NAPA urged Indian Government to simplify the process to get OCI/PIO and Visa For N R Is And Remove The Extra Burden Of 70 $
In a letter sent to all MP from Punjab and Mrs Sushma Swaraj External affair Minister, Satnam Singh Chahal Executive Director North American Punjabi Association (NAPA) said that Indian Consulates started charging $20 for Surrender Certificate.From NRIs which is made mandatory for those who were applying Visa/OCI/POI services. Chahal said that NRI, who became citizen Of other country, after June 2010 have to pay $175 for this Surrender Certificate. Now these services are provided by Out Sourcing agencies who charge extra $20 for their services plus $50 for FedEx or delivery charges.
He also disclosed that any NRI who not applied within three years for this certificate will have to pay penalty of $250 plus. Many Indian born people don’t know how to apply online for these services and have to pay $100-500 to the agents for this Certificate. Chahal urged that the External affair Minister and all members of Parliament to raise the issue as the parliament session is going on.
These kinds of hurdles should be removed for those NRI ‘S who are getting OCI/VISA etc for which this should the condition of Surrender Certificate to get VISA/OCI.Chahal also requested to Government of India to simplify the process for getting the OCI /PIO cards and VISA for India
When any NRI becomes Citizen of any other country he/she apply for Visa/OCI/POI from Indian Consulate of his/her jurisdiction of residence to visit India. Then the applicant need to produce several documents to get this which are mandatory Five years back when someone applies for these services his Indian passport was cancelled and Indian Citizenship was surrendered without any charge. In 2009 Indian External Affairs Ministry found a new way to harass NRI’s & make money by Introducing Surrender Certificate.