GENERAL INFORMATION FOR APPLICANTS :

i. Please keep a photocopy of your passport in a safe place. Without these relevant issuance of a duplicate passport in case of loss/damage/theft may be delayed.

ii. It is an offence under the Passports Act 1967 to give false information in the Application. Passport facilities can be denied on grounds of suppression of factual information, submission of false particulars, willful damage of passport and for making unauthorized changes in the passport.

iii. Your passport can be impounded or revoked by the Government of India under the provisions of the Passports Act 1967, in the event of which you will have to surrender the Passport to the nearest Indian Passport authority.

iv. Indian Citizenship Law Does Not Provide For Dual Citizenship and, accordingly, it is illegal for a person to possess an Indian Passport once he/she becomes citizen of another country. It may therefore, be noted that on becoming citizen of any other country (including US), the holder of an Indian passport should return the same to the nearest Indian Consular post (Embassy/Consulate). The Indian passport will be stamped "acquired US nationality" and returned to holder. Please send the Indian passport with covering letter and a self addressed stamped envelope for this purpose.

v. Please always check the expiry date of your Passport, and get it renewed well in advance of the expiry. Incase your Passport has expired more than six months back the process of renewal may take longer time.

vi. Passport should not be sent out of any country by post. It should be in the custody of the holder or especially authorized by the holder. It must not be altered or mutilated in any way. Loss, theft or destruction of Passport should be immediately reported to the nearest passport authority in India or Mission abroad and to the local police authorities.

When should you apply for the new passport ?

i) Within one year of expiry of your passport. For example if your passport is expiring on 31st Dec,2002, you can apply for a new one anytime starting from 30th Dec,2001.

ii) But not later than 6 months after date of expiry. If your passport is expiring on 31st Dec,2002, you can apply for a new one not later than 30th June,2003. If for any reason you have delayed applying for a new passport more than six months after expiry of your passport, see instructions below (passport expired more than 6 months back).

When are passports renewed ?

i) Passports which were issued less than 9 years back such as passports issued in India under the Tatkal scheme

ii) Passports which were issued against lost passports for short validity

iii) But NOT if your passport is completing 10 years / or there is a an F or Final written after the date of expiry- Please apply for new passport in such a case.

What are the requirements for renewing a passport?

i) Original passport

ii) Completed Passport Renewal form

iii) Copy of Green Card (both sides, enlarged clear copy) or Employment Authorization card (clear enlarged copy) or legal/ visa status such as HIB etc

iv) No Fee is payable for renewal but if you are applying by mail, charges for mailing back the passport may be sent through a money order/cashier's check in favor of Consulate General of India. Please see item "VII" of "new passport" requirements.

How much time will it take?

i) If you apply in person at the counter, same day if no prior clearance is required. It may take 30 –35 days if clearance has to be obtained.

ii) If you apply through mail, 3-5 working days, excluding time taken in mail. The proviso regarding clearance mentioned in i) above applies.

What would be the duration of the renewal of the passport?

i) Normally the validity of the passport will be extended up to 10 years from date of its original issue except for persons on BI/ B2 visa or where clearance has not been received from the original passport issuing authority.

ii) In cases of duplicate passports of short validity, renewal will depend upon the legal status of the applicant and receipt of clearance.

PIO (Person of Indian Origin) Card Scheme

(MHA Notification No. 26011/4/98-F.I, Dated: 19th Aug. 2002)

1. Short Title and Commencement:

(i) This Scheme may be called the Scheme for issuance of Person of Indian Origin Card (PIO) Scheme, 2002.

(ii) It shall come into force with effect from 15th September, 2002.

2. Definition:-

In this scheme, unless the context otherwise requires,

(a) “Indian Mission” means Embassy of India/High Commission of India/Indian Consulate in a foreign country.

(b) “Person of Indian Origin” means a foreign Citizen (Not being a citizen of Pakistan, Bangladesh and other countries as may be specified by the Central Government from time to time) if,

(i) he/she at any time held an Indian Passport; or

(ii) 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 he aforesaid countries [as referred to in (2)(b)] above; or

(iii) he/she is a spouse of a citizen of India or a person of Indian origin covered under (I) or (ii) above.

(c) “PIO Card” means a card issued under this Scheme.

3. Form of application for issue/renewal of a PIO Card :-

An application for issue/renewal of a PIO Card shall be made in the prescribed form and shall be accompanied by documentary evidence to show that the applicant is a person of Indian origin as defined.

