PIO Card

I received PIO cards for my family. Three PIO cards were issued with issue date of Jan 9th, 2015 and one with issue date of Jan 12th, 2015. So according to the Gazette notification the 3 PIO cards would be deemed as OCI and the fourth is in Limbo. I have contacted the Consulate and waiting for the reply.

It would have been better if the Gazette had a language that all existing PIO cards will be deemed as OCI cards and not have the Jan 9th, 2015 date... The language in the Gazette is not clear... so maybe someone with a law background can explain what this means....

My experience with PIO Application - Minor at New York CKGS - Indian Embassy:

1. PIO Card - Minor Application received at CKGS / NY - Jan 9,2015 10:02. Friday. I mailed it on Jan 6,2005 at around 8PM by FedEx from Pittsburgh,PA. It was struck at Philadelphia due to truck ramps getting closed due to icy road conditions. It was supposed to reach CKGS/NY no later than Jan 8 but they received it only on Jan 9.
2. Email from CGKS with subject 'Complete Application Received at CKGS Application Service Centre' on Jan 12,2015 (Jan 12 was the next working day, Monday)
3. Email from CGKS with subject ;Payment Receipt for your Application' on Jan 12, 2015
4. Application status in CKGS website (http://www.in.ckgs.us/VPOOnline/WebPages/TrackYourApplication.aspx):

Application Status Remarks Date of Status
Your application has been submitted at The Indian Embassy/Consulate for further processing. 01/12/2015
Your application is in process. Your tracking id is USAN700 **** * 01/12/2015
Your application has been received and will be submitted subject to verification. 01/12/2015

5. Sent an enquiry email on Jan 15,2015 and received a response back stating that my application has been submitted to the Indian Embassy for further processing. The general processing time of the PIO application is approximately 4-6 weeks.

6. Checked CKGS website and found that PIO scheme is cancelled as per a Gazette notification and only OCI cards will be issued for applications received after Jan 9, 2015.

7. I called CKGS/NY and they said that my child's passport is at Embassy. They will either return it or they will issue an OCI Card. CKGS does not have any further information.

Note: We have a multi itinerary travel plan on Feb 8 to travel to India. And there are 3 possible outcomes of PIO application:
1. Embassy might issue OCI card instead of POI. This is the best case.
2. Embassy might return back the passport and my application held at CKGS will also be returned back. This is the worst case.
3. If outcome is #2, and if I receive my passport on this week ending Jan23/24, I have a choice of applying for VISA. VISA takes 3 to 5 business days to be issued. Add 2 days for sending the VISA forms and receiving it at CKGS and also 2 days for sending it back. In total about 9 days and add weekend to it; that makes it about 11 days. that's close to 2 weeks. This is a reasonable case.
4. Apply for VISA on arrival. This is also a not-so-good option. Since our itinerary spans more than a month. And I have non-refundable tickets booked. VISA on arrival is valid only for 30 days.

Embassy has put us in tight spot. Are there anyone else out there who have taken risks with making a travel plan closer to a date subject to receival of PIO card and ended up in nervous mode like me?

I will update any information as soon as I have it. We are based out of PA and it's not a feasible option to travel to NY to submit VISA application in person if we get the passports back without an OCI card along with it.

The rep I talked to this morning said the application wouldn't be returned, and that I would receive either PIO or OCI card depending on how the Embassy moves forward with the merge..
Good news that I don't have to reapply, bad news for my travel on Jan 30th...

Anybody else can confirm that the applications in process will indeed be getting some kind of card ?

Well, by now, many people would be aware that the morons at CKGS / Indian Embassy abruptly decided to stop issuing PIOs. The message started appearing on the CKGS website from Jan 15th saying the process had been stopped effective Jan 9th and PIO applications are being returned to applicants asking them to apply for OCI instead, how frustrating.
My case is slightly better - I just paid the PIO fee of $212 online last week. Now, I cannot apply for an OCI since my travel is in 2 months and it looks like the OCI process is going to take longer than that. So, I have to apply for a tourist visa. Anyone else in the same boat? How do we get a refund of the online payment?
Thanks.

OMG..
Been waiting 2 months for my PIO application, and called for the third time today their helpline to finally be told that PIO applications have been discontinued since it is now merged into OCI!
Anybody else learned that? I did a google search and saw the announcement which was only couple days back!
This is crazy. They said to call back Monday, right now they don't know if mine will convert to OCI since I am applying based on my indian wife. I don't have any indian parents.

Email from supervisor:
Dear Applicant,
 
Greetings from CKGS.
 
