The new PIO Card Scheme, 2002, is in operation since 15th September, 2002. All persons of Indian origin who are in possession of the passport of any other country except Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Nepal, Bhutan, China, Sri Lanka or any other country specified by the government are eligible for PIO Card if:
1. He/She had any time held an Indian passport.
2. He/She or either of his/her parents or grand parents or great grand parents was born in India or permanent resident in India provided neither was at any time a citizen of any other specific country.
3. He/She is a spouse of a citizen of India or a person of Indian origin covered under 1 & 2 above.
Iranian nationals of Indian Origin can be granted PIO card after MHA approval.
For all adults a PIO Card is issued after charging a fee of Rupees 15,000/- and for minors i.e. below 18 years of age Rupees 7,500/- is levied as fees. All PIO Cards are valid for 15 years.
Authority to which application is to be made: -
1. Application for PIO Card are to be made in the prescribed format.
2. Documentary evidence of being person of Indian origin to be produced.
An application for issue of a PIO Card can be made at Indian Mission in the country where the applicant is ordinarily resident.
In case applicant is already in India on Long Term Visa (more than one year), then application for PIO can be made for issue of a PIO Card to the following authorities:
(A) Those residing in: -
Delhi
Foreigners Regional Registration Officer,
Level-II, East Block-VIII, Sector-I, R.K. Puram,
New Delhi-110066
Mumbai
Foreigners Regional Registration Officer,
3rd Floor, Special Branch Building,
Badruddin Tayabji Lane,
Behind St. Xaviers College,
Mumbai-400001
Kolkata
Foreigners Regional Registration Officer,
237, Acharya Jagdish Chandra Bose Road,
Kolkata-700020
Amritsar
Foreigners Regional Registration Officer,
123-D, Ranjeet Avenue,
Amritsar-143001
Chennai
Foreigners Regional Registration Officer,
Shastri Bhavan, 26, Haddows Road,
Chennai-600006
(B) Foreigners who are residing elsewhere in India other than (A) ,will have to submit their application to the:
Joint Secretary (Foreigners),
Ministry of Home Affairs,
Ist floor, Lok Nayak Bhavan,
Khan Market,
New Delhi - 110003.
Documents required to be presented at the time of submission of application for PIO:
1. Duly filled application form.
2. Photocopy of the foreign passport presently held (Front page i.e. photo page and VISA page). Photocopy of the initial VISA, which has been registered with FRRO/FRO cum Superintendent of Police.
3. Photocopy of all the pages of Registration certificate issued by the FRRO/FRO office.
4. Four recent passport size photographs.
5. Demand Draft/Pay Order in favour of FRRO concerned, for Rs. 15000/- in case of individuals above 18 years and Rs. 7500/- in the case of applicants below 18 years of age.
6. Two photocopies of Demand Draft/Pay Order.
7. Proof of Indian Origin:
i) Previous Indian Passport OR
ii) Birth Certificate and parents’/grandparents/great grand parents Indian passport OR
iii) Marriage certificate and copy of spouse’s Indian passport
Note: All Documents to be presented in duplicate and also shown in original.
Benefits Available To A PIO Card Holder
1. PIO card holder shall not require a separate VISA to visit India. The card is valid for 15 years.
2. PIO card holder will be exempt from the requirement of registration if his stay on any single visit in India does not exceed 180 days.
3. In the event of continuous stay in India of the PIO card holder exceeding 180 days, he/she shall have to get himself/herself registered within 30 days of the expiry of 180 days with the concerned Foreigners Regional Registration Officer/Foreigners Registration Officer.
4. 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.
5. The PIO card holder shall enjoy parity with NRIs in respect of facility available to the latter in the economic, financial and education fields except in matters relating to acquisition of agriculture plantation/properties. However, no parity shall be allowed in the sphere of political rights.
OCI (Overseas Citizen of India) CARD
Foreigners of Indian origin (except Pakistan and Bangladesh) whose present nationality is such that their country of nationality allows dual citizenship in some form or other, are eligible to apply under OCI scheme, if he/she possesses evidence of self or parents or grand parents:
1. Being eligible to become a citizen of India at the time of commencement of Indian Constitution i.e. 26.01.1950. OR
2. Belonging to a territory that became a part of India after 15.01.1947.
OR
3. Being a citizen of India on or after 26.01.1950.
Application for OCI can be submitted to :-
(A) Indian Mission in the country where the applicant is ordinarily resident, when such foreigner is resident outside India.
(B) OCI Cell, Citizenship section, the Ministry of Home Affairs, Jaisalmer House, 26 Man Singh Road, New Delhi when the foreigner is residing/ visiting India.
BENEFITS AVAILABLE TO A OCI CARD HOLDER
1. Grant of multiple entry, multi purpose life long VISA to visit India.
2. Exemption from registration with FRRO/FRO for any length of time.
3. Parity with NRI's in economic, financial and educational fields except in maters relating to acquisition of agricultural/plantation properties.
Note : In case of minor children ,OCI will be issued ,if either of the parents is a Foreigner.
At present a large number of Indian Citizen residing abroad are keen to get the PIO Card/OCI Card but they are facing a lot of problems from Government Department/Authorities dealing with it.
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