Dual citizenship for US citizen spouse

[desihokie]

Hi
my wife is american (born in the US) citizen. I wanted to apply for dual citizenship (US and India) for her. Is she eligible? what documents does she require? About me, i was originally born in india and was indian citizen for 21 years. I aquired US citizenship by association with my wife and now applying for dual citizenship. It would be great if my wife can also become dual citizen. Suggestions please.

[tamtom]

Hi
my wife is american (born in the US) citizen. I wanted to apply for dual citizenship (US and India) for her. Is she eligible? what documents does she require? About me, i was originally born in india and was indian citizen for 21 years. I aquired US citizenship by association with my wife and now applying for dual citizenship. It would be great if my wife can also become dual citizen. Suggestions please.

desihokie,

When you say "dual citizenship", I assume you are talking about remaining a U.S. citizen and becoming an "overseas citizen of India" (OCI). There is no OCI for spouse of OCI, but your wife can get it if she qualifies independently (that is, if she is a former Indian citizen or descended from an Indian citizen).

If that doesn't apply in her case, then she might be eligible for "person of Indian origin" (PIO). PIO is almost exactly the same as OCI, and there is PIO for spouse of Indian citizen. The rules don't make it very clear whether there is PIO for spouse of an "overseas citizen" such as yourself, but there's a good chance it does, because even spouse of PIO can get PIO. You can ask the nearest Indian consulate whether your wife can get PIO.

If that still doesn't work, then the best option is for you to get PIO yourself. (There's no rule saying a person can't have PIO and OCI at the same time.) Then your wife will definitely be eligible for PIO.

Hope this helps,

Tamtom

[indian786]

OCI for US Spouse!!-Please Help!!

I am an Indian Citizen and my wife is American. Last month she applied for OCI based on marriage to me and we sent the enlosures

1.my wife's us passport copy
2.my Indian passport copy
3.my wife birth certificate
4.our Marriage cerificate

But our application returned back today from Indian Consulate chicago asked the applicant to furnish
Indian Passport copy or Indian Birth Certificate or Parents Passport Copy

But when she is US citizen how come she can funish the above requirements
I am missing anything??

Please help, how she can get OCI??
or she eligible for OCI or PIO??

Thanks in advance