418. Conducting Business in India while on a tourist visa
Questions: Hello, I am a US Citizen of Indian birth and origin. Recently when I visited India on business, my American Passport had a Visitor Visa endorsement from previous personal trips to India. I was given a hard time by the security screeners at Indian public sector companies such as BEL and HAL as they expected to see a Business Visa stamp. I asked them if my getting a PIO/OCI card would help alleviate the problem once and for all, so that I do not have to get a Business Visa that I will need to keep getting periodically renewed and they did not seem to know the answer. Please explain differences between PIO and OCI card and whether any one or either will suffice in lieu of Business Visa requirement at Indian Public Sector Undertakings. Thanks for your help/advice. Regards, RS Answer: India does not allow tourist visa holders to conduct business in India. When applying for a tourist visa, the application for a tourist visa for India clearly specifies that the applicant confirms that they will visit India only for tourism purposes and refrain from all other activities. Conducting business transactions in India, when in India on a tourist visa is considered illegal and can result in deportation and even denial of visas in future if the authorities find out. PIO and OCI Holders can undertake studies or employment in India. They do not need to apply for separate student or business visas.Comparing the benefits of PIO and OCI
PIO - PIO Cards latest update on Q# 1249
(i) As per Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India
notification dated 30th September 2014. PIO cards will have
a lifetime validity, including those PIO cards issued before
prior to September 30, 2014. So PIO card as far as travel
visa is concerned is at par with OCI.
(ii) The PIO card holder doesn’t require a student VISA for
undertaking studies in India and similarly no Employment
VISA will be required for taking up employment in India
(iii) Parity with NRIs in respect of all facilities available to the
later in the economic, financial and educational fields except
in matters relating to the acquisition of agricultural/
plantation properties. No parity shall be allowed in the
sphere of political rights.
OCI
(i) A multiple entry multi-purpose life long visa for visiting
India.
(ii)Exemption from registration with local police authority for
any length of stay in India.
(iii) Parity with Non resident Indians (NRIs) in respect of
economic, financial and educational fields except in relation
to acquisition of agricultural or plantation properties. No
parity is allowed in the sphere of political rights.
Any other benefits to OCIs will be notified by the Ministry of
Overseas Indian Affairs (MOIA) under Section 7B(1) of the
Citizenship Act, 1955.
Source:http://mha.nic.in/pdfs/oci-chart.pdf
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.
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NRI - OCI - PIO Guide & Information
418. Conducting Business in
India while on a tourist visa
Questions: Hello, I am a US Citizen of Indian birth and origin. Recently when I visited India on business, my American Passport had a Visitor Visa endorsement from previous personal trips to India. I was given a hard time by the security screeners at Indian public sector companies such as BEL and HAL as they expected to see a Business Visa stamp. I asked them if my getting a PIO/OCI card would help alleviate the problem once and for all, so that I do not have to get a Business Visa that I will need to keep getting periodically renewed and they did not seem to know the answer. Please explain differences between PIO and OCI card and whether any one or either will suffice in lieu of Business Visa requirement at Indian Public Sector Undertakings. Thanks for your help/advice. Regards, RS Answer: India does not allow tourist visa holders to conduct business in India. When applying for a tourist visa, the application for a tourist visa for India clearly specifies that the applicant confirms that they will visit India only for tourism purposes and refrain from all other activities. Conducting business transactions in India, when in India on a tourist visa is considered illegal and can result in deportation and even denial of visas in future if the authorities find out. PIO and OCI Holders can undertake studies or employment in India. They do not need to apply for separate student or business visas.Comparing the benefits of PIO
and OCI
PIO Updated
(i) As per Ministry of
Home Affairs,
Government of
India notification
dated 30th
September 2014.
PIO cards will have
a lifetime validity,
including those PIO
cards issued before
prior to September
30, 2014. So PIO
card as far as travel
visa is concerned is
at par with OCI.
(ii) The PIO card
holder doesn’t
require a student
VISA for
undertaking studies
in India and
similarly no
Employment VISA
will be required for
taking up
employment in
India
(iii) Parity with NRIs
in respect of all
facilities available to
the later in the
economic, financial
and educational
fields except in
matters relating to
the acquisition of
agricultural/
plantation
properties. No
parity shall be
allowed in the
sphere of political
rights.
N
RI Information
Informing
educating and connecting Indians across the globe
OCI
(i) A multiple entry
multi-purpose life
long visa for visiting
India.
(ii)Exemption from
registration with
local police authority
for
any length of stay in
India.
(iii) Parity with Non
resident Indians
(NRIs) in respect of
economic, financial
and educational
fields except in
relation
to acquisition of
agricultural or
plantation
properties. No
parity is allowed in
the sphere of
political rights.
Any other benefits
to OCIs will be
notified by the
Ministry of
Overseas Indian
Affairs (MOIA)
under Section 7B(1)
of the
Citizenship Act,
1955.
Source:http://mha.nic.in/
pdfs/oci-chart.pdf
© Copyright 2006 Nriinformation.com
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