IMPORTANT : New Canadian Citizens visiting India for the first time...
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I am currently visiting India on a Canadian passport after having acquired my citizenship in early 2005. I am an OCI, my six month old Canadian born daughter is a PIO and my wife is a PR.
During immigration at Mumbai Airport, the officer asked me to produce my old Indian passport, as I was visiting India for the first time as a Canadian. I was not carrying my cancelled Indian passports because to the best of my knowledge, there is no such requirement.
Anyhow, the officer said that this was the requirement and he could send me back or that I would have to meet his superior (wink-wink, nudge-nudge) to plead my case. At the same time, he said that since I was traveling with my family, he would let me through. I did not want to get into an argument over the requirement to carry the old Indian passports just to prove a point (since he had agreed to let me through) so I thanked him for his "generosity" and quietly slipped away.
Let this be a warning to all CD members who are traveling on Canadian passports for the first time to carry your old Indian passports. Even if you are an OCI or PIO that will not carry any weight if you run into the wrong officer or if it is not your day.
Cheers,
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freakoutguy
Senior Desi
Member since: Sep 06
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Posts: 666
Location: GTA
 29-12-06 02:00:45
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desi in ottawa
Senior Desi
Member since: May 04
Posts: 1627
Location:
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Strange.
Two yrs back I flew to Mumbai with a new canadian passport (one week old) and Indian tourist visa stamped. Though I was carrying the old Indian passport, no one asked me abt it. Since its not a requirement, I did not show. I think its just the official who wanted to get something out of you. Hope u did not pay anything.
DIO
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29-12-06 08:23:20 |
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BlueLobster
Admin :Moderator:
Member since: Oct 02
Posts: 3409
Location: Mississauga
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That's good information, thanks dude!
I asked at the Indian consulate in Toronto regarding this and the response was that the customs officers generally don't ask for it however it "may be safe" to carry it regardless, just in case.
I have yet to see anything anywhere that states such a requirement but whatever! When you're standing in that line at the Indian port, you have neither the inclination nor the power to argue.
On a related note, the Indian consulate in TO has been bashed several times on the forum by different people for inefficiencies and chaos. I'm not denying that, but for the record, my experience was sans problems. Got my visa by mail within 10 working days, although its a good idea to apply at least a month in advance if possible. Matter of fact, I like the idea of getting this done via mail rather than wasting a whole day at the consulate.
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29-12-06 17:38:38 |
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chandresh
Senior Desi
Member since: Mar 03
Posts: 2605
Location: Toronto
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While I would agree that Indian government officers, much like US immigration officers, are notorious for creating problems for you specially in situations where you can easily be cornered, such cases are more person related than anything other than that. Such officers will somehow or the other will always create problem for travellers even if you have everything with you. If they do not find anything else, they can even go to the extent of saying that your face does not resemble the photo on the passport, especially if the passport is more than 3 years or so old! So in general , you can NEVER be fully prepared for their questions.
As it is said, the biggest of the fools in this world can sometimes ask questions which the wisest of people cannot find the absolutely satisfying or correct reply to.
Chandresh
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Chandresh
Advice is free – lessons I charge for!!
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30-12-06 12:50:47 |
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freakoutguy
Senior Desi
Member since: Sep 06
Posts: 666
Location: GTA
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Quote:
Originally posted by BlueLobster
I asked at the Indian consulate in Toronto regarding this and the response was that the customs officers generally don't ask for it however it "may be safe" to carry it regardless, just in case.
I have yet to see anything anywhere that states such a requirement but whatever! When you're standing in that line at the Indian port, you have neither the inclination nor the power to argue.
My cousin travelled to Mumbai on a Canadian passport for the first time, a week before I did and he was never asked for his old Indian passports. So, I guess, it all depends on the officer and your luck
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31-12-06 02:06:42 |
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rajcanada
Admin
Member since: Jul 03
Posts: 2713
Location: Kitchener, ON
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Quote:
Originally posted by desi in ottawa
Strange.
Two yrs back I flew to Mumbai with a new canadian passport (one week old) and Indian tourist visa stamped. Though I was carrying the old Indian passport, no one asked me abt it. Since its not a requirement, I did not show. I think its just the official who wanted to get something out of you. Hope u did not pay anything.
DIO
With PIO/OCI card, you do not have to get a visa for travel to India. There is no visa stamped on your Canadian passport for PIO.
If you do not have one of the cards, then you have to get a visa that is stamped on your Canadian passport. May be that is causing the officer for wanting to see Indian passport?
They should know that not every PIO/OCI would have an Indian passport (for example, children born in Canada to parents immigrated from India).
For the fee they charge, they can give out a much better looking PIO/OCI card with additional security features. They give out a handwritten laminated card with hardly any security features that is called PIO card.
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Last edited by: rajcanada on 15-08-07 19:04:59 |
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01-01-07 07:47:49 |
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Charlie
Senior Desi
Member since: Apr 05
Posts: 538
Location: Canada
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Quote:
Originally posted by chandresh
As it is said, the biggest of the fools in this world can sometimes ask questions which the wisest of people cannot find the absolutely satisfying or correct reply to.
Chandresh
Well Said
Various example exists here 
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01-01-07 11:18:24 |
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freakoutguy
Senior Desi
Member since: Sep 06
Posts: 666
Location: GTA
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Quote:
With PIO/OCI card, you do not have to get a visa for travel to India. There is nothing stamped on your Canadian passport.
If you do not have one of the cards, then you have to get a visa that is stamped on your Canadian passport.May be that is causing the officer for wanting to see Indian passport?
They should know that not every PIO/OCI would have an Indian passport (for example, children born in Canada to parents immigrated from India).
For the fee they charge (around C$421), they can give out a much better looking PIO/OCI card with additional security features. Now, they give out a handwritten laminated card with hardly any security features.
If you are an OCI, they stamp a lifelong visa on your Canadian passport in addition to the OCI booklet (like a mini-passport)
If you are a PIO, they do not stamp any visa on the passport, so you have to carry the PIO booklet.
They are not handing out any laminated cards for the PIO/OCI holders.
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02-01-07 12:06:16 |
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seenappa
Senior Desi
Member since: May 03
Posts: 254
Location: Brampton
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If you are an OCI, they stamp a lifelong visa on your Canadian passport in addition to the OCI booklet (like a mini-passport)
If you are a PIO, they do not stamp any visa on the passport, so you have to carry the PIO booklet.
They are not handing out any laminated cards for the PIO/OCI holders.
A quick clarification...as you said, I got the lifelong visa on my Canadian passport in addition to the OCI booklet ..
But, what if your canadian passport expires within 5 years and your new canadian passport is without the lifelong OCI stamp in it...will this not pose a problem in india?
thanks
seenappa
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15-08-07 15:23:26 |
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coolcola
Desi
Member since: Jun 07
Posts: 81
Location:
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Quote:
Originally posted by seenappa
But, what if your canadian passport expires within 5 years and your new canadian passport is without the lifelong OCI stamp in it...will this not pose a problem in india?
thanks
seenappa
you could get OCI re-stamped in the new passport I believe for 25$ or just carry the expired CDN passport with OCI stamp along with new CDN passport.
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15-08-07 15:30:00 |
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Contributors:
AshwaniG(1) atsz(1) benparsad(1) BlueLobster(1) cdn_dude(1) chandresh(1) Charlie(1)
coolcola(1) desi in ottawa(1) dimple2001(3) freakoutguy(3) goldeneye(1) HAMRAHI(1) HelloG(4)
johnnybravo(1) rajcanada(1) redhotdeal.in(1) salahk00(1) seenappa(2) TO-Puttar(1) viggy(1)
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