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Local Address In NRI Passports Can Help In Speedy Documentation

Local Address In NRI Passports Can Help In Speedy Documentation

Indian expats in the foreign can now provide their local address to be added in their passports.  The news has been confirmed by a Consul of Passport and Attestation at the Indian Consulate in Dubai. According to him, the Indian government has decided to allow NRIs, PIOs or OCIs to mention their local address in their country of residence. This can help those who have no valid address in India.

The consul said, “The NRIs who have been living in the foreign for a long time don’t have a valid address in India. Such people may request the passport authority to add their local address in the passport.”

It does not mean that you have to change the address in the existing passport. You can ask consul about the same or Services2NRI is here to know about what changes you may need in the passport. The authority won’t change the address in the valid passport. Rather, you need to raise a request for a new passport to be issued with the new local address.

Change in Address for Self-Owned & Rented NRIs House

Confused about who should apply for changes in the address?

This order is applied on both, the rented and self-owned accommodation holder NRIs.

The ones who want to make changes, they need to provide certain documents as a proof of residence. This would be done at the time of applying for a new passport. Place a request for changing the address from India to overseas.

Benefits

The mention of a local address can help NRI applicant in getting documents quickly. Certificate of No Marriage of Record (CENOMAR) and Police Clearance Certificate from India, for example, can be easily drawn if you have the local address.

The verification for these documents is mandatory from the MEA and consul. It is the best way to take least of time to get other immigration or change of status documents.

The inclusion of local address where NRIs live encourages them to change their address even if they don’t have a valid address in India.

Checklist of Documents to Change the Address in India

  • Aadhaar Card/ e-Aadhaar/ Letter containing the unique Aadhaar number. But, if you don’t have (as NRIs don’t need it mandatorily), you can skip it.
  • Allotment letter of the government accommodation issued by the estate office/public work
  • Department of the Central/State Government in respect of their employees
  • Applicant’s current and valid ration card
  • Driving licence
  • Duly certified/attested extract of the service record/book of the government employees (serving/retired) or the bona fide certificate issued by the employer for serving Government employees
  • Election Commission Photo ID card
  • Electricity bill
  • Employer Certificate on letterhead from reputed and widely-known companies
  • Gas connection bill
  • Income Tax assessment order
  • Marriage Certificate issued by the Registrar of Marriages along with address proof of spouse in respect of newly married women, if married
  • Parents’ passports and parents’ address proof in case of minors (if address is different)
  • Parents’ passports in case of minors (if address is the same)
  • Passport of son/ daughter in case of dependent parents (if address is the same)
  • Passport of son/ daughter in case of dependent parents and address proof of son/ daughter (if address is different)
  • Photo Passbook of existing Bank Account (Scheduled Public Sector Banks, Scheduled Private Sector Indian Banks and Regional Rural Banks only)
  • Proof of Address (POA) issued by the India Post, Department of Posts
  • Rent agreement
  • Spouse’s passport copy (first and last page including family details mentioning applicant’s name as spouse of the passport holder provided the applicant’s present address matches the address mentioned in the spouse’s passport)
  • Spouse’s passport copy (if address is different) with spouse’s address proof
  • Telephone (landline or post-paid mobile bill)
  • Water bill

In short, you need to apply for changes in your passport address by raising a request for a new passport with a new address (the local address of where you live). This tweak can help you get a single status certificate or marriage certificate or any other related document for immigration.

France Invites Talent Passport Holding NRIs From August

France Invites Talent Passport Holding NRIs From August

France is one of the foremost countries inviting Indian NRIs who are students, researchers and teachers holding the Talent passport.

There are hundreds of Indian students, researchers and teachers who have the Talent passport can now explore opportunities in France. This is the first country that has opened its borders for non-residents and residents of India to try their luck in a French academic establishment or laboratory.

Visa Centers in Metropolitans

The government here has opened seven visa processing centers in metropolitan cities, including Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Kochi. These centers have been in the operation from August 17, 2020. However, these visas will be granted to only a few applicants.

The visa providers have been complying with Indian travel regulations and the safety of consular teams amid the widespread of pandemic Covid-19. Likewise, the varsities in France have also made all arrangements for accommodating the international talent, either wholly or partly on the campus premises.