Thank you for sharing your valuable feedback.
 
As per the query you mentioned on our website.
 
We would like to inform you that, PIO card is been discontinued with immediade effect.
 
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.
 

I have filled by daughter's PIO application on 12/03/2014. It was returned to me in a week without any information.
I resubmitted it and below is the status:
Your Applicatuon has been received - 12/18/2014
Ypor application is in process- 12/18/2014
Your application has been submitted at the India Embassy/Consulate for furhter processing 12/23/2014

And it's around 4 weeks and I am still waiting. Not sure why it take so much time to release PIO for minors?
Also, why the processing time it different for different Embassy? If it has to do with work force then they should have more folks..
Can any one share their experince of DC or someone who has filed around that time heard back from DC Embassy?
I have to go to India on Feb 08 and I am not sure what I should be doing now?

Any guidance/info will be highly appreciated.

- Better_India

Hi
All I read these days are PIO experiences for minors.. with great 1 week processing stories!!
I submitted mine to SF for adult PIO back Mid-November and it is still processing 2 months later!
I have filed complaints but always reply that it is at the discretion of the Embassy etc.
Anybody else applied for PIO adult and/or at SF office recently?
Thanks!!

my Kid's PIO card applied on 12/30 but till now there is no status update. Any one got pio card who applied on that date ?

Your application has been submitted at The Indian Embassy/Consulate for further processing. 12/30/2014
Your application is in process. Your tracking id is YYYY YYYY X 12/30/2014
Your application has been received and will be submitted subject to verification. 12/30/2014

HI all,

I have applied in person for PIO Minor- New at CKGS NY and it was a good experience. Although the website says TWO sets of application, they only took ONE application set (but TWO PIO Minor New Application forms and ONE checklist signed by parents).

The following items were taken by the agent at CKGS:

1. Original Valid US passport for the applicant.

2. TWO sets of PIO APPLICATION FORM: One Photo affixed on each and had Minor thumb print below the photo in black. Also had two more thumb prints on third page. Form was filled online. Both parents signed on third page, got Notarized from Bank of America. All questions were answered, where it was not applicable, I just kept BLANK. Make sure that the parent’s signature matches the one on Parents passports.

3. Parents: One passport Copy – First and last page only (Visa pages if applies).

4. PARENTAL AUTHORIZATION FORM: Notarized and signed by both parents. You can mention tentative travel dates in the Parental Authorization form.

5. Applicant: COPY OF US PASSPORT: Notarized, main pages with photo/ description and endorsement pages if not empty.

6. PHOTOGRAPH: TWO: I took them at home and you can print them online/ order at CVS: www. epassportphoto.com. Just use a white background. You can write the applicant's name and US Passport no. with pencil on back of photograph.

7. BIRTH CERTIFICATE: Notarized copy.

8. PROOF OF ADDRESS: I gave PGE latest bill along with State Issued ID’s for both parents.

9. ADDRESS IN INDIA: I gave them Marriage Certificate as it has my house address.

10. If applicable: Visa Status: I-797A for both parents - copies + Visa stamps.

11. COPY OF ONLINE PAYMENT RECEIPT (IF APPLICABLE): I have used 15$ pre-paid courier service offered by CKGS. It is pretty good as they ship by FedEx Overnight and you do not have to give them a prepaid envelope with return address written.

They never asked for ADDITIONAL PARTICULARS FORM, SIGNED CKGS DECLARATION AND UNDERTAKING FORM or the SIGNED CKGS DISCLAIMER FORM. I still submitted them and the agent did not keep them with the application, may be it went for recycle.

They do accept Credit/ Debit Card payment.

Tracker was:
1. On 12/30/2014: Your application has been received and will be submitted subject to verification. Your application is in process. Your tracking id is XYZ. Your application has been submitted at The Indian Embassy/Consulate for further processing.
2.On 01/07/2015: 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.
3. On 01/08/2015: Passport sent by post/courier number XYZ.

On 01/09/2015: Received by FedEx Overnight.

Thanks and Good Luck!
Ashish.

We (including minor) received our PIO cards within a week and that was indeed a big surprise. I was thinking it was going to take at least a month so we are happy and thankful. I prepared all documents (two sets) both for renunciation and PIO as per checklist in their website. The Cox & Kings person who processed my application was very helpful and it was good a experience there. He took only one set and returned whole bunch of documents back. For Renunciation documents, he only took the renunciation certificate and returned all other supporting docs back. I wish they update website to reflect exactly how many copies of documents are needed. I am sure our folks are spending lot of time (I literally did) preparing docs and it looks like that can be avoided.