The Union Government is swiftly working on the consular and visa issues discussed and promised by the Prime Minister at Madison Square Garden in New York City. According to a Gazette notification issued on September 30th, 2014, all PIO cards are now valid for the lifetime of the cardholder, instead of 15 years. This 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 September 30th, that PIO cardholders would not be required to report to a police station even if their visit to India exceeds 180 days. The Ministry of Home Affairs is working on a new scheme that will merge the PIO and OCI schemes.
