After 30th June, please don’t travel to India with a PIO card. You will be denied entry. Please don’t inconvenience yourselves. Either convert your PIO to OCI or apply for a Visa”, said India’s Consul General in New York Ambassador Riva Ganguly Das.
The Consul General appealed to the Indian American PIO card holders to immediately convert their cards. Now the consulate is doing the conversion free of cost but after 30th a penalty fee could be added.
PIO Card holders: Please note that the last date for conversion of PIO cards to OCI cards is 30th June 2017.
Beyond 30th June, 2017, PIO Cards will not be valid for travel to India. All PIO Card holders are requested to immediately apply for conversion of PIO Cards to OCI Cards at this link ” https://www.in.ckgs.us “. It may be noted that the processing time taken for conversion is 10 days minimum and applicants may plan their travel to India accordingly.
On the subject of issuing passports toIndians who sought political asylum here, the Consul General said, “Across the board now there is some liberalization. Those who are known to repeatedly criticize the Indian Government, questioning the idea of Indian nation, India’s territorial integrity/sovereigntyor who have serious issues, will still be denied passport. But that category apart, those who have sought asylum and want to have a passport can send email to us or come with their documents to the consulate at the open house on first and third Wednesdays in the morning and afternoon respectively. But please do not go to third parties because they really don’t know the rules and regulations. Don’t get misguided and don’t pay any extra money.”
Indian Agencies are the most corrupted and lazy to the core. As per OCI website, the process to convert PIO card to OCI is online and require only photocopy of passport and PIO card. After going to FRRO office, it became evident that there is no such thing as converting PIO to OCI. FRRO office need all the documentation as required while applying new OCI card. They also do the police verification of the address proof. Also, FRRO offices are regional, and you can apply for OCI card only in your state. Each state has its own rules for documentation. Lots of harassment to getting the OCI card. I finally gave up after going round and round through useless processes! It is much easier to get the OCI card from abroad, just takes 10 days and you need not to go anywhere. Just mail all the required documents and embassy send the OCI card.
Applications for conversion of PIO cards to OCI cards shall be processed without Consular Fees until December 31st, 2017. ICWF Fees & CKGS Service Fees will continue.
Until then, PIO cardholders can travel with their PIO card and US Passport.
As per CKGS website on 9/25 –
Applications for conversion of PIO cards to OCI cards shall be processed without Consular Fees until December 31st, 2017. ICWF Fees & CKGS Service Fees will continue.
Until then, PIO cardholders can travel with their PIO card and US Passport.