URGENT ~ TRAVEL AFTER OATH - APPLIED FOR U.S PASSPORT ~ URGENT

[02111982]

Hi @Murthy firm

I recently attended oath ceremony and became a citizen on 06/23. So applied for u.s passport Immediately on 06/26. Wanted to know how to travel / required documents, if something urgent comes up before I get the passport (current wait time for passport is if I expedite 7 to 10 wks). Just worried in case of family emergency. 

is technically my Indian citizenship cancelled immediately after my u.s citizenship oath ceremony is done? Or Can I still travel on India passport until the u.s passport is issued?
 

Look forward to hearing from you

Thanks 

AK

[JoeF]

You can not use the Indian passport. Your Indian citizenship is gone.

You need a US passport to travel internationally.

[pontevecchio]

Once you become a Citizen which will be through the oath ceremony, you will need to send your Indian Passport or fill out an appropriate form from the Indian Embassy. They will stamp your passport as citizenship canceled due to acquiring US Citizenship. Failure to do this entails fines and you should do it ASAP. After the Oath Ceremony, you cannot use the Indian Passport. Once you acquire the US Passport, get a 5 year evisa for India.

 

There are Passport agents/who can expedite the matter.

for example,

Expedited & Emergency Passport Service | Bucks County, PA

[02111982]

Thanks @JoeF & @pontevecchio

[giri26]

On 7/13/2023 at 10:37 PM, pontevecchio said:

Once you become a Citizen which will be through the oath ceremony, you will need to send your Indian Passport or fill out an appropriate form from the Indian Embassy. They will stamp your passport as citizenship canceled due to acquiring US Citizenship. Failure to do this entails fines and you should do it ASAP. After the Oath Ceremony, you cannot use the Indian Passport. Once you acquire the US Passport, get a 5 year evisa for India.

 

There are Passport agents/who can expedite the matter.

for example,

Expedited & Emergency Passport Service | Bucks County, PA

I agree that the OP needs to renounce Indian citizenship when he acquired US citizenship as India does not allow dual citizenship. But again I would like to clear one thing though, it is not a requirement that this has to be done immediately. India does allow 3 years before which you would need to renounce the Citizenship. The fines are for people who continue to use the Indian passport after acquiring a foreign nationality which is an offence. 

I live in Australia and did not renounce or surrender my passport for 2 years after obtaining my Australia passport. I had no issues doing so after 2 years. The penalties start if you don't surrender your passport within 3 years and if you travelled to India even once before surrendering your passport during that time using your Indian passport. 

Now to answer OP's question, yes as soon as you have taken the OATH, your Indian citizenship isn't valid anymore and you cannot use your Indian passport. The best thing to do is to wait to receive the US passport and do the renouncing of Indian passport and applying for OCI at the same time. In case of emergency you can get a Indian visa though. renouncing of Indian passport isn't time consuming, takes just 3 weeks.