$250 fees penalty for renunciation?

[mrjaina]

Hello,
I finally got time to get the renunciation certificate. So I went to the travisa website thinking I just have to pay the $20 to get that. But once I started filling out the form, it also added $250 penalty. Here are my dates
Became US citizen in July 2001
Got US passport in Aug 2001
My last indian passport was issued in 1999 and hence expired in 2009.
Once I got my US passport, I never used my Indian Passport.

But I still got tagged with the $250 penalty. They rule they say is " If the most recent Indian passport is retained for more than 3 years after acquisition of citizenship of another country, a penalty of $250.00 will be automatically calculated as a part of the Order Form except where the most recent Indian passport expired before January 1, 2005 or where the most recent Indian passport shows a 'Cancelled' stamp. In addition, a penalty of $250.00 will be charged for each case of misuse of the Indian passport for travel after 3 months of acquisition of citizenship of another country subject to a maximum penalty of $1250.00."

This is not right. The rule did not exist (or I did not know) about it till 2009. So how would I have known to get the renunciation done?

Any help?

[milli]

Surrendering the indian passport(getting it cancelled) was always there once you acquired citizenship in another country. It was not enforced and it used to be $20. I believe they increased the fees and added penalty last year. At least you can be happy that you are paying the old fee of $25 instead of current $175 fee.

[BlueBlood]

Cancellation of Indian Passport

Surrendering the indian passport(getting it cancelled) was always there once you acquired citizenship in another country. It was not enforced and it used to be $20. I believe they increased the fees and added penalty last year. At least you can be happy that you are paying the old fee of $25 instead of current $175 fee.

I have obtained my Portuguese Citizenship on 14th November 2011 - I have not yet applied for the passport which I intend to do between March or June 2012... From when do the Penalty Fees Starts? How long do I have to cancel my Indian Passport? Is it from the time of acquiring the citizenship or from the date the Passport is Issued? I am a bit confused between this - would appreciate a clarification. Thanks for the input!!!

[milli]

I have obtained my Portuguese Citizenship on 14th November 2011 - I have not yet applied for the passport which I intend to do between March or June 2012... From when do the Penalty Fees Starts? How long do I have to cancel my Indian Passport? Is it from the time of acquiring the citizenship or from the date the Passport is Issued? I am a bit confused between this - would appreciate a clarification. Thanks for the input!!!

You should do it within 3 years as long as your don't travel. If you plan to travel you have to do it within 3 months. Otherwise there is penalty of $250 for each misuse to the maximum of $1250.

[BlueBlood]

You should do it within 3 years as long as your don't travel. If you plan to travel you have to do it within 3 months. Otherwise there is penalty of $250 for each misuse to the maximum of $1250.

THANKS!

Thank you very much for your quick response... Very much appreciated..

Acquisition of Citizenship or Acquisition of that Country's Passport - Is it considered the same? So if my Nationality was granted in November 2011 - Does my 3 Months Period elapse in Feb 2012 OR Will it elapse 3 months later upon obtaining my Portuguese Passport?? I have not yet claimed for the Portuguese Passport which I intend to do in June 2012.

I know I am repeating my question but looking for a little more elaborated clarification

Sorry Buddy!!

Thanks

[BlueBlood]

Thanks!!

THANKS!

Thank you very much for your quick response... Very much appreciated..

Acquisition of Citizenship or Acquisition of that Country's Passport - Is it considered the same? So if my Nationality was granted in November 2011 - Does my 3 Months Period elapse in Feb 2012 OR Will it elapse 3 months later upon obtaining my Portuguese Passport?? I have not yet claimed for the Portuguese Passport which I intend to do in June 2012.

I know I am repeating my question but looking for a little more elaborated clarification

Sorry Buddy!!

Thanks

Thanks for the clarification....

[efacar967]

Portuguese Citizenship

Just a quick question. My application for registration of my Portuguese birth is already submitted to Portugal. I am expecting this to be done anytime now. My question is,

1. When my birth is registered and I don't apply for a Portuguese passport, do I still have to give up my Indian Passport ?

2. Can I still travel to India on my Indian passport after my birth is registered in Portugal ? Do I have to declare this ?

