US passport required to apply for PIO ?

[letsee]

Planning to apply for PIO for our newborn kid and would like to know whether US passport is a MUST for that ? (I read everywhere it is a MUST, just checking whether anyone has other inofrmation)
It would take atleast 6 weeks for US passport and another 6 weeks for PIO. But we need to travel in 7 weeks. If US passport is a MUST, the only option seems to be an Indian visa after US passport.

TIA.

 

[PP2007]

yes you need to have the US Passport to apply for PIO. You can apply for the US passport using the expedited service and then try applying for a PIO.