which card should I apply for? What is the difference?

[nyla2424]

I was born in the USA. My mother was born in INdia. She is now a US citizen
but has her Indian passport. I travel to India often. With the new 60 day no travel policy on visas ( i have a 10 year one), I need to get a POI or OCI card to ensure my freedom to enter the country in less than 60 days if I need to. Which one should I apply for and which one gives me more freedom?

[curtdfw]

Here's a comparison:
/compare-oci-card-with-pio-card/

Primary benefits of OCI over PIO are:

Duration: OCI is lifetime, PIO is 15 years
Registration: None required for OCI, PIO holder must register for stays longer than 180 days.
Cost: OCI is less expensive than PIO, but typically takes longer to get.

If your mother hasn't formally surrendered her Indian passport she may need to do that before your PIO/OCI process. They'll return it after cancellation, but the consulates have tightened up on the requirement for that. Check your consulate website for more.