What next after the oath ceremony?

[quert1]

HI, my husband has his oath ceremony on September 7th. He wants to apply for dual citizenship immediately after that.
1. What are the next steps we need to take to complete the process (Please specify the apllication forms and line of order of the process involved)?
2. Does he have to apply first for PIO and then for OCI?

Thanks in advance!

 

[kagemusha]

First of all OCI is more like an Indian green card and not really dual citizenship. You don't need to get a PIO before you get OCI. You can apply for OCI directly. This thread should point you in the right direction.

http://boards.immigration.com/showthread.php?t=209468

-KM

 

[quert1]

Thanks for the info.

 

[clooge]

First of all OCI is more like an Indian green card and not really dual citizenship. You don't need to get a PIO before you get OCI. You can apply for OCI directly. This thread should point you in the right direction.

http://boards.immigration.com/showthread.php?t=209468

-KM

Hi whats the difference between PIO and OCI, when or under which circumstances would one need them?

thanks

 

[kagemusha]

Hi whats the difference between PIO and OCI, when or under which circumstances would one need them?

Assuming that you are of Indian origin and want to visit India from time to time, PIO and OCI are two alternatives to getting an Indian visa each time you want to visit India. Once you get your US citizenship, you will have effectively renounced your Indian citizenship and will therefore be unable to travel to India on your Indian passport.

Here's some cut and paste from the web. Just look for threads in the OCI section for further details.

Certain American citizens of Indian origin can apply for special visas known as “Person of Indian Origin” (PIO) Cards or “Overseas Citizen of India” (OCI) Cards. The PIO and OCI Cards are similar in that they allow the holder to visit, study, work and own certain property in India. The OCI Card has certain advantages in that, unlike PIO Cards, the validity is indefinite and the holder need not register with Indian immigration authorities for stays in India exceeding 180 days. Americans interested in these programs should view information provided by the Foreigner’s Division of the Indian Ministry of Home Affairs at http://www.mha.nic.in/fore_division.htm.

Despite mischaracterizations to the contrary, neither the PIO nor OCI program provide the holder with Indian citizenship. Thus, an American citizen who obtains a PIO Card or an OCI Card remains only a U.S. citizen, and does not become a dual U.S.-Indian citizen. For more information on this issue, please read our information on dual nationality.

-KM

 

[clooge]

silly question maybe -

what if i keep the indian passport and not tell anyone... will there be a time when it can bite me....

is this is even possible..

 

[kagemusha]

silly question maybe -

what if i keep the indian passport and not tell anyone... will there be a time when it can bite me....

is this is even possible..

Of course you can keep the Indian passport (as a keepsake, for your records, whatever) but the answer really depends on what you intend to do with it. You cannot use it to enter India (even if you manage to pull it off you will have trouble leaving India on that same passport because you don't have a valid immigration status in the US other than citizenship. If you show them the US passport then, they will likely discover that you used a different passport to enter India because your US passport won't have any record of your having entered India with a valid visa).

-KM