PIO application while on employment visa

cool blue · Oct 20th, 2007, 20:52

I wonder if anyone has any info or experience of applying for the PIO card while working in India, and on employment visa.

I am a UK national, married to an Indian national and living and working in India.

I finally got my one year residence/registration papers and as advised by the officials in the FRRO (Chennai) I appeared with every document listed on the checklist, plus a few more, marriage photos, husband and we attempted to lodge my PIO application. We spent a while with the PIO official and he went through every paper carefully, quizzed us on our fancy marriage certificate (we have a cute photo on ours!) and finally disappeared into the depths of the FRRO building with the huge bundle of papers.

A while later we were called to the interior - and the Chief Immigration Officer/Head of Immigration told me that I would not be able to apply for PIO while I am on an employment visa! I asked (very politely!) for clarification because I am entitled to work on PIO and on emplyment visa, but he said that due to a technicality I would not be entitled to work while the PIO is in process(around 2 - 3 weeks). He advised me to return towards the end of my work contract and request that my visa is converted to a three month entry (X) visa and then I can apply for the PIO........... So near and yet so far.

My main question - has anyone applied for PIO while in India on employment visa? Help..............

I would be really thankful to hear of any experiences.

thanks so much

Nick-H · Oct 21st, 2007, 02:05

The only 'technicality' that I know of is that you can apply in India only if you are there on a visa of one year or more. Never saw anything about what sort of visa.

You could ask to see the Director.

There was a very decent guy in charge who helped me get a simple resident's permit when the front desk people were all against it. It did take my wife's special skills to get us into his office, though --- and I gather he retired shortly afterwards.

cool blue · Oct 21st, 2007, 22:08

Thanks for this, Nick - yes I had to wait until i had the one year's registration paper which I now have. Unfortunately the guy who told us about this "technicality" seemed to be the big boss there, and was quite insistent that I would not be able to work while the application was in process.

We had all the documents required, and the guy at the front desk was happy with the docs (well, after we had to re-do a few because you couldn't see the lines on hubby's passport clearly enough) and sent the papers through.

It feels as if it is a case of trying to find a reason to refuse the application, rather than checking that you meet the eligibility criteria. I am quite despondent now.

I just wondered if anyone else who applied for PIO did so while here on an employment visa.

Nick-H · Oct 22nd, 2007, 06:10

Sorry; I got mine while on an X visa, and had no intention of seeking employment anyway.

Oct 20th, 2007, 20:52	#1
cool blue Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: India Posts: 133	PIO application while on employment visa I wonder if anyone has any info or experience of applying for the PIO card while working in India, and on employment visa. I am a UK national, married to an Indian national and living and working in India. I finally got my one year residence/registration papers and as advised by the officials in the FRRO (Chennai) I appeared with every document listed on the checklist, plus a few more, marriage photos, husband and we attempted to lodge my PIO application. We spent a while with the PIO official and he went through every paper carefully, quizzed us on our fancy marriage certificate (we have a cute photo on ours!) and finally disappeared into the depths of the FRRO building with the huge bundle of papers. A while later we were called to the interior - and the Chief Immigration Officer/Head of Immigration told me that I would not be able to apply for PIO while I am on an employment visa! I asked (very politely!) for clarification because I am entitled to work on PIO and on emplyment visa, but he said that due to a technicality I would not be entitled to work while the PIO is in process(around 2 - 3 weeks). He advised me to return towards the end of my work contract and request that my visa is converted to a three month entry (X) visa and then I can apply for the PIO........... So near and yet so far. My main question - has anyone applied for PIO while in India on employment visa? Help.............. I would be really thankful to hear of any experiences. thanks so much __________________ Feisty Blue Gecko http://feistybluegecko.blogspot.com/

Oct 21st, 2007, 02:05	#2
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 26,920	The only 'technicality' that I know of is that you can apply in India only if you are there on a visa of one year or more. Never saw anything about what sort of visa. You could ask to see the Director. There was a very decent guy in charge who helped me get a simple resident's permit when the front desk people were all against it. It did take my wife's special skills to get us into his office, though --- and I gather he retired shortly afterwards. __________________ . Just one member of the IndiaMike Mod Team

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Oct 21st, 2007, 22:08	#3
cool blue Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: India Posts: 133	Thanks for this, Nick - yes I had to wait until i had the one year's registration paper which I now have. Unfortunately the guy who told us about this "technicality" seemed to be the big boss there, and was quite insistent that I would not be able to work while the application was in process. We had all the documents required, and the guy at the front desk was happy with the docs (well, after we had to re-do a few because you couldn't see the lines on hubby's passport clearly enough) and sent the papers through. It feels as if it is a case of trying to find a reason to refuse the application, rather than checking that you meet the eligibility criteria. I am quite despondent now. I just wondered if anyone else who applied for PIO did so while here on an employment visa.

Oct 22nd, 2007, 06:10	#4
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 26,920	Sorry; I got mine while on an X visa, and had no intention of seeking employment anyway.

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