Finally, we were able to register my daughter's PIO card. She can legally stay in this country for another two years (i.e., Her US passport expires in 2 years). First of all, if your kid has a PIO card, he/she can legally stay in India for 6 months. You can/should do the registration within the first 30 days after the expiry of 6 months. You need the following list of documents to register your kid's PIO card (i.e., to extend his/her legal stay in India):
1) Application Form
2) Passport Size Photograph with white background - 2
3) Request letter from Parent/Guaridan for extension
4) Copy of Photo Page, Passport Validity Page, Arrival date page of Passport
5) PIO Card Copy
6) Address Proof: Letter from House Owner/Lease agreement copy & copy of Electricity Bill or card/Tele.Bill/Ration Card
Some things to note regarding address proof:
1) The Bureau of Immigration Services need only the documents mentioned under item (6)
2) It is very much recommended to have more than one address proof for PIO registration.
3) Minors may not have any of the above mentioned address proof documents. It is OK to show the address proof for the parent(s).
4) Parent's passport cannot be used for address proof.
5) If you are renting a house and if the Electricity Bill or card is not on your name (but on the house owner's name), you can still produce that as a legal address proof (along with the letter from the house owner).
Additional details that might help
- You can download the PDF version of the "Registration Form" from the Form Download section of the Indian Immigration website. The website also provides contact information for the FRRO offices (under Contact Addresses section). You can call them and find out the office timings (Note: The FRRO office works from 9 am - 5 pm. However, the PIO Registration desk may be closed earlier than that. So, it is recommended to call your nearest FRRO office to find out their working hours).
- As far as the requisition letter is concerned, you can just write a simple letter (no specific format is required). Address it to the FRRO and say the reason why you or your son/daughter need to extend their stay. Then, just sign at the bottom. That should do. I prepared a hand written letter and they accepted that.
The whole registration process can be completed within a week's time. You have to go in person to get the PIO registration proof + also to get the registration details attested in the Passport & PIO card.
(Disclaimer: The information contained in this blog is current as of Aug 2009. There are chances that the Indian government could've changed the rules/requirements. Please visit the immigration website for current information)
Recommended Reading:
The OCI Hooplah
Hi Saro,
ReplyDeleteHow is it going? Thanks for posting useful info.
BTW, when you say "U.S. passport will expire in 2yrs" what does that mean? What would happen to her US citizenship?
Kishore Jonnala.
I'm doing great Kishore. Good to know that you are following my blog :)
ReplyDeleteI got my daughter's PP in 2006. It is valid for 5 years and will expire in 2011. I have to renew her PP after that. She'll continue to retain her US citizenship (irrespective of whether her PP expires or not).
- Saro
Hi Saro,
ReplyDeleteHats off to you for making such a incredible blog. I stumbled upon your blog and most of my questions I've been confused about like 401k, salary, etc. are kinda answered except one....
I've heard that the downside of your kid having a US passport/citizenship post R2I is that the expenses incurred for kids like education etc is way costly since the kid does not hold Indian passport. Could you share your experience with me about your kid? And whatever you know on this topic?
Thanks,
Ashish.
I haven't had an issue due to my kid's US Passport, so far. The cost of education seems to be the same. However, the story may be different if you are trying to put your kid in an international school. There will definitely be a 'differential' treatment for kids holding US Passport.
ReplyDeleteI would love to hear from you, if you get additional insights regarding this.
Sure, I'll let you know. I'm planning to move back in 12-18 months but trying to plan my move a little. Thanks for your help.
ReplyDeleteHi,
ReplyDeleteCommendable job Saro. Having said that, can someone give
1. The days & time the FRRO operates.
2. Sample requisition letter for extension of stay.
3. PDF version of the form.
That would make this complete.
Richard.
i have p i o card my kids.how registration in chennai.please help
ReplyDeleteCan you please let me know what specifically you are looking for?
ReplyDelete- Saro
The web site says "Children below 16 years of age are exempt from Registration if they have entered on PIO card or on any type of VISA".
ReplyDeletehttp://www.immigrationindia.nic.in/reg_req2.htm
My daughter and son entered on PIO card, do I need to register for extension of stay?
Thanks
Raj
I would recommend calling & checking with the regional FRRO office. Here is a thread that says that the web site may not be up to date.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.indiamike.com/india/indian-visa-and-passport-questions-f9/bank-draft-payee-for-frro-chennai-t91184/
But, it is safer to call & check the FRRO.
