Citizenship Surrenders and U.S. Paths for Indian Immigrants

(INDIA) India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has told the Rajya Sabha that 8,96,843 Indians gave up citizenship between 2020 and 2024, a five-year run that many families see only at the end of a long overseas journey. The MEA shared the figures in an unstarred question (No. 1347) answered on December 11, 2025, and it also said it does not keep data on income profiles or the share of people by occupation. So, the government’s reply shows the scale and trend, but it does not prove whether the people were students, tech workers, doctors, or business families.

The year-wise counts the MEA reported to the Rajya Sabha were:

For many Indians in the United States 🇺🇸—F-1 students, H-1B workers, green card holders, and new U.S. citizens—these numbers raise a practical question: When does “gave up citizenship” become your issue, and what do you do, step by step, to stay compliant with both countries? According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, the key is to plan early, even though the actual surrender step often comes late.

What “gave up citizenship” usually means in real life

In everyday use, people say they “gave up citizenship” when they become a citizen of another country and then complete the India-side steps tied to that change. The main reason is simple: India does not allow dual citizenship.

In consular guidance, once a person acquires a foreign nationality, they must stop using the Indian passport and complete the required surrender or renunciation steps. Keeping and using an Indian passport after foreign naturalization can lead to penalties and delays.

Timing notes for U.S.-focused readers:

• F-1 and H-1B status do not require you to give up Indian citizenship.
• A U.S. green card does not require you to give up Indian citizenship.
• The usual trigger is foreign naturalization (for example, becoming a U.S. citizen), after which India’s passport and citizenship rules kick in.

The United States 🇺🇸 generally allows dual nationality in practice, so the “forced choice” that leads many people to the “gave up citizenship” step is usually coming from India’s rules, not from U.S. visa rules.

The long pathway, mapped: F-1 → H-1B → green card → naturalization

This outcome is typically a late-stage development after years of immigration steps. A common sequence many Indians in the U.S. follow:

1. F-1 student stage: study and work under student rules (often with OPT later).
2. H-1B work stage: work in the U.S. under employer sponsorship.
3. Green card stage: become a lawful permanent resident.
4. Naturalization stage: become a U.S. citizen — the point when India’s passport surrender/renunciation becomes urgent.
5. OCI stage (common next step): apply for Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) to keep long-term access to India.

The MEA data does not say which step people were on before they gave up citizenship, but this sequence matches how the process works for many Indian nationals in the United States 🇺🇸.

F-1 students: actions to take now, even if citizenship feels far away

If you are on F-1, the MEA’s Rajya Sabha numbers are not a direct compliance problem today. Still, F-1 is where many later problems begin—small document errors, inconsistent names, and missed tax changes.

Early-action checklist for F-1 students:

• Keep your identity details clean from day one. Ensure name, date of birth, and place of birth match across Indian passport, school records, and every U.S. filing. Fix mismatches early.
• Travel as an Indian citizen while on F-1. Use your Indian passport plus your U.S. visa and U.S. immigration papers.
• Track U.S. tax residency. U.S. tax residency can change based on days in the country (the “substantial presence” test). Even without citizenship, tax duties can grow.
• Make study and job choices with sponsorship reality in mind. Program type, internships, and employer mix shape the path from OPT to H-1B.

If you keep paperwork consistent now, you reduce stress later during H-1B, green card, and consular processes.

H-1B workers: where citizenship surrender fits — and where it doesn’t

For most Indian nationals, H-1B is a work-status phase, not a citizenship phase. You usually remain an Indian citizen throughout your H-1B period unless you naturalize elsewhere.

Practical H-1B points:

• You stay an Indian citizen while on H-1B.
• Many people use the H-1B years as the “long middle” when employers begin the green card process.
• Travel remains India-passport-based until you naturalize elsewhere. Keep your Indian passport valid and U.S. status documents current.

