Modi gifts life-long visa to PIO cardholders
07 Oct 2014
All person of Indian origin holding PIO cards are now lifetime cardholders, instead of 15 years, as promised by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his address at the Madison Square Garden in New York City on 28 September 2014.
According to a Gazette notification issued on 30 September 2014, all PIO cards are now valid for the lifetime of the cardholder, instead of 15 years, which effectively fulfils the prime minister's announcement that PIO cardholders would enjoy a lifelong visa to India.
Further, following the prime minister's announcement that PIO cardholders would be exempt from police reporting, the ministry of home affairs has issued instructions through the same Gazette notification dated 30 September that PIO cardholders would not be required to report to a police station even if their visit to India exceeds 180 days.
Sharing the information, the PM, on microblogging website Twitter, said the efforts will "further strengthen our bond with the Indian Diaspora and give an impetus to our development journey".
Instructions have also been issued to embassies and consulates that unless there are exceptional circumstances, visas to US nationals should normally be given for 10 years.
Systems are in place to introduce visa on arrival for US tourists in October itself.
The ministry of home affairs is working on a new scheme that will merge the PIO and overseas citizenship of India (OCI) schemes.
.webp)