An ambassador Emmanuel Lenain from France addressed thousands of Indian students who would like to study there, stating that the country is back to the state of normalcy from infectious coronavirus. This is delightful to announce that the students will be the first to be benefited with this unlock. Besides, its embassy is also mobilized to allow them study there in all favourable conditions.

Limited Facility

As per directions, this visa facility is limitedly available for a long-term visa. The consul will offer certificate attestation to these applicants there so that they get their documents validated for visa.

Simply put, Indian students can travel there in autumn for studies for more than three months or more. But if they want to go for short-term courses or internship, it is also permitted now. The accommodation facility will be accompanied with the study visa.

As far as professors and researchers are concerned, they can also join French academic institution or research laboratory. Even, the students who are at the end of the course session there, they can also teach and apply for a valid long-term visa or the Talent passport.

Mandatory Certificate

The applicants must have Attestation de déplacement international dérogatoire, aka International Travel Certificate to Mainland France. The interested ones can download it from the website of the French interior ministry. It is mandatory to present it to the travel company before emigrating. The border control authorities will check it on arrival in that country.

In addition, the applicants should have an undertaking reading that the person does not show up any symptoms of COVID-19. This undertaking will ensure that the applicant has not been contacted with the infection 14 days prior to departure.

Visa Processing

Since safety is priority, the visa authority will process applications in small batches every week. It is to ensure that adequate precautions are taken at the processing centers. Moreover, social distancing and other preventive measures are being embraced. Mobile biometric data collection and courier services are being availed to carry out contactless procedures at the centers.

What if Any Sign Appears?

Since infection is widespread, an additional preventive step is being taken. If any of these travelers shows any symptoms of COVID on the entry of the French boundary, he or she will have to be quarantined or self-isolated.

Host Pre-Departure Sessions

Those who would be prepared to catch the flight, there will take place pre-departure sessions. These are called “Bienvenue en France”.  These are meant to acknowledge students with administrative procedures, ways to finding accommodation, tips from alumni and practical advice on student life in France.

The authority will grant around 118 Indian students to travel to that country at the end of September as English Language Assistants for their professional journey in French schools. This is a golden chance for French-speaking Indian students to live there and earn their bread and butter, gaining professional experience.

Guidelines for Indian Passport Renunciation & Certificate

Guidelines for Indian Passport Renunciation & Certificate

Renunciation of Indian Passport

What if you have got the citizenship of the USA or any other foreign country?

The Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) cannot retain Indian passport in such condition. They have to surrender it for complying with the Indian Citizenship Act, 1955. The ignorance of this Act is treated as an infringement, as India constitution does not allow ‘Dual Citizenship’.

In the nutshell, the person with an Indian passport can obtain the passport of another country provided that he has surrendered the former passport immediately after getting the nationality of another country.

Therefore, the non-resident of India should be in the know about this provision that necessitates applying for the ‘Surrender’ or ‘Renunciation Certificate’.

Does the passport carrying “cancelled stamp” define renunciation?

It’s noteworthy that your passport may carry only a “cancelled stamp”. It does not define that your citizenship has been surrendered automatically. The stamp must read-“cancelled due to acquiring foreign nationality”. This cancellation text on the stamp determines the surrender.

Any consular service for visa or OCI requires a proof of cancelled Indian passport. In the case of non-availability of that proof, the applicant will have to apply for the renunciation certificate. For it, he ought to follow the defined procedure for the same.

Is it necessary to travel with the ‘Certificate of Renunciation of Indian Citizenship’ in India?

No, the travellers need not come along with this certificate in India. In addition, they should bear the fact in their mind that it is illegal to use the Indian passport after surrendering the Indian citizenship. Such individuals will be considered as defaulters who have to pay penalties against this violation.

What is the renunciation fee for Indian passport?

The fee for renunciation may vary according to the area of jurisdiction and service centers. Therefore, you should inquire about it first.

The fee will depend on the type of services that you select and you as being minor, or major. For example, the renunciation fee for the Indian community welfare fund is $3, whereas the same for CKGS is $17 apart from courier charges.

