r2i forum

Please refer to the link below for a news article on the recently concluded Pravasi Bharat Divas....

http://in.finance.yahoo.com/news/NRIs-India-electoral-rolls-ians-2799155372.html

Here is what the Primeminister has to say...

'We recently reviewed the Overseas Citizenship of India Card and Person of Indian Origin Card. We have decided to merge them into one,' the prime minister told the 9th edition of India's annual convention to connect with its 25-million-strong diaspora in 130 nations.

Wow....:(

Please take the discussion further from your inputs.
Experts please help us out.:idea:
Thanks

NewAshe;360728
'We recently reviewed the Overseas Citizenship of India Card and Person of Indian Origin Card. We have decided to merge them into one,' the prime minister told the 9th edition of India's annual convention to connect with its 25-million-strong diaspora in 130 nations.

This looks like a good initiative and can help many people who are with PIO card to get to the OCI status without much difficulty. However, there is lack of information. There is no mention of the privileges and if there are any changes. Not sure if we can assume that PIO will get all the OCI privileges also. We may have to wait and watch the news column ! :)

Read it in TOI, IMO, they will put a program/process to convert PIO to OCI and abolish PIO all together.
From the very beginning, to me, it did not make sense to have both PIO and OCI.
I just now applied for OCI (PIO holder), put together tons of document, hope in future the process of
conversion will be little easier.

One issue always intrigues me.

GOI says OCI is a not a full Indian citizenship.

But then why a requirement for OCI is that holder's country must support some form of dual citizenship?

Why only few countries (who allow multiple citizenship) citizens around the world can apply for OCI and not everyone else if OCI is not really Indian citizenship?

mobi;360766One issue always intrigues me.

GOI says OCI is a not a full Indian citizenship.

But then why a requirement for OCI is that holder's country must support some form of dual citizenship?

Why only few countries (who allow multiple citizenship) citizens around the world can apply for OCI and not everyone else if OCI is not really Indian citizenship?

Aren't you glad that you are away :wink? Remember how long it was when they announced OCI and implemented it ? It will be a long time before anything happens; when it does, depending on the prevailing conditions of travel safety, the new thing could be worse than the old thing in terms of paperwork.

Well, yes....it might take some time to implement it. But it might save lots of trouble for people already with PIO cards and thinking of an OCI. They need not have to do anything ....as it's the OCI card now ...as there is no difference. Or for that matter having disscussion about PIO and OCI and their differences etc. will have no meaning as there will be single card. Since the NRIs will be given voting rights..even OCI's and hence PIOs will be given voting rights, hopefully some time in the future and thus the full dual citizenship with benifits.
Well, there is some momentum going forward...remember we didn't even have the OCI cards just 5 years back? Even PIO's were not treated like NRIs....it's been a long way...so you can look forward to some good things coming your way. Some patience and may be little more of it...and you are there !!!!:)

Did anything further happened inthis regard? PIO cards are still being issued?

Looks like no more PIO cards...GOI has stopped issuing PIO cards to streamline the process..of merging PIO and OCI..

PIO cards are still being issued, One of my friend applied 2-3 weeks and his has been approved.

Can anyone suggest if it is worth converting PIO to OCI for kids? Or just wait until either they start the merge or the PIO or the passport expires?