Dual Citizenship vs. PIO Card

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zephyr

Registered Users (C)
I have recently become a US citizen (previous nationality India). I am wondering which route is better: PIO (Person of Indian Origin) Card or dual citizenship.

As some of you are probably aware, India has passed two laws this year. one in January allowing dual citizenship and another in June, reducing the fee for PIO card to make it more attractive. For those of you from nonIndian nationalities, PIO card is more like a green card equivalent for India -- It does not give you as many previliges in India as its counterpart does in US but it does not require you to keep a "permanent" residence in India.

The PIO card law came into effect only from this month. Nobody has a clue yet on when the dual citizenship law will take effect. I have a feeling that Indian government will make sure that you will spend about the same amount no matter which route you may take.

My question is, which route is better and why do you feel that way. As for me, I am currently leaning towards the PIO card as I am not really keen on keeping a dual status but I would like to hear some comments. I am planning to apply for a PIO card soon but would like to get some feedback.

(Sorry, if this is a wrong forum but I couldn't find a more appropriate and widely used forum!)
 
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I wasn't aware of the law being passed in January about 'dual-citizenship'. But the PIO card - I have heard and was effective as of October 2002.

The PIO card is practically like the dual-citizen with the only caveat being you cannot vote in India. Why would you not use the PIO card ? For one, you don't need to get visas while visiting India if you have the PIO card. Plus the cost of getting one has come down substantially for you not to consider that vs getting a visa every time you need one.

I would get a PIO card and see no harm. Is it valid only for 10 years or something or does it not have an expiration date ?

Just my $0.02

Originally posted by zephyr
I have recently become a US citizen (previous nationality India). I am wondering which route is better: PIO (Person of Indian Origin) Card or dual citizenship.

As some of you are probably aware, India has passed two laws this year. one in January allowing dual citizenship and another in June, reducing the fee for PIO card to make it more attractive. For those of you from nonIndian nationalities, PIO card is more like a green card equivalent for India -- It does not give you as many previliges in India as its counterpart does in US but it does not require you to keep a "permanent" residence in India.

The PIO card law came into effect only from this month. Nobody has a clue yet on when the dual citizenship law will take effect. I have a feeling that Indian government will make sure that you will spend about the same amount no matter which route you may take.

My question is, which route is better and why do you feel that way. As for me, I am currently leaning towards the PIO card as I am not really keen on keeping a dual status but I would like to hear some comments. I am planning to apply for a PIO card soon but would like to get some feedback.

(Sorry, if this is a wrong forum but I couldn't find a more appropriate and widely used forum!)
Click to expand...
 
America requires all its citizens to report worldwide
income to the IRS. Does India require all Indian citizens
to report world income to India? If there is no tax treaty, then dual citizenship may be costly because you may be dopubly taxed.
 
>Not just US citizens have to pay US taxes on their worldwide >income. US Permanent Residents have to do that as well.

Actually even non-immigrant alien have to report world
wide income too as long as they choose to file 1040
instead of 1040 NR.

But I doubt most people are that honest and I don't think
any other country bother too much about its citizens
living in the USA not paying taxes. So perhaps tax should
not be a problem when deciding to go for dual citizenship
or not.
 
Dual Citizenship

Hi Guys,

I am an Indian and soon to become US Citizen. For those guys who know about new law which has been passed for dual citizenship, please help me how does it work? If I get US Citizenship, do we loose Indian citizenship or we are still Indian Citizen. Do we have to take any special step to keep Indian Citizenship.

Here is the one article I read: http://www.cyrusmehta.com/tv_cyrus.asp?news_id=503&intPage=4

Thanks for ur help
 
Re: Dual Citizenship

I don't think India allows dual citizenship yet. As soon as you become a US citizen, you lose your Indian citizenship.

But there is something called a PIO (Person of Indian Origin) card which is similar to the US Green Card where you can practically do everything an Indian citizen can do except you cannot vote in India.

You can check out the Indian embassy/Consulate web sites and see the procedure for PIO card.

Hope that helps.

Originally posted by Arv99
Hi Guys,

I am an Indian and soon to become US Citizen. For those guys who know about new law which has been passed for dual citizenship, please help me how does it work? If I get US Citizenship, do we loose Indian citizenship or we are still Indian Citizen. Do we have to take any special step to keep Indian Citizenship.

Here is the one article I read: http://www.cyrusmehta.com/tv_cyrus.asp?news_id=503&intPage=4

Thanks for ur help
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