Dual Citizenship is coming!! Hurray!!!
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Please see the following update :
Overseas citizenship @ Rs 12,500
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/msid-824920,curpg-1.cms
TIMES NEWS NETWORK[ MONDAY, AUGUST 23, 2004 08:58:34 PM ]
NEW DELHI: The government has issued a notification under which people of Indian origin (PIO) would have to pay Rs 12,500 to secure Indian overseas citizenship.
A PIO would enjoy all rights of an Indian citizen, except the right to employment in government service and exercising franchise or holding a constitutional post, it was announced here on Monday.
The PIO will not be required to have a visa while visiting India and can also buy property and enjoy equality with non-resident Indians (NRIs) in economic, financial and educational fields besides having an overseas Indian passport.
The new PIO scheme meant for overseas Indians living in 16 countries was notified recently and would be called Citizenship (Third Amendment) Rules, 2004. It prescribes the processing fee to be charged for registering foreign citizens of Indian origin, official sources said.
The facility for procuring dual citizenship has been extended to people of Indian origin living in Australia, Canada, Finland, France, Greece, Ireland, Israel, Italy, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Portugal, Republic of Cyprus, Sweden, Switzerland, UK and the US.
Formulated by the NDA regime, the scheme was opposed by many in South Africa and the Caribbean who did not see merit in it because of their respective local conditions.
Of the fee payable for registration as an overseas Indian citizen, $ 25 will be non-refundable, while the rest will be returned in case the application is turned down.
However, no person who is deprived of his Indian citizenship under this Act will be registered as an overseas citizen of India except by an order of the government.
For this purpose, the expression ``Person of Indian Origin'' will mean a citizen of another country who is eligible to become a citizen of India at the time of the commencement of the Constitution or belonged to a territory that became part of India after August 15, 1947.
However, the Act does not cover those people who, at any time, were citizens of Pakistan, Bangladesh or any other country which the government may notify in the official gazette.
***
Hope this scheme works well.
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Together, we shall make it happen !
So it is done!!
I checked http://www.cgitoronto.ca and they don't have any update on this yet.
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A Proud Indian Canadian
Location: Ottawa (Now in Bangalore)
Posted on: 23-08-04 17:33:38
GG not so soon 
http://us.rediff.com/news/2004/aug/23inter1.htm
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Home > News > Interview
The Rediff Interview/Minister for NRI Affairs Jagdish Tytler
August 23, 2004
Jagdish Tytler, Union minister of state for non-resident Indian affairs, is fighting to have his share of the pie from the ministry of external affairs, which seems loath to let go of the NRI affairs department.
He currently operates out of a small room in South Block, which was earlier used by MEA officials to meet foreign dignitaries.
He is also fighting for more funds and more work. The government has allocated just Rs 7 crore to his ministry.
His differences with the MEA on the allocation of work to his ministry have become public. Many say the NRI ministry has been carved out of the MEA for no apparent reason and is a waste of taxpayers' money.
Tytler, the Lok Sabha member from Delhi Sadar, shared his views on his new assignment with Ehtasham Khan.
How difficult is it to start a ministry from scratch?
It is not a new thing for me.
I had started two new ministries. I was the first person to do it. It is very simple, not difficult.
Putting forward the problems of NRIs is my objective.
What was the need to set up the NRIs ministry?
It is for the satisfaction of NRIs. They had to run from post to pillar to get things done. They don't have so much time. They want single window clearance. That is how this ministry was created.
What about dual citizenship for PIO [Persons of Indian Origin]?
It is almost done. Registration will start in less than a month. It is currently with the law ministry for technical reasons. Everything is clear.
We just have to decide the registration fee that will be charged [from people who wish to have dual citizenship]. It will begin with 16 specified countries. It will be extended later to 70 countries.
What is the idea behind dual citizenship? How can India gain from it?
They [the PIO] will be considered Indians. They will get many benefits. They will not require any visa to come to India.
Apart from the non requirement of a visa, what other benefits exist for PIO?
Some investment schemes will be made; some economic zones will be created. We would like them to come to this culture.
Will the PIO have voting rights?
No, no. There is no question of that.
How do you see your ministry a couple of years down the line?
We are coming out with a policy. It will be announced at Diaspora 2005 [the next Pravasi Bharatiya Divas].
What is required to be done, how we can help each other, what India can do for them.
Is there any indication what the NRI ministry's functions will be?
