Surrender and Renunciation of Indian Citizenship Guide(Updated 17th Jul 2020)

[Jot18 47]

This is a guide on surrendering your Indian Passport after becoming naturalized US Citizen.

 

Step 1: Visit this Link and fill in the form. The filled form should look something like this Sample. Pay close attention to the date formats as it varies throughout the application.After submitting the form you will be given a CKGS temporary ID. Make sure to save that in case you close the application before finishing it or get disconnected. It will be emailed to you as well. Remember your required documents/checklist will be based on the answers on this page. Your date of naturalization should be the same as listed on the naturalization certificate & not your US Passport.

Step 2: Click the box for Terms & Conditions then click proceed. You will be shown payment summary on the right. Just ignore at this time & proceed with the application. Sample

Step 3: Fill the Renunciation Form. Make sure to enter same details as your Indian Passport. When you are done, just click submit and review for corrections. Check the box  under declaration then click proceed.

Step 4: Fill the Additional Particulars Form for Renunciation. Then click submit and review for corrections. Check the box and type in the place & click proceed.

Step 5: This is where you will choose the shipping options. I recommend you choose FedEx Overnight for Shipping to & From CKGS. This way you don't have to worry about their shipping instructions as they are vague and hard to understand. You do end up paying little extra($30) if you choose CKGS shipping. This is where you need to take a note of the payment summary. Your Money Order should reflect the amount shown on this screen. Once you are done click proceed. 

Step 6: On this screen you will need to enter the Money Order/Cashier's Check details. Once you are done click the box for Terms & Conditions & click Submit. Then  you will be given a order form. & Shipping Label Print/Download for future reference. At this time online payment option is not available & In-Person services are suspended due to Corona. 

Step 7: Go back to my My Account. Here you will be shown all the forms/checklist that you can print. It will look some like This. 

Step 8: Print all the required forms/copies & mail it. I've attached a basic checklist. Don't forget to sign and attach the downloaded barcode on the envelope before mailing.

 

Note: If you do not have your Indian Passport, a police report is required in addition to affidavit of loss. I recently did mine and my local PD has a online reporting system. I received my report under 2 hours. 

 

I hope I cleared all the confusions. If there is anything else that someone would like to add please post below. I've attached sample forms as well.

 

 

Sample Bardcode.pdf Sample Check List.pdf Sample Renunciation Additional Particular Form.pdf Sample Renunciation_form.pdf Sample RenunciationCertificate.pdf

Edited July 17, 2020 by Jot18

[RunTheRoad 75]

On 7/17/2020 at 7:33 PM, Jot18 said:

This is a guide on surrendering your Indian Passport after becoming naturalized US Citizen.

 

Step 1: Visit this Link and fill in the form. The filled form should look something like this Sample. Pay close attention to the date formats as it varies throughout the application.After submitting the form you will be given a CKGS temporary ID. Make sure to save that in case you close the application before finishing it or get disconnected. It will be emailed to you as well. Remember your required documents/checklist will be based on the answers on this page. Your date of naturalization should be the same as listed on the naturalization certificate & not your US Passport.

Step 2: Click the box for Terms & Conditions then click proceed. You will be shown payment summary on the right. Just ignore at this time & proceed with the application. Sample

Step 3: Fill the Renunciation Form. Make sure to enter same details as your Indian Passport. When you are done, just click submit and review for corrections. Check the box  under declaration then click proceed.

Step 4: Fill the Additional Particulars Form for Renunciation. Then click submit and review for corrections. Check the box and type in the place & click proceed.

Step 5: This is where you will choose the shipping options. I recommend you choose FedEx Overnight for Shipping to & From CKGS. This way you don't have to worry about their shipping instructions as they are vague and hard to understand. You do end up paying little extra($30) if you choose CKGS shipping. This is where you need to take a note of the payment summary. Your Money Order should reflect the amount shown on this screen. Once you are done click proceed. 