3. When I decide to apply for the Portuguese passport, hopefully at the end of 2012, then what do I have to do to surrender my Indian passport and how do I apply for the OCI ?

Thanks

[goenkar]

Just a quick question. My application for registration of my Portuguese birth is already submitted to Portugal. I am expecting this to be done anytime now. My question is,

1. When my birth is registered and I don't apply for a Portuguese passport, do I still have to give up my Indian Passport ?

2. Can I still travel to India on my Indian passport after my birth is registered in Portugal ? Do I have to declare this ?

3. When I decide to apply for the Portuguese passport, hopefully at the end of 2012, then what do I have to do to surrender my Indian passport and how do I apply for the OCI ?

Thanks

1. You only become Portuguese citizen once you get your BI. You are Indian citizen till then. No, you don't have to give up your Indian Passport as you are not eligible for Portuguese Passport till you have BI.

2. Yes, you HAVE to travel on Indian Passport as you are not eligible for Portuguese Passport till you have BI. No, you do not have to declare this as you are still Indian Citizen.

3. a) If you apply for the Portuguese Passport in India (Goa / Delhi) you can go to Lisbon, London, etc. surrender your Indian Passport (pay fine eqv to INR 7000) and apply for OCI at High Commission there. You compulsorily have to surrender your Indian Passport.

b) if you have BI in India you can apply for Portuguese visa, go to Lisbon for passport and there
surrender your Indian Passport (pay fine eqv to INR 7000) and apply for OCI at Indian Embassy there. You compulsorily have to surrender your Indian Passport.

c) if you go to Portugal to obtain BI and passport there, after that surrender your Indian Passport (pay fine eqv to INR 7000) and apply for OCI at Indian Embassy there. You compulsorily have to surrender your Indian Passport.

[efacar967]

Thank you so very much for your helpful advice

1. You only become Portuguese citizen once you get your BI. You are Indian citizen till then. No, you don't have to give up your Indian Passport as you are not eligible for Portuguese Passport till you have BI.

2. Yes, you HAVE to travel on Indian Passport as you are not eligible for Portuguese Passport till you have BI. No, you do not have to declare this as you are still Indian Citizen.

3. a) If you apply for the Portuguese Passport in India (Goa / Delhi) you can go to Lisbon, London, etc. surrender your Indian Passport (pay fine eqv to INR 7000) and apply for OCI at High Commission there. You compulsorily have to surrender your Indian Passport.

b) if you have BI in India you can apply for Portuguese visa, go to Lisbon for passport and there
surrender your Indian Passport (pay fine eqv to INR 7000) and apply for OCI at Indian Embassy there. You compulsorily have to surrender your Indian Passport.

c) if you go to Portugal to obtain BI and passport there, after that surrender your Indian Passport (pay fine eqv to INR 7000) and apply for OCI at Indian Embassy there. You compulsorily have to surrender your Indian Passport.

Thank you Goenkar for your very helpful reply

[sando]

Holdin two passports,indian -portugese

Kudos to goenkar for prompt info and reply
if i travel to portugal on indian passport,onward journey to another country on portugese passport,finnish my work,return to portugal onportugese pp,then return to india on indian passport,will i get penalized.is there some internal system indian authorities,detect travel history on foreign passports?
In this manner can i avoid oci
i know i wud need to travel via portugal for every onward journey with portugese visa

[ravi_niu]

Kudos to goenkar for prompt info and reply
if i travel to portugal on indian passport,onward journey to another country on portugese passport,finnish my work,return to portugal onportugese pp,then return to india on indian passport,will i get penalized.is there some internal system indian authorities,detect travel history on foreign passports?
In this manner can i avoid oci
i know i wud need to travel via portugal for every onward journey with portugese visa

What you are suggesting is illegal. How are you living in India on an Indian passport and also having portugese citizenship/passport. You should have renounced Indian citizenship as soon as you got your Portuguese citizenship/passport.

also you can apply for your Portuguese passport in India, get it and also apply for OCI right in India from the FRRO. You can also renounce there according to my understanding. I have not seen anyone on the threads doing what you are suggesting though.

If you already hold Portuguese passport and residing in India without renouncing your citizenship that is punishable by law. Anyways check with your nearest FRRO in India