Travel to India with PIO Card having Life time Validity

[itsdiwa]

Hello Friends

My daughter is a US citizen and she has a PIO card issued in sep 2014. while returning back from india in Apr 2015, the immigration authorites has stamped her PIO with lifelong validity.

I have not applied for conversion of PIO to OCI .

My wife and daughter are travelling to India by end of July 2016 .

My question is, has any one of you traveled to India with PIO (lifelong valid) recently and have faced any issues with immigration authorities in India ?

I am not planning to apply for OCI conversion as the process is taking long time and my kid will be travelling soon.

Are existing PIO cards (stamped with life long validity) still valid to travel to India ? Is conversion of PIO to OCI a mandatory even though you have the life long validity.

Please let me know if any of you were in the same situation.



Thanks
Diwakar

[oci-family]

I've never traveled with a PIO card but it should not be an issue:

http://www.cgisf.org/page/display/30/231

Quote from the link above:
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

You could apply for an OCI card while your family is away.
You don't need original docs until the matchup process. Just make sure you keep copies of everything.

[zig.fiedorowicz]

I just returned from India a couple of weeks ago. The passport/visa control counter at Bangalore airport had a large sign reading: "PIO card has lifetime validity - must be accompanied by a valid passport".

[Des Pardes]

Great!

I just returned from India a couple of weeks ago. The passport/visa control counter at Bangalore airport had a large sign reading: "PIO card has lifetime validity - must be accompanied by a valid passport".

This is GREAT news. Glad I didn't waste time and money converting PIO cards of my sons. Their PIO card is valid till June 2017. They will be visiting India in December. Will ask them to get lifetime validity stamp.

[kramacha]

Traveling to India dec 8, 2016

This is GREAT news. Glad I didn't waste time and money converting PIO cards of my sons. Their PIO card is valid till June 2017. They will be visiting India in December. Will ask them to get lifetime validity stamp.

Hi
I am traveling to India on Dec 8th. My son has a PIO card thats valid till 2028. I am returning on Jan 2, 2017 and have applied for the OCI card.
I am traveling with the valid US passport, valid PIO card and the reciept for the OCI application.
Talking to the NY consulate, they are saying I am taking a chance when I coming back. I have applied for OCI but can't submit the docs until I come back.
will I be able to travel back with my son Jan 2, 2017? and are they still doing lifelong stamp on the PIO card?
Thanks

[ProNRI]

That does not make sense at all!

Hi
I am traveling to India on Dec 8th. My son has a PIO card thats valid till 2028. I am returning on Jan 2, 2017 and have applied for the OCI card.
I am traveling with the valid US passport, valid PIO card and the reciept for the OCI application.
Talking to the NY consulate, they are saying I am taking a chance when I coming back. I have applied for OCI but can't submit the docs until I come back.
will I be able to travel back with my son Jan 2, 2017? and are they still doing lifelong stamp on the PIO card?
Thanks

Why would you be taking a chance while coming back to US because at that time your valid visa/passport for US is what counts!

Also, if PIO card is officially declared as having a lifetime validity, why for heaven's sake is the Indian government making stupid rules for OCI where they want people to get OCI card reissued every time their US (or any other non-Indian passport for that matter) is renewed? Does PIO card have picture of the person, like OCI cards do?

Jaydeep

[proonindiandoc]

Hello Friends

My daughter is a US citizen and she has a PIO card issued in sep 2014. while returning back from india in Apr 2015, the immigration authorites has stamped her PIO with lifelong validity.

I have not applied for conversion of PIO to OCI .

My wife and daughter are travelling to India by end of July 2016 .

My question is, has any one of you traveled to India with PIO (lifelong valid) recently and have faced any issues with immigration authorities in India ?

I am not planning to apply for OCI conversion as the process is taking long time and my kid will be travelling soon.

Are existing PIO cards (stamped with life long validity) still valid to travel to India ? Is conversion of PIO to OCI a mandatory even though you have the life long validity.

Please let me know if any of you were in the same situation.



Thanks
Diwakar

First of all, I think you had talk to the dumb CKGS people not consulate because you coming back has nth regard to your PIO card, you coming back to the U.S by U.S passport. second, you can submit the application for oci in lieu of PIO card application now, and you can still travel on the valid PIO card with old and new passport. last but not least, PIO card had been life long now. you don't have to replace if you willing to do so.