Job market shifts can change outcomes (employers sponsoring green cards, role demand, etc.). The MEA data doesn’t list reasons, but it shows many still reach the point where they gave up citizenship after long-term settlement abroad.

Green card holders: you usually keep Indian citizenship, but taxes become central

A common myth: “Once I get a green card, I must renounce Indian citizenship.” In most cases, that’s not true. A green card is lawful permanent residency, not citizenship.

However, green cards often bring a major change in tax posture. Many green card holders become U.S. tax residents, which can bring worldwide income into U.S. tax reporting. This is important if you have:

• rent or business income in India,
• investments in India,
• accounts managed by parents or family in India,
• plans to sell property later.

Recommended action at green card stage:

• Consult an immigration lawyer for status strategy.
• Consult a cross-border tax professional for filing and reporting.

The MEA reply to the Rajya Sabha doesn’t cover tax details, but many who later “gave up citizenship” say paperwork grows most around green card and naturalization stages.

New U.S. citizens: the India-side steps after naturalization

Naturalization is the phase most tied to the MEA “gave up citizenship” counts. The India-side message is direct: stop using the Indian passport and complete the surrender/renunciation process as required.

What to expect — step-by-step:

1. Right after naturalization: treat your Indian passport as no longer usable for travel once you have foreign nationality. Mission practices may mention limited grace periods, but rules vary. Check guidance for your mission before traveling.
2. Prepare proof files: keep naturalization proof, last Indian passport details, and identity records ready. Many steps depend on showing correct handling of the Indian passport.
3. Complete the surrender/renunciation step: this is the compliance action that aligns with saying you “gave up citizenship.”
4. Reset India travel plans: many former Indian citizens use OCI for long-term access rather than repeating short visas.

Processing times vary by location and workload. Plan for delays if you have urgent family travel.

OCI after surrender: keeping long-term access to India without dual citizenship

For many former Indian citizens, OCI is the standard next step. OCI provides repeat travel and long stays but is not dual citizenship. OCI comes with limits, such as no voting rights and restrictions on certain roles.

OCI commonly offers:

• a multiple-entry, multi-purpose, lifelong visa to visit India,
• exemption from FRRO/FRO registration for any length of stay,
• broadly parity with NRIs in many economic, financial, and educational areas, with stated exclusions.

Important practical point: consular workflows often expect proof that your Indian passport was properly surrendered/renounced before OCI proceeds. Skipping or delaying that step can stall OCI.

For official OCI application and instructions, use the Government of India portal: OCI Services.

Expectation setting: what authorities check, and what you should double-check

Authorities focus on identity continuity and rule compliance rather than a single form. You can lower risk by checking these items before submitting anything:

• Same identity everywhere: consistent name order, spelling, and dates across passports, certificates, and records.
• No Indian passport use after foreign naturalization: this is a frequent cause of penalties and delays.
• Clean travel timeline planning: avoid last-minute trips assuming you can keep using an Indian passport after naturalization.
• Family planning: if you need to visit parents for caregiving or emergencies, start surrender and OCI planning early.

Key takeaway: planning early and keeping identity documents consistent reduces friction at later stages like H-1B, green card adjudication, naturalization, and OCI processing.

A simple checkpoint list for each stage

• F-1 stage
  • Keep documents consistent.
  • Track tax-status changes.
  • Plan study and job choices with sponsorship reality in mind.
• H-1B stage
  • Keep Indian passport valid.
  • Keep U.S. status papers valid.
  • Treat “gave up citizenship” as a later step unless you naturalize.
• Green card stage
  • Focus on cross-border taxes and asset planning.
  • You normally remain an Indian citizen.
• Naturalization stage
  • Stop using the Indian passport.
  • Complete surrender/renunciation.
  • Consider OCI for stable India travel and long stays.

The MEA’s Rajya Sabha disclosure does not explain each person’s individual story, but it does show how common this end-stage step has become for Indians who settle abroad for the long term.