Would you go for dual citizenship? Why?

TerryM

Would you go for dual citizenship? Why?

Would you opt for it?

The facility is restricted to persons of Indian origin residing in 16 selected countries.














Terry

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If you can't stand the heat ...don't come near me...

nadreg

I'm going for it because it's going to simplify travel for me. I have an Indian citizenship now, and I'm going to get my US passport soon. I won't need visas for most places I would want to go, this way.

Plus, now I can vote the Republicans out of office.

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In pursuit of the Only truth: I Am!

Nick-H

...But, with OIC can you vote in India?

OIC makes perfect sense for anyone who wants to feel that their attatchment to their mother country is recognised --- which is why it was introduced.

A lifetime visa? Who wouldn't go for that, given the entitlement and assuming that they wish to visit regularly.

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IndiaMike Mod Team (The Grumpy One)

sezegnin

Assuming you are a foreign national with enough ties to India to qualify for one of these schemes, you have a choice between the PIO card and the OIC sticker (sometimes misleadingly called "dual nationality" or "overseas Indian passport").

The two are roughly equivalent: the PIO card is valid for 15 years renewable, the OIC sticker is valid for life or until they change the rules again, and both cost about $300. With the OIC sticker you can stay over 180 days in India without registering.

So the OIC sticker has a slight although somewhat notional edge in convenience. However it has a HUGE HUGE downside which the PIO card does not. Even though it is not a passport and you cannot travel on it or vote, several reports suggest it is legally considered a "form" of Indian nationality.

If so then when in India you would LOSE the consular of your home country in case of any legal trouble. For what it's worth India would not provide you with consular protection under any circumstances anywhere. Consular protection is completely unimportant unless you actually need it, which is when it could become very important.

For this reason it is highly advisable that anyone considering the OIC sticker not touch it with a barge pole, and get a PIO card instead.

Nick-H

That's a very good point. As you say, consular protection is one of those things that one never ever even considers --- but the day it is needed, it would be very important indeed.

Recently I enquired at HCI London about PIO. I was in queue of two. The other guy in the queue told me that few NRIs go for PIO now that they can get OIC. I wonder if PIO will be phased out.

I hope not, at least for the next year or so as (married to an Indian) I qualify for PIO, but not for OIC.

MeCasa

Good for you, they are an intolerant lot

dzibead

nadreg, when you become a naturalized U.S. citizen, you'll be required to renounce your citizenship in any other country as part of the citizenship oath. I don't know how India looks as such a renunciation, but I suspect it doesn't actually allow the kind of dual citizenship you hope to hold.

gypsie,lotus

nadreg,
Excellent, bravo, and all of the rest. Lets hope we can save USA and it is not too late, the disaster in the white house still has 2 1/2 years for more screw-ups, lies, WMD (weapons of mass deception) etc,etc,ect at nausea!!!!!!!!!!!
I too will do my best by voting them out as well.
gypsie

crvlvr

I don't think you renounce your citizenship (of the country) the oath reqyuires that you put the US first before any other country. ie. The US govt does not take away the other passport.

The OCI does not grant voting rights and allows the OCI to "apply for Indian citizenship" 5 years after having the OCI status.

Nick-H

Dzibead, OIC is a sort of pseudo-citizenship. It has been designed so that it is acceptible to other countries. I guess it is not really citizenship at all, more a recognition that one once was Indian.

As far as I know, USA is one of the countries in which it is available.

MeCasa

I wish my life was good enough that two countries wanted me, best I can hope for is a place willing to 'take me' when the IRS comes calling

Sama

unfortunately, that will take a lot more people than you, me, and all my friends.....

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My India, 2005-2008

"a clear conscience is the sign of a bad memory"

dzibead

Yes, the US doesn't have any problem with people having OIC status or PIO status or any of the "perks" conferred by the Indian Govt on such persons.

But contrary to what crvlvr said, the U.S. naturalization process does, in fact, require one to affirmatively give up citizenship in any country other than the United States. It's not just a matter of "putting the U.S. first before any other country." And whether they "take away the passport," physically, is beside the point. As far as the U.S. Govt is concerned, if you become a U.S. citizen and you still have your passport from another country, it's just a "souvenir" of your prior status. This doesn't foreclose the possibility that the OTHER country might permit or recongnize dual citizenship, but from the U.S. side THEY don't consider you a citizen of that other country once you become naturalized and renounce your "allegiance" to that other country.

Here's the oath one has to swear to become a naturalized citizen of the U.S.:

"I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state or sovereignty, of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen; that I will support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I will bear arms on behalf of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform noncombatant service in the armed forces of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform work of national importance under civilian direction when required by the law; and that I take this obligation freely without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; so help me God."

dzibead

But it's a start!

greenchutney

ahem..another entry in the NSA database welcome!..its really colorful here..in this database..browns, gays, pro-choicers, beards, turbans, yogis, non born-agains, commies, french, bio-fuelists, dixie-chicks, michael moore, susan sarandon and sean penn..more there i am sure..... you had better watch out if you citizenship interview is in the next two years!

the replacements are hopeless and rudderless too. same same? they too went along for the misadventure with their heads buried in the sand! trade a maniac for a flounderer?.... ...oh well who knows..yeah the ABB [Anybody But Bush] hat on my head! at the moment... two more years from the pulpit? <groan>