Pio & Oci

ddevadatta · Feb 14th, 2007, 04:11

I am a PIO Card Holder and don't seem to see any big difference between PIO and OCI, except for non-registration and life long visa free entry. Here are my questions:

1. How does one register my minor children if I do change to OCI. Do I pay $275 for each of them or are they included on my my status (OCI.

2. Does the USA allow dual citizenship with India?

Thanks..

ISN · Feb 14th, 2007, 04:54

There is no big difference other than the once you have mentioned in your post,

A 1. Yes you have to pay $275 and get a separate OCI for your children

A 2. USA allows duel citizenship but India does not allow dual citizenship, that is why it is called Overseas Indian Citizenship it is different from dual citizenship

crvlvr · Feb 14th, 2007, 06:01

From http://www.path2usa.com/immigration/...enship.htm#pio

Quote:

OCI vs. PIO Card
According to the OCI, there are many advantages compared to PIO cardholders.

An OCI is entitled to life long visa with free travel to India whereas for a PIO cardholder, it is only valid for 15 years.
A PIO cardholder is required to register with local Police authority for any stay exceeding 180 days in India on any single visit whereas an OCI is exempted from registration with Police authority for any length of stay in India.
An OCI gets a specific right to become an Indian Citizen as in 29, whereas the PIO cardholder does not have this.

abfab · Feb 14th, 2007, 08:39

I remember reading an article in the Indian press a few weeks ago, that said that the Indian government had plans to force hotels and national monuments to only charge the Rupee rate for OCI holders (but it didnt mention PIO holders), which would be a major benefit!

I can't imagine that this is going to happen any time soon though, and I've heard nothing about this idea since

Nick-H · Feb 14th, 2007, 21:42

As I understand it, the Foreigner rate for airlines, hotels, monuments etc should not be charged to residents --- regardless of their visa status.

abfab · Feb 15th, 2007, 01:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick-H

As I understand it, the Foreigner rate for airlines, hotels, monuments etc should not be charged to residents --- regardless of their visa status.

Yes, I think the idea was that they extend this privilege to NRI's and holders of the OCI card.

The minister (or whoever it was) who made the statement said that only real foreigners should have to pay in dollars.

However, I can't see it happening any time soon, they still haven't managed to sort out the removal of duel pricing with the airlines yet!!

Nick-H · Feb 15th, 2007, 01:36

Oh, I see... to non-resident OCIs.

Missed Point Error

.

It must be a couple of years now since Manmohan Singh said he wanted to do away with all dual pricing. Seems to have been conveniently forgotten...

pennylessinindia · Feb 16th, 2007, 23:57

Monuments is my big gripe never get in for local rate even with PIO permit and PAN - just the old white skin and pay the full wack or in my case not visit out of principal
Could be a big queue of NRI on wacking us dosh and they get for rs 5 and poor old me still expected to pay 250

pan_nv · Feb 24th, 2007, 01:21

ask a local to buy the ticket for you and say rs245 hahaha. I remember trying to purchase airline ticket with my credit card and was asked if I was indian citizen not knowing the different prices for non-indian citizen I said NO and the the ticket price doubled, that was a shock. So I asked very nicely the cute lady if there's any way around she told me if I paid cash it be the same price as indian citizen would pay, this was like 8 years ago, this was domestic indian airlines.

fromusawithluv · Feb 24th, 2007, 01:54

Well this is probably a dumb question. If one has an OCI and does NOT need to register with FRO, then is it assumed that he/she is a "resident" of India - therefore entitling to all the INR prices? I thought OCI only gave status like NRI. NRI's still have different status than "INR"s - privileges in banking accounts, pricing for hotels, travel,etc. I am planning (still!!) to get my OCI, and I hope to be considered as a resident of India - hence still confused about why OCI holders don't register at the FRO.

abfab · Mar 3rd, 2007, 01:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by fromusawithluv

Well this is probably a dumb question. If one has an OCI and does NOT need to register with FRO, then is it assumed that he/she is a "resident" of India - therefore entitling to all the INR prices?

I am pretty certain the answer is NO.

Even an OCI needs to stay in India for the minimum number of days before they can qualify as a resident.

ISN · Mar 3rd, 2007, 03:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by fromusawithluv

Well this is probably a dumb question. If one has an OCI and does NOT need to register with FRO, then is it assumed that he/she is a "resident" of India - therefore entitling to all the INR prices? I thought OCI only gave status like NRI. NRI's still have different status than "INR"s - privileges in banking accounts, pricing for hotels, travel,etc. I am planning (still!!) to get my OCI, and I hope to be considered as a resident of India - hence still confused about why OCI holders don't register at the FRO.

