Conversion from PIO to OCI

[atulanu]

I have a valid PIO card and now want to get it converted to an OCI card as PIO cards have been discontinued .
What is the procedure to get the PIO cards changed to an OCI at the earliest and how much time does it take.

[immihelp]

You have to basically apply all over again for OCI under 'OCI in lieu of PIO card' category.

/oci-card/

[indschumacher]

I have a valid PIO card and now want to get it converted to an OCI card as PIO cards have been discontinued .
What is the procedure to get the PIO cards changed to an OCI at the earliest and how much time does it take.

Hi,

Based on my findings it takes 2 months and excluding transit time. CKGS states that you can take the OCI receipt while its in process when you travel to India.
So you need to start 2 months before your travel plans. However, it is not mandatory to replace PIO with OCI card if your PIO card was not issued after Jan 2015.

If you call any member of the consulate they will ask to replace it as I believe they are getting revenue out of it.
One of my friends is going to travel this weekend May 02 and he is using PIO card. Waiting to hear from him. I will update once I hear from him

Here is the official link

https://www.indianembassy.org/pages.php?id=21

The existing PIO cardholders can travel to India using the PIO card with valid passport. However, the PIO cardholders are advised to apply for OCI in lieu of PIO as soon as possible at http://passport.gov.in/oci/capchaActionPIO.

Another official link

http://www.in.ckgs.us/pio.shtml

The existing PIO cardholders can travel to India using the PIO card with valid passport.
However, PIO cardholders are advised to apply for OCI in lieu of PIO as soon as possible at http://passport.gov.in/oci/capchaActionPIO.

Thanks
Indy

[immihelp]

Actually, that is not accurate. PIO cards will not be valid to travel to India after Jun 18, 2015. Gazette notification just says who can apply for OCI card and their details and nothing about PIO card to OCI card.

Please read /oci-in-lieu-of-pio-card/ We have made this FAQ after discussion with Embassy of India in Washington DC (not CKGS).

[indschumacher]

Actually, that is not accurate. PIO cards will not be valid to travel to India after Jun 18, 2015. Gazette notification just says who can apply for OCI card and their details and nothing about PIO card to OCI card.

Please read /oci-in-lieu-of-pio-card/ We have made this FAQ after discussion with Embassy of India in Washington DC (not CKGS).

Thanks a lot !!!

It helped a lot.

[sunrag1]

Actually, that is not accurate. PIO cards will not be valid to travel to India after Jun 18, 2015. Gazette notification just says who can apply for OCI card and their details and nothing about PIO card to OCI card.

Please read /oci-in-lieu-of-pio-card/ We have made this FAQ after discussion with Embassy of India in Washington DC (not CKGS).

why are you confusing forum members?... Gazette notification is crystal clear.. All PIO cards issued till Jan'15 considered as OCI cards..

Several of my friends traveled last few weeks and everyone got life long validity stamp in INDIA.. FRRO is not aware of any Jun 18 restrictions.. Many of my friends coming back to US in Aug/Sept. Are you saying their stay from Jun 18 to Sept is illegal?.

[immihelp]

We have no intention to confuse people. I will have to apply for OCI cards for my own kids all over again as well and I don't really like that.

Here is the link to Gazette notification.

https://www.indianembassy.org/pdf/The_Citizenship_Amentment_Ordinance_2015.pdf

Please let me know where it says PIO cards issued till Jan 9, 2015 are considered OCI cards.

Additionally, I suggest that you send an email to Indian Embassy in Washington DC and clarify or complain about it. You can confirm accordingly. If enough people complain, may be, they will change the rule in public's favor.

[dce3535]

why are you confusing forum members?... Gazette notification is crystal clear.. All PIO cards issued till Jan'15 considered as OCI cards..

Several of my friends traveled last few weeks and everyone got life long validity stamp in INDIA.. FRRO is not aware of any Jun 18 restrictions.. Many of my friends coming back to US in Aug/Sept. Are you saying their stay from Jun 18 to Sept is illegal?.

I agree. The June 17th deadline has been withdrawn. I confirmed the same with CKGS, Indian Consulate (Washington DC) and from the Ministry of External Affairs, although none of them provided a link or any other reference that mentions it without ambiguity. Not really convincing, but even if the administrator can provide a link that can confirm the June 18th deadline, it would be much more helpful than just a statement or opinion.


I have included the response from three agencies ( all uppercase ) to my query about travel with PIO. The only intent here is to get all the information out and try to make sense out of this.

HERE IS THE REPLY FROM THE VISA SUPPORT CENTER OF GOI,

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, "[email protected]> 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,

xyz
--
Visa Support Centre

YOU MAY TRAVEL WITH THE EXISTING PIO CARD. HOWEVER, YOU ARE ADVISED TO APPLY FOR OCI AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AT HTTP://WWW.IN.CKGS.US/OCI/OCI-CATEGO...US-ADULT.SHTML.