We will provide single window clearance for NRIs. They had complaints about red-tape and bureaucratic hurdles. Now they have the ministry. We are working as per the demands raised in Diaspora [Pravasi Bharatiya Divas] 2003 and 2004 and also the recommendations given by the committee on NRIs headed by Dr [L M] Singhvi.
We will try to attract huge investment, especially in real estate.
We plan to build NRI cities. The first one will come up in Bangalore.
We will also try to ensure the safety and security of our people living abroad. We have plans to prepare a database of PIO and NRIs. This is my first priority.
A meeting was held on August 6 on allocation of work to your ministry. What happened?
The final meeting is yet to take place. It will happen soon.
I am told no decision could be taken at that meeting because of differences with the MEA.
No, no, that's incorrect. There is no difference.
What plans do you have for Indians, especially the labour community who get exploited abroad?
Yes, yes. There are problems people in the Gulf face. We are trying to coordinate with other governments and our embassies.
We will see their [NRIs'] problems are directly dealt with by the Government of India.
Has the process started?
Our ministry has just started. Very soon we will take it up.
There were reports that NRIs in the US have to pay taxes that are meant for retirement benefits. But many NRIs don't stay in the US for long, hence they lose thousands of dollars every year. How do you plan to tackle this?
There are laws in other countries with which we cannot interfere, just as they cannot interfere in our laws.
But if the complaint comes, then the ministry will take it up. It is good you have raised this point. Let us see.
How do you expect your ministry will help the country three or four years from now?
I would expect [NRI] investment, currently at 10 percent, to easily go up to 25 percent. We will make life easier for them [NRIs].
Image: Rahil Shaikh
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"Aur Vaise Bhi, Sharafat ki jab kapde utarti hai, sabse zyaada mazaa shareefon ko hi aati hai"....(From The Dirty Picture)
Warning !! SCAM ALERT !!
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This is a Useful Health related Tip
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Please visit
http://www.cmje.org/religious-texts/quran/verses/009-qmt.php for some interesting Information ! (Especially 009.005 )
Location: Ottawa (Now in Bangalore)
Posted on: 23-08-04 17:39:51
I think TOI is quoting theprice of a PIO card which incidently is 310 US$ (approx 12,500INR)...and those guys generally shoot off their mouth
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"Aur Vaise Bhi, Sharafat ki jab kapde utarti hai, sabse zyaada mazaa shareefon ko hi aati hai"....(From The Dirty Picture)
Warning !! SCAM ALERT !!
http://www.canadiandesi.ca/read.php?TID=4169 & http://www.canadiandesi.ca/read.php?TID=1379
This is a Useful Health related Tip
http://www.canadiandesi.ca/read.php?TID=3865
Please visit
http://www.cmje.org/religious-texts/quran/verses/009-qmt.php for some interesting Information ! (Especially 009.005 )
Location: Ottawa (Now in Bangalore)
Posted on: 23-08-04 17:39:51
I think TOI is quoting theprice of a PIO card which incidently is 310 US$ (approx 12,500INR)...and those guys generally shoot off their mouth
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"Aur Vaise Bhi, Sharafat ki jab kapde utarti hai, sabse zyaada mazaa shareefon ko hi aati hai"....(From The Dirty Picture)
Warning !! SCAM ALERT !!
http://www.canadiandesi.ca/read.php?TID=4169 & http://www.canadiandesi.ca/read.php?TID=1379
This is a Useful Health related Tip
http://www.canadiandesi.ca/read.php?TID=3865
Please visit
http://www.cmje.org/religious-texts/quran/verses/009-qmt.php for some interesting Information ! (Especially 009.005 )
Location: Ottawa (Now in Bangalore)
Posted on: 23-08-04 20:35:14
One more website !
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1040823/asp/nation/story_3662268.asp
Can someone explain the Highlighted portion ????????
Dual citizenship, for select 16
ALOKE TIKKU
New Delhi, Aug. 22: Foreign citizens of Indian origin in 16 countries can finally get an Indian citizenship, too, at a price close to that of the People of Indian Origin card.
On July 19, the Centre notified the second set of rules that prescribed the fee for the registration of ?Overseas Citizenship?, thus allowing the processing of applications.
The first notification was made in March to declare the application process for dual citizenship. But it was kept under wraps apparently for fear of a flood of applications before officials were clear about what to do with them.
Even now, the website of the Indian embassy in the US says the fee and procedures are yet to be determined.
