PIO Card

We landed in Chennai airport last night with our 2 kids and their US PPs and valid PIO cards. I saw the new information on Houstion CGI website about the PIO expiration on June 17 and we have to submit applications to convert OCI before we leave and travel with the CKGS receipt with the valid PIO cards. I did file the applications for my two kids and received the receipts just a day before our travel date.

At Chennai my wife and I were sent to an immigration officer deals with Indian passports and my kids were sent to the officer deals with foreign passports. No questions were asked about the OCI conversion. I asked the officer who processed my kids about the June 17th expiry date, she said the PIO cards are valid for the lifetime and we have to send the cards to our mission post (Houston for me) to get the lifetime validly stamp. So it is not very clear what the actual directive between consulates, CKGS, and mission posts. The amount of inconsistency in this issue is simply frustrating. So, as of yesterday, no issues at Chennai port of entry with valid US passport (plus old passport if applicable) and valid PIO cards. I hope this is useful for those who have immediate travel plans.