Just to warn anyone applying for a PIO - It is incredibly difficult to get a PIO in the UK . I am of Indian Origin. My paternal grandmother was born in India and I have her British Indian Passport(1945) which shows this. As India was a British colony the passport says 'British Indian' . She was born in a remote village and never had a birth certificate. My parents were born in Kenya but my father applied successfully for a PIO in Kenya and my mother too as his spouse.
I tried to apply for a PIO at HCI London. I have to say it was the most frustrating process I have been through. I was told that my grandmother's passport was not a 'proper' Indian passport and that I should obtain a birth certificate when they full well know that they were non existent in most cases ! In addition, when I explained and showed my father's PIO - I was told that was not good enough as it was issued in Kenya. I very patiently tried to explain to the clerk at the counter that whether the PIO was issued in Kenya or in UK it should make no difference. The PIO is issued by the Indian Govt and not Kenya/UK. She would not accept this- she went as far as telling me that if I felt that the Kenyan HCI were more accomodating, perhaps I should apply there and that the rules for London are different. The best thing was her parting comment to me - 'Ma'am, we see lots of people like you everyday - just because you look Indian and can pay the fee does not mean that you are entitled to PIO'.
I am needless to say, writing to the High Commissioner with a letter of complaint about the last comment. However, this will not resolve the application requirements. GRRRRR

Agreed. It is tough and basically comes down to the amount of documentation you have to substantiate your claim. Luckily my mum (darling that she is) kept grandmothers passport, birth certificate and schooling certs and other bits and pieces that show lineage, so my application has been accepted, but it was bloody hard work just to get someone to take me seriously.

Fingers crossed now...

The downside now is that the non-availability of long term visa's mean that they are getting quite of lot of applications from people that would otherwise never have bothered and this seems to be really impacting those people that have a legitimate claim to PIO status.

I am lucky as I obtained a PIO with relative ease recently (1 week ago!). I am white british, but my husband is an OCI holder. The only 'funny question' I got was when I produced my marriage certificate from the Indian register office, we got married 9 years ago, but had to order a new certificate as we had lost the original. The woman behind the counter said the marriage certificate had to be 2 years old - which is totally wrong, the rule is that you have to be married for over 2 years - she checked with her supervisor and WE were correct. So I got my PIO which is great.

Good luck to everyone else applying, I know they do make you jump through as many hoops as possible! Pedantic jobsworths!

GoanPlaces

Hi GoanPlaces,

Did you apply in person at the HCI in london. If so did you need to make an appointment and what part of the building do you need to go. Been several times for Visas in the days when you could. I am white British and my wife has an OCI card and we have been married 7 years so hopefully I will also get my PIO card without to much trouble.

Hi Dugmorephil

Yes, I applied at the HCI in London. No need for an appointment, just go there early in the morning - make sure you have ALL the paperwork you need! That is the most inportant thing. If all your paperwork is in order it should be granted. You will need to go to the ground floor. There is a special entrance for PIO applications, it even says 'PIO Card' above the door - it's the same entrance that people applying for Indian passports go through. Once inside, the PIO card applications counter/window is the one furthest from the door. You submit your application, pay the fee, and they will give you a receipt with a date and time to come back to collect the PIO card (about 5-6 weeks processing time). Then easy peasy just turn up on the day they give you on the receipt (between 3-4 pm normally but arrive earlier as a queue builds up), produce your receipt and they hand over the PIO.

Good luck!

GoanPlaces

GoanPlaces,

Thanks very much for that will try in the New Year as I need my passport in December.
Will let you know how it goes.

Phil.

Hi Phil

It's OK as they don't keep hold of your passport for the six weeks processing time - they just take a photocopy of it and give it back to you. So you can apply before Christmas if you want

GoanPlaces

GoanPlaces,

Thanks thats even better.

Phil.

I agree with Gruber that it's down to the documentation you provide and that may be where Mzee had the problems.

Ideally you need to supply everything that is on the HCI's list but if you don't have it, give them anything that proves your Indian status. The more paper, the better.