The privilege has been extended to only the US, the UK, Australia, Canada, Finland, France, Greece, Ireland, Israel, Italy, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Portugal, the Republic of Cyprus, Sweden and Switzerland.
Once registered, the ?overseas citizens? will enjoy all rights of Indian citizens except the right to equality in public employment and the right to vote or be appointed to a constitutional office.
They will get an overseas Indian passport and not require visas to India. They can also buy property and enjoy parity with non-resident Indians in facilities available in the economic, financial and educational fields.
Indians will also not automatically cease to be citizens of India if they avail of the latest scheme within six months of acquiring citizenship of any of the 16 specified countries.
The L.M. Singhvi committee on the Indian diaspora had backed demands for dual citizenship, which was allowed in December through an amendment to the citizenship act. The issue had also figured prominently at the first Pravasi Bharatiya Divas last January.
In limiting the benefits accruing to Indians who had renounced their Indian citizenship, the government has argued that the principal rationale for their demand was sentimental and psychological.
Broadly, officials concede that the benefits to ?overseas citizens? were largely available under the PIO card that was floated in 1999 and revamped in 2002 but never really took off. ?There are only marginal differences,? a government official said.
The revamp to the not-so-popular PIO scheme had slashed charges for a 15-year card from $1,000 (roughly Rs 46,000 at current exchange rate) to Rs 15,000 for adults and Rs 7,500 for minors. The charges were mentioned in rupees after the revamp.
The ?overseas citizenship? certificate, however, will cost $275 (Rs 12,650) for adults and minors, up from the initial proposal of $100.
Those who surrender their ?overseas citizenship? will be charged $25 (Rs 1,150) as processing fee.
The latest notification has also hiked the fee for registering foreign nationals as Indian citizens ? in some cases by as much as 20 times. Instead of Rs 500, foreigners marrying Indians will have to pay Rs 10,000-15,000 if they apply abroad for Indian citizenship.
Certificate of naturalisation will cost Rs 15,000 instead of Rs 2,000, and registration of a declaration of intention to resume Indian citizenship or its renunciation will cost Rs 5,000 instead of Rs 500.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"Aur Vaise Bhi, Sharafat ki jab kapde utarti hai, sabse zyaada mazaa shareefon ko hi aati hai"....(From The Dirty Picture)
Warning !! SCAM ALERT !!
http://www.canadiandesi.ca/read.php?TID=4169 & http://www.canadiandesi.ca/read.php?TID=1379
This is a Useful Health related Tip
http://www.canadiandesi.ca/read.php?TID=3865
Please visit
http://www.cmje.org/religious-texts/quran/verses/009-qmt.php for some interesting Information ! (Especially 009.005 )
Location: Ottawa (Now in Bangalore)
Posted on: 23-09-04 03:10:50
Maybe your kids will have dual citizenship. I wonder where are those (PSEUDO - SECULAR) "Congress-Left" party supporters that were rejoicing a couple of months ago !!!
Quote:
Dual citizenship for PIOs shortly: Kamlesh Sharma
Press Trust of India
London, September 23
India will soon finalise the issue of dual citizenship for People of Indian Origin and administrative details in this regard were being worked out, Indian High Commissioner to Britain Kamlesh Sharma said on Thursday.
"A relevant bill has been passed and administrative details were being worked out," Sharma said at a dinner meeting on Wednesday night on 'India's Economic Outlook' organised by the Commonwealth Business Council.
Answering questions from the select gathering, which included Rahul Bajaj, Co-Chair of the council and Mohan Kaul, Director General and Chief Executive Officer, Sharma said the bill might be reintroduced with minor amendments in Parliament during its next session in November.
"If there is any legal challenge, then obviously it will have to wait," he added.
Referring to the state of Indian economy, the High Commissioner said it was looking up..... (blah blah blah)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"Aur Vaise Bhi, Sharafat ki jab kapde utarti hai, sabse zyaada mazaa shareefon ko hi aati hai"....(From The Dirty Picture)
Warning !! SCAM ALERT !!
http://www.canadiandesi.ca/read.php?TID=4169 & http://www.canadiandesi.ca/read.php?TID=1379
This is a Useful Health related Tip
http://www.canadiandesi.ca/read.php?TID=3865
Please visit
http://www.cmje.org/religious-texts/quran/verses/009-qmt.php for some interesting Information ! (Especially 009.005 )
