Tourist Visa from USA to India Eligibility?

[Hurryguy Kay]

Hello,

I read the eligibility rules for tourist visa to India. My wife is a USA citizen (NOT indian origin at all) and I am Indian Citizen (holding US green card). Can my wife apply for tourist visa since the rule says "Spouse of Person of Indian Origin" CANNOT apply for tourist visa. They have to apply transit visa. Am I considered Person of Indian origin? Remember I am still Indian Citizen with only Indian Passport.

[rabadi]

Tourist Visa from USA to India Eligibility?

check out http://www.in.ckgs.us/visa/documents-required.shtml
for docs required for visa

[Hurryguy Kay]

Hello,

I read the eligibility rules for tourist visa to India. My wife is a USA citizen (NOT indian origin at all) and I am Indian Citizen (holding US green card). Can my wife apply for tourist visa since the rule says "Spouse of Person of Indian Origin" CANNOT apply for tourist visa. They have to apply transit visa. Am I considered Person of Indian origin? Remember I am still Indian Citizen with only Indian Passport.

My question was not on docs required. It's on definition of the term Person of Indian origin.

[rabadi]

Tourist Visa from USA to India Eligibility?

I would call the "CKGS Application center" to follow-up on your specifics! You may need to wait ~30mins as they put call on hold.

[bibble]

My question was not on docs required. It's on definition of the term Person of Indian origin.

Your wife should be eligible for PIO Card. They will need all the information about your Indian Citizenship during the process but she should be eligible to apply for PIO Card which takes a month?? Used to take a month with BLS. If you are in a hurry to visit she can also apply for a tourist visa which should be relatively quicker. I have not seen anywhere where it says spouse of Indian Citizen cannot apply for Tourist Visa.

CKGS website does not have accurate information on PIO eligibility as it misses an important wording "spouse" in the definition. Here is the accurate definition for eligibility of PIO card (from travisa's website)

Those eligible to apply for a PIO card:
Any persons of Indian origin who holds a passport of any other country (with certain exceptions) can apply for a PIO card if they:

Have held an Indian passport at any time, or
Have parents, grandparents or great grandparents who were born and permanently reside in India as defined in the Government of India Act, 1935, or any other territory that became part of India thereafter, or
Are the spouse of a citizen of India or a person of Indian origin as defined by the criteria listed above.
Non US passport holders who hold a temporary visa such as B1/B2 are not eligible.


Note that if somewhere down the lane you give up Indian Citizenship for US Citizenship then you will be eligible for OCI.