Government extends deadline for PIOs

The Modi government will soon be able to create a fresh database of all Indian diaspora around the world. After the big announcement by Prime Minister Narendra Modi last year on the merger of Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) and Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) schemes, the Union home ministry has extended the deadline till June 30 for PIO cardholders to register as OCI cardholders to ensure all register themselves under the fresh procedure.

It is learnt that so far the MHA does not have a clear figure of the PIO cardholders; therefore, once all Persons of Indian Origin register themselves as OCI, the MHA and MEA will have a new database ready. Currently, government estimates show PIO figures may be around two lakh approximately.

The home ministry is keen to get all PIOs on board by June 30 and has asked all its missions and posts, foreign regional registration offices and bureau of immigration to adhere to the deadline even as it reiterates the benefits of the switch — which will give all PIOs multiple-entry, multi-purpose life-long visa, besides quicker immigration clearances, among others.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while addressing thousands of Indian Americans at New York’s Madison Square Garden in 2015, had promised to overhaul the system to ease their travel to India. The Prime Minister had announced his decision to eliminate discrepancies between foreign nationals with links to India who hold Persons of Indian Origin or PIO cards and those who have Overseas Citizenship of India or OCI cards.

Under the fresh rules and regulations, the PIO category has been withdrawn from the Indian immigration system bringing all individuals holding PIO Card status under OCI granting them benefits, rights, and guarantees of the OCI scheme. Individuals with a PIO card will be considered OCI card holders, official said adding that all erstwhile PIO card holders have to register as OCI cardholders to complete the formalities.

Earlier, persons with PIO cards used to be allowed visa-free travel to India for 15 years and it was mandatory for the holders to register with the police if they stayed in the country for more than 180 days. People with Indian heritage and foreigners married to Indians were eligible for the card.

The twin schemes had created much confusion with demands being raised for scrapping one scheme to bring relief to the overseas Indian citizens.