Q.881 Apply for OCI having PIO

Sir, Thank you for all of the answers you give on your site. They are really helpful. Could you please give your opinion on my situation. I am living in India, but children and family are in the US. I visit them often. I will be going in August and want to apply for OCI through Atlanta office. I have a valid US passport valid till 2021 and the PIO is valid till 2018. It has not been a problem to travel to the US and return to India. I requested the immigration at entry if they would give me the life long stamp on my passport, but they said they could not do this. Is there someone in particular I should have contacted at the time of entry in India to obtain this? In completing the OCI form they ask for proof of address. I will be staying in Alabama with my children, so will not have a proof of address for myself? What do I present for this? Do I bring something from India? I would like the OCI and passport to be sent to my children's home where I will be staying for some months. I do have an old passport which says cancelled and corners cut. I got naturalized in 1971. Do I need the renunciation certificate? I understand that I need to complete the application, A and B, pictures, current US passport, naturalization certificate and PIO card all notarized copies. I would like to submit these in person to the CKSC office. Would I need other additional documents? I would be grateful for your advice. Sincerely, CRM Answer: My understanding is that the Government of India has notified immigration officers at point of entry to provide a lifelong validity stamp for valid PIO card holders. All PIO card holders whose PIO cards were valid on January 9, 2015 are considered to now have lifelong validity. For information on this regard, see copy of a circular from the MEA provided below: To clarify further on your question of getting lifelong stamp on your passport with PIO card. Here is an excerpt (as on May 13, 2016) from the San Francisco Consulate site: ‘. . . existing PIO Cards are now valid for life of the holder. All the immigration offices have duly been informed by the Government of India that they should affix a ‘Lifelong’ stamp as and when the holder of a 15 year validity card enters/exits any Indian Airport. If the Immigration Officer does not affix the stamp you should ask for stamping “Lifelong” stamp on the PIO Card. Until new rules are in place endorsement on PIO cards continues.’ You do have the option to apply for a OCI card which is free for those who hold POI cards. OCI card applicants are asked for proof of address and since you probably are simply visiting USA for a short period of time, you might find it easier to apply for OCI while you are in India. If you wish to apply from within USA you would need proof of USA address, which perhaps could be where you would be staying with your children.