‘Huge relief to Goans holding Portuguese passports in UK’

 LONDON

Welcoming the Indian government’s decision to allow passport revocation order as an alternative document to surrender certificate, for granting visa/exit permission on valid Portuguese passport/OCI card, a Goan lawyer in the UK said it would be a huge relief to many Portuguese passport holders in the UK as well as other countries.

Joyce De Souza, a corporate lawyer for international banks and the Constituency of the Labour Party Women’s Officer in the Labour Party of Brent West Parliamentary Constituency in North West London, had been closely following the matter in the UK.

“Many people and Goans in the UK had approached us about this issue as they were worried and wanted to know how would they stay in Goa for a longer duration, since the OCI card holder can stay in Goa for a long time,” said De Souza.

“This is a good decision by the Government of India. Finally, they have understood the effects of not issuing or renewing the OCI faced by so many people who have obtained Portuguese nationality because of their livelihood, family and better prospects for themselves and their children.”

“I am glad this problem is resolved as it would be a huge relief to many Goan Portuguese passport holders in the UK as well as other countries. My husband Elvis Fernandes, former Canacona Congress block president, and a delegate to the Constituency of the Labour Party (CLP) Brent West Parliamentary constituency, were to contact Captain Viriato Fernandes about this very issue, once we knew that he got elected as the South Goa MP.”

“But since this is no longer an issue, we will contact him in future for other issues related to the Goans in the UK,” she added.