IMPORTANT NOTE: 

All Naturalized US Citizens of Indian Descent: Please obtain SURRENDER CERTIFICATE berfore applying for any service

Please provide Surrender Certificate for your last held Indian Passport before applying for PIO. If the application is received without the surrender certificate, application would be returned to sender at sender's cost.

THERE IS NO EMERGENCY SERVICE FOR PIO.  DO NOT PLAN TRAVEL BEFORE YOU RECEIVE PIO CARD IN YOUR HAND. PLEASE CARRY YOUR PIO CARD WITH YOUR VALID PASSPORT FOR ENTRY TO INDIA.

 

 

 

 

 

3 Eligibility:

  • All persons of Indian origin who hold passport of any other country (with certain exceptions) will be eligible to apply for PIO Card, if the applicant:
    • At any time held an Indian passport; or
    • He/She or either of his/her parents or grand parents or great grand parents was born in and permanently resident in India as defined in the Government of India Act, 1935, and other territories that became part of India thereafter, provided neither was at any time a citizen of any of the specified countries; or
    • Is a spouse of a citizen of India or a person of Indian origin covered under the above.

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3 Exceptions:

  • Persons who were citizen of certain specified countries; or whose spouse; or either of whose parents, grandparents, great-grandparents were citizens at any time of these specified countries may render an applicant ineligible for a PIO card even though he/she may otherwise be eligible.
  • The grounds of ineligibility can be established only after receipt of application.  It will not be possible to respond to queries regarding grounds of ineligibility before receiving the application.

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3 Benefits:

Besides making their journey back to their roots simpler, easier and smoother, this Scheme entitles the PIO cardholders to a wide range of economic, financial, educational and cultural benefits.  They are:

  • No requirement of visa to visit India when PIO card is carried along with the national passport;
  • No requirement of a Student Visa for undertaking studies in India and Employment visa for taking up employment in India. PIO cardholders, however, would be required to fulfill other conditions and formalities for studies/employment as prescribed by authorities concerned from time to time.
  • No requirement to register with the Foreigners Registration Officer if continuous stay on a single visit does not exceed 180 days. If continuous stay exceeds 180 days, then registration is required to be done within a period of 30 days of the expiry of 180 days with the concerned Foreigners Regional Registration Officer / Foreigners Registration Officer.
  • Prior permission of the Government of India is required by the PIO Card holders for undertaking mountaineering expeditions, missionary activities, research work and visit to the restricted/protected area.
  • Parity with Non-Resident Indians (NRI) in respect of facilities available to the latter in economic, financial, educational fields etc. except in matters relating to the acquisition of agricultural/plantation properties. PIOs would be eligible for benefits as available to NRIs from time to time.
  • PIO card does not allow parity with NRIs in the sphere of political rights.
  • Separate counters for immigration would be provided to PIO Card holders at all International Airports in India.
  • A PIO/OCI card does not entitle the cardholder to undertake any missionary work, mountaineering and research work, without prior permission.

 

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3 How to Apply :

  1. Application for issue/renewal  
  2. Surrender Certificate
  3. Completed Checklist (Found in page 2 of the form)
  4. CURRENT US/ FOREIGN PASSPORT IN ORIGINAL
  5. COPY OF US NATURALIZATION CERTIFICATE  OR CERTIFICATE IN ORGINAL FROM UCIS ON THEIR LETTER HEAD CONFIRMING NAME OF INDIVIDUAL, NATURALIZED CERTIFICATE NO., DATE OF NATURALIZATION, DATE OF BIRTH AND COUNTRY OF ORIGIN AS LISTED IN THE CERTIFICATE. PLEASE NOTE THIS CERTIFICATE WILL BE RETAINED BY THE CONSULATE.

Documents listed at Serial Number 5,   No. 6 and No. 7 below are essential requirement for administrative processing of your application. Please provide one from each category below.

  1. Please provide one:

One Colour legible photocopy (original may be asked for, if required) of Green Card
or
One Colour legible photocopy (original may be asked for, if required) of EAD
or
Original Indian passport on which first time entered USA
or
Original I-130 and supporting documents provided at the time of obtaining immigrant visa to enter the USA (see www.uscis.gov for details of obtaining)
or
If applicant is US/ Foreign born, pl. provide two colour photocopies of the birth certificate (In this case, pl. provide documents as per OPTION B at S. No. 8 below)

  1. Please provide as per any one option :

OPTION A

LAST INDIAN PASSPORT HELD IN ORIGINAL

OR

 

OPTION B
(If applicant is US/ Foreign born)
  • One photocopy of the birth certificate. This should be attested by both parents incase the applicant is minor.

