PIO (PERSONS OF INDIAN ORIGIN) CARD

Please Note

· It takes 45 business/working days to process application for PIO card.
· Any enquiry regarding PIO card will be entertained only after 45 business days of receipt of completed application form in the embassy.
· Providing email details in the application will help us contact you in case of any deficiency in the application form.
· Queries at email giving details and date of submission of form will be promptly replied. ( after 45 business days of receipt of completed application form in the consular section of Embassy of India , Washington D.C.)
· PIO card does not allow parity with NRIs in the sphere of political rights.

A. Eligibility:

All persons of Indian origin who hold passport of any other country (with certain exceptions) will be eligible to apply for PIO Card, if the applicant:

· At any time held an Indian passport
· He/She or either of his/her parents or grand parents or great grand parents was born in and permanently 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 a citizen of any of the specified countries; or
· Is a spouse of a citizen of India or a person of Indian origin covered under the above.

B: Exceptions:

· Persons who were citizen 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.

C: Benefits

Besides making their journey back to their roots simpler, easier and smoother, this Scheme entitles the PIO cardholders to a wide range of economic, financial, educational and cultural benefits. They are:

· No requirement of visa to visit India when PIO card is carried along with the national passport;
· No requirement of a Student Visa for undertaking studies in India and Employment visa for taking up employment in India. PIO cardholders, however, would be required to fulfill other conditions and formalities for studies/employment as prescribed by authorities concerned from time to time.
· No requirement to register with the Foreigners Registration Officer if continuous stay on a single visit does not exceed 180 days. If continuous stay exceeds 180 days, then registration is required to be done within a period of 30 days of the expiry of 180 days with the concerned Foreigners Regional Registration Officer / Foreigners Registration Officer.
· Prior permission of the Government of India is required by the PIO Card holders for undertaking mountaineering expeditions, missionary activities, research work and visit to the restricted/protected area.
· Parity with Non-Resident Indians (NRI) in respect of facilities available to the latter in economic, financial, educational fields etc. except in matters relating to the acquisition of agricultural/plantation properties. PIOs would be eligible for benefits as available to NRIs from time to time.
· Separate counters for immigration would be provided to PIO Card holders at all International Airports in India.

D: How to Apply

Applicants who reside only in the Consular Jurisdiction listed below should send their PIO application form to Embassy of India, Washington DC: 

Bermuda, Delaware, District of Columbia, Kentucky, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia 


· Application for issue/renewal 
Application form for PIO card (PDF format; for more information on PDF click here)

E: Documents required: 

      1. Proof of residence

              Driver's License or 
              House Lease Agreement or
              Utility Bill

           2. Existing valid passport in original along with a photocopy or notarized copy
              of first two pages of passport 

           3. Notarized copy of applicant's birth certificate

           4. Notarized photocopies of expired Indian passport/travel document (s) of  
              the applicant or either of his/her parents or grandparents or great 
              grandparents; 

           5. All other relevant documents and their photocopies that may be helpful in 
               establishing Indian origin which may include, inter alia, revenue records,
               domicile certificate/school or college leaving certificates, US naturalization 
               certificate , Indian Birth certificate of the applicant and of the parents or 
               grand parents of the applicant etc., Nationality certificates of the applicant
               and of the parents or grand parents;

           6. Those applying as spouses of persons of Indian origin should submit
               original Indian passport or PIO card (whichever is applicable)
               of the spouse and original marriage certificate; (marriage should have
               taken place more than a year before the date of application)

           7.  Photographs – Four ( 2" X 2" Front pose with light background only)

           Note

           (If the applicant is a non-US passport holder, his/her residence in the jurisdiction of the
           Embassy should be more than one year.) 

            · Bank/credit card/mobile phone statements are not accepted as residence
           proof 

          · Photocopy of all documents should be notarized and attached to the
           application. If original supporting documents are enclosed, there is no need of 
           notarization. When the original passport is enclosed, there is no need to notarize 
           photocopy 

         Note: To enable us properly scrutinize, colored photocopy of your documents is 
                 preferred

           · Sign/ those who cannot sign should affix thumb impression [left for male/ right for 
              female] in the box. 

            · Police Report if application is for a PIO card in lieu of a lost PIO card

                · Please fill the application form completely, in particular, column 13 & 14. Mention the
             details of parents, grandparents, spouse etc., to the extent possible bringing out their
              Indian or foreign origin as applicable.

