PIO Scheme discontinued

[Gagandeep Sharma]

I applied for my Son's PIO card on Friday (1/16) only to see today (1/17) that PIO scheme has been discontinued. The documents are still in transit and should reach CKGS on Monday. Anyone in same boat ???

Their Website says CKGS has been directed NOT TO accept any fresh PIO applications, so what will happen to my son's application., will they refuse to take the package from USPS or accept it and send back the documents.

Really frustrated with all these government rulings and the way they think, even if they have to discontinue any scheme, they should give at-least 3-4 weeks advance notice to agencies, so that it can be told to public availing the scheme. The same ruling should be issued 3 weeks prior if they were planning to discontinue or they would have given a cutoff date say after 31st Jan, No PIO Card applications would be entertained. No common sense...

[Abhi29]

PIO scheme has been discontinued.

I applied for my Son's PIO card on Friday (1/16) only to see today (1/17) that PIO scheme has been discontinued. The documents are still in transit and should reach CKGS on Monday. Anyone in same boat ???

Their Website says CKGS has been directed NOT TO accept any fresh PIO applications, so what will happen to my son's application., will they refuse to take the package from USPS or accept it and send back the documents.

Really frustrated with all these government rulings and the way they think, even if they have to discontinue any scheme, they should give at-least 3-4 weeks advance notice to agencies, so that it can be told to public availing the scheme. The same ruling should be issued 3 weeks prior if they were planning to discontinue or they would have given a cutoff date say after 31st Jan, No PIO Card applications would be entertained. No common sense...

I agree with You Gagandeep. I was about to apply POI for my daughter last week, and come to know that it is discontinued. I am not sure what to do now as i have to go back India in March end and i and not having enough time to apply for OCI.

[Gagandeep Sharma]

I agree with You Gagandeep. I was about to apply POI for my daughter last week, and come to know that it is discontinued. I am not sure what to do now as i have to go back India in March end and i and not having enough time to apply for OCI.

Same case with me, my Visa expiring Feb end. I sent them email and enquired online. They sent these replies.

1.
We would like to inform you that, all PIO applications, pending with CKGS / Mission for processing, are being returned to the applicants with a request to apply for an OCI card on the same fee prescribed for the PIO card. Henceforth, applicants may apply for an OCI card only, as the PIO card scheme is no longer in existence. You need to apply for OCI card with fresh application and with the payment. Your PIO application will be returned back at the earliest. However, you will be notified via email.

2.

Since you have made the payment through Cashier check, it get encash to our account. So we will use the amount of $15 for the return shipping and rest amount will be refunded back to you. However, you can apply for OCI there is no change in the OCI process. If in case on any changes we will update you with the same. Regarding the refund, we request you to provide us the scanned copy of your Cashier's Cheque. So that we can forward this to our concern team and they will get back to you with the same.

I would go for Entry visa which is valid for 5 years or duration of Passport whichever is less. From India, you can apply for OCI card at FRRO Delhi, so i will go that route. My concern is they should send back the passport in time for Entry Visa.

[usa7605]

Same case w**h me, my Visa expiring Feb end. I sent them email and enquired online. They sent these replies.

1.
We would like to inform you that, all PIO applications, pending w**h CKGS / Mission for processing, are being returned to the applicants w**h a request to apply for an OCI card on the same fee prescribed for the PIO card. Henceforth, applicants may apply for an OCI card only, as the PIO card scheme is no longer in existence. You need to apply for OCI card w**h fresh application and w**h the payment. Your PIO application will be returned back at the earliest. However, you will be notified via email.

2.

Since you have made the payment through Cashier check, ** get encash to our account. So we will use the amount of $15 for the return shipping and rest amount will be refunded back to you. However, you can apply for OCI there is no change in the OCI process. If in case on any changes we will update you w**h the same. Regarding the refund, we request you to provide us the scanned copy of your Cashier's Cheque. So that we can forward this to our concern team and they will get back to you w**h the same.

I would go for Entry visa which is valid for 5 years or duration of Passport whichever is less. From India, you can apply for OCI card at FRRO Delhi, so i will go that route. My concern is they should send back the passport in time for Entry Visa.

Did you receive your application back from CKGS?

[Gagandeep Sharma]

Did you receive your application back from CKGS?

Not yet, when i called them, they said there is no ETA, but sending them ASAP

[ssarangi]

Not yet, when i called them, they said there is no ETA, but sending them ASAP

I had applied for my son's PIO on 14th Jan and his application was sent to embassy on 15th Jan. I got the PIO by Fedex today.
As suggested by the notice and as was in most of the communication we received I wasn't expecting to get the PIO.

This is the CKGS tracking info.
Passport sent by post/courier number 772####### 01/22/2015
Your application has been collected from the Embassy/Consulate and is being sorted. Your application will be ready for collection from our Application Centre within one business day. 01/21/2015
Your application has been submitted at The Indian Embassy/Consulate for further processing. 01/15/2015
Your application is in process. Your tracking id is USAN YYYY XX 01/15/2015
Your application has been received and will be submitted subject to verification. 01/15/2015

[Gagandeep Sharma]

I had applied for my son's PIO on 14th Jan and his application was sent to embassy on 15th Jan. I got the PIO by Fedex today.
As suggested by the notice and as was in most of the communication we received I wasn't expecting to get the PIO.

This is the CKGS tracking info.
Passport sent by post/courier number 772####### 01/22/2015
Your application has been collected from the Embassy/Consulate and is being sorted. Your application will be ready for collection from our Application Centre within one business day. 01/21/2015
Your application has been submitted at The Indian Embassy/Consulate for further processing. 01/15/2015
Your application is in process. Your tracking id is USAN YYYY XX 01/15/2015
Your application has been received and will be submitted subject to verification. 01/15/2015

Thats great. So i could be hopeful also The gazette notification didn't say anything about PIO issue date and just said that all PIO deemed as OCI, so you should be good. Congrats again

[L2Visa221g]

Thats great. So i could be hopeful also The gazette notification didn't say anything about PIO issue date and just said that all PIO deemed as OCI, so you should be good. Congrats again

Mine still showing below, they didn't even have ETA to return passport :

Your application has been submitted at The Indian Embassy/Consulate for further processing. 01/08/2015
We have received your required additional documents. Received Additional Document 01/08/2015