r2i forum

Hello R2I members,
We are planning to R2I sometime in September this year. Although we are eligible to apply for USC in a few weeks time (5 yrs - 30 days), our plan for now is not to get it and go back with our Indian passports (may do a REP but haven't decided).

My question is regarding the US citizenship of our two kids. I was planning to get OCI for them but just found out they are not eligible as both parents are Indian citizens. What I am wondering is what do they mean when they say minor children of Indian passport holders cannot get OCI what are my options. Can I take my kids back with their US PP (both have 10 yr visa stamps for now) and there will be no issues as we have Indian passport and they are minors or am I supposed to get PIO card for them before we go back? Would I have to register them at the Foreign person registration office only once after the first 180 days? Anyone in this forum in a similar situation?

R2IAG

Your kid does not need PIO card to enter and live in India since you already have a valid visa for them.

Kids under the age of 16 does not require registration at the police station.

Thanks Sohu for your respone.
What I am wondeirng is what happens when their visa runs out? Also, will I ever have any issues with my kids having US passport and living in India permanently without an OCI card? Since OCI cannot be done I am guessing at some point in the future I will have to get PIO for them anyway.

R2IAG

R2IAG;25547 What I am wondeirng is what happens when their visa runs out? Also, will I ever have any issues with my kids having US passport and living in India permanently without an OCI card?
R2IAG

One can keep renewing the visa in India itself. I have in the past (2003) renewed my child's visa. You go through the usual FRRO channels, and they give you the paperwork to be filled out etc. It is a more painful route of needing to chase them and ensure you get the visa extended and stamped in the passport. It took us 3 months to get the visa approved, and then when they stamped it on the passport, they stamped only through the expiry date of the passport. All this for a charge of Rs. 7200. We hence went through with OCI processing for the kids last year.

For you, it is a far easier and convenient approach to process the PIO card. If you don't have the time to do it in the US, you can do it in India as well.

regards