1. Order form:
   Applicable only for the jurisdiction that process PIO through Travisa Outsourcing:
   
   Complete the online Order Form. You must include a copy of this form with all other supporting documents.
   
   
2. Application form:
   Application to be filled in DUPLICATE (TO BE FILLED IN BLOCK (CAPITAL) LETTERS IN BLUE/BLACK INK ONLY).
   
   Download Fillable Form. No need to write by hand. Just fill it online and print it.
   
   Fill an entire form except signature and photograph, make a copy and then put a signature (or thumb impression if the application is unable to sign) and paste a photo on each copy.
   
   Please make sure to write your day time phone number in the application.
   
   The expression India in column 22 (a) in PIO application is as follows: Expression 'India' as given in sub-section (1) of the section 311 of the Government of India act, 1935 means British India together with all territories of any Indian ruler under the suzerainty of His Majesty, all territories under the suzerainty of such an Indian ruler, the tribal areas, and any other territories which His Majesty in Council may, from time to time, after ascertaining the views of the federal Government and the Federal legislature, declare to be part of India.
   
   Signature:
   If the minor applicant is too young to sign, both parents should sign the application. However, in the boxes provided for the specimen signature of the applicant, either the minor should sign himself/herself or his/her thumb impression (left for boys and right for girls) should be provided (in case the minor is too young to sign.)
   
   
3. Proof of present citizenship:
   Passport from current citizenship (such as U.S. passport) in original.
   
   Additionally, a photocopy of first and last two pages of the passport.
   
   If you have foreign (non-Indian) passports that have a valid Indian visa, you should send them as well. This applies to all the consulates and the embassy. Valid Indian visas will be cancelled and the foreign passports will be returned to you.
   
   
4. Photograph:
   Photographs should be preferably in color, without border, with full front view against white/light background and person should be in civil dress.
   
   4 photos of size 2" x 2"
   
   As long as it meets minimum requirements, digital photographs are OK too.
   
   Polaroid photographs, poor quality photographs and photographs taken in uniform or with dark glasses will be rejected.
   
   Instructions on getting the photographs
   
   One to be pasted on each application (first on original and second on the copy). Do not staple rest of the photographs but provide along with the applicaton.
   
   
5. Birth certificate:
   If the applicant is born abroad, two notarized copies of the birth certificate.
   A photocopy of the birth certificate is required in case of applicants under 18 years along with PIO Card application. Additionally, if applicable, any U.S. court order regarding custody of minor child/divorce.
   
   Notarization is not required. If the birth certificate is not available, any other government issued document that shows parents' name, date of birth and nationality.
   
   
6. Naturalization certificate:
   If you are former citizen of India, a copy of your naturalization certificate is required. (It's legal to make its photocopy for this purpose.)
   
   
7. Former Indian Citizens - San Francisco only:
   If you were an Indian citizen formerly, you must supply one of the following acceptable document to show proof of lawful entry into the U.S.:
   
   1. Original Indian passport used on first lawful entry into the U.S. containing entry stamps showing the visa category granted (ARC stamps are not acceptable). In addition to the original Indian passport, you must include the following:
      • A copy of the first three pages of the Indian passport and the last two pages of the Indian passport containing your vital information.
        
        
      • A copy of the entry status stamp into the United States showing the visa category granted.
        
        
   2. A copy of your Employment Authorization Card
      
      
   3. A copy of your Green Card (front and back)
      
      
   4. Your original I-130 petition and supporting documents including approval notices provided at the time of obtaining visa status in the United States.
      
      
   5. Only in cases where the applicant had lawfully entered the U.S. BEFORE January 1, 1981, but cannot provide one of the above listed documents, please provide a notarized affidavit stating the entire circumstances of your first entry into the US. This affidavit must include:
      • Approximate date of arrival in the U.S.
      • Type of visa traveled on
      • Names of schools, institutions or companies that the applicant is affiliated with.
      • The affidavit must be witnessed by two persons of good standing and contain their contact numbers, home address and passport numbers.
      
      You will be required to support your affidavit with at least one of the following documents:
      • Visa approval note
      • Copy of visa under which you first travelled to the United States
      • Certificates/degrees from institutions where you studied
      • Letters from institute confirming duration of enlistment
      • Certificates from employer confirming the fact of your authorized employment
      • Any formal US government document that includes a date prior to January 1, 1981
   
   
8. Proof of former Indian citizenship:
   Notarized copies of the first four and last three pages of the Indian passport (notarization not required if application is being submitted in person or passport is enclosed in original or applying at Washington DC). If the Indian passport is still valid, the same must be sent for cancellation.
   
   OR
   
   If parents/grand-parents/great grandparents origin is being claimed as basis for granting the PIO card, the following documents may be furnished:
   • Proof of Parent's or Grandparent's or Great Grandparent's Indian Nationality:
     • Copies of first three and last two pages of both parent's or grandparent's or great grandparent's Indian passports, or
       
       
     • Copies of parent's or grandparent's or great grandparent's domicile certificates issued by the competent authorities (class one Gazetted officer in India.)
       
