Wow!

[churipu 4]

Ah yes, passports.

My husband can't renew his German passport by mail anymore. He has to drive up to Chicago and do it there in person. So, something like $70 in gas + 72 euros for the passport (thank ye gods we actually have this in cash euros. $117 otherwise)+ I don't know where this is, I assume parking + tolls + fast food stops + a whole day of travel.

I'd say the next person who will need a renewal is my daughter for her US passport in 2011, then mine in 2013, but my husband plans to apply for naturalization in 2010 so... $$$$$

I hope you are able to find some good options for Kavi. Passports can be a pain when the time comes around.

Oh I know what you mean...and wait until your son turns 2 like mine and they pay FULL PRICE for pretty much almost everything

The airline that I am looking at gives no discount for any children exept lap children under 12 months. :/

WOW that's crazy...out of curiousity, what airline is that?

ETA: I just saw something very funny...was checking prices to go to Italy towards the end of july and our ticket would be 1016 euro, my son's would be 1012 euro..how generous of them...a good 4 euro less! I could buy the world with that...

Edited July 1, 2008 by churipu

[Dr. Obvious 49]

What a pain for your husband!

I don't remember when Sujeet has to renew his...mine was good until 2013 but I have to do the name change.

Yeah, it sucks. They need to put an embassy in Indianapolis. No? Why?

We got our passports in the same year. I think mine cost $88 or so, but it was the first time that I had gotten a passport ever. I am not sure what it is now. I can't remember what my daughter's cost. That's what I get for doing it 10 days after she was born when my mind was still foggy. It took several attempts before we could get a picture the US would accept. The Germans were like, eh, whatever, she's a newborn, and stuck the first attempt in there.

What did you have to do to get Indian citizenship for your son or is he a dual citizen? I was just curious.

WOW that's crazy...out of curiousity, what airline is that?

United with the fare I was looking at. It is a good fare, but I still want my discount. Oh well. The next option is already $150 a person more, so I guess I will suck it up.

Edited July 1, 2008 by Wacken

[chri'stina 190]

Kavi is just a US citizen. He can get a special thing called OCI that we were writing about on here earlier. I never investigated it until today, though Sujeet knew there was something. It stands for Overseas Citizenship of India. It doesn't give you all the rights of an Indian citizen, but allows you to enter visa free and is supposed to last for life. It's not dual citizenship since the US doesn't allow that and therefore India won't fully give that, but it's a type of recognition from India as far as I can tell. We haven't even gotten Kavi's US passport yet though!

[churipu 4]

Kavi is just a US citizen. He can get a special thing called OCI that we were writing about on here earlier. I never investigated it until today, though Sujeet knew there was something. It stands for Overseas Citizenship of India. It doesn't give you all the rights of an Indian citizen, but allows you to enter visa free and is supposed to last for life. It's not dual citizenship since the US doesn't allow that and therefore India won't fully give that, but it's a type of recognition from India as far as I can tell. We haven't even gotten Kavi's US passport yet though!

The US does allow dual citizenship, it just doesn't recognize it, meaning...when you travel in/out of the US the only valid ID is the US passport and not the one of your other citizenship. It works the same for Italy in our specific case (only valid travel document is our Italian passport). Me and my son are both dual.

Edited July 1, 2008 by churipu

[Dr. Obvious 49]

That sucks that India doesn't allow complete dual citizenship. I know the same type of thing with Germany. Germany doesn't allow dual citizenship except for it does sometimes, but of course, not in my case. My daughter has dual citizenship. My husband can apply to keep his German citizenship if he wants US citizenship. I have to provide proof that I have renounced my US citizenship before I can have German. I can understand a lot better why your husband is not sure if he wants to file for citizenship or not. It is a really difficult choice to make.

[chri'stina 190]

I see...from what I read about OCI, you don't get to have an Indian passport. You only get to have the US passport but you have a special card or something for the OCI.

http://www.path2usa.com/immigration/relate...tizenship.htm#6

What are the benefits of OCI?

Following benefits will accrue to an OCI:

* A multiple entry, multi-purpose life long visa to visit India.

* Exemption from registration with local police authorities for any length of stay in India.

* Parity with Non-resident Indians (NRIs) in respect of economic, financial and educational fields except in relation to acquisition of agricultural or plantation properties.

Any other benefits to an OCI will be notified by the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs (MOIA) under Section 7B(1) of the Citizenship Act, 1955.

What are the limitations of OCI?

* Not entitled to vote

* Cannot be a member of Legislative Assembly or Legislative Council or Parliament

* Cannot hold constitutional posts such as President, Vice President, Judge of Supreme Court or High Court etc.

* Cannot normally hold employment in the Government.

* Not entitled to an Indian passport

[chri'stina 190]

Yeah and I don't qualify for OCI, only Kavi does. I qualify for a different thing called Perons of Indian Origin card through Sujeet, but it's only valid 15 years compared to the lifelong OCI status.

[churipu 4]

Yeah, it stinks that India doesn't allow dual, but at least they have something that makes it a bit easier. Will you apply for the one for you? 15 years is better than nothing I suppose. I had no problem with my country, Italy allows dual (but doesn't recognize it like the US) so I went for it as soon as I could

Edited July 1, 2008 by churipu

[chri'stina 190]

Well since we were going to have to get visas to travel there this end of fall/winter (haven't picked an exact time) it's better to just go for these options. I am pretty sure we will.