Checkout the Comparison chart for – NRI – PIO – OCI http://indianstudentsnetwork.com/ISN...read.php?t=278

Nick-H · Mar 3rd, 2007, 15:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by abfab

I am pretty certain the answer is NO.

Even an OCI needs to stay in India for the minimum number of days before they can qualify as a resident.

I'm pretty sure that the answer is yes!

The whole point of OCI is that the holder is treated, pretty much, as an Indian Citizen. So I see no reason why they should not expect local prices, get a job, sign on as a student and buy a house --- all in a one-day visit to India!

ISN, I'd recommend The Ministry of Home Affairs Site as the one that should be consulted, rather than third party sites --- although even that may not be up to date!--- I think that chart came from there, anyway?

abfab · Mar 4th, 2007, 02:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick-H

I'm pretty sure that the answer is yes!

The whole point of OCI is that the holder is treated, pretty much, as an Indian Citizen.

I thought the whole point of the OCI card is that the holder gets treated pretty much the same as an NRI?

An NRI definately has a different legal status to a resident indian citizen.

I could be wrong though.

Nick-H · Mar 4th, 2007, 07:08

That's why I didn't use the word resident --- just to be on the safe side!

Feb 14th, 2007, 04:11	#1
ddevadatta Finger Licking Good Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 907	Pio & Oci I am a PIO Card Holder and don't seem to see any big difference between PIO and OCI, except for non-registration and life long visa free entry. Here are my questions: 1. How does one register my minor children if I do change to OCI. Do I pay $275 for each of them or are they included on my my status (OCI. 2. Does the USA allow dual citizenship with India? Thanks.. __________________ Ayurvedic cure for an Indian headache

Feb 14th, 2007, 04:54	#2
ISN Maha Guru Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Minnesota, USA / Chennai, India Posts: 627	There is no big difference other than the once you have mentioned in your post, A 1. Yes you have to pay $275 and get a separate OCI for your children A 2. USA allows duel citizenship but India does not allow dual citizenship, that is why it is called Overseas Indian Citizenship it is different from dual citizenship __________________ Indian Students Network http://www.IndianStudentsNetwork.com

Feb 24th, 2007, 01:54	#10
fromusawithluv desi_chic Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: in a dream...thinking of India....and future travels Posts: 206	Well this is probably a dumb question. If one has an OCI and does NOT need to register with FRO, then is it assumed that he/she is a "resident" of India - therefore entitling to all the INR prices? I thought OCI only gave status like NRI. NRI's still have different status than "INR"s - privileges in banking accounts, pricing for hotels, travel,etc. I am planning (still!!) to get my OCI, and I hope to be considered as a resident of India - hence still confused about why OCI holders don't register at the FRO. __________________ Om Shanti

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Feb 14th, 2007, 08:39	#4
abfab Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: London Posts: 98	I remember reading an article in the Indian press a few weeks ago, that said that the Indian government had plans to force hotels and national monuments to only charge the Rupee rate for OCI holders (but it didnt mention PIO holders), which would be a major benefit! I can't imagine that this is going to happen any time soon though, and I've heard nothing about this idea since

Feb 14th, 2007, 21:42	#5
Nick-H This is just a cameo appearance Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 36,180	As I understand it, the Foreigner rate for airlines, hotels, monuments etc should not be charged to residents --- regardless of their visa status.

Feb 15th, 2007, 01:36	#7
Nick-H This is just a cameo appearance Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 36,180	Oh, I see... to non-resident OCIs. Missed Point Error . It must be a couple of years now since Manmohan Singh said he wanted to do away with all dual pricing. Seems to have been conveniently forgotten...

Feb 16th, 2007, 23:57	#8
pennylessinindia Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: India Posts: 60	Monuments is my big gripe never get in for local rate even with PIO permit and PAN - just the old white skin and pay the full wack or in my case not visit out of principal Could be a big queue of NRI on wacking us dosh and they get for rs 5 and poor old me still expected to pay 250

Feb 24th, 2007, 01:21	#9
pan_nv Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: sin city Posts: 79	ask a local to buy the ticket for you and say rs245 hahaha. I remember trying to purchase airline ticket with my credit card and was asked if I was indian citizen not knowing the different prices for non-indian citizen I said NO and the the ticket price doubled, that was a shock. So I asked very nicely the cute lady if there's any way around she told me if I paid cash it be the same price as indian citizen would pay, this was like 8 years ago, this was domestic indian airlines.

Mar 4th, 2007, 07:08	#15
Nick-H This is just a cameo appearance Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 36,180	That's why I didn't use the word resident --- just to be on the safe side!