Merger of PIO’s into OCI cards- Modi’s gift to NRI’s

The Modi Govt. is likely to appease Indians staying outside the country, by merging the PIO (persons of Indian origin) card into OCI (overseas citizen of India) card.

This is also likely to be announced by the PM in his address at Madison Square Garden on 28^th September.

Hitherto PIO cards launched in 1999, were issued to Indian born people staying outside the country for centuries. And OCI cards launched in 2005 were issued to those who were recent immigrants to other countries. Both the cards were aimed at giving long-term residency rights to people of Indian origin to help them participate in developmental activities in India.

The advantage of OCI card holders was they were entitled to a lifelong period of visa free travel for 15 years. It was mandatory for a PIO card holder to notify the local police if their stay exceeded 180 days, while an OCI was exempted from any such restriction on their duration of stay. An OCI for 5 years and living in India is also eligible for Indian citizenship. PIO’s have no such benefits. The OCI cards have been promoted by the Indian Govt. in a major way with almost 11 lakhs of them being issued in 2012 alone.

Given below is a list of specific details of both the cards.

PIO Card

• A person of Indian origin who is a citizen of any country, other than Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Afghanistan, China, Nepal
• A person may apply for a PIO card if s/he held an Indian passport at any time, s/he is a spouse of an Indian citizen or a person of Indian origin.

OCI Card

• A foreign national who was eligible to become a citizen of India on 26.01.1950 or was a citizen of India on or after that date.
• The country of the citizenship of the applicant must also allow dual citizenship in some form.
• Applications from citizens of Bangladesh and Pakistan are not allowed.

Benefits of OCI card

• Card holder can enter India with multiple entry facility for 15 years.
• Does not have to wait for 2 months to re-enter India and does not need to register if stay is less than 180 days.
• Card holders have access to special counters for speedy immigration clearance
• Parity with NRIs in all facilties in economic, financial and educational matters except acquisition of agricultural land.
• It is a multiple entry, multi-purpose lifelong visa for visiting India.
• The holder is exempted from registration with local police authority for any length of stay in India.
• Parity with NRIs in respect of economic, financial and educational matters except in acquiring agricultural land.

Where To Apply

Indian Mission/post in the home country of the foreign national

Fees

INR 15,000 for adults and INR 7,500 for minors or equivalent foreign currency, payable along with the application.

Restrictions

No political rights

Cannot undertake activities such as mountaineering, missionary and research work which require specific permission.

Source: The Times Of India

Image source- Indiawest.com

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