We provided an update on the conversion of PIO (Person of Indian Origin) cards to OCI (Overseas Citizen of India) cards without consular fees in our July 2017 bulletin.

A recent update on the website of Cox & Kings Global Services, the official partner of Embassy of India in the United States, indicates the revision of consular fees for issuance of OCI in lieu of PIO Card. The consular fee is revised to USD 275.00, valid from January 1, 2018 to September 30, 2018. Post September 30, 2018, a PIO card will no longer be considered a valid travel document. Therefore, all PIO card holders must apply for OCI in lieu of PIO before September 30, 2018.

Foreign nationals can travel with valid travel document (PIO Card), if the date of their journey commenced on or before September 30, 2018. So, it is important not to misconstrue status as OCI with Dual Citizenship.