363. Merging of OCI, PIO cards

Q. Dear V.K.Chand, Thanks for all of your information provided on your website. I know you might be busy with your routine work. Please let me know the answer to the following questions 1. Can my kid who is Canadian citizen (by birth) apply for OCI as i and my wife are PR of Canada and still citizen of India. 2. If kid is not eligible for OCI can he apply for POI in the same case. 3.If we plane to settle back in India can the kid stay with us without losing his Canadian citizen ship so that he can renounce either of the two citizen ship once he gets adult. 4. Please also comment on that poi and OCI card will soon be merged into one. Please let me know Regards, Amit Verma, Surrey,B.C. A. Regarding your questions: 1. Foreign born children whose parents are Indian citizens cannot apply for OCI until they reach the age of majority. 2. Yes, your child can apply for PIO Card. 3. Your child can stay with you in India without loosing his Canadian citizenship. On reaching the age of majority you child can apply for Indian citizenship or remain a Canadian citizen. 4. Rumors of merging of OCI and PIO started in Jan 2011 following a speech by the Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. While the eligibility for PIO Card and OCI is somewhat similar, there are two main differences that would have to be addressed: (1) PIO cards are also issued to foreign wives of persons of Indian origin, who are otherwise not eligible for OCI. (2) Minor children holding foreign passports, whose parents (both father and mother) hold Indian Passports, are not eligible for OCI, but can apply for PIO Cards. This applies in your case also. I doubt if we will see a merger of OCI and PIO in the near future.