Step 6: On this screen you will need to enter the Money Order/Cashier's Check details. Once you are done click the box for Terms & Conditions & click Submit. Then  you will be given a order form. & Shipping Label Print/Download for future reference. At this time online payment option is not available & In-Person services are suspended due to Corona. 

Step 7: Go back to my My Account. Here you will be shown all the forms/checklist that you can print. It will look some like This. 

Step 8: Print all the required forms/copies & mail it. I've attached a basic checklist. Don't forget to sign and attach the downloaded barcode on the envelope before mailing.

 

Note: If you do not have your Indian Passport, a police report is required in addition to affidavit of loss. I recently did mine and my local PD has a online reporting system. I received my report under 2 hours. 

 

I hope I cleared all the confusions. If there is anything else that someone would like to add please post below. I've attached sample forms as well.

 

 

Sample Bardcode.pdf 19.12 kB · 0 downloads Sample Check List.pdf 41.5 kB · 0 downloads Sample Renunciation Additional Particular Form.pdf 29.34 kB · 0 downloads Sample Renunciation_form.pdf 31.72 kB · 0 downloads Sample RenunciationCertificate.pdf 22.27 kB · 1 download

Thank you! Just what I was looking for. So very useful! I have a couple of questions: 1) Is this absolutely essential for anyone who becomes a naturalized US Citizen? I read elsewhere that the moment you acquire US Citizenship, you automatically lose rights to any other citizenship (except in case of dual citizenship). In such a case, does one need to formally renounce Indian citizenship?  2) What about if one wants an OCI card?   3) Can the renunciation process (and getting an OCI card) be done 100 percent online, without any requirement for in person appearance? 

[Jot18 47]

6 hours ago, RunTheRoad said:

Thank you! Just what I was looking for. So very useful! I have a couple of questions: 1) Is this absolutely essential for anyone who becomes a naturalized US Citizen? I read elsewhere that the moment you acquire US Citizenship, you automatically lose rights to any other citizenship (except in case of dual citizenship). In such a case, does one need to formally renounce Indian citizenship?  2) What about if one wants an OCI card?   3) Can the renunciation process (and getting an OCI card) be done 100 percent online, without any requirement for in person appearance? 

You cant hold Indian passport and another country's passport. Indian govt doesn't allow dual citizenship. You must renounce your Indian citizenship after becoming US citizen. Everything is completely online other than notary/mailing. You might need notary depending on your situation. I replied to your other thread as well. If you need further help just post. If you don't renounce in a Timely manner they throw late fee of $250. If you use Indian Passport after becoming US citizen they throw another $250/stamp or something like that on your passport.

Edited July 19, 2020 by Jot18

[RunTheRoad 75]

4 minutes ago, Jot18 said:

You cant hold Indian passport and another country's passport. Indian govt doesn't allow dual citizenship. You must renounce your Indian citizenship after becoming US citizen. Everything is completely online other than notary/mailing. You might need notary depending on your situation. I replied to your other thread as well. If you need further help just post. If you don't renounce in a Timely manner they throw late fee of $250. If you use Indian Passport after becoming US citizen they throw another $250/stamp or something like that on your passport.

Thanks for the helpful responses. Hopefully, consular operations are opening up again and by the time I get back my US passport (which is likely to be significantly delayed too), I should be able to apply for both the renunciation certificate and the OCI card at the same time. I have no intention of using my Indian passport for any kind of travel.

[Jot18 47]

18 minutes ago, RunTheRoad said:

Thanks for the helpful responses. Hopefully, consular operations are opening up again and by the time I get back my US passport (which is likely to be significantly delayed too), I should be able to apply for both the renunciation certificate and the OCI card at the same time. I have no intention of using my Indian passport for any kind of travel.

You can apply for renunciation+visa together and not Renunciation+OCI. See the attachment.

 

[RunTheRoad 75]

22 minutes ago, Jot18 said:

You can apply for renunciation+visa together and not Renunciation+OCI. See the attachment.

