PIO Card holder options after government cancels PIO Card scheme

Current situation on PIO Cards

PIO Card scheme has been canceled by the government and no new PIO cards will be issued. Heres what we know: 1. Those who already hold PIO cards can continue to use them to travel as they will remain valid until new instructions are issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs. 2. It is voluntary and optional for current PIO card holders to apply for OCI card in lieu of PIO card. The government has extended the last date for applying for conversion of Person of Indian Origin (PIO) cards to Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) cards from December 31, 2016 to June 30, 2017. There will be no charge for conversion of PIO cards to OCI during this period. Although conversion is optional, it makes good sense for PIO card holders to switch to OCI by accepting the governments free conversion offer until June 30, 2017. 3. All PIO cards are now valid for life effective September 30, 2014 when the Government of India published in the Gazette of India (Part-I, Section-I) that a PIO card issued to an applicant shall be valid for his/her lifetime, provided such applicant has a valid Passport. 4. Those who travel on the basis of their PIO cards to India can now get a lifelong stamp on their PIO card stamped at immigration counters when entering or leaving India. They also have the option to get lifelong stamp at Indian consulates if abroad or FRRO if in India. 5. Generally most PIO card holders can now apply for OCI in lieu of their PIO cards. However there may be a few PIO card holder’s who may not be allowed to do so. This is because those who currently hold PIO cards can apply for OCI cards provided: o Their PIO card was valid as on January 9, 2015 o AND they are eligible for OCI.

Some PIO Card holder’s may NOT qualify for OCI

My understanding is that the criteria for eligibility for PIO cards issued earlier was slightly relaxed when compared to OCI. There is hence a possibility that perhaps some PIO card holder’s may find themselves not eligible for OCI cards in lieu of their PIO card. For example, even persons of Indian origin or their children may not be eligible for OCI if they work for or are retired from foreign police or security services.

How to apply for OCI card in Lieu of PIO Card

OCI application procedure involves: 1. Filling in the on-line OCI application form (Referred to as Part A) And 2. Mailing in a hard copy of your OCI application forms along with the required documentation. PIO holders can apply for OCI in lieu of PIO Card on-line by: Access the on-line application form at: http://passport.gov.in/oci/capchaActionPIO You will get access to Part A of the application form. Instructions on filling the form are provided on the first page. Read instructions carefully and save form before exiting in case you wish to return to complete the form later. Once Part A is filled correctly and submitted on-line a Web File Number is generated and access provided to Part B. Print out copies of the filled application form. Mail the forms & required documentation to the appropriate Indian consulate or FRRO if in India. Currently the form suggests that place of submission of OCI Applications in Lieu of PIO Card should be the same place where your PIO card was issued. There is no fee payment required for getting OCI in lieu of PIO Card. However, service charges of for the outsourcing company if any and postage charges will be charged.
Disclaimer: Information provided is for general knowledge only and should not be deemed to be professional advice. For professional advice kindly consult a professional accountant, immigration advisor or the Indian consulate. Rules and regulations do change from time to time. Please note that in case of any variation between what has been stated on this website and the relevant Act, Rules, Regulations, Policy Statements etc. the latter shall prevail. © Copyright 2006 Nriinformation.com
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Disclaimer: Information provided is for general knowledge only and should not be deemed to be professional advice. For professional advice kindly consult a professional accountant, immigration advisor or the Indian consulate. Rules and regulations do change from time to time. Please note that in case of any variation between what has been stated on this website and the relevant Act, Rules, Regulations, Policy Statements etc. the latter shall prevail. © Copyright 2006 Nriinformation.com
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PIO Card holder options

after government cancels

PIO Card scheme

Current situation on PIO

Cards

PIO Card scheme has been canceled by the government and no new PIO cards will be issued. Heres what we know: 1. Those who already hold PIO cards can continue to use them to travel as they will remain valid until new instructions are issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs. 2. It is voluntary and optional for current PIO card holders to apply for OCI card in lieu of PIO card. The government has extended the last date for applying for conversion of Person of Indian Origin (PIO) cards to Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) cards from December 31, 2016 to June 30, 2017. There will be no charge for conversion of PIO cards to OCI during this period. Although conversion is optional, it makes good sense for PIO card holders to switch to OCI by accepting the governments free conversion offer until June 30, 2017. 3. All PIO cards are now valid for life effective September 30, 2014 when the Government of India published in the Gazette of India (Part-I, Section-I) that a PIO card issued to an applicant shall be valid for his/her lifetime, provided such applicant has a valid Passport. 4. Those who travel on the basis of their PIO cards to India can now get a lifelong stamp on their PIO card stamped at immigration counters when entering or leaving India. They also have the option to get lifelong stamp at Indian consulates if abroad or FRRO if in India. 5. Generally most PIO card holders can now apply for OCI in lieu of their PIO cards. However there may be a few PIO card holder’s who may not be allowed to do so. This is because those who currently hold PIO cards can apply for OCI cards provided: o Their PIO card was valid as on January 9, 2015 o AND they are eligible for OCI.

Some PIO Card holder’s may NOT

qualify for OCI

My understanding is that the criteria for eligibility for PIO cards issued earlier was slightly relaxed when compared to OCI. There is hence a possibility that perhaps some PIO card holder’s may find themselves not eligible for OCI cards in lieu of their PIO card. For example, even persons of Indian origin or their children may not be eligible for OCI if they work for or are retired from foreign police or security services.

How to apply for OCI card in Lieu

of PIO Card

OCI application procedure involves: 1. Filling in the on-line OCI application form (Referred to as Part A) And 2. Mailing in a hard copy of your OCI application forms along with the required documentation. PIO holders can apply for OCI in lieu of PIO Card on-line by: Access the on-line application form at: http://passport.gov.in/oci/capchaActionPIO You will get access to Part A of the application form. Instructions on filling the form are provided on the first page. Read instructions carefully and save form before exiting in case you wish to return to complete the form later. Once Part A is filled correctly and submitted on-line a Web File Number is generated and access provided to Part B. Print out copies of the filled application form. Mail the forms & required documentation to the appropriate Indian consulate or FRRO if in India. Currently the form suggests that place of submission of OCI Applications in Lieu of PIO Card should be the same place where your PIO card was issued. There is no fee payment required for getting OCI in lieu of PIO Card. However, service charges of for the outsourcing company if any and postage charges will be charged.