PIO card vs visa - which one is better

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maheshgajanan

Registered Users (C)
PIO card is twice as expensive than a 10 year visa but one big advantage is the ability to legally work in India, if one so decides during its validity.

- Any other advantages/disadvantage to go for one instead of the other?
- Just curious, is PIO "card" a real card (like GC) or a stamp on the passport?
- I read the PIO is valid as long as the passport is valid. That means the PIO card is effectively valid for 10 years (US passport have 10 yr validity) and not 15 yrs as they claim. Agree?

Thanks!
Mahesh
 
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maheshgajanan said:
PIO card is twice as expensive than a 10 year visa but one big advantage is the ability to legally work in India, if one so decides during its validity.

- Any other advantages/disadvantage to go for one instead of the other?
Click to expand...
PIO card allows you to own agricultural land which you cannot do on a visa. Also, if you stay for more than 6 months, then you have to register with the Indian Forigners Registration Office once, on a visa you have to register every 6 months. The advantage of PIO comes if you move to India, otherwise the 10 year visa is good enough.
maheshgajanan said:
- Just curious, is PIO "card" a real card (like GC) or a stamp on the passport?
Click to expand...
PIO card looks like an old style Drivers Licence (a book) or IDP issued in India
maheshgajanan said:
- I read the PIO is valid as long as the passport is valid. That means the PIO card is effectively valid for 10 years (US passport have 10 yr validity) and not 15 yrs as they claim. Agree?
Click to expand...
Dont know about that.
maheshgajanan said:
Thanks!
Mahesh
Click to expand...
 
maheshgajanan said:
PIO card is twice as expensive than a 10 year visa but one big advantage is the ability to legally work in India, if one so decides during its validity.

- Any other advantages/disadvantage to go for one instead of the other?
- Just curious, is PIO "card" a real card (like GC) or a stamp on the passport?
- I read the PIO is valid as long as the passport is valid. That means the PIO card is effectively valid for 10 years (US passport have 10 yr validity) and not 15 yrs as they claim. Agree?

Thanks!
Mahesh
Click to expand...

PIO card is valid for 15 years. If you get a new passport before the PIO card expires, you need to get the PIO endorsed with the new passport number.
 
Thanks ma21, fitness99, sg_orl for your responses.



I browsed link that sg_orl provided for the OIC program. OIC has two benefits over PIO as I read
i) An Overseas Citizen of India can invest in agriculture and plantation properties, while PIO card holder cannot do so.
ii) Overseas citizens are not required to complete registration formalities even if they stay longer than six months, while PIO card holders are required to so do.

- If I read correctly, if I get a Indian visa, legally I cannot work unless it is business visa, right? So, in that respect, is it true that PIO card has an advantage?
- BTW, when is OIC expected to be available?
- I have to travel (to visit family) in a few months from now and I am debating between going with visa (and save $150) or pay the $310 for PIO. Any suggestions?

Mahesh
 
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Hi,
definetely pio card is better.It is less of a hassle.Yes it is $150 extra,but it's worth it.Normally if you send it by mail, it takes 3 to 4 weeks.Since you have some time before going to India,go for the pio card.and if you travel by air domestically in india,then it is very valuable.Bcos ,otherwise some airlines charge an outrageous fare for foreign nationals.With pio card , you can pay Indian resident fares.
so in the long run,Pio card is definetely better.
 
I would say spend the $150 and get the 10 yr tourist visa for now unless you have a compelling need to work in India ,or attend school over there. Depending on how many times you may be travelling to India in the near future, consider even a short term visa, i.e. 6 months. 10 yr. tourist visa is cheaper if would be travelling > 2 times.

The biggest difference between PIO and the proposed OIC (hopefully coming soon) are:
1) Cost: PIO $310 for 15 yrs; OIC $275 for life (as proposed earlier); 10 Yr tourist Visa $150.
2) Education/Work: PIO - Yes, OIC - Yes; 10 Yr tourist visa - No.
3) Registration, if stay is > 6 mos: PIO - 1 time registration; OIC - No registration; 10 Yr tourist visa - register every 6 mos.
4) Investment in Agriculture Properties: PIO - No; OIC - Yes, 10 Yr tourist visa - No.

PIO Card is a bridge between 10 Yr tourist visa and the proposed OIC. If you think you would like to have the OIC some day, then I recommend 10 Yr tourist visa for now, and when the OIC really becomes a reality, then get that. PIO Card give you some benefits in the meantime, but cost is higher and it still has a 15 yr term as opposed to no expiration for OIC.

I personally decided to take the 10 yr tourist visa for now, and wait a little longer until the OIC gets rolled out, and procedures really get developed. By that time some people would get the OICs and comment on their experience and benefits. Unless you have the immediate reasons for getting the PIO card, why not wait for OIC (which by the way is an upgraded PIO anyway).
 
sg_orl said:
I would say spend the $150 and get the 10 yr tourist visa for now unless you have a compelling need to work in India ,or attend school over there. Depending on how many times you may be travelling to India in the near future, consider even a short term visa, i.e. 6 months. 10 yr. tourist visa is cheaper if would be travelling > 2 times.

The biggest difference between PIO and the proposed OIC (hopefully coming soon) are:
1) Cost: PIO $310 for 15 yrs; OIC $275 for life (as proposed earlier); 10 Yr tourist Visa $150.
2) Education/Work: PIO - Yes, OIC - Yes; 10 Yr tourist visa - No.
3) Registration, if stay is > 6 mos: PIO - 1 time registration; OIC - No registration; 10 Yr tourist visa - register every 6 mos.
4) Investment in Agriculture Properties: PIO - No; OIC - Yes, 10 Yr tourist visa - No.

PIO Card is a bridge between 10 Yr tourist visa and the proposed OIC. If you think you would like to have the OIC some day, then I recommend 10 Yr tourist visa for now, and when the OIC really becomes a reality, then get that. PIO Card give you some benefits in the meantime, but cost is higher and it still has a 15 yr term as opposed to no expiration for OIC.

I personally decided to take the 10 yr tourist visa for now, and wait a little longer until the OIC gets rolled out, and procedures really get developed. By that time some people would get the OICs and comment on their experience and benefits. Unless you have the immediate reasons for getting the PIO card, why not wait for OIC (which by the way is an upgraded PIO anyway).
Click to expand...

One thing I recently looked into is that a PIO or NRI can have agricultural / plantation property by family inheritance...
 
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