Applying for PIO (Person of Indian Origin) Card

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shahidsan

Registered Users (C)
Hi all,

Can anyone share their experience of obtaining a PIO card? I recently became a US Citizen, and wanted to apply for a PIO to avoid requiring visa when visiting India.

Also, if someone could explain the benefits of getting a PIO card versus applying for a dual citizenship!

Thanks in advance
 
Hi,

I recently applied and received the PIO card. It took about 3 weeks to get it, which I think is partly because of the new year holidays. My closest embassy is Houston and their website had all the information. If I remember right, I had to send in a Money Order for $310, 4 passport pictures, 2 filled in application forms, copy of the US passport and the Indian passport.

I received the Indian passport back with Canceled stamp and the PIO card (which is not a card, but a thin passport look-alike). The PIO card is valid for 10 years.

BTW, when I went to India, I noticed that PIO card holders can use the diplomatic/flight crew line for immigration check, which is a big plus. :)

Good luck.
 
mar2005 said:
I received the Indian passport back with Canceled stamp and the PIO card (which is not a card, but a thin passport look-alike). The PIO card is valid for 10 years.
Click to expand...

Are you sure your PIO is valid only for 10 years.
Isn't the PIO valid for 15 years?
 
Yes, you are right! I just checked and my card is valid for 15 years. Sorry if I misled anyone.
 
shahidsan said:
Hi all,

Also, if someone could explain the benefits of getting a PIO card versus applying for a dual citizenship!

Thanks in advance
Click to expand...

You may want to follow India dual citizenship thread. India doesn't offer dual citizenship (forget about all the hoopla about OCI). We will never get dual citizenship unless they amend the Indian constitution (which I don't think they will do). I for one, not convinced about OCI and its benefits compared to PIO. So, I decided to go for PIO. Do some reading before you make the decision, there are adv and disadv for both. Dual cit mega thread gives you lot of useful information.
 
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