How To Convert PIO Card into OCI Card ?

The Government of India has officially scrapped the PIO (Person of Indian Origin) Card through the Citizenship (Amendment) Act of 2015. The PIO scheme which was launched in 2002 had aimed at providing certain citizenship benefits to Indian-origin people with foreign nationalities. However, a corresponding scheme has been initiated instead. It is called the Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) scheme. It was launched in 2006, and it offers better benefits to foreign citizens of Indian-origin than the PIO scheme. In 2015, the government decided to merge both the schemes in order to streamline the process for all of India's overseas citizens.

Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2015

This amendment was passed in March 2015. Both the houses of parliament agreed upon it. The amendment has been effective since 6th January 2015. Here are the terms of this new merger scheme:

• People with PIO cards have been automatically considered as OCI cardholders; they may apply for a separate OCI card if they wish to.

• People who were about to get their PIO cards were automatically considered as OCI cardholders when the application got processed.

• People whose PIO card applications were still unapproved would need to reapply for the OCI card.

Eligibility Criteria for OCI Cards

To apply for the new OCI cards, an applicant must meet the following criteria:

• All foreign nationals who were citizens of India earlier, at any point, since the Indian constitution came into effect on 26th January 1950.

• All foreign nationals who were eligible for Indian citizenship during the time of inception of the constitution.

• All foreign nationals who were citizens of territories that later integrated into the Indian Union after independence on 15th August 1947.

• Children, grandchildren or great-grandchildren of erstwhile Indian citizens at any point since the Constitution of India came into effect on 26th January 1950.

• Children who have at least one parent who is an Indian citizen.

• Spouses of an OCI or PIO cardholder or an Indian citizen are eligible to apply if their marriage was registered in India and if they have lived in India for at least two continuous years before the application.

• Exceptions: Citizens of Bangladesh and Pakistan cannot apply for the OCI cards. This restriction also extends to the parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents of such citizens.

OCI Cardholders vs. Indian Citizens

The OCI cardholders are denied certain rights that are available to Indian citizens, such as

• They cannot work with public enterprises.

• They cannot contest in the election for the Vice President or President of India.

• They cannot seek the posts of judges in High Courts or Supreme Court.

• They do not have voting rights for elections.

• They cannot be members of the Rajya Sabha or the Lok Sabha.

• They cannot be members of the State Legislative Councils or  Assemblies.

• They cannot be appointed as members of public posts or services in lieu of Central or State government affairs.