / BLS is bit confusing it shows penalty of surrendering expired as it shows "b) If your passport expired on or after 1 January, 2005 - C$ 343"

https://www.blsindia-canada.com/renunciation_ppt.php.

I am weighing in the pros and cons of paying for expired passport vs handing the BLS staff thats been nightmare.

Kindly suggest.

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1. Penalty for retention of Indian passport after acquiring Canadian citizenship for a period in excess of three years from the date of acquiring Canadian citizenship
a) If your Passport expired on or before 31 December, 2004 - no penalty
b) If your passport expired on or after 1 January, 2005 - C$ 343
(Note: Retention Penalty (C$343) is different from Renunciation Fee (C$ 240). The latter needs to be paid by those who acquire foreign nationality on or after 1 June, 2010.)
2. Penalty for travelling on Indian Passport after acquiring Canadian citizenship is C$ 343 for each time, subject to a maximum of C$ 1711
3. Penalty for getting Indian Passport renewed or re-issued after acquiring Canadian citizenship is C$ 856 for each such renewal or reissue.
4. Penalty for obtaining any miscellaneous passport service (name change, etc.) on Indian Passport after acquiring Canadian citizenship is C$ 343 for each such service.

Procedure for obtaining Surrender Certificate/Renunciation Certificate
The applicant would need to submit the following:

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[s23srinivas]

Hey Folks, just a question regarding the passport surrender to consulate / BLS, can I surrender expired passport ? my passport expired two months ago and I am hoping to get my citizenship soon as May 2019 applicant awaiting for the oath ceremony. I am hesitant to renew my passport for few months and avoid tedious process of going through BLS international. However, the details in CGI / BLS is bit confusing it shows penalty of surrendering expired as it shows "b) If your passport expired on or after 1 January, 2005 - C$ 343"

https://www.blsindia-canada.com/renunciation_ppt.php.

I am weighing in the pros and cons of paying for expired passport vs handing the BLS staff thats been nightmare.

Kindly suggest.

======

1. Penalty for retention of Indian passport after acquiring Canadian citizenship for a period in excess of three years from the date of acquiring Canadian citizenship
a) If your Passport expired on or before 31 December, 2004 - no penalty
b) If your passport expired on or after 1 January, 2005 - C$ 343
(Note: Retention Penalty (C$343) is different from Renunciation Fee (C$ 240). The latter needs to be paid by those who acquire foreign nationality on or after 1 June, 2010.)
2. Penalty for travelling on Indian Passport after acquiring Canadian citizenship is C$ 343 for each time, subject to a maximum of C$ 1711
3. Penalty for getting Indian Passport renewed or re-issued after acquiring Canadian citizenship is C$ 856 for each such renewal or reissue.
4. Penalty for obtaining any miscellaneous passport service (name change, etc.) on Indian Passport after acquiring Canadian citizenship is C$ 343 for each such service.

Procedure for obtaining Surrender Certificate/Renunciation Certificate
The applicant would need to submit the following:

===================================

Has your passport already been expired for 3 years now?

I read clause#1 for holding an expired passport to be one which has been expired in excess of 3 years since the date of acquiring the Canadian citizenship. So assuming you get your Citizenship on Oct 1st 2020 (wish it could be sooner) then on 1st Oct 2020 if you have been retaining a passport that has been expired for 3 years i.e. since 30th Sept 2017 or earlier in that situation the penalty clause will kick in.

I haven't had such an experience but just my opinion the way I interpret the clause. Lets wait to hear from someone who has/had this situation.

 

[ajanarth]

Has your passport already been expired for 3 years now?

I read clause#1 for holding an expired passport to be one which has been expired in excess of 3 years since the date of acquiring the Canadian citizenship. So assuming you get your Citizenship on Oct 1st 2020 (wish it could be sooner) then on 1st Oct 2020 if you have been retaining a passport that has been expired for 3 years i.e. since 30th Sept 2017 or earlier in that situation the penalty clause will kick in.

I haven't had such an experience but just my opinion the way I interpret the clause. Lets wait to hear from someone who has/had this situation.

Thanks @s23srinivas, what I am concerned about 1) "b) If your passport expired on or after 1 January, 2005 - C$ 343" which will be the case except my passport expired on July 29th 2020.

 

[s23srinivas]

Thanks @s23srinivas, what I am concerned about 1) "b) If your passport expired on or after 1 January, 2005 - C$ 343" which will be the case except my passport expired on July 29th 2020.

