I am currently visiting India on a Canadian passport after having acquired my citizenship in early 2005. I am an OCI, my six month old Canadian born daughter is a PIO and my wife is a PR.

During immigration at Mumbai Airport, the officer asked me to produce my old Indian passport, as I was visiting India for the first time as a Canadian. I was not carrying my cancelled Indian passports because to the best of my knowledge, there is no such requirement.

Anyhow, the officer said that this was the requirement and he could send me back or that I would have to meet his superior (wink-wink, nudge-nudge) to plead my case. At the same time, he said that since I was traveling with my family, he would let me through. I did not want to get into an argument over the requirement to carry the old Indian passports just to prove a point (since he had agreed to let me through) so I thanked him for his "generosity" and quietly slipped away.

Let this be a warning to all CD members who are traveling on Canadian passports for the first time to carry your old Indian passports. Even if you are an OCI or PIO that will not carry any weight if you run into the wrong officer or if it is not your day.

Cheers,

Strange.
Two yrs back I flew to Mumbai with a new canadian passport (one week old) and Indian tourist visa stamped. Though I was carrying the old Indian passport, no one asked me abt it. Since its not a requirement, I did not show. I think its just the official who wanted to get something out of you. Hope u did not pay anything.

DIO

That's good information, thanks dude!

I asked at the Indian consulate in Toronto regarding this and the response was that the customs officers generally don't ask for it however it "may be safe" to carry it regardless, just in case.

I have yet to see anything anywhere that states such a requirement but whatever! When you're standing in that line at the Indian port, you have neither the inclination nor the power to argue.

On a related note, the Indian consulate in TO has been bashed several times on the forum by different people for inefficiencies and chaos. I'm not denying that, but for the record, my experience was sans problems. Got my visa by mail within 10 working days, although its a good idea to apply at least a month in advance if possible. Matter of fact, I like the idea of getting this done via mail rather than wasting a whole day at the consulate.

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Are you there?

While I would agree that Indian government officers, much like US immigration officers, are notorious for creating problems for you specially in situations where you can easily be cornered, such cases are more person related than anything other than that. Such officers will somehow or the other will always create problem for travellers even if you have everything with you. If they do not find anything else, they can even go to the extent of saying that your face does not resemble the photo on the passport, especially if the passport is more than 3 years or so old! So in general , you can NEVER be fully prepared for their questions.

As it is said, the biggest of the fools in this world can sometimes ask questions which the wisest of people cannot find the absolutely satisfying or correct reply to.

Chandresh

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Chandresh

Advice is free – lessons I charge for!!

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Originally posted by BlueLobster

I asked at the Indian consulate in Toronto regarding this and the response was that the customs officers generally don't ask for it however it "may be safe" to carry it regardless, just in case.

I have yet to see anything anywhere that states such a requirement but whatever! When you're standing in that line at the Indian port, you have neither the inclination nor the power to argue.

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Originally posted by desi in ottawa

Strange.
Two yrs back I flew to Mumbai with a new canadian passport (one week old) and Indian tourist visa stamped. Though I was carrying the old Indian passport, no one asked me abt it. Since its not a requirement, I did not show. I think its just the official who wanted to get something out of you. Hope u did not pay anything.

DIO

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Quote:

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Originally posted by chandresh

As it is said, the biggest of the fools in this world can sometimes ask questions which the wisest of people cannot find the absolutely satisfying or correct reply to.

Chandresh

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