REGARDS


OCI WING
EMBASSY OF INDIA
WASHINGTON DC


From: [email protected]]
Sent: Wednesday, April 15, 2015 1:13 PM
To: OCIPIO E/I Washington
Subject: Travel to India with valid PIO, but new USA passport

Dear Sir/Madam,

My child has a valid PIO, but was issued a new U.S. Passport. When I applied for endorsement of the PIO on the new US passport in January, due to a change of rules, the application was sent back and I was told that the PIO has lifelong validity and endorsement was not needed. However, now the CKGS insists that my child cannot travel to India with his existing PIO card in spite of lifelong validity, as it has not been endorsed on the new US passport, and that he needs to apply for a visa ( we do not have enough time to apply for OCI in lieu of PIO since we are traveling to India in the last week of May).

I would appreciate your kind clarification in this matter, whether my child will be able to travel to India if we carry both his old and new passports along with the valid PIO card. Please let me know if you need additional details.



Regards,

xyz

Dear Applicant,
PLEASE REFER TO YOUR E-MAIL REGARDING PIO.
WE HAVE BEEN INFORMED BY THE CONCERNED SECTION THAT TRAVEL WITH PIO CARD, VALID USA PASSPORT AND USA PASSPORT ON WHICH PIO WAS ISSUED. WHEN YOU COME BACK PLEASE APPLY FOR OCI.
REGARDS,


HELPLINE
CONSULATE GENERAL OF INDIA
NEW YORK
TEL: 212-774 0635

P.S. SEND US YOUR FEEDBACK BY E-MAIL AND FOLLOW US ON: HTTP://WWW.INDIACGNY.ORG/, ******** AND TWITTER SO THAT WE COULD IMPROVE OUR SYSTEM.

[immihelp]

I read about Jun 18 2015 on CKGS web site, at least last week and confirmed with Indian Embassy in Washington DC by email. In addition to the benefit of thousands of users of this forum, I am personally hoping for my own family that we don't have to apply for OCI cards when we already have PIO cards.

Also, please don't think it is the administrator vs rest of you. We are all together in the same boat.

[immihelp]

Indeed confusing. It seems that the rules are changing everyday as per their whim.

Today, when I visit CKGS web site, it says

OCI in lieu of PIO card:
Existing valid PIO cardholders must apply for OCI card under OCI in lieu of PIO card category. (And must is in bold).

and then
The existing PIO cardholders can travel to India using the PIO card with valid passport.
However, PIO cardholders are advised to apply for OCI in lieu of PIO as soon as possible..

Then, it says
As soon as additional information is received from Embassy / Consulates, we shall update on our website.

Therefore, not sure what exactly is true.


Earlier, the checklist said that for Washington jurisdiction only, even if you have cancelled your Indian passport and it says "Cancelled. Acquired US citizenship", you need to apply for renunciation certificate all over again. It does not say that any longer.

[sunrag1]

We have no intention to confuse people. I will have to apply for OCI cards for my own kids all over again as well and I don't really like that.

Here is the link to Gazette notification.

https://www.indianembassy.org/pdf/The_Citizenship_Amentment_Ordinance_2015.pdf

Please let me know where it says PIO cards issued till Jan 9, 2015 are considered OCI cards.

Additionally, I suggest that you send an email to Indian Embassy in Washington DC and clarify or complain about it. You can confirm accordingly. If enough people complain, may be, they will change the rule in public's favor.

Interesting... You link to Gazette notification contains different msg..

Here is the one I am referring..

https://www.indianembassy.org/pdf/Ga...9_jan_2015.pdf

Check page #2. Existing PIO card holders deemed to be OCI card holders..

[immihelp]

Yes, I see that.

[sunrag1]

Yes, I see that.

cool.. /oci-in-lieu-of-pio-card/

where did you get such above info?.. Its time to remove those FAQs as it confuses us a lot as those are incorrect..

[immihelp]

I already answered that question earlier: Discussion with Indian Embassy in Washington DC and CKGS.

And you already posted the news yourself about June 18, 2015 at http://www.immihelp.com/forum/showth...-Visa?p=397209 Therefore, why are you even asking from where I got that information.

[indschumacher]

I already answered that question earlier: Discussion with Indian Embassy in Washington DC and CKGS.

And you already posted the news yourself about June 18, 2015 at http://www.immihelp.com/forum/showth...-Visa?p=397209 Therefore, why are you even asking from where I got that information.

Good news!!!

Today afternoon I also called CKGS and they said PIO card is fine for travelling and there is absolutely no issues with it but once I come back to US then I can apply for OCI.
As my travel tickets are already reserved and its less than 60 days to leave they said to use PIO.
In most of the centers you have to surrender PIO card and it will easily take 2 months to process excluding transit time. There's a big risk if you have already booked tickets and want to go for OCI.

By the way one of my friends reached Hyderabad yesterday and no issues so far with PIO. My other friend will be going in the first week of June on PIO.

People like us who are updated with these forums can take proactive actions but imagine people who don't get time and travel just like that thinking expiry date is valid. They might even not know so I suppose it has to be addressed nicely.

For now I think we can put this issue to rest and can plan later after India vacation.


Cheers !!!