I don't think you will have to pay $343 as "b) If your passport expired on or after 1 January, 2005 - C$ 343" comes into play only when
1. Penalty for retention of Indian passport after acquiring Canadian citizenship for a period in excess of three years from the date of acquiring Canadian citizenship

Based on your passport expiry date, I believe you can surrender it once you get the Canadian passport in the next 3 years after the date of acquiring the Canadian citizenship without having to pay the penalty.

 

[ajanarth]

I don't think you will have to pay $343 as "b) If your passport expired on or after 1 January, 2005 - C$ 343" comes into play only when
1. Penalty for retention of Indian passport after acquiring Canadian citizenship for a period in excess of three years from the date of acquiring Canadian citizenship

Based on your passport expiry date, I believe you can surrender it once you get the Canadian passport in the next 3 years after the date of acquiring the Canadian citizenship without having to pay the penalty.

Thanks @s23srinivas, I hope can do that after getting Canadian passport.

 

[Perk2020]

I am confused here, so if the passport is expired we pay penalty. I have applied for citizenship in feb 2020 and received my AOR as well. My Pr card is already expired and my Indian passport is expiring in December 2020.

 

[s23srinivas]

I am confused here, so if the passport is expired we pay penalty. I have applied for citizenship in feb 2020 and received my AOR as well. My Pr card is already expired and my Indian passport is expiring in December 2020.

Please don't get confused. You don't have to pay a penalty if just your passport expires. No that's not the case.

The concern of the OP was about the penalty clause when one surrenders the Indian passport after acquiring the Canadian citizenship while having an expired Indian passport.

As a side note, an expired PR card and Indian passport does not impact your Canadian citizenship application.

 

[Perk2020]

Please don't get confused. You don't have to pay a penalty if just your passport expires. No that's not the case.

The concern of the OP was about the penalty clause when one surrenders the Indian passport after acquiring the Canadian citizenship while having an expired Indian passport.

As a side note, an expired PR card and Indian passport does not impact your Canadian citizenship application.

Thank you so much

 

[Becksterd]

Anyone know if one can surrender Indian Passport after 1 yr of becoming a citizen?

I have yet to apply for CAD passport because I am in the process of a legal name change and once it is all done, and I receive a new citizenship certificate I will apply for CAD passport. This is going to take about 5-9 months to complete which means it is past my 3 month grace period, within 3yr penalty and my passport is set to expire in 2022.

I do not want to be passportless during this time period then again I do not plan to travel anywhere due to COVID but my mother is still in India.

 

[harirajmohan]

Anyone know if one can surrender Indian Passport after 1 yr of becoming a citizen?

I have yet to apply for CAD passport because I am in the process of a legal name change and once it is all done, and I receive a new citizenship certificate I will apply for CAD passport. This is going to take about 5-9 months to complete which means it is past my 3 month grace period, within 3yr penalty and my passport is set to expire in 2022.

I do not want to be passportless during this time period then again I do not plan to travel anywhere due to COVID but my mother is still in India.

There should not be penalty due to valid reason of name change as well as you are not using the Indian passport but in worst case you may need to pay some $ as penalty but there is no restriction of 1 year(or specific time period). Even for 3+ years they talk about penalty rather than any other restriction.
https://www.blsindia-canada.com/renunciation_ppt.php#:~:text=Applicants would be required to,while surrendering their Indian passports.

 

[Becksterd]

I will contact BLS and check because it would be quite unfair to pay a penalty unnecessarily in my opinion.

 

[rackyy55]

Hi @Becksterd,
Did you get any response from BLS? I am in the same situation. My Passport is geeting expired next month in May and I am waiting to process my Citizenship Application.

 

[Becksterd]

Hi @Becksterd,
Did you get any response from BLS? I am in the same situation. My Passport is geeting expired next month in May and I am waiting to process my Citizenship Application.

you have 3 yrs to surrender Indian passport as long as it is not expired.

 

[arc_1090]

Hi,
On the online application form that's downloaded from surrender application, the photo and signature is left blank. I understand there is no upload requirement so that might have left it blank. Do we need to sign under the photo space where it says signature ?
Any help is appreciated.

 

[Panthamin]

Hi ajanarth,
Did you renew your passport before surrendering ?
i am in the same situation.My indian passport expired last week but my canadian citizenship file is almost complete. Only waiting for the oath ceremony.

please let me know.
Thank you