Hello folks,
Need some help. We have received oath ceremony details but we have our travel plans to India end of this month. Can we attend the oath ceremony and then travel to India with our current Indian passport?
Once you are done taking oath, you are no longer an Indian Citizen because of automatic loss of citizenship in the Indian Citizenship Act 1955. You will have lost your entitlement to use your Indian passport from the time you take your oath. You can wait for your certificate to arrive and apply for a passport urgently based on your existing tickets (1-2 days + $$$)
If you are travelling for a short stay, you can apply for an e-visa (very quick turnaround). Else, you will need to apply for a regular entry visa (check processing time). You may apply for e-visa or regular visa before surrendering your Indian Passport at the High Commission or Consulate in Canada
However, if you are travelling to India permanently: DO NOT travel back to India on an Canadian passport and e-visa. You will not be able to apply for OCI from within India. In this case, make sure you plan so that you are able to surrender your Indian Passport and apply for an entry Visa at a BLS centre in Canada before you leave for India. With an entry visa, you will be able to extend your stay in India with Indefinite Leave to Remain once you apply to register as an Overseas Citizen of India
It is highly recommended that you not postpone your oath. However, depending on your case if you are unable to complete all the step above, write to CIC once you get the oath invite and request to postpone your oath... and give them a concrete plan with Itinerary of when you will be back and available for oath or they are going to shelve your application forever
Note: You need to be on Canadian soil to take your oath