While PIO card holders do not require a separate visa and can enter India with multiple entry facility for 15 years; the OCI card is a multiple entry, multi-purpose lifelong visa for visiting India. OCI card-holders have parity with non-resident Indians in respect of economic, financial and educational matters except in acquiring agricultural land.
"The idea of merging the PIO card and the OCI card will create more confusion rather than solving any problems. Members of the Indian diaspora, many of whom are OCI and PIO card-holders cannot understand the rationale behind the Indian government's move to suddenly change the nomenclature of the cards and introduce a new one. The OCI card scheme has drawn unprecedented emotional appeal and resulted in huge numbers signing up for it at about 250,000 a year. Applicants have to pay around $ 300 per card and it helps them to connect emotionally to their country of origin," says Munish Gupta, co-ordinator of the Global Organisation of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO) International.
Dr Navin C Shah, a Washington DC based doctor and founder member of American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI), strongly feels that once an applicant has completed the application process and made the payment, the OCI card should be considered as a permanent document. "If the government wants to issue a new card for their needs, then the owner of the old card should not have to apply / fill any forms/make any payment. It should be totally a hassle free procedure," he said.
Being a OCI card holder I do not know the consequence of this new bill.
I know it would please the hate OCI brigade in INdia, but it affects us OCI card holders.
