Why OCI?

[telveer]

With the recent announcement from the Ministry of Home Affairs, is there any advantage of applying for OCI today? We are a family of four. All of us are US Citizens (Myself, my spouse and Son are naturalized. My daughter is born in US). So far, we have been using a regular VISA to travel to India. We were planning to apply for OCI but the daunting and complicated process discouraged us. With the new PIO rules, and PM Modi's announcement that OCI and PIO would be merged into one program, I think applying for a PIO card is the better option. What do you folks think?

[query101]

As far as I know there are only Two differences between OCI and PIO.
1.Registration with the Police if stay in India exceeds 180 Days.
2.A 15 Year validity period.

Both of these differences seem to quashed by the new announcements
by the Home Ministry.

Maybe we will see something new in the Future.

Kindly check this chart for the comparision.

/compare-oci-card-with-pio-card/

[migi]

Similar situation for me too!

With the recent announcement from the Ministry of Home Affairs, is there any advantage of applying for OCI today? We are a family of four. All of us are US Citizens (Myself, my spouse and Son are naturalized. My daughter is born in US). So far, we have been using a regular VISA to travel to India. We were planning to apply for OCI but the daunting and complicated process discouraged us. With the new PIO rules, and PM Modi's announcement that OCI and PIO would be merged into one program, I think applying for a PIO card is the better option. What do you folks think?

I also want to know if I should apply for PIO or OCI now. I wonder which application will take less time?
Do both OCI and PIO applications have to be sent to India or not?
Confusing situation at this time!