Have PIO card but no OCI- Do I have to apply for OCI?

[neelgagan]

Given the confusion relating to the PIO to OCI conversion process for existing PIO card holders, I decided to pen down the long drawn process for the benefit of others. This was touted as something designed to make life easier for NRIs long term by removing the need to go thru FRO registration, Police Verification and other paperwork. Let me also provide the context that we are PIOs that returned to India in 2013 and had already gone thru the FRO, Police Verification, C Form formalities when we arrived. Also, we are residents of Pune, where there is an FRO office but the OCI submissions have to be done at the Mumbai FRO. Given the confusion on this subject, we debated whether we should or should not continue with our existing PIO cards which are deemed to have lifetime validity per the GOI Gazette notification. We decided that given the confusion in direction and ever changing rules, we would apply for the OCI card so that we don't experience challenges when travelling outside India or upon re-entry.

Disclaimer: This is only meant to share our own experience with this process, your mileage may vary based on the whims and fancies of the FRO / Police Station you deal with !

Advice: Keep common sense to the side, do not ask why you have to submit the same information in multiple places. Keep this exercise outcome based, you want an OCI card at the end of the process. That's your goal, do not question the means to get there, however irrational !

Phase 1: Online Paperwork and submission to FRO
1. Enter information online at: https://passport.gov.in/oci/capchaActionPIO
2. Upload photograph(s) as part of the online application process
3. Submit the application form online
3. Download and print the pdf copy of your application form(s)
4. Paste a photograph (51mm x 51 mm) on the forms (Read advice above ! :wink)
5. Sign in the box provided below the photograph. Do NOT sign across the photo.
>> 5.1: For minors, a thumb impression was provided. Our 7 year old child did this.
6. Prepare the following documents for submission:
>> 6.1: Copy of US/Foreign passport - we went with color copies
>> 6.2: Copy of PIO Card - we went with color copies
>> 6.3: Copy of C Form
>> 6.4: Copy of Residential Permit
>> 6.5: Copy of Naturalization Certificate (if not Natural Born citizen of US)
>> 6.5.1: or Copy of Birth Certificate (if Natural Born citizen of US) as in the case of our child
>> 6.6: Copy of the last Indian passport we were carrying at the time we got our PIOs issued
>> Note: Highly recommend submitting copies of the Indian passport renunciation letters or at least having the CANCELLED stamp of that last passport from the appropriate consulate

Since we were not Mumbai residents, they collected only 1 copy of these documents. I believe Mumbai residents need to submit 2 copies.

In our case, we personally went to the FRO in Mumbai and submitted these. They said we could have sent it by courier, but we chose to do this in person so that anything that was not in order could be fixed immediately. The Mumbai FRO office location and hours are posted here:
https://mumbaipolice.maharashtra.gov.in/FRRO.asp

The submission routine itself was not bad. The whole process was done in around an hour. We were given a signed acknowledgement of the OCI application forms with a File Number and a telephone number. We were told that we could call that number in 8 weeks to check on the status.

Phase 2: Local FRO Verification

Three (3) weeks after we had submitted the paperwork in Mumbai, we received a call from Pune FRO that we had to submit additional paperwork for their verification purposes. The FRO officer came to our residence and gave us a list of these documents to bring to Pune FRO.

>> 1: Copy of US/Foreign passport - we went with color copies
>> 1.1: Include the copy of the page which has your entry into India stamped preceding your C Form / Residential Permit (i.e. when you decided to R2I permanently)
>> 2: Copy of PIO Card - we went with color copies
>> 3: Copy of C Form
>> 4: Copy of Residential Permit
>> 5: Copy of Naturalization Certificate (if not Natural Born citizen of US)
>> 5.1: or Copy of Birth Certificate (if Natural Born citizen of US) as in the case of our child
>> 6: Copy of the last Indian passport we were carrying at the time we got our PIOs issued
>> 7: Copy of my ID card with my employer
>> 8: Copy of Lease agreement (we were staying in a rented property)
>> 9: Copy of our marriage certificate
>> 10: Police Verification letters for all of us from the local Police Station - FRO gave us the template
>> 11: A Bonafide Certificate from our son's school which indicated his nationality
>> Note: The "international" school where our son was admitted initially would not give us a bonafide certificate with the nationality mentioned until I had to connect them on phone with the FRO officer ! Eventually, they did.

