Old indian passports not in possession

[immihelp]

Hello there,

This is regarding applying for PIO cards for my infant twins who are just 3 months old. I and my wife are US Citizens with valid PIO cards .

While filling out the forms for the PIO cards there was a mention of our old passport numbers. Well, at the time of taking the oath of US Citizenship, we were asked to surrender our Indian passports. I am of the understanding that we should now get Surrender Certificates.

There is a mention on your website about people who DO NOT possess their old INDIAN passports CANNOT apply for one in order to cancel it NOR can they apply for Surrender Certificates? Are you saying it is end of the road for my infants as far as going back to India is concerned? That will be the most ludicrous thing if I have ever heard of one.

It has been years since I got my PIO card and I have no clue where my expired INDIAN passports are. What are my options?

Your reply is urgently requested to this vexing problem.

[immihelp]

That just means such people have to provide some other proof instead. Read /indian-citizenship-renunciation-certificate/

[J_RS]

Lost Indian passport

My wife is in similar situation. She migrated to USA in 1969 and became US citizen in 1985. Her Indian passport was in possession of her parents who both are deceased and we do not know where her Indian passport is? She has applied for OCI card back in July this year and Indian Embassy in Washington DC returned her application saying that she needs Surrender Certificate. She applied for Surrender Certificate but without Indian passport, Embassy did not issue Surrender Certificate. She has included her Birth Certificate, School Leaving Certificate, police report for lost/misplaced Indian passport and Marriage Certificate since her maiden name was different than married name with OCI application. But Indian Embassy did not look at other supporting documents which clearly proved that she is born in India and thus person of Indian Origin! So I am also interested to know why Embassy returned her OCI application where their website clearly stated that there is no penalty for misplaced or lost Indian passport and provide other documents like birth certificate, school leaving certificate?