How long does it take for renunciation of Indian passport?

The procedure to apply for renunciation may be different in various countries. But more or less, the process would be similar segmented under these categories:

  1. Standalone renunciation, wherein you can apply for surrendering the passport only.
  2. Visa + Renunciation, wherein you opt for visa and passport surrendering together.
  3. OCI + Renunciation, wherein you select OCI together with passport renunciation.

Indian passport surrender checklist:

  • Indian passport surrender form
  • Original current passport
  • Notarized affidavit, if the passport is lost
  • Last Indian passport
  • Address proof
  • Current photographs
  • Citizenship certificate etc.

The aforementioned checklist will be supporting at the time when you apply online for surrendering the passport and applying for OCI or another NRI services. This procedure will mandate filling the form duly and uploading the supporting documents.

However, the applicant can directly visit the immigration office or embassy to carry out this application process. Make sure that you have all necessary documents along with. It will help to get through this processing seamlessly. Otherwise, you may have to spend months for getting through this renunciation process.

Class 1 Officer Attestation Not Must for Tatkal Passport

Class 1 Officer Attestation Not Must for Tatkal Passport

Are you willing to get a passport?

You can apply for it for whatsoever reason. Before that, you must go through the recent amendment that the ruling government has introduced. It’s about the so called Tatkal Passport. It’s basically issued to meet the emergency need to fly across the border.

Do you know which colored passport you’re going to have? Does it sound absurd?

Let’s catch on a few facts about its classification in the next section.

How many types of passport are there?

The passport authority has classified the applicants under three categories. You can identify them with its jacket colour or cover. Firstly, let me introduce the three categories which are:

  • Government officers
  • Diplomats
  • Laymen

The government officers would be issued a white-colour passport. This colour is changed to red for the diplomats. The rest ones, like you and me, cover laymen who would be given a blue-colour passport.  The government executed this colour scheme for the passport jacket.

The MEA and the ministry of women and child development (WCD), earlier, decided to issue orange passport to the ones who have not yet passed 10 class exams. However, the recent amendment is called off since it drew a lot of flak. So for now, there would be no orange coloured passport issued to the needy of the emigration clearance check. Albeit, the last page, that reads the personal particulars of its holder, is printed in the same orange colour.

The police and immigration authority use these personal particulars to verify its bearer’s identity and nationality.

Who does come under Class 1 officer?

It is to drill into your head that the stamp from a Gazette officer or class 1 officer over supporting documents used to be essential. It was the tale of yesterday. Today, it’s changed. Now, you don’t need the attestation service of the class 1 officer.

The class 1 officers are the Gazette officers. They are the government servants who are designated at the level of deputy secretary or above in the state or center. The district collector, superintendent of police, assistant commissioner and tehsildars collectively define the category of the Gazette officer or Class 1 officers.

What the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has amended?

The recent amendment applies to the issuance of the Tatkal passport. Now, the seal of verification from the class 1 officers is no more a must to have for this passport service. It’s a gift of convenience to the laymen who’re going to be an NRI.

The government has assessed the dilemma of the laymen. It found that everyone has no reach to the class 1 officers. So, it was a Herculean task to get their documents attested from the Grade 1 government officers. The findings revealed that usage of the discretionary power is a norm. Only influential people enjoy this privilege.  Therefore, the government has abandoned that barrier. It’s the impact of higher level of trust in the common man.

Which documents are required to apply for tatkal passport?

The altered provision stated these documents to be attached in support of your passport application:

  • Aadhaar Card
  • PAN Card
  • Election Card

A year ago, the birth certificate or birth proof was a mandatory document to submit. Now, the aforementioned documents are required only.

How many days does it take to process?  

The Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) takes just two to three days for processing this kind of application. Most of the expats find it an outstanding NRI service to get it in a short fragment of time. But, it won’t be dispatched unless the paperwork is completed and submitted to the competent authority.

Eventually, the applicant receives it via postal service.

