Surrendering a passport may not seem like a big deal. However, it will be a daunting task for those who have to renounce Indian citizenship. It is an essential step for people of Indian origin to embrace US nationality. In this passage, we will discuss who should surrender an Indian passport in the USA, how to do that, what to prepare, and other concerning issues.
What Is Passport Surrender?
In general cases, passport surrender refers to the process of officially submitting your passport to a relevant authority for legal reasons, such as applying for a visa, releasing on bail, being banned from going abroad, etc. It also means renouncing original nationalities after getting another country’s citizenship in countries that do not allow dual or multiple nationalities, such as India, China, Japan, Singapore, United Arab Emirates (UAE), etc.
Indian Passport Renunciation Explained
According to the Indian Citizenship Act, of 1955, persons of Indian Origin are not allowed to have dual citizenship. This means that they must surrender their Indian passports (if any) right after getting another country’s citizenship. A stamp saying “canceled due to acquiring foreign nationality” will be put on the passport. Then they have to obtain a renunciation/surrender certificate as proof of renunciation of citizenship. Please note that using an Indian passport after renouncing Indian citizenship is illegal and will lead to penalties. Indian citizens of Indian origin can apply for an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI), a lifelong Indian visa, to reside and work in India infinitely.
When Do I Need to Surrender Indian Passport in the USA
Indian passport renunciation is mandatory after getting foreign citizenship. There is a grace period of 3 years to get a renunciation certificate after becoming a US citizen. However, to apply for OCI, a foreign passport is required. Therefore, it is recommended to surrender an Indian passport after getting a US passport.
Required Documents for Indian Passport Surrender Application
To surrender an Indian passport or give up Indian citizenship, you have to go through legal procedures, so it is necessary to prepare a series of official documents as listed below.
- An application form. It can be filled on the official website of Indian government. Parents should sign for minor applicants and children under 5 are required to leave a thumb impression on the form.
- Two (2) recent passport photos.
- Two duly accomplished and signed Surrender Of Indian Passport Certificates. It could be filled out online and will be sent by email.
- A copy of proof of present address, such as a valid state-issued ID, driver’s license, utility bills of the last 3 months, lease agreement, evidence of mortgage, income tax return, etc.
- Photocopy of the current passport’s personal information page and the last 2 amendment pages, for example, a US passport.
- Original copy of the most recent Indian passport and photocopy of the first three pages of the passport as well as the last two pages.
- Original & notarized copy of Affidavit of Naturalization after the expiry of Indian passport.
- Copy of any name change document (required when the name on the Indian passport or Indian government-issued document and the current passport after naturalization are different).
- Copy of naturalization certificate(s). In the case of no naturalization certificate, please submit copies of your parents’ naturalization certificate(s) and a notarized statement signed by both parents explaining the naturalization status and reasons for unavailable documents.
- Parental authorisation for minors (required for minor applicants).
- Sworn affidavit by parents ( for minors only)
- Payment receipt.
For those without the most recent Indian passport, the following documents are accepted.
- Copy of police report made by the last 6 months indicating the loss of the passport.
- Copy of Green Card (when applying from the US).
- Affidavit of loss as well as an Indian birth certificate/School leaving certificate/other proof of former Indian citizenship (for minor applicants without the most recent Indian passport).
How to Surrender an Indian Passport in the USA
Surrendering an Indian passport after US citizenship can be made by mail or in person (appointment required) through VFS, the agent for the surrender of an Indian passport in the USA. Here are step-by-step instructions for each method.
Apply for Passport Surrender by Mail/Post
- Prepare the supporting documents according to your real circumstances.
- Obtain the application form online and fill it out honestly. Alternatively, you can pay for form-filling assistance from VFS.
- Pay the application fees online.
- Mail the documents required with the application form for surrender of Indian passport to the VFS Indian Consular Application Centre in Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, New York, San Francisco, Washington DC, or Seattle Centre.
Apply for Passport Surrender by Appointment
- Fill out the application form by yourself and or through form-filling assistance from VFS.
- Book an appointment with VFS and fulfill payment.
