PIO/OCI/Visa

[gopan41333]

Hi,
My kids are born here in US and hold a valid PIO card now. I have a travel plan to go to India on the 20th of June 2015, which is 2 days after the validity of the PIO card ends. Per the website, the OCI card processing will take upto 60 working days. Do u guys think that i should just apply for their Indian visa for now and then apply for OCI after returning, rather than taking the risk and apply for OCI hoping to get it ontime before the travel on 6/20/2015?

[immihelp]

Yes, you should do that.

[chailatte]

From High Commision of India , Britain.

Person of Indian Origin (PIO) Card

This is to inform that vide Gazette Notification No.26011/01/2014IC.I dated 09.01.2015, all PIO cards issued till 09.01.2015 are deemed to be OCI card. PIO Card scheme has been withdrawn vide Gazette Notification No.25024/9/2014F.I dated 09.01.2015. Henceforth, applicants may apply for OCI card ONLY, as PIO card scheme is no longer in existence.

In case the PIO card holder has new passport then he/she can travel to India on their new passport with the valid PIO card and old passport.

The applicants desire to apply for Miscellaneous Services for PIO Cards viz. change of name, change of address, change of passport etc. have to apply for new OCI card with the fee of £18/-.

From the official indian consulate site, PIO stays valid even after changing passport.

CKGS site says it is mandatory.
I wish official Indian consulate web site in US clarifies.

[sunrag1]

From High Commision of India , Britain.

Person of Indian Origin (PIO) Card

This is to inform that vide Gazette Notification No.26011/01/2014IC.I dated 09.01.2015, all PIO cards issued till 09.01.2015 are deemed to be OCI card. PIO Card scheme has been withdrawn vide Gazette Notification No.25024/9/2014F.I dated 09.01.2015. Henceforth, applicants may apply for OCI card ONLY, as PIO card scheme is no longer in existence.

In case the PIO card holder has new passport then he/she can travel to India on their new passport with the valid PIO card and old passport.

The applicants desire to apply for Miscellaneous Services for PIO Cards viz. change of name, change of address, change of passport etc. have to apply for new OCI card with the fee of £18/-.

From the official indian consulate site, PIO stays valid even after changing passport.

CKGS site says it is mandatory.
I wish official Indian consulate web site in US clarifies.

God only knows whats happening.. Modi says everything is streamlined.. Embassy site says PIO is life time valid.. CKGS say apply for OCI before June.. So confused whether to travel or not with existing valid PIO card..!!


3. In view of the above, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India has communicated that all existing valid PIO cardholders (valid as on 30 September 2014, the date of notification of lifelong validity for a PIO card) are expected to apply for an OCI card in lieu of PIO card before 17 June 2015. - See more at:

[chailatte]

June 27 deadline has been removed now. There is still a word "must" without a deadline.

CGI houston is generous. You can use PIO for travel while OCI application is pending at the consulate.
in that case, there is no problem for travel in june.


What about other consulates ?

[pio2oci]

How can you use PIO to travel when OCI application is in process. They ask for the original PIO to be submitted when u initially submit your OCI in lieu of PIO application .

[chailatte]

How can you use PIO to travel when OCI application is in process. They ask for the original PIO to be submitted when u initially submit your OCI in lieu of PIO application .

CKGS houston gives the original PIO back to you while the application is being processed.

[dce3535]

http://www.in.ckgs.us/pio.shtml
June 27 deadline has been removed now. There is still a word "must" without a deadline.

CGI houston is generous. You can use PIO for travel while OCI application is pending at the consulate.
in that case, there is no problem for travel in june.


What about other consulates ?

I received the following clarification from the govt of india visa support center in response to my query about this issue.

As per the extant instructions-

PIO scheme has been merged with OCI scheme w.e.f. 9th January 2015 and new PIO cards are not being issued w.e.f. this date. The validity of existing PIO cards is automatically extended till LIFELONG and it will remain valid.

1. It is not mandatory to convert PIO to OCI. It is optional.
2. No time frame has been prescribed for conversion. It can be done at any time if the holder desires to convert it.
3. Conversion is GRATIS and no application fee is charged. Therefore, the question of penalty does not arise as it is not time bound.
4. Existing cards are valid Lifelong and the validity stamp on it may be affixed by any FRRO, Indian Missions or even Immigration Check Posts, if desired by anyone. Validity stamp is NOT MANDATORY.
5. Conversion applications from PIO to OCI need to be submitted to the same office, which originally issued the PIO cards, since these cards were issued by the Indian Mission under their delegated powers and entire records/data of the applications are available with them only.


for further queries related to OCI, please write to [email protected]

Visa Support

On 04/21/15 02:18 AM, "xyz" wrote:
Dear Sir,

I am traveling to India with my family. We are landing in India on May 30th, 2015, and returning to the US on June 20th, 2015. My younger child has a valid PIO card, but his new US passport has not been endorsed ( the application was returned due to the change of rules in January 2015). Now there is conflicting information that he will not be able to travel to India with his existing PIO card as the PIO cards will not be valid after June 17, and will have to obtain a tourist visa. We are greatly concerned about this confusion, and would greatly appreciate it if you could help to clarify if it is ok for my child to travel with his PIO card, and his old and new US passports.

Please let me know if I should provide any additional information.

With regards,