Update over Documents Needed for Passport in India

Update over Documents Needed for Passport in India

Many Passport Sewa Kendras (or PSK) process thousands of passport applications every year. India’s first Post Office Passport Sewa Kendra (POPSK) in Mysuru was set up in January, 2017. Since then, it has processed around 15,000 out of 17,899 passport applications successfully.  It’s the enormous sets of stats that just a PSK centre took care of.

Now, you can imagine how many passport applications do 77 PSK process!

It’s one of the significant documents that are mandatory to take along during immigration. It depicts the nationality with the date of the foreign visit. None of the foreign government allows any immigrant sans it. This is why the Indian immigration authority mandated these documents before November, 2017.

Documents required annexing the passport application:

  1. Date of Birth proof for those who are born after 26th January 1989.
  2. Registrar-issued a birth certificate in the Municipal Corporation (MC) of the respective district. If it’s not available, the passport authority accepts the birth proof issued by the head of the Para-Medical office where his/her birth took place.
  3. PAN Card
  4. School Certificate with the scripted date of birth issued by the recognized board or equivalent board
  5. Aadhar Card/ E-Aadhar
  6. Attested proof that states the applicant served in the government service/ Pay Pension Order-attested by the department head/in-charge of the ministry.
  7. Driving Licence
  8. Election Commission’s Election Photo Identity Card (EPIC)
  9. Photocopy of the public life insurance policy bond, if any.

What amendments have been made in the passport policy in 2017? 

It’s related to the documents required for the passport. These are the major changes that are declaimed:

  1. Guardian/Parent’s Name
  • Old Policy: As per old books of passport rules, it was compulsory to mention the name of both (mother and father) parents.

Sadhus/Sanyasi can state the name of their spiritual gurus in the place of guardian’s/parent’s name. This rule is not altered.

  • Update: Now, the government has relaxed the rule of stating both parents’ name. The applicant can mention either of the parent’s names.  
  1. Annexures
  • Old Policy: Earlier, around 15 annexes were mandatory. The applicants needed to fill, notarize and attest these certificates. Some even used to pay for the certificate attestation to the third party.
  • Update: Today, the government has restricted to 9 annexes. The rest of the annexes have been discarded or merged. Therefore, the applicants can enjoy the convenience of submitting limited annexes.
  1. Notarization: It’s an anti-fraud detection program. It scrutinizes the validity and authenticity of the documents as well as transactions.
  • Old Policy: The requisite documents for the processing of passport applicants needed to be notarized. With the request of doing so, the passport applicants had to queue up outside the notary officer or magistrate or sub-divisional magistrate. Sometimes, this process became lengthy and full of hassles.
  • Update: After the changes, the notarization is put to its end. This process is no longer in existence. It means that the applicants would no longer go through the hurly burly situation. The magistrate office will no longer be a crowded hub.
  1. Attestation  
  • Old Policy: Like notarization, the documents for the passport required to be attested by the District Magistrate (DM)/ Sub-Divisional District Magistrate (SDM). This is not the end point of the certificate attestation services. The applicant had to go for the counter-attestation by the Home Ministry. Once these Apostille services were done, the applicant finally went through police verification. A police officer verified the documents required for the tatkal passport or the simple one.
  • Update: The applicants can obtain a plain paper, state and attest. They no longer have to go to the DM or SDM office.
  1. Marriage Certificate
  • Old Policy: If the candidate is married, he/she had to present a marriage certificate as a proof of matrimony. And if the applicant is unfortunately a divorcee, he/she would have to submit the decree absolute.
  • Update: Now, appending such kind of proof is no longer required.

How NRIs Can Get Passport without Birth Certificate

How NRIs Can Get Passport without Birth Certificate

Passport is the key to take a flight to overseas. You would surely confront denial in case you lack birth certificate. The Indian law approves immigration to those who pocket this vital document. What if you don’t have it? What if you need to catch the flight for abroad and you find it missing? It would surely be crucial point to comprehend what the law states for NRI services.

Birth Proof is Essential Proof for Passport

Indian government has declared birth certificate a mandatory document for the passport applicants. Possibility has it that many of them may not have it. Some might have lost it to flames while a few might have misplaced it. All in all, what their story narrates that they don’t have essential certificate of their birth. Beneath is given the significant information regarding birth document.

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