US born baby travelling to India with PIO card

[karthik_rg]

Hello,

I am travelling to India with my 3 months old, US born baby. Could you please clarify me the following?

1. What are the forms that needs to be filled/submitted at US & India Airport (for Immigration)?

2. Could you let me know the best way (instrument) of carrying baby in flight & airport (car seat, etc...)?

3. Is there a seperate queue for US citizen at US airport & for PIO card holders at India Airport?

4. Like I-94 in US, Is there any card in India that will be attached to my baby's passport at Immigration to India?

Please share your experience.

Thanks,
Karthik.

[tamtom]

1. What are the forms that needs to be filled/submitted at US & India Airport (for Immigration)?

2. Could you let me know the best way (instrument) of carrying baby in flight & airport (car seat, etc...)?

3. Is there a seperate queue for US citizen at US airport & for PIO card holders at India Airport?

4. Like I-94 in US, Is there any card in India that will be attached to my baby's passport at Immigration to India?

1. US - nothing, there is no immigration inspection on exit. India - a customs declaration.

2. We bought a lap seat ticket for the baby and asked the airline for a bassinet seat. The bassinet itself wasn't so useful because you have to remove your baby and strap to yourself with a baby seatbelt whenever the fasten seat belt light is on. So whenever there's turbulence you hear a dozen babies waking up and crying ;-) but the bulkhead seating does give you more space to manage the baby.

For baby carrier, we like the wraps you can wear - we have the mei tai, the ergo, plus some others. Our baby never liked to be strapped in a car seat. If your baby does like car seat, then you can use it on the plane, but then you have to buy the baby its own full seat (instead of the much cheaper lap seating).

3. US - no. There's no immigration exit inspection, so you just wait in line at the airline checkin counter with everyone else. India - they do have seperate lines. But we went through together as a family in the same line (mother and baby have Indian passports, father has US passport+PIO card) and it was fine.

4. Since PIO card allows open-ended stay up to the expiry of the card, your baby does not need an arrival/departure card and will not receive one.

Hope this helps,

Tamtom

[karthik_rg]

Thanks