PIO card validity after March 31, 2016

[ImmAgain]

contradiction

typical desi babu dom - left hand has no clue what the right hand does.

[sunrag1]

typical desi babu dom - left hand has no clue what the right hand does.

Its really bad... 2016 summer vacation will be disrupted for most folks then (those who intend to travel > 30 days vacation)

[proonindiandoc]

i believe they will extend it again

[tp2016]

Confusing information

i believe they will extend it again

It is pretty confusing. Everywhere they say that last date to apply for OCI-in-of PIO card is March 31, but it does not say explicitly if the PIO card will become invalid. So it seems each office is interpreting the rules differently.

On the Indian consulate Atlanta site it says that in the interim until we get the OCI we can travel on PIO card

http://indianconsulateatlanta.org/page/display/13

Same info is on the Houston site, but it seems that one has to apply for OCI before Mar 31, but can travel on PIO with the receipt.

http://www.cgihouston.org/news/display/108

One response from FRRO in Delhi says that the direction is to apply online by 31-Mar and not necessarily validity of PIO.

[proonindiandoc]

It is pretty confusing. Everywhere they say that last date to apply for OCI-in-of PIO card is March 31, but it does not say explicitly if the PIO card will become invalid. So it seems each office is interpreting the rules differently.

On the Indian consulate Atlanta site it says that in the interim until we get the OCI we can travel on PIO card

http://indianconsulateatlanta.org/page/display/13

Same info is on the Houston site, but it seems that one has to apply for OCI before Mar 31, but can travel on PIO with the receipt.

http://www.cgihouston.org/news/display/108

One response from FRRO in Delhi says that the direction is to apply online by 31-Mar and not necessarily validity of PIO.

let me tell you, it is not the first time they say last time. so i am more than 60% sure they will make new announcement.

[sunrag1]

let me tell you, it is not the first time they say last time. so i am more than 60% sure they will make new announcement.

I think most of us want a simpler conversion process and making it easy for folks (say consider 80yrs age person is applying for their kids ) and get the OCI card (In lieu of PIO) within 10-15days rather than extension..

Already Indian government has got all the details of existing valid PIO card holders.. Why would they want 100s of docs, photo uploads process etc?

[proonindiandoc]

I think most of us want a simpler conversion process and making it easy for folks (say consider 80yrs age person is applying for their kids ) and get the OCI card (In lieu of PIO) within 10-15days rather than extension..

Already Indian government has got all the details of existing valid PIO card holders.. Why would they want 100s of docs, photo uploads process etc?

they don't give simple answer. my answer is by experience and connection

[rann2004]

Information from Joint Secretary in MEA India

I emailed the Consulate in Washington, DC and also with the Ministry of External Affairs in India. The following is the transcript of the email communication. ( going to take the risk of traveling with the PIO and the copy of this email :-))

Jscpv <[email protected]>

Feb 13 (12 days ago)

to me
Yes, you can continue to travel with PIO cards, but it would be advisable to have them converted to OCI soon after your trip. The deadline is being extended.

Kumaran

Begin forwarded message:

> From: EAM <[email protected]>
> Date: 12 February 2016 at 10:18:41 AM IST
> To: [email protected]
> Subject: Fw: Fwd: PIO to OCI
>
>
>
> From: RM
> Sent: Friday, February 12, 2016 7:53 AM
> To: [email protected]
> Subject: Fwd: PIO to OCI
>
> Dear Madam,
>
> My name is Rajesh Melappalayam .. My wife, daughter and I have valid PIO cards. While the decision of the government to convert all PIO cards to OCI is a welcome move, it is still confusing for people due to inconsistent messaging from the consulates.
>
> As I'm waiting for our renewed American passports to arrive any day, I'm trying to find if we can travel to India in late May / early June 2016 with our PIO cards. I'm reluctant to send my passports and PIO cards to the third party processing vendor for converting from PIO to OCI due to not enough time to get the travel documents back from the vendor / consulate. Even though the vendor says it will take 6 - 8 weeks for processing, there is no guarantee to get the documents back in time for the travel.
>
> Now the Indian Consulate in Washington had replied to my inquiry (in the email below) saying that the PIO card should be converted to a OCI before March 31st 2016.
>
> I have a couple of questions:
>
> Can I travel to India in late May / early June 2016 with my PIO card?
> Will my PIO card become invalid if I do not convert it to OCI by March 31st, 2016?
>
> I'll be thankful to you, if you can take a few minutes off of your extremely busy schedule to clarify this.
>
> Best Regards,
>
> Rajesh Melappalayam
>
>
>
>
> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> From: OCIPIO E/I Washington <[email protected]>
> Date: Thu, Feb 11, 2016 at 3:28 PM
> Subject: RE: PIO to OCI
> To: RM <[email protected]>
>
>
> You have to apply OCI before 31 March 2016.
>
>
>
>
>
> From: RM [mailto:[email protected]]
> Sent: Thursday, February 11, 2016 3:25 PM
> To: OCIPIO E/I Washington
> Subject: Re: PIO to OCI
>
>
>
> Dear Sir / madam,
>
> Thank you for your prompt response. Can I travel with the PIO now and after returning to the US, apply for the OCI?
>
> Regards,
>
> Rajesh M
>
>
>
> On Thu, Feb 11, 2016 at 12:42 PM, OCIPIO E/I Washington <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> You are advised to apply OCI in lieu of PIO as per details at https://www.in.ckgs.us/oci/oci-categ...us-adult.shtml.
>
>
>
> Regards
>
>
>
>
>
> OCI Wing
>
> Embassy of India
>
> Washington DC
>
> https://www.indianembassy.org/
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> From: RM [mailto:[email protected]]
> Sent: Thursday, February 11, 2016 12:39 PM
> To: OCIPIO E/I Washington
> Cc: Consular Wing E/I Washington
> Subject: PIO to OCI
>
>
>
> Dear Sir / Madam,
>
> My wife, daughter and I have PIO cards that were issued about 10 years back. Is it mandatory to have the PIO cards converted to OCI ? Can I travel in May 2016 with the PIO cards and valid US Passports?
>
> Thank you in anticipation of your response.
>
> Regards,
>
> Rajesh Melappalayam

[jnk]

Last date to convert PIO to OCI has been extended to 06/30/2016 as per below post.

http://www.immihelp.com/forum/showthread.php/200099-Last-date-to-convert-PIO-to-OCI-extended-to-30-06-2016

[proonindiandoc]

Last date to convert PIO to OCI has been extended to 06/30/2016 as per below post.

http://www.immihelp.com/forum/showth...-to-30-06-2016

see i told last post

[May2016]

Is the new date of 30th Jun official ?

[sunrag1]

see i told last post

Are you from Embassy?

[proonindiandoc]

Are you from Embassy?

no but have connection and had been working on indian visa, renunciation, oci long time

[e777]

This is the reply i got from from Indian high commission

The deadline for pio to oci conversion application is exteneded till 30th june 2016

[proonindiandoc]

The deadline for pio to oci conversion application is exteneded till 30th june 2016

every one knew already!