New Delhi is overhauling the visa system in the wake of Lashkar operative David Headley’s deadly reconnaissance trips to India, but the experiment got off to a bumpy start.
The Indian government finally caved in to a tsunami of protests from non-resident Indians (NRIs) and has simplified travel rules to India, throwing out a slew of old passport surrender-related fees and fines.
New Delhi is overhauling the visa system in the wake of Lashkar operative David Headley’s deadly reconnaissance trips to India, but the experiment got off to a bumpy start.
Some weeks back, Delhi unleashed bureaucratic hell on NRIs by re-issuing a rule that has been on the books since 1955, but rarely used. It asked NRIs who had taken up American citizenship — even those who had done it decades back — to renounce their old Indian passports and get “surrender certificates” for up to $425 before receiving a new visa to travel to India.
Many Indians who had become American citizens in the 1960s and 1970s couldn’t remember in which drawer or trunk their old passports were mothballed. Finally, after high-decibel protests, the government is scrapping the need for a “surrender certificate” for all Indians who became American citizens prior to June 1, 2010. All they need to do is pay $20 to stamp their old Indian passport, stating ‘Cancelled as holder acquired US citizenship’.
Those who have lost their old Indian passports have to hand in an affidavit and a copy of their US naturalisation certificate.
“All the pressure and press has paid off. They are at least starting to do the right thing,” said architect Ramen Das. “Of course, the whole thing has been handled very badly. I spent four hours at the embassy last week to get the surrender certificate, which they now don’t need! But at least many other Indian-Americans will be saved the hassle.”
According to sources, the home ministry and government saw sense after external affairs minister SM Krishna heard from embassy officials in Washington that Delhi’s diktat was slowing down the visa system by introducing bureaucracy and an added burden for those looking to travel to India.
“We welcome the quick response to the concerns that we had raised on the issue. We urge the Government of India to automatically consider an Indian passport void when an individual accepts a foreign nationality and passport,” said Sanjay Puri, chairman of the US India Political Action Committee.
Indians who have acquired American citizenship from June 1 will still have to pay $175 and get a surrender certificate.
The Indian government insists foreign nationals who travel to India on 10-year multiple-entry tourist visas have a gap of at least 60 days between each visit to India. But people of Indian origin will get special five-year entry visas that will allow them to enter India multiple times without waiting for 60 days between trips.
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