12 January 2012

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26 Important facts about PIO Card People of Indian Origin Card Know the advantages and limitations of PIO Card

26 Important facts about PIO Card People of Indian Origin Card Know the advantages and limitations of PIO Card


What is PIO Card People of Indian Origin Card

Know the advantages and limitations of PIO Card

Understanding PIO card before that in Short know who is called as NRI as nearly same benefits are enjoyed by the PIO card holders.

In simple language When Any Indian stays in foreign country he is called as Non Resident Indian that is NRI.
An Indian Citizen who stays abroad for employment/carrying on business or vocation outside India or stays abroad under circumstances indicating an intention for an uncertain duration of stay abroad is a non-resident.

(Persons posted in U.N. Organizations and Officials deputed abroad by Central/State Governments and Public Sector undertakings on temporary assignments are also treated as non-residents).

Non –Resident foreign citizens of Indian Origin are treated on par with non-resident Indian Citizens (NRIs) for the purpose of certain facilities.


Who can take or apply for the PIO Card?
If you are Indian but you have now taken the green card of USA or you have become the citizen of other country then you are eligible to take or apply for the PIO card.
If mother or father any one holds the PIO card then their children or kids automatically become eligible for PIO card.

OCI card means you technically become an overseas citizen of India.
children born to Indian parents in a foreign country cannot apply for an OCI card.

To get a PIO card, you will have to apply manually after downloading the form.
PIO card processing takes or requires 1 month .

Eligibility to apply for the PIO Card ?

A "Person of Indian Origin" means a foreign citizen not being a citizen of Bangladesh, Pakistan or other countries as may be specified by the Central Government from time to time if;
1] he/she at any time held a Indian passport; or

2] he/she or either of his/her parents or grandparents or great grandparents was born in and was a permanent resident in India as defined in the Government of India Act, 1935 and other territories that became part of India thereafter provided neither was at any time citizens of any of the aforesaid countries (as referred above) ; or

3]he/she is a spouse of a citizen of India or a person of Indian origin covered under [1] or [2] above.

Exceptions:

Persons who were citizens of certain specified countries; or whose spouse; or either of whose parents,

grandparents, great-grandparents were citizens at any time of these specified countries may render an applicant ineligible for a PIO card even though he/she may otherwise be eligible.

The grounds of ineligibility can be established only after receipt of application. It will not be possible to respond to queries regarding grounds of ineligibility before receiving the application.

What is PIO Card?

1.
The Indian Government announced in September 2002 the launch of Person of India Origin Card that allows visa free entry in India for Indian origin people living across the world.

2.
The PIO card does not make you an Indian citizen

3.
PIO card does not give voting rights.

4.
PIO card does not give you right to stand for elections in India

5.
A PIO card holder person does not require visa to visit India. Thus Satanic Verses' author Salman Rushdie does not need visa to visit India.

6.
PIO card is offered for free to eminent persons of Indian origin. I do not know author Salman Rushdie got the PIO card free of cost. [ another election topic to waste the time of Indians. ]

7.
A PIO card shall be valid for a period of fifteen years from the date of issue subject to the validity of the foreign passport.

8.
The validity of PIO card is 15 or 20 years in some cases.

9.
For investment PIO card holders require the PAN card number.

10.
In other words, the passport must be valid in order for the PIO card to be considered valid.

11.
PIO card gives almost all the rights that are enjoyed by Non-Resident Indians (NRIs)

12.
The card allows gives you right to purchase of non-agricultural land in India.

13.
The right to buy property would not be valid for Jammu & Kashmir.

14.
As per the PIO card rules Persons of Indian Origin up to the fourth generation (great grandparents) settled throughout the world

15.
a PIO Card is not granted/issued to people of Indian origin living in countries like: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, Nepal, Pakistan or Sri Lanka

16.
Valid Passport is also required with the PIO Card.

17.
The Card holder would be exempt from registration if his stay in India does not exceed more than 180 days.

18.
If the stay exceeds 180 days, the Card holder will have to register within 30 days of the expiry of 180 days with the Foreigners Registration Officer.

19.
a PIO Card holder can get his children admitted in educational institution in India using the NRI category.

20.
Person who holds the PIO card does not require student visa to study in India.

21.
PIO card holder is allowed to acquire or hold transfer and disposal of immovable properties in India except of agricultural/plantation properties;

22.
The card holder can open rupee bank accounts in India, lend in rupees to Indian residents, make investments in India;

23.
PIO card holder is allowed admission of children in educational institutions in India under the general category quota for NRIs - including medical / engineering college, IITs, IIMs etc.

24.
PIO card holder is not eligible to apply for the government jobs.

25.
The card holder can take part in various housing schemes of LIC, state governments and other government agencies

26.
For PIO card holder there is always Separate immigration counter at international airports in India

How to get the PIO card?

What is the procedure to get the PIO card?

Application fee is around $365 for adult, $185 for child below
18 years of age and there is no refund policy.
Duplicate card fee is $100.
Getting PIO card is a manual process.
For Photograph white or light background is required.
One must download forms and send the documents to the applicable embassy/consulate or Indian immigration office.
The office will process and send back the PIO card after processing.
Submission of the original passport of current nationality is not required.

Suggested Reading –

Know 21 Important Facts about Permanent Account Number (PAN) Card –


Updated on Wednesday, January 07, 2015

PIOs to get life-long Indian visa Citizenship Act promulgated

Reality views by sm –

Thursday, January 12, 2012

Tags – PIO card facts how to get PIO card NRI

8 comments:

virendra sharma January 12, 2012  

IMPORTANT UPDATE FOR THE NRI'S.GOOD TO KNOW THESE PEOPLE CAN OPEN BANK ACCOUNTS IN INDIA AND THAT THEIR CHILDREN CAN STUDY IN INDIA WITHOUT A STUDENT VISA.

Kirtivasan Ganesan January 12, 2012  

I do not agree with you. Many of the so called NRIs have spoilt the name of India.
They should not be allowed to open a bank or anything. Just stay where you are.
Come back to India, give them a slap on their face. Traitors !!

Amrit January 12, 2012  

I heard they are stopping PIO card......is it true. Email me back pls.

Unknown January 12, 2012  

nice blog and a neat writeup....be ur follower now...

sm,  January 12, 2012  

veerubhai,,thanks.
Kirtivasan,,thanks.
A,,thanks. i will mail you.

Anonymous,  October 08, 2013  

It is not true... if mother or Father is a PIO card holder automatically the Kids are eligble for PIO card. I got today a letter from FRRO, that my kids are not eligble for PIO :-(.

Anonymous,  August 08, 2014  

@Anonymous
I have my PIO card based on my great-grandmother. I was of the impression once I get mine I can apply for one for my son. Did they say why your kids were not eligible?