Doug.L

thank you, im white and of no other indian background other than my wife is indian , is it common then for white people to have pioin goa then ?

dreadsoc

Not common as such, but some who have Indian spouses are eligible for PIO visas so they apply for them.
PIO can also be obtained by persons who have parents or grandparents who are Indian and can prove this

Dread - x

Doug.L

Thank you Dread, was just curious if it was a problem or how peoples experience as a white person of trying to get a pio had been ? x

dreadsoc

It seems to differ from person to person - what can I say ? This is India we are dealing with - my advice would be to apply and see how it goes. If you find difficulties pop back and let us know - someon then may be able to help and advice, but you never know it may just go straight through wothout issue.

Dread - x

Bipat

It is only a problem if the Indian spouse cannot produce the required documents. Older Indian people may well not have a birth certificate, or a copy of their Indian passport (these were kept at naturalisation in the 1970s -80s). Photocopying was not always thought of and visas were not needed for India then.
In these cases an affidavit as to Indian origin of the spouse is needed.

catpat123

[QUOTE=Doug.L;9954835] Hopefully it will be

Me and OH applied together in 2007 and it took 4 weeks. We didn't really have all the documents that it said on the HCI list but we provided as much documentation as we could get our hands on from the in-laws.

He has now upgraded to an OCI but as I have no Indian ancestry I will only ever be able to get a PIO card.

Doug.L

but u got pio easy enough ? ,my wife is oci thank you i know i could never have that

vradulla

we decided not to go for oci as we then lose embassy rights as british citizens.

jcbrum

Actualy that's not true,as British citizens holding an Oci you can still avail of the services of the British Embassy.

John

a_f_d

Yes, it's in today's papers.

Just out of interest has anyone heard any more about the merging of PIO/OCI?

AndyD 8-)#

Doug.L

so are u saying my wife has gave up some rights, like what .
we are unaware of this and would i be giving up rights if i get a pio card ? where can i read this information please

dreadsoc

I cannot see how you would be giving up rights as you would still both be British Citizens.

Dread - x

mayrig

From yesterday's Herald :
---- QUOTE ----
Indians with OCI status will get consular help: UK

LONDON: Responding to concerns of British citizens holding the status of ' Overseas Citizen of India' ( OCI), the UK Foreign Office has clarified that when such citizens are in India, they will continue to be treated as British citizens and offered consular assistance if required.

A large number of people of Indian- origin have acquired OCI status after being naturalised as British citizens in the UK. The scheme launched by the Indian Government in December 2005 has been welcomed by the Indian diaspora.

========= UNQUOTE ==========

catpat123

I agree with Dread.

My OH still holds a British passport even though he's OCI.

wheatsheaf

>

I wonder though, whether the local authorities could resist accepting this concept. This happened and is happening in the Mid East frequently particularly with those whose origins are from the area. There has never been consistency in the application of laws in Inida (we all know) especially years down the road with government changes, new administrators etc. Would it be different once India accepts dual nationality and redefines OCI?