OCI process

[thecoolguysam]

Hi, yes i read this article.
Could you please explain whats my best option here.
1. Can i visit India on my indian passport after i get my citizenship certificate but still not having applied for a canadian passport?
2. If i stay and apply for a canadian passport and get an indian tourist visa, could i still retain the indian passport without using it and return it after coming back from my trip?

Thanks.

1. Yes, there is three month grace period as per BLS website. I still doubt this. It's better to get in touch with Indian consulate to confirm. Because in case if you travel using indian passport and once you renounce indian citizenship, they will check the stamps of india visit and date of your citizenship certificate and it may create issues. Even if you enter india using indian passport, how would you return to Canada? Would you apply canadian passport in India? What if the immigration people find that you entered india using indian passport and returning to Canada using Canadian passport(it won't have Indian entry stamp on it) and it may create issues.

2. When you get canadian passport, you can't get Indian visa until you renounce your India Citizenship. As your birth city, country would be Indian and they will ask you for renunciation certification anyway. They will need to see the renounciation/surrender certificate in order to apply for visa. When you renounce indian citizenship, your passport gets cancelled and is returned to you and a letter will be issued that you have renounced the Indian citizenship.

Renouncing usually takes couple of weeks i think but check bls website to ensure that accurate processing times.

 

[thecoolguysam]

i applied for renunciation and oci together on 15th of this month. i have not heard back anything from bls or consulate.

The whole process takes 2 to 3 months. Renunciation takes less time however OCI takes 2 to 3 months

 

[amitdi]

In short, the period between oath and OCI/Indian visa is a "no fly to India" period. It will be 6-12 week period depending on of you apply for visa or OCI.

Does this theory make sense?

1. Yes, there is three month grace period as per BLS website. I still doubt this. It's better to get in touch with Indian consulate to confirm. Because in case if you travel using indian passport and once you renounce indian citizenship, they will check the stamps of india visit and date of your citizenship certificate and it may create issues. Even if you enter india using indian passport, how would you return to Canada? Would you apply canadian passport in India? What if the immigration people find that you entered india using indian passport and returning to Canada using Canadian passport(it won't have Indian entry stamp on it) and it may create issues.

2. When you get canadian passport, you can't get Indian visa until you renounce your India Citizenship. As your birth city, country would be Indian and they will ask you for renunciation certification anyway. They will need to see the renounciation/surrender certificate in order to apply for visa. When you renounce indian citizenship, your passport gets cancelled and is returned to you and a letter will be issued that you have renounced the Indian citizenship.

Renouncing usually takes couple of weeks i think but check bls website to ensure that accurate processing times.

Does evisa also need Indian passport surrender?

 

[thecoolguysam]

In short, the period between oath and OCI/Indian visa is a "no fly to India" period. It will be 6-12 week period depending on of you apply for visa or OCI.

Does this theory make sense?



Does evisa also need Indian passport surrender?

As per BLS website, it says 3 months grace period. It does not state the details and I assume that it's safe to fly to India from the date of getting citizenship of Canada not the date of issue of Canadian passport. I guess the best bet would be to contact indian consulate to confirm the details.
I am not too sure about e-visa but i think the rule applies to e-visa as well.
By the way, why does someone need to go through issues. Let's follow the process and all will be fine.

This is what the website states:

1. There is a grace period of three months after acquisition of foreign nationality (to be counted from the date of registration / Naturalisation Certificate and not from the date of foreign passport) for using Indian passport for travel.

 

[amitdi]

By the way, why does someone need to go through issues. Let's follow the process and all will be fine.

Exactly what I said, consider the 6-12 week period between oath and Indian visa to be no fly to India period. Either make a trip before the oath OR wait till you have the Indian visa in hand.

 

[sajc]

In short, the period between oath and OCI/Indian visa is a "no fly to India" period. It will be 6-12 week period depending on of you apply for visa or OCI.

Does this theory make sense?



Does evisa also need Indian passport surrender?

Not entirely true. I would say no fly time is around 4 weeks max. You will get your surrender ceritificate in less than 2 weeks if you apply for it the day you got your citizenship certificate. You should also get your Canadian passport during the same period if you apply asap as your r eligible. E-Visa takes 24hrs. So in total you can travel in 3 weeks after you get your citizenship.

 

[thecoolguysam]

Not entirely true. I would say no fly time is around 4 weeks max. You will get your surrender ceritificate in less than 2 weeks if you apply for it the day you got your citizenship certificate. You should also get your Canadian passport during the same period if you apply asap as your r eligible. E-Visa takes 24hrs. So in total you can travel in 3 weeks after you get your citizenship.

