Confused on India visa for son born in USA

N

nrsesh

Registered Users (C)
Hi
We are from India. We just got our Green cards. Our son(now 4 yrs old) is born in USA and has a US passport. We are planning trip to India in June. Question is:

Do we have to get a Indian visa stamped for our son on US passport or do we have to apply for Indian passport for him at the Indian consulate?

Would appreciate help.
Thanks
 
nrsesh said:
Hi
We are from India. We just got our Green cards. Our son(now 4 yrs old) is born in USA and has a US passport. We are planning trip to India in June. Question is:

Do we have to get a Indian visa stamped for our son on US passport or do we have to apply for Indian passport for him at the Indian consulate?

Would appreciate help.
Thanks
Click to expand...

You will have to apply for a visa or PIO card. I would suggest a PIO card as it is valid for 15 years and costs just $5 more than a 10 year visa.
 
nrsesh said:
Hi
We are from India. We just got our Green cards. Our son(now 4 yrs old) is born in USA and has a US passport. We are planning trip to India in June. Question is:

Do we have to get a Indian visa stamped for our son on US passport or do we have to apply for Indian passport for him at the Indian consulate?

Would appreciate help.
Thanks
Click to expand...

You can get visitor visa for him, but PIO card is better because it's valid for 15 years.
 
Indian Visa Vs. PIO Card Vs. OCI

Your son is an american citizen. In order for him to travel to India, he needs one of the following:

1) Tourist visa - 6 months to 10 yrs are available. 10 yrs tourist visa cost
$150. It takes 2 weeks to get it by mail or the same day if you can go to
the consulate in person to apply. or;
2) PIO (Person of Indian Origin) Card - It's valid for 15 yrs and costs $155
for a child. It takes about 3 weeks to get it. There is no need for indian
visa. Your son will travel with an american passport and his PIO card.
Later on if you want to convert from PIO Card to an OCI (Overseas Indian
Citizenship), it will only cost additional $25. or;
3) OCI - It's valid for life and there will be no need to get an Indian visa. It
costs $275. You son will get a OCI registration card and a U visa in his
american passport for unlimited travel to India during his lifetime. It takes
3-4 months to get it.

Please check out the Indian consulate websites for more info. For children getting a PIO card and then converting to OCI is the most inexpensive and effective way.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Excellent Post! Thanks a Bunch!!

Can you please also explain

1) What is the Process of Converting a PIO to OCI and how much time it would take ?

2) What are the benefits of an OCI comapred to PIO (Except PIO is only 15 yrs and OCI is lifelong)

Thanks..

sg_orl said:
Your son is an american citizen. In order for him to travel to India, he needs one of the following:

1) Tourist visa - 6 months to 10 yrs are available. 10 yrs tourist visa cost
$150. It takes 2 weeks to get it by mail or the smae day if you can go to
the consulate in person to apply. or;
2) PIO (Person of Indian Origin) Card - It's valid for 15 yrs and costs $150
for a child. It take about 3 weeks to get it. There is no need for indian
visa. Your son will travel with an american passport and his PIO card.
Later on if you want to convert from PIO Card to an OCI (Overseas Indian
Citizenship), it will only cost additional $25. or;
3) OCI - It's valid for life and there will be no need to get an Indian visa. It
costs $275. You son will get a OCI registration card and a U visa in his
american passport for unlimited travel to India during his lifetime. It takes
3-4 months to get it.

Please check out the Indian consulate websites for more info. For children getting a PIO card and then converting to OCI is the most inexpensive and effective way.
Click to expand...
 
Thanks a lot about this much of info. I was not aware of this PIO and OCI. I guess I have to go for visa or PIO because I do not have much time to wait.
Any suggestion and help is always welcome.
 
letsee said:
Excellent Post! Thanks a Bunch!!

Can you please also explain

1) What is the Process of Converting a PIO to OCI and how much time it would take ?

2) What are the benefits of an OCI comapred to PIO (Except PIO is only 15 yrs and OCI is lifelong)

Thanks..
Click to expand...

1) You have to file the OCI Application form and send the notorized docs and $25 fees to the consulate. Try this link or other Indian Consulate links:

http://www.cgihouston.org/OverseasCitizenship.html

OCI process is new so it's hard to say the timelines. It varies from one consulate to another. Right now, I would guess 3-4 months.

2) Both will allow you to work in private sector, and stay in India for education purposes. With the PIO, you have to register with the FRRO or police authorities if a single stay gets to be more than 6 months, with OCI there are no formalities to report for any length of stay in India. Both prohibit you buying an agricultural land or plantation in India.

The following is a quote from the Houston Consulate;s OCI page:

"Persons registered as OCI have not been given any voting rights, election to Lok Sabha/Rajya Sabha/Legislative Assembly/Council, holding Constitutional posts such as President, Vice President, Judge of Supreme Court/High Court etc. Registered OCIs shall be entitled to following benefits:
(i) Multiple entry, multi-purpose life long visa to visit India;

(ii) Exemption from reporting to Police authorities for any length of stay in India; and

(iii) Parity with NRIs in financial, economic and educational fields, except in the acquisition of agricultural or plantation properties."
 
hi

I followed the link to the OCI application.Looks like the application assumes that the whole family is applying for OCI.has several pages one for the primary applicant,spouse and minor kid1,minor kid 2.

My situation is i am a indian citizen planning to go back to India and settle down there.And i want my kid to maintain Us citizenship by getting OCI.Can some one shed some light on what needs to be done.
 
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