Above requirements are indicative. The Consular Officer, however, may ask for additional documents after examining the application.


IMPORTANT

IF YOUR NAME IN YOUR US PASSPORT IS DIFFERENT FROM THE ONE IN THE INDIAN PASSPORT, YOU ARE REQUIRED TO ADVERTISE CHANGE OF NAME IN A NEWSPAPER IN YOUR LOCALITY IN USA, AND IN INDIA. COMPLETE AND NOTARIZE THE CHANGE OF NAME (pdf file) AFFIDAVIT.

F: Where to Apply

· To the Indian mission/post in the country where the applicant is ordinarily resident. In case of people living in the states of Bermuda, Delware, District of Columbia, Kentucky, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia: You may apply to 

Embassy of India (PIO Cell), 2536 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W. Washington D.C. 20008.

Consular Counter Timings

For submission of documents; 9.30 am to 12.30 pm (Monday thru Friday)

Documents delivery: 4.30 pm to 5.30 pm (Monday thru Friday)

For applicants already in India on Long Term Visa (more than one year) - for issue of a PIO Card to the following authorities:- 

For those residing in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Amritsar and Chennai: 

· Delhi-Foreigners Regional Registration Officer, Level-II, East Block VIII, R.K. Puram, Sector-I, New Delhi.
· Mumbai-Foreigners Regional Registration Officer, Annexe-II, Commissioner of Police, Craw Ford Market, Mumbai-400001.
· Kolkata-Foreigners Regional Registration Officer, 237, Acharya Jagdish Chandra Bose Road, Kolkata-700020.
· Amritsar-Additional Deputy Director, Bureau of Immigration, B/123, Ranjeet Avenue, Amritsar.
· Chennai-Chief Immigration Officer, Bureau of Immigration, Shastri Bhavan Annexe, No. 26, Haddows Road, Chennai-600006.

For those residing in areas other than (A) above:- 

· To the Joint Secretary (Foreigners), Ministry of Home Affairs, Ist Floor, Lok Nayak Bhavan, Khan Market, New Delhi 110003.

G: Fees

Adults - $ 365 (three hundred sixty five dollars)

Children (upto 18 years of age) - $185 (one hundred eighty five)

· Fees should be paid through Money order or cashiers’ cheque drawn in favour of the Embassy of India, Washington D.C. Personal cheques, credit cards or other banking instruments are not accepted

· Fee once paid is non-refundable even if service is refused/delayed.

· Return mailing charge $20 or Stamped Self addressed UPS Mail Envelope (No other courier services accepted)

H: Validity

· Fifteen (15) years from the date of issue subject to the validity of the passport of the applicant.

· PIO Cards issued under the 1999-scheme at US $ 1000 will continue to remain valid. While no refund shall be available, the validity of such cards would be extendable for a further period of 10 years (i.e. 30 years in all), if so applied for by the card holder, without any extra cost.

I: Cancellation of Card

A PIO card can be cancelled/withdrawn if:

· It was obtained by fraud, false representation or concealment of any material fact; or

· the PIO Card holder has shown himself/herself by act or speech to be disaffected towards the Constitution of India and other laws of India; or

· the PIO Card holder is a citizen or subject of any country at war with, or committing external aggression against India; or of any other country assisting the country at war with, or committing such aggression against India; or

· the PIO Card holder has been sentenced in India for indulging in acts of terrorism, smuggling of narcotics, arms, ammunition etc. or has been sentenced for committing an offence punishable with imprisonment up to one year or fine up to rupees ten thousand; or

· it is not conductive to the public interest that the person should continue to hold a PIO Card. No reasons shall be assigned for cancellation of the Card.

J: Processing Time

· May require more than 45 business days if clearances have to be obtained from India or other PIO card issuing agencies

· No emergency service is available for PIO cards

· If issue of PIO card is delayed, visa may be obtained to travel to India
Click Here to Visit "PIO CARD" Site in New Delhi

K: Endorsement of new passport number in the PIO Card

For endorsing new passport number, please download and fill the application (pdf file) and mail it with old and new passport and one photo copy first 2 and last 2 pages of each along with PIO Card. Fees applicable is $20 to be paid by cashier's check/ money order to be drawn in favor of Embassy of India. Personal check/ credit card payment is not accepted. Alternately, documents and fees can be presented at the consular service counter between designated hours.