4. Authority to which application is to be made:-

(i) An application for issue of a PIO Card shall be made to an Indian Mission in the country where the applicant is ordinarily resident.

(ii) Applicants already in India on Long Term Visa (more than one year) shall make the application for issue of a PIO Card to the following authorities:- (A) those residing in:-

(a) Delhi-Foreigners Regional Registration Officer, Level-II, East Block VIII, R.K. Puram, Sector-I, New Delhi.

(b) Mumbai-Foreigners Regional Registration Officer, Annexe-II, Commissioner of Police, Craw Ford Market, Mumbai-400001.

(c) Kolkata-Foreigners Regional Registration Officer, 237, Acharya Jagdish Chandra Bose Road, Kolkata-700020.

(d) Amritsar-Additional Deputy Director, Bureau of Immigration, B/123, Ranjeet Avenue, Amritsar.

(e) Chennai-Chief Immigration Officer, Bureau of Immigration, Shastri Bhavan Annexe, No. 26, Haddows Road, Chennai-600006.

(B) Those residing in areas other than (A) above:-

Joint Secretary (Foreigners), Ministry of Home Affairs, Ist Floor, Lok Nayak Bhavan, Khan Market, New Delhi-110003.

5. Authority to grant a PIO Card:

The authority to grant a PIO CARD shall be an officer in an Indian Mission notified for the purpose or the Joint Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India or the Foreigners Regional Registration officer, New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Amritsar or the Chief Immigration Officer, Chennai.

6. Validity of PIO Card:

A PIO Card shall be valid for a period of fifteen years from the date of issue subject to the validity of the passport of the applicant.

7. Fee:

The fee for a PIO Card would be Rs. 15000/-1 (or its equivalent in local foreign currency of the country concerned), payable along with the application. PIO Card to children upto the age of 18 years will be issued at a fee of Rs. 7,500/-2 (or its equivalent in local foreign currency of the country concerned) for a fifteen years card.

1 = US $ 310.00

2= US $ 155.00

8. Gratis Card:

Gratis Card may be issued to an exceptionally eminent person of Indian Origin who plays an important role in building bridges between India and the country of his/her adoption, if he/she expresses a desire to obtain the PIO Card.

9. Facilities to be extended to a PIO Card Holder:

(i) A PIO Card holder shall not require a separate visa to visit India.

(ii) A PIO Card holder will be exempted from the requirement of registration if his stay on any single visit in India does not exceed 180 days.

(iii) In the even of continuous stay in India of the PIO Card holder exceeding 180 days, he/she shall have to get himself/herself registered within 30 days of the expiry of 180 days with the concerned Foreigners Regional Registration Officer/Foreigners Registration Officer.

(iv) All PIOs including PIO Card holders, shall enjoy parity with NRIs in respect of all facilities available to the latter in the economic, financial and educational fields except in matters relating to the acquisition of agricultural/plantation properties. No parity shall be allowed in the sphere of political rights.

10. Validity of existing PIO Cards:

PIO Cards issued under the scheme notified in 1999 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.

11. Cancellation of PIO Card:

The Central Government may, by order, cancel a PIO Card, if it is satisfied that:

(a) the PIO Card was obtained by means of fraud, false representation or the concealment of any material fact; or

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

(c) 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

(d) 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 upto one year or fine upto rupees ten thousand; or

(e) 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.

What documents are required to be submitted for issue of a PIO Card?

Completed application form – in duplicate (for very young children, thumb impression in place of signatures)
Photographs- 4 (four) latest, preferably in color , front facing, 35 X 45 mm
Indian Passport in original (the last one acquired by applicant), with copy of first & last 3 pages only.
Copy of U.S. Passport (notarized copy) [Page with particulars only]
Proof of permanent address in India as per Indian Passport. If there has been a change of address, documentary evidence to support it, duly notarized.
In respect of children born in USA, photocopies of Indian Passports [First Page and last 3 pages] of both the parents, duly notarized and photocopy of US passport of the child.
Fees of $ 310 ( for adults) or $ 155 (for children upto the age of 18 years)
Mail back charges (preferably $15 for return by overnight mail which is more reliable and safe. Consulate can not take responsibility for delay in receipt or loss of documents sent by certified mail. No self addressed envelope necessary. Fees for PIO Card + mailing charges can be sent together through a single money order or cashier’s check. Please note that payments by mail can only be made through money order or cashier's check in favour of the Consulate General of India.