Is my child eligible for PIO/OCI?

[Sawan Deshpande]

My wife and I were both Indian citizens - but now have naturalized to become US citizens. We have son who is 2 years old and was born here in the US - so he is a US citizen.

I know we both are eligible to get OCI. Is our son eligible as well?

[immihelp]

He is eligible for both of them, either PIO or OCI.

However, I would strongly recommend that you get PIO card for him and NOT OCI card.

Reason: PIO card would be valid for 15 years.
However, OCI card would be valid only for the duration of passport validity. You will need to do the entire procedure all over again (except lower fee) every time he gets a new passport, which is every 5 years. And it takes months to get new OCI card.

[Sawan Deshpande]

He is eligible for both of them, either PIO or OCI.

However, I would strongly recommend that you get PIO card for him and NOT OCI card.

Reason: PIO card would be valid for 15 years.
However, OCI card would be valid only for the duration of passport validity. You will need to do the entire procedure all over again (except lower fee) every time he gets a new passport, which is every 5 years. And it takes months to get new OCI card.

thanks for that! 3 more questions:

1. I already have an OCI status. My wife (she is ˜30 years old) was planning to apply for the status along with my 2-year old son. Does it make sense for her to get OCI ? And for my son to get PIO?

2. And does OCI really needs 3-4 months processing time (v/s 2-4 weeks for PIO?)?. I don't remember it being that long for my application

3. For either PIO/OCI application - do we need to mail their original US passports along with the applications? Or do those stay with us? We might need to travel outside USA shortly - so don't want that to be held up because our passports are not with us.

Ps. I have already looked at: /compare-oci-card-with-pio-card/

[Vishnu1]

1. I already have an OCI status. My wife (she is ˜30 years old) was planning to apply for the status along with my 2-year old son. Does it make sense for her to get OCI ? And for my son to get PIO?

Let her get an OCI. Believe me you will save yourself a lot of trouble and anguish by opting for a POI of your minor son. You will have to go through the same process about 3 times more. Who knows they might hire an even more incompetent agency the next time you have to renew? Who knows they might even change the rules in the future.

2. And does OCI really needs 3-4 months processing time (v/s 2-4 weeks for PIO?)?. I don't remember it being that long for my application

My OCI was approved by the govt. of India within 4 weeks. It took CKGS another 5 weeks to complete that match-up process. My delay was because of CKGS's incompetency.

3. For either PIO/OCI application - do we need to mail their original US passports along with the applications? Or do those stay with us? We might need to travel outside USA shortly - so don't want that to be held up because our passports are not with us.

For OCI you have to send your original passport for match-up (and keep your fingers crossed until you get it back) once your OCI has been approved by the GoI. For PIO you do not.

[tampaite]

thanks for that! 3 more questions:

1. I already have an OCI status. My wife (she is ˜30 years old) was planning to apply for the status along with my 2-year old son. Does it make sense for her to get OCI ? And for my son to get PIO?

2. And does OCI really needs 3-4 months processing time (v/s 2-4 weeks for PIO?)?. I don't remember it being that long for my application

3. For either PIO/OCI application - do we need to mail their original US passports along with the applications? Or do those stay with us? We might need to travel outside USA shortly - so don't want that to be held up because our passports are not with us.

Ps. I have already looked at: /compare-oci-card-with-pio-card/

When are you travelling? depending on your travel timeline, you have to decide on PIO or OCI benefits.

OCI takes anywhere from 3 to 6 months. Am already into 3rd month and still waiting for process to complete and likely will take another month or so(am hoping!)....

Personally, if you had time, go for OCI since if you want to regain Indian citizenship down the road, the timeline is shorter compared to PIO(1 year as oppposed to 7 years)

[Sawan Deshpande]

Let her get an OCI. Believe me you will save yourself a lot of trouble and anguish by opting for a POI of your minor son. You will have to go through the same process about 3 times more. Who knows they might hire an even more incompetent agency the next time you have to renew? Who knows they might even change the rules in the future.

My OCI was approved by the govt. of India within 4 weeks. It took CKGS another 5 weeks to complete that match-up process. My delay was because of CKGS's incompetency.

For OCI you have to send your original passport for match-up (and keep your fingers crossed until you get it back) once your OCI has been approved by the GoI. For PIO you do not.

Vishnu - thanks for your detailed reply! for OCI application - if the original passport (US passports in my wife and baby's case) needs to be sent out - and it could take 3-4 months, then that is not going to work for us (we may need to travel outside the US before that). In that case, I am going to apply for PIO for both my wife and my son. we are not going to apply back for India citizenship ever again - so PIO v.s OCI really does not matter for us. So for my wife - other than having to get PIO renewed after 15 year v/s lifelong for OCI - are there are other drawbacks to be aware of. if not - i am going to apply for PIO for her as well.

[tampaite]

we are not going to apply back for India citizenship ever again - so PIO v.s OCI really does not matter for us. .

i think then applying for Visa maybe an alternative as well.

[Vishnu1]

Vishnu - thanks for your detailed reply! for OCI application - if the original passport (US passports in my wife and baby's case) needs to be sent out - and it could take 3-4 months, then that is not going to work for us (we may need to travel outside the US before that). In that case, I am going to apply for PIO for both my wife and my son. we are not going to apply back for India citizenship ever again - so PIO v.s OCI really does not matter for us. So for my wife - other than having to get PIO renewed after 15 year v/s lifelong for OCI - are there are other drawbacks to be aware of. if not - i am going to apply for PIO for her as well.

OCI has its advantages. you do not have to register with the FRRO and you can own property. You also have a lifetime visa. For adults 21+ it makes sense to apply. For minors, right now PIO is the better option because of the requirement to renew it every time a new passport is issued. I have heard that GoI may revoke this requirement.

You can always apply for OCI later when things get more streamlined.

- - - Updated - - -

OCI takes anywhere from 3 to 6 months. Am already into 3rd month and still waiting for process to complete and likely will take another month or so(am hoping!)....

Did you have any issues while processing? Incomplete documents etc.? My OCI was approved by the GoI in less than a month. It took CKGS another month to complete the match-up process. But that is CKGS's fault. You have to constantly bicker them to do their job.

[tampaite]

Did you have any issues while processing? Incomplete documents etc.? My OCI was approved by the GoI in less than a month. It took CKGS another month to complete the match-up process. But that is CKGS's fault. You have to constantly bicker them to do their job.

No issues. normal OCI processing is 90+ days...

[Vishnu1]

No issues. normal OCI processing is 90+ days...

That is unusual. Here is my timeline from the GoI website...

Date Of Acknowledgment 11-JUL-2014
Documents Printing Status PROCESSED On 05-AUG-2014
Dispatched From MOIA (OCI) NEW DELHI On 07-AUG-2014
Document received At NEW YORK CGI On 12-AUG-2014

It took less than a month.