- Visit the selected VFS Indian Consular Application Centre as scheduled. Remember to bring the completed form, required documents, and appointment confirmation notice.
- Follow the staff’s instructions and submit the application at the counter.
Where Are VFS Indian Consular Application Centre?
VFS Global has opened India Consular Application Centres (ICAC) in 8 major cities in the United States of America. Here is the list of its addresses and contacts. If you have any questions, please contact the chat bot icon on its official website, call 800 320 9693 at 8:00 – 20:00 (EST) from Monday to Friday, or write an online inquiry.
| VFS Indian Consular Application Centre (ICAC) | Address | States Served |
| ICAC Atlanta Centre | Suite 175, 1200 Altmore Avenue, Sandy Springs, GA 30342 | Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee and US Virgin Islands |
| ICAC Chicago Centre | Suite 2075, 180 North Stetson Ave, 20th Floor, Chicago- 60601 | Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, and Wisconsin |
| ICAC Houston Centre | Suite 550, 1001 Texas Avenue, Houston TX 77002 | Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Colorado |
| ICAC New York Centre | 128 E 32nd St Floor 2, New York, NY 10016 | Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Vermont. |
| ICAC San Francisco Centre | 642 Harrison Street, Suite 200, San Francisco 94107, CA. | Arizona, California, Island of Guam, Hawaii, Nevada, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and U.S. Territory of American Samoa |
| ICAC Washington DC Centre | 1025 Vermont Ave, N.W. Suite 302 Washington, DC 20005 | Bermuda, Delaware, District of Columbia, Kentucky, Maryland, North Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia |
| ICAC Seattle Centre | 3131 Elliott Ave, Suite 240, Seattle WA 98121 | Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Alaska, Wyoming, Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota. |
| ICAC Bellevue Satellite Center | 1400 112th Ave SE, Suite 100, Office No. 32, Bellevue WA 98004 | / |
Where Can I Get a Photo for Passport Surrender India
The photo for the application for passport surrender must comply with a variety of official rules. An unqualified biometric photo might lead to rejection. Therefore, it is necessary to learn about the guidelines for a qualified photo.
- Size: 2×2 inches.
- Background: a plain light-colored background with only the applicant visible.
- Head measurements: The subject’s face takes up 50% – 70%, equal to 1-1 3/8 inches from the chin to the top of the head.
- Head coverings: Only religious veils, for example, Turbines and hijabs, are allowed and the face and ears should be shown.
- Facial expression: natural and neutral with eyes open and mouth closed.
It seems hard to get a perfect passport surrender photo. Here are some popular choices to take pictures.
Pharmacies & Retail Stores
These stores spreads all over the country and you can easily find nearby stores that provide passport photo services, such as CVS, Walgreens, or Walmart. Just walk in and tell the staff what you want and he will take a photo for you.
Studios
There are professional photographers and photography equipment. They know how to take good pictures, but make sure they are acquainted with the official identity photo rules. Typically, a prior appointment and higher fees are required.
Photo booths
These small kiosks are located in shopping centers, main streets, or subway stations. You should take photos by yourself and get a few prints at a more favorable price.
Online passport photo makers
It is the most convenient and cost-effective way to DIY ID photos. With the tips below and our online passport photo maker, AiPassportPhotos, you will get a 100% compliant photo for free.
- Find a place with sufficient and uniform lighting, preferably natural light, to prevent dark pictures or shadows.
- Set the camera or smartphone at eye level and about 4-6 feet away. Use a tripod or ask someone else to help.
- Wear decent clothes in contrasting colors to the background. Avoid uniforms or white shirts.
- Stand in front of a clean wall and keep a distance of 40-50cm. Any color is acceptable.
- Look directly at the camera and capture a photo of your head and shoulders. Do not tilt your head, turn sideways, or smile.
- After taking a photo, visit AiPassportPhotos passport photo maker with a smartphone or computer.
- Drag the photo that you just took to the uploading area or click to upload the photo.
- Wait for 15 seconds for AI to process the photo. During this process, the system will check photo compliance and adjust its size and background automatically.
- Download the photo for free if you are satisfied with it.
