Dual Citizenship India? - OCIFor Information on PIO Cards please check here The constitution of India does not allow Indian citizenship and citizenship of a foreign country at the same time. India does not offer dual citizenship. Many nonresident Indians were left with the impression during the last two years that the government of India had decided to grant dual citizenship. Instead of Dual citizenship, India offers a lifelong visa and has cleverly called it Overseas Citizen of India (OCI). Many Indians are confusing this with dual citizenship. Those applicants who are granted OCI receive a lifelong multiple entry visa stamp on their foreign passports and a registration booklet that looks like a passport but cannot be used as a travel document. Holders of OCI must travel using their foreign passports. Benefits allowed to OCI:
Those who get
OIC should realize that: 1. They do not get an Indian passport. 2. Have no right to vote in India. 3. Cannot run for political office. 4. Cannot be appointed as a high court/supreme court judge.
Another myth is that OCI holders can buy agricultural land. This is not true. Those holding OCI are not allowed to acquire agricultural land. Many people are not aware that in some Indian States, even Indian citizens cannot buy agricultural land unless they qualify themselves as farmers or go through several other formalities. Many Indians do end up buying agricultural lands by getting the land use changed. This is quite common for agricultural lands that are on main roads or near roads. As construction spreads to the outer areas of cities, the price of agricultural land bordering roads is shooting up especially if the land use can be successfully changed from agricultural to commercial. The main benefit of OCI is a lifelong visa. Holders of OCI also are exempt from registering with the police regardless of the duration of stay in India. VOTING RIGHTS FOR NRI'S ? Some news reports indicate that the government of India is presently considering allowing Non Resident Indians to vote. This has led many residents of Indian descent, who are presently settled abroad to think that one day they may be allowed to vote in India. Some Indians who are presently settled abroad and have acquired citizenships of the countries they are living in, have a misconception that they are still non-resident Indians. Some of these people still believe that they would still be classified as non resident Indians and perhaps allowed to vote if NRIs getting voting rights in the future. Incase NRI’s are allowed to vote in India. Those Indians who have taken foreign citizenship will not be eligible to vote as they would be considered as foreign citizens.
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How & where to apply for OCI in India Can applications of OCI be made from India? This is a questions many readers have asked. The answer is yes, you may apply for OCI from India and pay the applicable fee in Indian currency. Here is the information for those who plan on making applications from India. OCI FEE WHEN APPLICATION IS MADE IN INDIA For applications to be filed in India, an amount of Rs. 14,230 has to be paid for each applicant by Demand Draft in favor of "Pay and Accounts Officer (Secretariat), Ministry of Home Affairs" payable at New Delhi. In case of PIO Card holders, an amount of Rs 1,290 has to be paid.
APPLY FOR OCI FROM WITHIN INDIA Applicants anywhere in India can file with Ministry of Home Affairs at the following address: Under Secretary (OCI), Foreigners Division, Applicants in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata and Amritsar can also file with respective Foreigners Regional Registration Officers (FRROs) at the following addresses: Applying for OCI from Delhi FRRO, East Block-VIII, Level-2, Sector-1, Applying for OCI from Mumbai FRRO, Badruddin Tayyabji Marg, Applying for OCI from Chennai FRRO, Shastri Bhavan Annexe, Applying for OCI from Kolkata FRRO, 237, A.J.C. Bose Road Applying
for OCI from Amritsar |