Phase 2a: Police Verification (PV) Process

Apparently this is the same set of officers and process used for people applying for an Indian passport. Fortunately, one of the officers was aware of the OCI/FRO process and told us to bring these papers in addition to the PV form given to us by Pune FRO:
>> 1: Copy of US/Foreign passport - we went with color copies
>> 2: Copy of PIO Card - we went with color copies
>> 3: Copy of C Form
>> 4: Copy of Residential Permit
>> 5: Copy of Birth Certificate (if Natural Born citizen of US) as in the case of our child
>> 6: Copy of Lease agreement (we were staying in a rented property)
>> 7: Copy of recent utility (Electricity) bill
>> 8: Photographs for all of us
>> 9: Envelopes - one for each of us to seal the PV letter

I went alone to the police station to get the PV letters for all of us. I had to make a couple of trips mostly because the officer was marked for other duties and unavailable. However, when he was in, I was able to get the PVs for all of us the same day - it took about a couple of hours. He did inquire why my wife and child were not available in person and I told him I could bring them in person the next day, if needed. But he was satisfied with the paperwork submitted this far and went ahead and provided us the PVs signed, sealed and stamped.

We went to Pune FRO the following week to submit all these documents in person. We did take original passports, even expired US and India passports in our possession, PIO cards etc. The FRO officer was satisfied with the paperwork and said we should expect to hear from Mumbai FRO in 2-3 weeks.

That's where we are. Once we do get further information on our OCI, we will post here. Hope this helps any one else that is going through this process from India !

[ycl1688]

Sounds like a project, it is an explosion of paperwork, what a country. Good luck. :))

[sachindesh]

Given the confusion relating to the PIO to OCI conversion process for existing PIO card holders, I decided to pen down the long drawn process for the benefit of others. This was touted as something designed to make life easier for NRIs long term by removing the need to go thru FRO registration, Police Verification and other paperwork. Let me also provide the context that we are PIOs that returned to India in 2013 and had already gone thru the FRO, Police Verification, C Form formalities when we arrived. Also, we are residents of Pune, where there is an FRO office but the OCI submissions have to be done at the Mumbai FRO. Given the confusion on this subject, we debated whether we should or should not continue with our existing PIO cards which are deemed to have lifetime validity per the GOI Gazette notification. We decided that given the confusion in direction and ever changing rules, we would apply for the OCI card so that we don't experience challenges when travelling outside India or upon re-entry.

Very informative and helpful post. Thank you.I am going through the exact same situation currently with my son who is a minor and holds a valid PIO Card.I had been getting confusing information regarding conversion of PIO to OCI especially regarding the 30 June deadline for submitting the application.After going through the following document on MHA website http://mha1.nic.in/pdfs/oci-brochure.pdf the conversion from PIO to OCI Card appeared to be simple.Hence, I went ahead and applied for OCI in-lieu of Valid PIO Card from their web site.But after more than 2 months I am going through the pain of verification by FRO Pune and getting the police verification certificate.The lady officer from FRO Pune recently visited our house. She said that FRO registration is mandatory even for a minor. (As an FYI, my son's friend who goes to the same school had to go through this process even for re-issue of OCI card after he got a new passport.) This came as a shock to me. This totally contradicts the information provided in their document http://mha1.nic.in/pdfs/oci-brochure.pdf section 6.(ii) Benefits to an OCI Cardholder.She also mentioned that I need to get the police verification certificate from the nearest police station. This was also surprising to me since page 6 section 4.(3) Procedure For Granting Registration of the above document does not mention any such thing. In fact it creates an impression that the process is quite simple.I approached the nearest police station where I live in Pune regarding the police verification certificate and they didn't seemed to know anything about what and OCI or PIO Card is at all. They told me to come some other day and meet another police inspector who will then tell me what to do.I have yet to go to the police station again and don't know what I'll get to hear.The government has been touting that the merger of PIO and OCI cards would make things simple and easy to get the OCI card.As it appears the ground reality is very different, especially if you are doing this from India. What a mess. Since my son is a minor, I have to go through all this pain all over again every 5 years till he is 20+.