 

Okay, thanks! I don't need a visa, for now. I have no travel plans. So, I would first get the Renunciation Cert and then apply for a OCI? Seems like a time consuming process  

[Jot18 47]

24 minutes ago, RunTheRoad said:

Okay, thanks! I don't need a visa, for now. I have no travel plans. So, I would first get the Renunciation Cert and then apply for a OCI? Seems like a time consuming process  

Yes it is time consuming. At least they have some what have process here in the US. I applied for my wife's passport back in March in India and had to make 5 trips to get the Passport 1 to passport office to apply, 2 RPO & 2 Police clearances. No one knew what was holding up even the RPO didn't know. Not a friendly staff.

[RunTheRoad 75]

26 minutes ago, Jot18 said:

Yes it is time consuming. At least they have some what have process here in the US. I applied for my wife's passport back in March in India and had to make 5 trips to get the Passport 1 to passport office to apply, 2 RPO & 2 Police clearances. No one knew what was holding up even the RPO didn't know. Not a friendly staff.

I totally agree. I am so glad that I don't have to deal with the rude Indian consular staff or passport officials, after this stretch. I remember when I applied for my Indian passport 12 years back that most local officials were expecting to be bribed, to speed up the issue. Not sure if that has changed.

 

[Jot18 47]

Received my Renunciation certificate from SF Consulate in 21 days during COVID-19. 

[RunTheRoad 75]

On 7/28/2020 at 10:11 PM, Jot18 said:

Received my Renunciation certificate from SF Consulate in 21 days during COVID-19. 

That was quick! Congratulations.

[RunTheRoad 75]

On 7/28/2020 at 10:11 PM, Jot18 said:

Received my Renunciation certificate from SF Consulate in 21 days during COVID-19. 

Did they send your canceled Indian passport back too? Also, do you know if you have  to send in ALL Indian passports (including the expired ones) or just the most recent one? @Jot18

Edited August 4, 2020 by RunTheRoad

[Jot18 47]

2 hours ago, RunTheRoad said:

Did they send your canceled Indian passport back too? Also, do you know if you have  to send in ALL Indian passports (including the expired ones) or just the most recent one? @Jot18

I had renounced Indian citizenship back in May 2015. I lost my passport and the certificate, that's why I had to redo it now. So I didn't get anything back this time and only got the certificate back. However I had copy of my passport that passport and used now to renounce my citizenship again. Make sure to make a copy of the passport in case it gets lost in the process. You only need to send your most recent as old one will probably been marked cancelled already if you renewed in the US.

[RunTheRoad 75]

8 hours ago, Jot18 said:

I had renounced Indian citizenship back in May 2015. I lost my passport and the certificate, that's why I had to redo it now. So I didn't get anything back this time and only got the certificate back. However I had copy of my passport that passport and used now to renounce my citizenship again. Make sure to make a copy of the passport in case it gets lost in the process. You only need to send your most recent as old one will probably been marked cancelled already if you renewed in the US.

Thank you!!

[circular 1]

On 7/19/2020 at 1:08 PM, RunTheRoad said:

I totally agree. I am so glad that I don't have to deal with the rude Indian consular staff or passport officials, after this stretch. I remember when I applied for my Indian passport 12 years back that most local officials were expecting to be bribed, to speed up the issue. Not sure if that has changed.

 

The bribe thing you mentioned looks like was limited to a certain region. I did several Indian passports from 1978 to 2013 for family members in India including mine. There was not a single instance of bribe or its solicitation. And now with the Passport Seva Kendra and everything things are pretty smooth and timely. 

[RunTheRoad 75]

10 hours ago, circular said:

The bribe thing you mentioned looks like was limited to a certain region. I did several Indian passports from 1978 to 2013 for family members in India including mine. There was not a single instance of bribe or its solicitation. And now with the Passport Seva Kendra and everything things are pretty smooth and timely. 

Not sure we are speaking about the same country. Bribery gone from India? A cousin applied via the Seva Kendra in Mumbai in 2017 and yes, he did have to bribe. Nothing region-specific about this national everdemic (an ever present pandemic).