How Much to Surrender Indian Passport in USA
Fees to surrender an Indian passport in the USA include 25 USD (approx. 2120 INR) for application and 15.90 USD (approx. 1348 INR) for VFS processing. It could be paid through mobile payment, credit/debit card, Money order/Banker/Cashier check payable to “VFS Services (USA) Inc”. Please note that there might be extra service fees when paying online or by card.
How Long to Surrender an Indian Passport in the USA
It generally takes 7-21 working days to process your application once it arrives at the Indian Embassy/Consulate. However, it might vary according to the way you apply, the number of applications, etc. You can monitor the case status by entering the Application Reference Number (ARN) in the VFS Global tracking system.
What Are the Penalties for Surrendering an Indian Passport
Surrendering an Indian passport means you are no longer an Indian citizen. Therefore, you are not eligible for citizenship benefits in India, such as the right to return to India freely, vote, apply for government educational/healthcare services, and so on. Moreover, Those who fail to surrender their passport in time might face the following penalties:
- People whose Indian Passports expire after 1 January 2005 and who have been naturalized as another country’s citizen for 3 years or more will be fined $250.
- People who still travel on an Indian passport 90 days after getting another country’s citizenship will be fined $250 for each trip (maximum $1250 in total).
- People who renew their Indian Passport after getting a foreign citizenship will be fined $500.
- People who use their Indian Passport for any miscellaneous service will be fined $250.
What Are the Benefits of Surrendering an Indian Passport
It is mandatory to surrender an Indian passport after getting another citizenship. It helps you to avoid many legal issues and penalties. Here are some examples.
- You don’t need to worry about mistakenly using an Indian passport to travel and facing heavy fines.
- The process of acquiring citizenship in another country might be simplified and accelerated.
- There is no need to bear tax liabilities and obligations linked to dual nationality.
- Indian passport renunciation is part of the requirements for OCI.
FAQ
How to get back a surrendered passport?
You should write a letter to request returning your passport and have it notarized by a notary public. The letter should include the name of the court or agency that takes the passport, your full name date of birth, phone number, mailing address, Social Security Number (SSN), copy of a valid government-issued photo ID.
If you are on or have completed probation or parole, you should also ask your probation officer to write a letter indicating that the passport can be returned. It should state the official letterhead or email address of the probation office, the officer’s signature, the officer’s phone number, the government email address, the mailing address, and the scheduled probation completion date.
Both letters should be sent to PPTReturnRequests@state.gov or mailing address at:
U.S. Department of State
CA/PPT/S/A/RA
44132 Mercure Circle
P.O. Box 1243
Sterling, VA 20166-1243
What happens if you don’t surrender an Indian passport?
You might face legal consequences, such as heavy fines, travel restrictions, difficulty in getting a new passport or visa, etc.
Are renunciation of citizenship the same as passport surrender?
They are related but not the same. Renouncing citizenship means you will no longer be a citizen of a country and all associated rights and privileges will be deprived. Passport surrender is part of the legal process. However, simply surrendering a passport can be for various legal procedures, not only loss of citizenship.
How to get a copy of the renunciation certificate?
Surrender the passport to the Indian Consulate to renounce citizenship and the consulate will cancel and return it along with the Renunciation/Surrender Certificate.
Do I need to give a reason for surrendering my Indian passport?
No, but you need to submit the current passport if you surrender it for getting a foreign citizenship.
What happens after I surrender my Indian passport?
If you surrender it for renunciation of citizenship, the Indian passport will be canceled and a surrender certificate will be issued. If you simply surrender it for other purposes, you might not be allowed to travel abroad before getting it back.
Can I reclaim my Indian passport once I’ve surrendered it?
Yes. It will be returned in all cases.
Summary
Renunciation of citizenship applies to people of Indian origin as dual citizenship is prohibited in India. Surrendering an Indian passport after US citizenship is mandatory. Application for passport surrender can be made by mail or walk-in applications through VFS. Traveling or using an Indian passport after naturalization will lead to severe punishment. Therefore, it is suggested to surrender your Indian passport as soon as possible after getting a new passport.
Dolores Xiao