May 2010 may not have been a month to remember, especially if you or your parents of Indian origin were seeking a VISA to visit India or some sort of consular services.
On May 7th, 2010 the following rule was made public through postings on Consulate General Of India websites and the Travel VISA agencies servicing the consulates.
The rule states that any person of Indian origin seeking consular services for must provide a surrender certificate and a canceled Indian Passport and if both were not available to make an application with a fee for $175 for the same before availing the service.
To say the least there was utter confusion as the rule was slammed on your face without any preparation on the part of the consulates and the visa outsourcing agency. There were several questions that were left unanswered. People were made to run from pillar to post to gather their records, fill out unapproved forms and muster the money. The next few days and weeks witnessed an act of gouging that the Government of India had indulged itself in.
This incorrigible act on part of the Government of India put many of her erstwhile citizens to great hardship. To voice the protests of the affected and to be affected Indian diaspora several online petitions were posted.
Representations by organizations like GOPIO International helped the fight the rule and resulted in the following statements from the CGI offices in the USA posted on June 1, 2010.
Extract from CGI New York, website:
http://indiacgny.org/php/showHighLightDet.php?h_id=144&key
Fees for Obtaining Surrender / Renunciation Certificate Waived In view of a large number of representations received from Persons of Indian Origin, it has been decided that the fees for obtaining Renunciation/Surrender Certificate from applicants who have acquired US citizenships before June 1, 2010 will be waived. However, a miscellaneous service fee of US$ 20/- will be charged for surrender of passport for cancellation. No penalties will be charged. Already decided cases will, however, not be reopened. Indian passport holders who acquire US/foreign citizenships on or after June 1, 2010 will, however, be required to pay the fees of US$ 175/- for obtaining Renunciation/Surrender certificate.
CGI San Francisco
Renunciation of Indian Citizenship and 'Surrender Certificate' Indian citizens acquiring US (foreign) citizenship and renouncing Indian citizenship are required to surrender their Indian passports and obtain a “Surrender Certificate” which is issued by the Consulate. The charges for obtaining this service is US$20/- for those acquiring US citizenship upto 31.05.2010 and thereafter it is US$ 175/- for those acquiring US citizenship on or after 01.06.2010. These passports are cancelled and returned to the passport holder for future reference.
CGI Chicago
Please note that if you have acquired US (foreign) Citizenship on or before 31 May 2010 and if you have "Cancelled" stamp on your Indian passport, then there is a no requirement of acquiring "Surrender Certificate". If you do not have a cancelled stamp on Indian passport then you need to get the "Surrender Certificate". However fees for that is US$ 20 only. However US (foreign) citizens of Indian origin who naturalized on or after 1 June 2010, they have to follow the above-mentioned procedure with requisite fees of US$ 175/- for "Renunciation and Surrender Certificate".
http://indiacgny.org/php/showHighLightDet.php?h_id=144&key
Fees for Obtaining Surrender / Renunciation Certificate Waived In view of a large number of representations received from Persons of Indian Origin, it has been decided that the fees for obtaining Renunciation/Surrender Certificate from applicants who have acquired US citizenships before June 1, 2010 will be waived. However, a miscellaneous service fee of US$ 20/- will be charged for surrender of passport for cancellation. No penalties will be charged. Already decided cases will, however, not be reopened. Indian passport holders who acquire US/foreign citizenships on or after June 1, 2010 will, however, be required to pay the fees of US$ 175/- for obtaining Renunciation/Surrender certificate.
CGI San Francisco
Renunciation of Indian Citizenship and 'Surrender Certificate' Indian citizens acquiring US (foreign) citizenship and renouncing Indian citizenship are required to surrender their Indian passports and obtain a “Surrender Certificate” which is issued by the Consulate. The charges for obtaining this service is US$20/- for those acquiring US citizenship upto 31.05.2010 and thereafter it is US$ 175/- for those acquiring US citizenship on or after 01.06.2010. These passports are cancelled and returned to the passport holder for future reference.
CGI Chicago
Please note that if you have acquired US (foreign) Citizenship on or before 31 May 2010 and if you have "Cancelled" stamp on your Indian passport, then there is a no requirement of acquiring "Surrender Certificate". If you do not have a cancelled stamp on Indian passport then you need to get the "Surrender Certificate". However fees for that is US$ 20 only. However US (foreign) citizens of Indian origin who naturalized on or after 1 June 2010, they have to follow the above-mentioned procedure with requisite fees of US$ 175/- for "Renunciation and Surrender Certificate".
However, while the reduced fee announcement has been published, what is unclear is, will those who have paid $175 to obtain a surrender certificate between May 7th and May 28th be refunded $155 ($175 - $20). If you are one who has been affected by this act of the Government of India and its Embassies you are encouraged to request for a refund by sending an email to the Ambassador of India in your country. By not refunding your money the Government of India is penalizing you for abiding by the rules.
Click here for a sample of the email that you can write to the Ambassador of India. Please mark a copy of the email to gopio-intl@sbcglobal.net
Spread this to your friends who you know may have been affected.
Lets unite for a cause. Lets correct what is unjust.
~ RenouncedIndian
Thousands of people paid the $175 fee one day before in the special camp, waiting in lines for 7 to 8 hours without food and water. People did not even have the choice to react as penalties would kick in if we did not act quickly.
ReplyDeleteI hope several people would see this and send the request for the $155 refund.
Charging a higher rate because we complied with the law sooner than later is ABSURD.
Can i suggest that someone create an electronic petition as well, just so we all know collectively how many thousands are impacted due to this.
The Indo-American Associations Representatives met in Houston on June 4th. The Indian Cultural Center (ICC), which is the umbrella organization in Houston, is drafting a letter to the PMO, Principal Secretary, Ambassador & CGI Houston. The letter will address the follwing—
ReplyDelete- NRI Community needs to be included in decision making process
- Post June 1st 2010 fees of 175$ to future citizens is discriminatory. It needs to be the same 20$ processing fee
- 90 days window is short. People are already travelling on vacations & 180 days may be a reasonable window.
- Request for fees charged prior to May 31st to be refunded.
- Transparency in rules for loss of passports & notarization documents.
- Reasonable cause & waiver in emergency conditions.
All organizations will sign in.
If you are from another city please encourage your associations to take similar actions and collaborate with the ICC, if needed, to strengthen the case and raise a voice in unison. The ICC website is http://www.icchouston.org
Best Wishes!