PLUS

  • Any US court order regarding custody of minor child/divorce, if applicable

PLUS

  • Copy of US and Indian passports/OCI cards of both parents.
  1. Please provide one:

Driving license
or
PG&E, Water or landline telephone bill displaying applicant’s address
or
House Lease Agreement

  1. Pl. provide two self-attested photocopies of the first and last pages of the current US/ foreign passport
  2. Pl. provide two self-attested photocopies of the first two and last two pages and US visa page of the Indian passport (if OPTION A is chosen in Serial No. 7 above) or of documents listed in OPTION B (if OPTION B is chosen in S. N. 7)
  3. Pl. provide two - (2" X 2") - size photographs, both glued to the forms
  4. REQUISITE FEE

    Payment Mode:   cashiers cheque OR postal money order (No personal cheques will be accepted)
    Payable to:            "Consulate General of India, San Francisco"
    Amount:                Adult:        $370 : Minors      $185

  5. A SELF ADDRESSED STAMPED TRACKABLE RETURN MAILING ENVELOPE (only Fedex, UPS, and  USPS, accepted)   No trackable return envelope…..No service.  
  6. Your name in the application should tally with your name in both the Indian passport and the US passport. In case of difference:

A. If name differs because of change of name from maiden to married: please provide
Notarized affidavit (for change of name from maiden to married)
PLUS
Notarized copy of marriage certificate
PLUS
first two and last two pages of Spouse’s passport

B. If name differs for any other reason: Please provide
Notarized affidavit for change of name
PLUS
advertisement for  change of name in a newspaper in your locality in USA, and in India.
OR US Court order (for change of name) PLUS advertisement for change of name in a newspaper in India.

 

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3 Where to Apply :

  • To the Indian mission/post in the country where the applicant is ordinarily resident
  • For applicants already in India on Long Term Visa (more than one year) - for issue of a PIO Card to the following authorities:-
    • For those residing in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Amritsar and Chennai:
      • Delhi-Foreigners Regional Registration Officer, Level-II, East Block VIII, R.K. Puram, Sector-I, New Delhi.
      • Mumbai-Foreigners Regional Registration Officer, Annexe-II, Commissioner of Police, Craw Ford Market, Mumbai-400001.
      • Kolkata-Foreigners Regional Registration Officer, 237, Acharya Jagdish Chandra Bose Road, Kolkata-700020.
      • Amritsar-Additional Deputy Director, Bureau of Immigration, B/123, Ranjeet Avenue, Amritsar.
      • Chennai-Chief Immigration Officer, Bureau of Immigration, Shastri Bhavan Annexe, No. 26, Haddows Road, Chennai-600006.
    • For those residing in areas other than (A) above:-
      • To the Joint Secretary (Foreigners), Ministry of Home Affairs, Ist Floor, Lok Nayak Bhavan, Khan Market, New Delhi 110003.

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3 Fees:

    Adults                                                          $ 370 (three hundred seventy)

    Children (upto 18 years of age)                 $185 (one hundred eighty five)

  • Fees and mailing charges should be paid through Money order or cashiers’ cheque drawn in favour of the Consulate General of India, San Francisco.  Personal cheques, credit cards or other banking instruments are not accepted
  • Fee once paid is non-refundable even if service is refused/delayed.
  • Return mailing
    • Stamped Self addressed USPS Express Mail Envelope (No other courier services accepted)or
    • $20 (twenty) for overnight return

Note:

All mail applications submitted to the Consulate for consular services with a non-trackable return mailing envelope will be returned to the applicant without services. Please ensure to send a trackable return mailing envelope (e.g. Fedex, UPS, USPS, etc..) to ensure traceability of documents after dispatch.

The Consulate is now accepting Debit Cards with a service charge of $3.00 (three) at the counter.

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3 Validity

Fifteen (15) years from the date of issue subject to the validity of the passport of the applicant.

PIO Cards issued under the 1999-scheme at US $ 1000 will continue to remain valid.  While no refund shall be available, the validity of such cards would be extendable for a further period of 10 years (i.e. 30 years in all), if so applied for by the card holder, without any extra cost.

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3 Cancellation of Card

A PIO card can be cancelled/withdrawn if:

It was obtained by fraud, false representation or  concealment of any material fact; or

the PIO Card holder has shown himself/herself by act or speech to be disaffected towards the Constitution of India and other laws of India; or

the PIO Card holder is a citizen or subject of any country at war with, or committing external aggression against India; or of any other country assisting the country at war with, or committing such aggression against India; or

the PIO Card holder has been sentenced in India for indulging in acts of terrorism, smuggling of narcotics, arms, ammunition etc. or has been sentenced for committing an offence punishable with imprisonment up to one year or fine up to rupees ten thousand; or

it is not conductive to the public interest that the person should continue to hold a PIO Card.  No reasons shall be assigned for cancellation of the Card.

 

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3 Validity

Fifteen (15) years from the date of issue subject to the validity of the passport of the applicant.

PIO Cards issued under the 1999-scheme at US $ 1000 will continue to remain valid.  While no refund shall be available, the validity of such cards would be extendable for a further period of 10 years (i.e. 30 years in all), if so applied for by the card holder, without any extra cost.

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3 Processing Time

15 Working days

May require more than 15 working days if clearances have to be obtained from India or other PIO card issuing agencies

No emergency service is available for PIO cards

If issue of PIO card is delayed, visa may be obtained to travel to India

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3 Endorsement of new passport number in the PIO Card

For endorsing new passport number, please download and fill the Miscellaneous Services Form and mail it with new passport, PIO Card [with photo copy of main pages] and address proof. Fees applicable is $20 plus additional $20, if you desire mail back facility; to be paid by cashier's check/ money order to be drawn in favor of Consulate General of India, San Francisco. Personal check/ credit card payment is not accepted. 

Note:

All mail applications submitted to the Consulate for consular services with a non-trackable return mailing envelope will be return to the applicant without services. Please ensure to send a trackable return mailing envelope (e.g. Fedex, UPS, USPS, etc..) to ensure traceability of documents after dispatch.

 

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Click Here to Visit "PIO CARD" Site in New Delhi