       
   • AND one of the following:
     • If applying based on parent's Indian nationality, the birth certificate of applicant that shows the names of the parents.
       
       
     • If applying based on grandparent's or great grandparent's Indian nationality, then the BOTH the birth certificate of the applicant, and the birth certificate of the applicant's parents should be submitted. All birth certificates must show the names of the parents, and sufficiently show proof of Indian lineage.
       
       
   Other acceptable forms of proof are inter alia, revenue records, domicile certificate/school or college leaving certificates, U.S. naturalization certificate, Indian Birth certificate of the applicant and that of parents or grandparents of the applicant etc., nationality certificate of the applicant and of the parents or grandparents.
   
   
9. Proof of Renunciation of Indian Citizenship:
   If you ever had an Indian passport, Renunciation of Indian Citizenship and Surrender Certificate is required .
   
   You can just send the renunciation documents and the fees along with the application, instead of first getting the surrender certificate.
   
   Not applicable to foreign-born persons who never held Indian passports.
   
   
10. Proof of Address:
    You must submit a photocopy of proof of residence/address that exactly matches the present address on the PIO application.
    
    You may submit a photocopy of state issued ID (driver's license or ID), or major utility bill (water, gas, electric, sewage, land line phone). Cell phone bills, credit card statements, bank statements or lease agreements are not accepted. The address cannot include a P.O. Box.
    
    For minors, a proof of address from both parents or a legal guardian may be submitted instead. For family (group) applications, only one copy of proof of address is required per family (group) as long as all family members reside at the same address.
    
    
11. Spouse documents:
    If you are applying for PIO on the basis that your spouse is of Indian origin, you must submit the following documents:
    • One of the following:
      • Your spouse's original Indian passport, or
        
        
      • Your spouse's original PIO card
        
        
      AND
      
    • Your original marriage certificate.
      
      
    To be eligible, the marriage must have taken place more than a year before the date of application.
    
    
12. Legal status:
    If the applicant is not a U.S. passport holder, submit proof of residence for more than a year (such as both sides of Green Card, or EAD or copy of page showing non-immigrant visa) in the area of the Consulate's jurisdiction. If the Indian passport holder's parents are applying for a PIO card for their foreign (such as U.S.) citizen children, proof of legal status is required as well. If you have applied for a visa extension, such proof should be provided.
    
    
13. Address in India:
    If the address indicated in the passport of the applicant or parents or grandparents or great grandparents is no longer valid, provide a verifiable address of a close relative.
    
    
14. Local address:
    Photocopy of 2 documents as a proof of current U.S. address (for example: Driver's License/Landline Telephone bill/Utility bill/lease agreement etc.) where your U.S. address is mentioned. If applying by mail, the copies must be notarized.
    
    Bank/credit card/mobile phone statements are not accepted as residence proof.
    
    
15. Mail back charges:
    
    • USA:
      Provide a prepaid shipping label. Use a trackable method such as FedEx or UPS. Do not provide an air bill using your credit card information. Travisa Outsourcing will not generate shipping labels or air bills for you and passports cannot be shipped using your credit card information. Once the documents are ready, you may pick them up in person. However, it is still recommended to send a prepaid air bill in case your plans change.
      
      
    • Others:
      Enclose payment for express mail/priority mail/certified mail by cashiers check or money order so they can return your passport back to you. There is no need to send any return address envelope. The application fee and mail back charge can be paid in one cashier's check or money order.
      
      Express mail reduces time in both directions. However, applications are processed in the order of their receipt in the Consulate irrespective of class of mail.
      
      Please don't send pre-paid envelopes such as Fed Ex, UPS, DHL, AirBorne etc., as consulates don't return documents through these services.
      
      The following rates are applicable assuming documents for multiple applicants are being returned to the same address.
16. Fees:
    As described in the fees section.
    
    
17. Name Change:
    If your name in the U.S. passport is different from the one in your Indian passport, you must advertise change of name in a newspaper in your locality in the U.S. and in India. You must also complete and notarize change of name affidavit.
    
    
18. If you are applying for a duplicate PIO card in lieu of a lost or damaged PIO card, read about getting the duplicate PIO card.

The Consulate prefers that you submit color photocopies of all the relevant documents to enable them to properly scrutinize them. If applying by mail, all the photocopies should be notarized. If you are applying in person, you will need to show the original documents along with the photocopies and therefore notarization is not required.

If the application is not complete in all aspects, it will be returned. When you resubmit it with corrections, it will again go back to the ends of the queue and will not get any preferential treatment.

Write "PIO Application" on the top of the envelope. Keep the photocopies of all the documents you send. Make sure to send the application by means that you can trace such as FedEx/UPS or USPS Express Mail or USPS regular mail with tracking.

Applications not fulfilling requirements stated above will be returned at applicant's cost without any notice. Application forms should be filled in fully, legibly (in BLOCK CAPITAL LETTERS) and accurately. It is an offense to give false information in the Application. PIO card facilities can be denied/withdrawn on grounds of misuse, suppression of factual information, misrepresentation of the facts, submission of false particulars, and for making unauthorized changes in the PIO cards.