Called VFS today about my child's PIO application and casually inquired about new changes. As per the phone rep,
People holding PIO for 7 years can apply for OCI status. They can also apply for Indian citizenship after spending 1 year in India.
If that is true, it means that now you won't have to wait 7 years to get Indian citizenship back. We'll soon find out for sure.
OCI holders can get Indian citizenship. This has always been the case. Here's an extract from the Ministry of Home Affairs website:
29. Can a person registered as an OCI be granted Indian citizenship?
Yes. As per the provisions of section 5(1) (g) of the Citizenship Act,
1955, a person who is registered as an OCI for 5 years and is residing in
India for 1 year out of the above 5 years, is eligible to apply for Indian
Citizenship.
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SS
Reiki Grand Master
Location: Western Hemisphere
Posted on: 10-01-11 20:37:38
Quote:
Originally posted by hchheda
Jokes aside, when they came up with super idea of OCI, why did they just not extend the benefits of PIO to be same as (new proposed) OCI+PIO? That would have eliminated all this confusion in the first place.
Hiren
How would you then make more money off the diaspora? Anyway, OCI is not available to minor children of Indian citizens while PIO is. Therefore, those PIO holders could not have been automatically made an OCI. Just one example. Maybe they figured it would be more nightmare than what is might be as is today.
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Dimple2001
Location: Western Hemisphere
Posted on: 10-01-11 20:39:37
Quote:
Originally posted by chiclets
If that is true, it means that now you won't have to wait 7 years to get Indian citizenship back. We'll soon find out for sure.
It's a good thing for those who seek Indian citizenship. But seriously, aren't they the ones who voluntarily left India, voluntarily sought a non-Indian citizenship? And now, they want to go full cirlce to get Indian citizenship back? Can't be happy with anything....that's for sure
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Dimple2001
Location: Western Hemisphere
Posted on: 10-01-11 20:48:12
Quote:
Originally posted by sudesingh
OCI holders can get Indian citizenship. This has always been the case. Here's an extract from the Ministry of Home Affairs website:
29. Can a person registered as an OCI be granted Indian citizenship?
Yes. As per the provisions of section 5(1) (g) of the Citizenship Act,
1955, a person who is registered as an OCI for 5 years and is residing in
India for 1 year out of the above 5 years, is eligible to apply for Indian
Citizenship.
For children who were born in Canada and citizens by birth, losing Canadian citizenship upon acquiring Indian citizenship may not be as easy as one might think. The problem would be India would not consider them as Cdn citizens once they acquire Indian citizenship and Canada would consider them Canadians. It will be a hell of a time if that person wants to travel to Canada since Canada would refuse visa and you can't leave India without a visa.
Someone I knew was born in Canada in the 70s. The family moved back to India after the graduate studies in mid 70s and in the 90s she got married to a Cdn citizen. She had her Indian passport and everything and her hubby applied for spousal sponsorship. Canada (Delhi high commission) refused her application and instead issued her a Cdn passport based on her birth. Now the Indian Govt wanted to know how she lived in India illegally all these years and couldn't leave India. Finally, the charms of knowing the "right people" and lots of money did the trick.
Similar problems can occur to citizens by birth.
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Dimple2001
Quote:
Originally posted by dimple2001
Someone I knew was born in Canada in the 70s. The family moved back to India after the graduate studies in mid 70s and in the 90s she got married to a Cdn citizen. She had her Indian passport and everything and her hubby applied for spousal sponsorship. Canada (Delhi high commission) refused her application and instead issued her a Cdn passport based on her birth. Now the Indian Govt wanted to know how she lived in India illegally all these years and couldn't leave India. Finally, the charms of knowing the "right people" and lots of money did the trick.
Similar problems can occur to citizens by birth.
Are you serious !!! This is nuts. No wonder nothing is straight with the Indian Govt.
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SS
Reiki Grand Master
Quote:
Originally posted by dimple2001
For children who were born in Canada and citizens by birth, losing Canadian citizenship upon acquiring Indian citizenship may not be as easy as one might think. The problem would be India would not consider them as Cdn citizens once they acquire Indian citizenship and Canada would consider them Canadians. It will be a hell of a time if that person wants to travel to Canada since Canada would refuse visa and you can't leave India without a visa.
Someone I knew was born in Canada in the 70s. The family moved back to India after the graduate studies in mid 70s and in the 90s she got married to a Cdn citizen. She had her Indian passport and everything and her hubby applied for spousal sponsorship. Canada (Delhi high commission) refused her application and instead issued her a Cdn passport based on her birth. Now the Indian Govt wanted to know how she lived in India illegally all these years and couldn't leave India. Finally, the charms of knowing the "right people" and lots of money did the trick.
Similar problems can occur to citizens by birth.
I do not think they would have gone through the actual process of getting Indian citizenship. In those days, name in "ration card" and school certificate and may be some "chai pani" would have been enough to apply for Indian passport.
When acquiring Indian citizenship you have to declare that you will renounce your citizenship of other country on getting Indian citizenship. It is very clearly mentioned in the forms.
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