When I had left India many years ago, I had closed my bank account and taken everything.
Since that time, India has changed a lot of things.
I hear that now there is a voter identity card, a tax filing number called PAN# which is like SIN#, and banks ask for all these pieces of information before dealing with you.

If I wanted to re-establish ties in India by opening a bank account (not an NRI account, but a regular Indian savings account), how to go about it?
What all do I need?
I should mention that I have OCI card.

Bamba Bamba, si capitan. We are the marineros here.

First, Senor, you got to be there in person to do all of these. And you say that there is no discrimination there in India? It must be a joke. The minute they see you they know you are a GRINGO. It is the aura with which you walk that they notice immediately.

Then you need a roof over your head. What is that? A place with an address, they call it address proof. That is easy!! Right? NO. They want you to to show a rental receipt from a land lord with your name on it. OR a lease, stating that you are paying the big bucks. I know you have your own house, so, get all of the papers in order and make sure that the spellings on each document are the same and get the ownership papers ready. Tax receipts for the property and any utility bills that you normally pay to them, which is monthly. Organize from here before you land there. I know NO ONE cares for you any more. So, start the spade work if you can.

Lot of people ask for a PICTURE ID. So, get your International Driver's Permit from here and after you reach, look for a broker who will get the Indian Drivers License and do this for you in the town where you will be residing. It will cost you a few BIG bucks. How about TEN Dollars? I know, I know, you can't even leave your home here for that kind of money. In India, it is BIG BUCKS. Will also need the right size pictures and there are a few photographers there who will provide you a COMPLETE set for TWO Dollars. WOW!!

Now you are pretty close to getting started. You want to know how close right? Next you go for the PAN CARD, It also needs pictures. But you already have the total kit. So, you are ahead of the game. 106 Rupees will get you a PAN Card in Three weeks. You will have to sign and collect it. You can get it from Canada too, but it will cost you an arm and a leg. See their website.

ARE WE THERE YET? very very close. After you get all of these, go and stand in front of the Bank Manager and ask him to open an NON RESIDENT ORDINARY RUPEE Account. He will tell you what else you will need at that time.

Nothing has been made very easy for the returning Indians. But you have a lot of clout there. So, walk proudly holding your head high up. If you are a smoker, carry some CUBAN Cigars. Always carry a pen that writes in BLACK INK. Get a check book that goes with it. (I cannot write CHEQUE here in Canada, they don't spell it that way here.)

Any more questions, please return back here.


FH.

First of all you need a PAN card. It is easy to apply. So apply and get it.
Next you need proof of local address. Now this could be tricky. Without this, you canot even open a bank account or even register a vehicle. but to apply for anything, you need a local address (same as Canadian experience).
So what I did was, I had my Canadian passport as blank. I wrote my current address in the Canadian passport and then showed it to the driving RTO and got my car licence.
After that it is very easy to get other stuff.
You are not eligible for votor card as you are a Canadian. Get Aadhar card too.
You are eligble for ration card and so get a ration card too. In some areas, you need ration card to get gas connection.
One serious thing is that if you want a heir certificate (as a result of your parents death), they require your name on the ration card to get you that. Luckily my name was there in my parents card.
Hope this helps.

Murali The Krishnan

-----------------------------------------------------------------
I am a Gents and not a Ladies.

Once u have PAN and Aadhar carda, rest is easy. My suggestion would be not to reveal everywhere and to everyone that u r from Canada. There are always vultures who will pray on u. They want your money for whatever the reason is. Keep it low and get on with your life.

thanks for the replies everyone. very helpful.
I should mention that I am not going back to India to live again.
just wish to re-establish my ties there like having a bank account, maybe buy a flat at some point in the future and so on.
also mention that my parents, uncles, and other relatives still live there.

i assume I can use their address? will that work for PAN card?

what is adhar card? i have never head of it.
i don't need voter card. i am no longer a citizen.

regarding PAN card, can I apply from Canada or do I have to physically go there, apply, and wait for it?

Although this might be a new post but also a good supplement to the POST started by captainbeen

Recently, I checked my NRE accounts in India (long back I used them a lot but not any more) like SBI, HDFC and ICICI. now they are showing me a negative like alteast around -5000 rupees.

What should I do
1) close all the accounts
2) pay current negative's and then I have to fill each of them with 100 to 400 $ I guess to avoid penalties. because ...(i dont know why I should keep them)
3) just take it easy and study how much negative it can grow for the information of others.

Appreciate your help guys!!!

Quote:

---

Originally posted by captainbeam

thanks for the replies everyone. very helpful.
I should mention that I am not going back to India to live again.
just wish to re-establish my ties there like having a bank account, maybe buy a flat at some point in the future and so on.
also mention that my parents, uncles, and other relatives still live there.

i assume I can use their address? will that work for PAN card?

what is adhar card? i have never head of it.
i don't need voter card. i am no longer a citizen.

regarding PAN card, can I apply from Canada or do I have to physically go there, apply, and wait for it?

---

-----------------------------------------------------------------
Give free food http://www.thehungersite.com ||