How to Surrender Indian Passport for OCI Application in the USA?

If you got your US citizenship recently and want to apply for the OCI card, then you must complete the Indian passport surrender process.

This is an essential step to get an OCI card, as India does not provide dual citizenship, so after obtaining citizenship of another country, you need to surrender your Indian passport.

By surrendering your Indian passport, you will get a surrender certificate, which is a mandatory document to apply for OCI and an official document for Indian citizenship reconfirmation.

In this blog, we will see the process of Indian passport Surrender in the USA for the OCI card application. Along with this, we will also see the eligibility criteria, documents required, fees, processing time, and penalties for not surrendering the Indian passport.

Why is Surrendering an Indian Passport Mandatory for an OCI Card?

You will get an OCI card after you submit your Indian passport and obtain the Surrender certificate.

Under the Indian Citizenship Act, 1955, a person of Indian origin is not allowed to hold dual citizenship. The Indian government has made it mandatory for all former Indian citizens to submit their Indian passports after renouncing Indian citizenship and obtaining citizenship of another country.

Surrendering an Indian passport will help you in the smooth OCI application process. If you do not surrender your Indian passport in the USA, then you will not get the surrender certificate, which leads to the following:

• Your OCI application can be delayed.
• Your application can be rejected by the authorities if you do ot provide the surrender certificate.
• Authorities may ask you for some additional documents.

What is a Surrender Certificate?

A surrender certificate is an official document that is provided to the individual who submitted their Indian passport after the foreign naturalisation.

Getting a surrender certificate means that:

• The process for the Indian passport renunciation is successful.
• It means that your Indian passport has been cancelled by the Indian authorities.
• You can apply for OCI services.

Eligibility Criteria to Apply for Passport Surrender Certificate in the USA for OCI?

You can be eligible to get a Surrender certificate for the OCI card applications if you meet all the conditions given below.

• If you were a former Indian citizen
• If you have obtained US citizenship
• To apply for the OCI card in the USA

This can be applied to any adult, minor, or former Indian passport holder who has an expired passport.

When to Apply for the Indian Passport Surrender?

You can apply for the Indian passport surrender application in the USA after getting the US naturalisation certificate and the US passport.

It is advised by the Indian government to complete the Indian passport surrender process before starting the OCI card process to avoid any rejection or delays with OCI card applications.

Documents Required for Surrendering an Indian Passport in USA

Here are some of the mandatory documents that you need for the Indian passport surrender USA application.

Mandatory Documents

• You need to submit a complete passport with a surrender application form.
• Provide your original Indian passport.
• A copy of the first and last page of your Indian passport.
• Submit a copy of your US passport.
• Provide a copy of the naturalisation certificate.
• Two passport-sized photos with a plain white coloured background.
• Provide valid proof of address in the USA.
• Submit a signed application form and declaration form.

Additional Documents for Minor Applicants

• Provide a copy of the minor's birth certificate.
• Copies of the US passports of both parents.
• A surrender certificate of parents (if available).
• Parents' Naturalisation certificate.
• You need to provide a valid, signed consent form signed by parents.

How to Apply for an Indian Passport Surrender Application in the USA for OCI?

To apply for the Indian Passport surrender in the USA for OCI, you will need a valid and authorised Indian consular service provider in the USA.

Here is the detailed step-by-step process mentioned below to apply for a passport surrender application in the USA for an OCI application.

1. Fill out the online surrender application with accurate details matching your passport and citizenship documents.
2. Submit the application and print the completed form.
3. Sign the form and attach a passport-sized photograph as per the guidelines.
4. Attach all required supporting documents and verify that the information matches your application.
5. Pay the applicable passport surrender fee.
6. Submit your application by post or at the authorized application centre, if applicable.

The methods of submitting the application for your Indian passport depend on the Indian consulate jurisdiction from which you are applying.

What is the Passport Surrender Application Processing Time in the USA?

The processing time for the Indian passport surrender in the USA depends on the number of applications received by the consulates and the information and documents provided by the applicant.

Here is the quick Indian passport renunciation timeline mentioned below that will help you to get the estimated processing time for passport surrender in USA for OCI.

Applicants who plan to apply for an OCI card need to apply early to avoid any delays or last-minute hassles in the OCI application processing. 

What are the Fees for an Indian Passport Surrender USA? 

Here are the fees for Indian passport surrender in the USA in the table given below. 

The fees for the Passport surrender application generally include: 

• The fees for the surrender certificate. 
• Indian Consular Service charges. 
• The fees for the courier service.
• Penalty fees for the Indian passport surrender. 

What is the Penalty for Not Surrendering an Indian Passport?  

If you have not submitted your Indian passport, then you may face penalties such as: 

• For travelling with the Indian passport after getting the citizenship of the USA. 
• If you have applied for the Indian passport renewal after getting the US citizenship. 
• If you have used your Indian passport for travelling, identification, or any other purposes. 

The Penalty amount can be up to 250$ or more if you have not submitted your Indian passport for a long time period, and used it multiple times for travelling or identification purposes. 

Common Mistakes Lead to OCI Passport Surrender Application Delays

Here are some of the common problems made by the applicants, which lead to delays in passport or OCI applications. 

• Providing incorrect or wrong details in the passport surrender or OCI applications. 
• Missing signature in the application form. 
• Not providing the photo according to the correct specifications. 
• Incomplete or wrong documents. 
• Different names on documents and the application form. 
• Submitting a damaged passport or not providing the Indian passport. 

Before submitting an Indian Passport Surrender application or OCI application, verify and review all the documents and details to avoid getting any details and rejection. 

How to Check the Status of Passport Surrender Status in the USA? 

You can track your Passport surrender status online in the USA through the reference number that you get at the time of application submission. 

See the steps to track your Passport surrender application status: 

1. Go to the official Passport Seva portal. 
2. Select your application type as the "Surrender certificate". 
3. Enter your file number and date of birth. 
4. Click on the " Track Application Status". 

Now you will see the real-time status on your screen. 

Final Thoughts 

Surrendering your Indian passport in the USA is an essential step to apply for an OCI card. Once you have submitted your Indian passport, you will get the Surrender certificate, which is an essential document for applying for an OCI card.

Complete the Surrender Indian passport process to avoid any rejection or delays in your OCI application. For more assistance, you can take help from the Visament website, where you get a team of experts who are skilled and highly qualified.

We provide you with a simple application process with all the documentation, and we reduce the chances of rejection and errors in your application.