I think he was referring to "OCI" processing times which could be up to 12 weeks.

 

[sajc]

I think he was referring to "OCI" processing times which could be up to 12 weeks.

yeh if it is OCI then yes but he was referring to "India Visa" so wanted to clarify.

 

[sajc]

In short, the period between oath and OCI/Indian visa is a "no fly to India" period. It will be 6-12 week period depending on of you apply for visa or OCI.

Does this theory make sense?



Does evisa also need Indian passport surrender?

E visa does not ask for surrender certificate.. yet. all other visas need it.

 

[bjsk]

i received the acknowledge for the declaration of renunciation of citizenship of india on last friday. it is just a print out out and stamped. The consulate printed out on a wrinkled paper, and folded it and kept in the passport. Anyway, i got it in 16 days.

 

[sajc]

i received the acknowledge for the declaration of renunciation of citizenship of india on last friday. it is just a print out out and stamped. The consulate printed out on a wrinkled paper, and folded it and kept in the passport. Anyway, i got it in 16 days.

lol yeh thats the one . keep it safe.

 

[amitdi]

yeh if it is OCI then yes but he was referring to "India Visa" so wanted to clarify.

I was referring to tourist visa.

 

[amitdi]

Here is summary what I gathered.

eVisa -
1) Apply Canada passport - 2 weeks
2) Apply eVisa - 24 hours (and needs to be applied 4 days before flying, so say 1 week)
3) After coming back, surrender Indian passport and apply OCI if you want.
Total - 3 weeks before flying + buffer
Trip has to be less than 60 days.

Tourist Visa -
1) Apply Canada passport - 2 weeks
2) Surrender Indian passport - 2 weeks (simultaneously to step 1)
3) Apply Indian tourist visa - 2 weeks
Total - 4 weeks before flying + buffer

OCI -
1) Apply Canada passport - 2 weeks
2) Surrender Indian passport - 2 weeks (simultaneously to step 1)
3) Apply OCI - 8 weeks
Total - 10 weeks before flying + buffer

Add buffers between processing, so if you have 3-4 months, go for OCI. Anything less than that, your options are eVisa (if trip is less than 60 days) or tourist visa.

 

[thecoolguysam]

Here is summary what I gathered.

eVisa -
1) Apply Canada passport - 2 weeks
2) Apply eVisa - 24 hours (and needs to be applied 4 days before flying, so say 1 week)
3) After coming back, surrender Indian passport and apply OCI if you want.
Total - 3 weeks before flying + buffer
Trip has to be less than 60 days.

Tourist Visa -
1) Apply Canada passport - 2 weeks
2) Surrender Indian passport - 2 weeks (simultaneously to step 1)
3) Apply Indian tourist visa - 2 weeks
Total - 4 weeks before flying + buffer

OCI -
1) Apply Canada passport - 2 weeks
2) Surrender Indian passport - 2 weeks (simultaneously to step 1)
3) Apply OCI - 8 weeks
Total - 10 weeks before flying + buffer

Add buffers between processing, so if you have 3-4 months, go for OCI. Anything less than that, your options are eVisa (if trip is less than 60 days) or tourist visa.

On top of that a person can apply for urgent Candian passport ($110 fee) which can be obtained by end of next business day or express pickup (2-9 business days)($50).
I think i got mine in couple of days as I applied for express.

 

[sajc]

Here is summary what I gathered.

eVisa -
1) Apply Canada passport - 2 weeks
2) Apply eVisa - 24 hours (and needs to be applied 4 days before flying, so say 1 week)
3) After coming back, surrender Indian passport and apply OCI if you want.
Total - 3 weeks before flying + buffer
Trip has to be less than 60 days.

Tourist Visa -
1) Apply Canada passport - 2 weeks
2) Surrender Indian passport - 2 weeks (simultaneously to step 1)
3) Apply Indian tourist visa - 2 weeks
Total - 4 weeks before flying + buffer

OCI -
1) Apply Canada passport - 2 weeks
2) Surrender Indian passport - 2 weeks (simultaneously to step 1)
3) Apply OCI - 8 weeks
Total - 10 weeks before flying + buffer

Add buffers between processing, so if you have 3-4 months, go for OCI. Anything less than that, your options are eVisa (if trip is less than 60 days) or tourist visa.

Very nice. Small correction with regards to "2) Apply eVisa - 24 hours (and needs to be applied 4 days before flying, so say 1 week)". You can apply evisa any time, its just that they will give the visa starting 24-36hrs from the application date. So yes, to maximise the stay, applying 4 days before is recommended.