[sakhairn]

Going through same process for my twins. They have valid PIO and applied for OCI in lieu of PIO recently. Pune FRO officer visited my residence and asked for set of documents. One of them, Police Verification (PV). I have to go through Police Verification which requires again a bunch of documents.

One thing I noticed, for renewal of OCI post new passport, we need C-form for PV. Sounds stupid. I thought for OCI we don't have to register with FRO, hence don't have to submit C-Form. So OCI renewal, I would again need PV, which needs C-form, hence after OCI I have to visit FRO and resubmit C-Form and get Residential Permit.

Sounds like Pune FRO process is convoluted.

[sakhairn]

Just got the list of documents needed for Police Verification.

1 - Passport Copy
2 - Visa Copy
3 - Arrival Stamp Page Copy
4 - C Form Copy
5 - Lease Agreement
6 - College or School Bonafide / Admission Letter
7 - 1 Photograph
8 - Envelope

Police Verification form are available on http://punepolice.gov.in/forms. Note now the C-form / registration is online process for submission only.
For Police Verification form search the site and you will get link. The exact link : http://punepolice.gov.in/sites/default/files/vpdf/ebx_new.pdf

[sachindesh]

Going through same process for my twins. They have valid PIO and applied for OCI in lieu of PIO recently. Pune FRO officer visited my residence and asked for set of documents. One of them, Police Verification (PV). I have to go through Police Verification which requires again a bunch of documents.

One thing I noticed, for renewal of OCI post new passport, we need C-form for PV. Sounds stupid. I thought for OCI we don't have to register with FRO, hence don't have to submit C-Form. So OCI renewal, I would again need PV, which needs C-form, hence after OCI I have to visit FRO and resubmit C-Form and get Residential Permit.

Sounds like Pune FRO process is convoluted.

An OCI cardholder is supposed to have parity with NRIs hence registration with FRRO/FRO, Form C etc should not be required. Even Citizenship law explicitly states the same -


http://mha1.nic.in/pdfs/ic_act55.pdf
Rights of Overseas Citizens of India under Section 7A of Citizenship Act, 1955 Specified


Notification No. SO542(E) Dated 11.04 2005: The Ministry of Home Affairs vide the above notification specifies certain rights to persons registered as Overseas Citizens of India under Section 7A Citizenship Act, 1955 (57 of 1955) namely:


(a) grant of multiple entry lifelong visa for visiting India for any purpose;


(b) exemption from registration with Foreign Regional Registration Officer or Foreign Registration Officer for any length of stay in India; and


(c) parity with Non-Resident Indians in respect of all facilities available to them in economic, financial and educational fields except in matters relating to the acquisition of agricultural or plantation properties.




And for minors below 16 years this should not be required even for PIO cardholders or any other visa holders as per paragraph 2 of the Registration of Foreigners (Exemption) Amendment Order, 1957.
http://artassam.nic.in/Passport%20Deptt/Registration%20of%20Foreigners%20(Exemption)%20order,%201957.pdf




Really frustrating.

And as if this paper work wasn't enough, if an OCI cardholder(adult or minor) needs travel outside India for more than 8 weeks or change their address, they need to again notify in person or through authorized person about the same to FRRO/FRO as per section A.II.e of the following document on MHA website - http://mha1.nic.in/pdfs/ForeigD-FRRO_version223.6.11.pdf