Indian OCI card renunciation requirements

[amarakbar 0]

I am trying to apply for OCI card and I have visited the site and understand the requirements around renunciation of Indian citizenship and penalty around it.

I have 2 questions around it, if anyone can answer them.

1. If you apply as "lost indian passport" with affidavit of loss form, what is the penalty? With existing passport, in some cases penalty is $250.00

2. In affidavit of loss form, You are required to fill out Passport Number (Duhh..). Can you still fill this form, if you don't have your old passport number?

Did I mention, I hate Indian consular for charging such a sense less fees for something so stupid, specially if you never misused your passport. Bunch of people just trying to take advantage of all NRIs.

[Harsh_77 718]

I am trying to apply for OCI card and I have visited the site and understand the requirements around renunciation of Indian citizenship and penalty around it.

I have 2 questions around it, if anyone can answer them.

1. If you apply as "lost indian passport" with affidavit of loss form, what is the penalty? With existing passport, in some cases penalty is $250.00

2. In affidavit of loss form, You are required to fill out Passport Number (Duhh..). Can you still fill this form, if you don't have your old passport number?

Did I mention, I hate Indian consular for charging such a sense less fees for something so stupid, specially if you never misused your passport. Bunch of people just trying to take advantage of all NRIs.

First this is not the correct place for your question... I am sure mod will move it to correct section.

Yes even if you have lost your passport, you will still be required to pay the penalty, unfortunately few years back the consulate figured out we can make some extra money... they were charging crazy (250+) for even ppl who had renouced citizenship years ago.

There was uproar in the community and for while they had reduced it for ppl who renouced citizenship years ago and than they again bumped it up.

If you have any other documentation you might be able to get your passport number from them, but if you dont have it, you dont have it but you will have to pay the fee.

[amarakbar 0]

Thank you, Harsh_77. Sorry, I realized, this wasn't the right forum but couldn't find it where it should go.

It sucks to pay dumb penalty but your answer helps. Thanks.

[Arun+Catie 1]

amarakbar

I just applied last week

What I understood is that you only get penalty for $250 if you have not renounce your Indian citizenship within 3 years from your Naturalization (US Citizenship) date. Regular fee is $175.

IF you have not applied yet then there are just few nuggets i can give you, because they returned by application twice for such a stupid reasons.

1. There is no option for Middle name so put your middle name initial right after your First Name (ex.. Amar K.).

2. For place of passport issue i put USA, but they wanted "USA Department of State", you can only fit "USA Dep of State" in current online application.

3. For place of Birth make sure you only put Country name not the actually city.

4. And last but not least make sure your parents names matches exactly the way they are in passport (in your case it doesn't matter).

What I understood they still need your passport number.

Anyway I hope this help others who are applying at this new stupid agency called BLS International.