Need to travel to India immediately after Citizenship Oath

[Donvalley]

My remarks were directed to Donvalley poster: "Please don't travel to India while holding a second passport, no matter foreign or Indian. Possessing another passport is considered a serious criminal offense in India and will straightly end up in prison." <<< This is very much a fear mongering attitude of a sales person

I am not a fear mongerer nor a sales person. I don't want to scare or frighten anyone. I just raised a flag to alert someone about a potential danger ahead. What I said is 100% true. We read this issue many times in Indian Newspapers and other media. If you travel to India with a second passport (either one or both Indian, valid) they will detain you period. It is a criminal offense. Punishable by either 2 or 5 years prison term with or without penalty. If you don't know this please do more research but don't call people names in ignorance. That is not good always especially online. Because you don't know "who is who". Also don't push people into trouble by giving your wishful thinking. That ignorant attitude is much dangerous than giving a warning ahead.

I wish I can fill each of my pockets with one or two passport too, like Pakistan and many other countries but unfortunately they don't allow it in India. I believe this or similar regulations are true in China and Saudi Arabia too.

Check my previous post to see what the grace period is for and other passport issues too.

 

[Felixo]

I am not a fear mongerer nor a sales person. I don't want to scare or frighten anyone. I just raised a flag to alert someone about a potential danger ahead. What I said is 100% true. We read this issue many times in Indian Newspapers and other media. If you travel to India with a second passport (either one or both Indian, valid) they will detain you period. It is a criminal offense. Punishable by either 2 or 5 years prison term with or without penalty. If you don't know this please do more research but don't call people names in ignorance. That is not good always especially online. Because you don't know "who is who". Also don't push people into trouble by giving your wishful thinking. That ignorant attitude is much dangerous than giving a warning ahead.

I wish I can fill each of my pockets with one or two passport too, like Pakistan and many other countries but unfortunately they don't allow it in India. I believe this or similar regulations are true in China and Saudi Arabia too.

Check my previous post to see what the grace period is for and other passport issues too.

You are right, Donvalley. I am an Indian and what you said is absolutely correct.

Donvalley, I had a quick question for you. It is actually not related to the topic. Let me know if you have any idea regarding the maximum percentage a OCI card holder can have in a business in India. I have heard some saying it is 49% while others saying I can fully own it... let me know if you have any idea regarding the same.

 

[xenon]

You are right, Donvalley. I am an Indian and what you said is absolutely correct.

Donvalley, I had a quick question for you. It is actually not related to the topic. Let me know if you have any idea regarding the maximum percentage a OCI card holder can have in a business in India. I have heard some saying it is 49% while others saying I can fully own it... let me know if you have any idea regarding the same.

you have most rights as an Indian citizen with the exception of voting, applying to government positions or standing in an election. The only industry you cannot invest in is agriculture and one other. Check this link for details:

http://www.immihelp.com/nri/overseascitizenshipindia/

 

[Donvalley]

Thank you for the clarification Felixo

Regarding your question:
Sorry to say that I don't have any specific knowledge on the subject at present. It all depends on what and where you are going to do/invest. One thing I am sure is that OCIs are considered parity with NRIs in economic, financial and educational fields except in matters relating to acquisition of agricultural/plantation properties.

You can find almost everything here: http://moia.gov.in/pdf/foreign_direct_investments.pdf

or full link here: http://moia.gov.in/services.aspx?id1=199&idp=199&mainid=196

There is a dedicated website from Govt of India to promote business investment. It is here:

Business Knowledge Source : http://business.gov.in/default.php

In the mean time I will try to find out with some OCIs already doing some business operations in India.

 

[Donvalley]

Just a follow up note for the Indian PP post, if it helps/interested to anyone.

1) Persons who acquire another citizenship lose Indian citizenship from the date on which they acquire that citizenship or another country's passport.

3) In conformity with Article 9 of Indian Constitution, the Act does not allow dual citizenship. Under Section 12 of the Act, a person must surrender his passport if he has acquired the citizenship of foreign country.

2) As India doesn't support dual citizenship and persons holding Indian passport must surrender their passport within 90 days of acquiring other country citizenship. This clause is printed inside every passport last page.
See here: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/2/20/IndianPassport-Dual-Citizenship.jpg

A similar discussion here: http://www.immihelp.com/nri/indianpassport/guidelines.html
Go to last three points and you will notice what I said is 100% true.

Grace period:
This is subject to the qualification that there is a period of grace. To give credit where it is due, the Indian authorities are being reasonable about this, and understand that a newly naturalized foreign citizen cannot instantly acquire a foreign passport. This grace period is to accommodate travel needs in urgency using Indian PP before acquiring the new travel documents PP Visa etc. i.e. in essence to avoid the "state of statelessness".

 

[catchvb]

Step 1.> Get emergency Canadian Passport (1days service)
Step 2.> Go to Indian Consulate in person and get emergency service(same day).
Now you can visit India as foreigner with no issue.

If tried to enter India with Indian passport you will be in trouble. They will find it out when you will try to exit India using Canadian passport with India visa stamped or while entering they might ask for PR card or on later date when you apply for POI/OCI .

Surrender Certificate: You NEED surrender certificate only IF you want to apply for PIO or OCI. So in your case you can apply it once you are back from India or apply same day in consulate and explain them your situation. They will issue you Visa and your surrender certificate will be in process.

One of friend did the same and everything was good.

Other case you can defer your oath date. Normally 3-4 weeks later.

 

[Felixo]

Thank you for the clarification Felixo

Regarding your question:
Sorry to say that I don't have any specific knowledge on the subject at present. It all depends on what and where you are going to do/invest. One thing I am sure is that OCIs are considered parity with NRIs in economic, financial and educational fields except in matters relating to acquisition of agricultural/plantation properties.

You can find almost everything here: http://moia.gov.in/pdf/foreign_direct_investments.pdf

or full link here: http://moia.gov.in/services.aspx?id1=199&idp=199&mainid=196

There is a dedicated website from Govt of India to promote business investment. It is here:

Business Knowledge Source : http://business.gov.in/default.php

In the mean time I will try to find out with some OCIs already doing some business operations in India.

Thanks for your detailed reply, Donvalley
Appreciate your time.

 

[Felixo]

you have most rights as an Indian citizen with the exception of voting, applying to government positions or standing in an election. The only industry you cannot invest in is agriculture and one other. Check this link for details:

http://www.immihelp.com/nri/overseascitizenshipindia/

Thanks Xenon

 

[Felixo]

Step 1.> Get emergency Canadian Passport (1days service)
Step 2.> Go to Indian Consulate in person and get emergency service(same day).
Now you can visit India as foreigner with no issue.

If tried to enter India with Indian passport you will be in trouble. They will find it out when you will try to exit India using Canadian passport with India visa stamped or while entering they might ask for PR card or on later date when you apply for POI/OCI .

Surrender Certificate: You NEED surrender certificate only IF you want to apply for PIO or OCI. So in your case you can apply it once you are back from India or apply same day in consulate and explain them your situation. They will issue you Visa and your surrender certificate will be in process.

One of friend did the same and everything was good.

Other case you can defer your oath date. Normally 3-4 weeks later.

Yes thatz true, you can apply for Surrender certificate and go to India as it is not required. In case you have it you can apply for OCI and leave. Once you are back you need to take your passport to BLS confirming if the process is complete and I was told that they'll stick a OCI sticker on your passport.