- Saro
One more reference ...
ReplyDeletehttp://r2i.sarosclubforums.com/forums/showthread.php/15557-PIO-card-registration-in-Chennai-India
Thanks for your comments about education. We are planning to have the baby born at US. Anyway we would return to chennai after a year. The kids schooling we be at chennai. I just wanted to confirm that the fees would be same for my child as well as other children in school. I am not going for international school.
ReplyDeleteYes. It would be the same.
ReplyDeleteI've compiled a FAQ on schooling which provides additional information.
http://www.saroscorner.com/2010/03/r2i-school-admissions-faq.html
Hi Saro,
ReplyDeleteMy daughter is 1 year old and is a US citizen. We moved back to India 5 months ago with no specific time frame of stay here in mind and we want to apply for the extension.
The questions I have are :
1. If I apply for an extension now, is the extension valid only for 6 months? Should we keep doing this every 6 months?
2. If the answer for the above question is "no", then should the requisition letter mention how long we want this extension to be valid for? For eg: "2 years". We are not sure how long we will be in India. So we don't want to mention any period but I am not sure what they expect.
3. Do we need to pay any money for the PIO extension registration? If so, what is the procedure - DD/cash/check etc?
Thanks,
Shar
Hi All,
ReplyDeleteJust a bit of information I wanted to share with you all.Not sure if you all know this but I did not find this info in the Bureau of Immigration website.
I am from Coimbatore and I went to Chennai FRRO office at Shastri Bhavan to get my daughter's(1 year old) PIO registered because her stay will exceed 180 days in a month.
But they told me that we need not come to Chennai for the registration. We should do it at our city jurisdiction at the Commissioner of Police office. We cannot do it in Chennai because our address proof is available only for Coimbatore.
I wish this was posted on their website. I checked the website after coming back home now but it does not mention any such thing. So it was not obvious to me and I assumed we need to goto the nearest FRRO.
Just wanted to share it!!
Yes ! My friend who relocated to Coimbatore went to the FRRO in Coimbatore. When you are doing PIO registration at the FRRO in Coimbatore, make sure that you get the PIO registration with "Residency permit". It is mandatory for you to have that when you travel outside India. Indian Immigration checks for that, before departure. Coimbatore FRRO just issued the registration certificate and it didn't carry Residency permit. He had to apply again to get the Residency permit.
ReplyDeleteHi Shar,
ReplyDeleteI missed to respond back to your previous queries. See inline...
-----
My daughter is 1 year old and is a US citizen. We moved back to India 5 months ago with no specific time frame of stay here in mind and we want to apply for the extension.
The questions I have are :
1. If I apply for an extension now, is the extension valid only for 6 months? Should we keep doing this every 6 months?
[Saro] The extension is valid for at least 2 years (They gave a 2 years extension to my daughter).
2. If the answer for the above question is "no", then should the requisition letter mention how long we want this extension to be valid for? For eg: "2 years". We are not sure how long we will be in India. So we don't want to mention any period but I am not sure what they expect.
[Saro] You don't have to mention the time period in the requisition letter.
3. Do we need to pay any money for the PIO extension registration? If so, what is the procedure - DD/cash/check etc?
[Saro] No payment required.
Thanks,
Shar
Hi Saro,
ReplyDeleteHere is the new list from the below mentioned link:
http://www.immigrationindia.nic.in/Pio_Card2.htm
The following documents are required to be submitted at the time of registration.
Registration form in triplicate (3 Copies).
4 Recent passport size photographs.
Copy of PIO Card
Copy of passport/VISA/arrival immigration stamp.
Copy of valid and notarised Lease/Rent agreement OR Copy of C-Form from the Hotel OR copy of recent electricity/telephone bill along with the letter from the landlord, towards proof of residence.
Duly filled in Registration Book (Upto page 8).
Passport in original.
I have a question regarding Duly filled in Registration Book (upto page 8). From were do get this Registration book?
Also in the application form:
http://www.immigrationindia.nic.in/Registration%20Form.pdf
What will be the Visa Type?
Valid For?
Place of embarkation of departure for India.
Regards,
Ravi
Hi Ravi,
ReplyDeleteSorry for the delayed response. I was on a vacation.
I don't remember filling any registration book for my daughter. You may want to call the FRRO and check. Please let me know if you manage to find that information.
Just leave the visa type field blank. It is meant for adults (Note: Registration is mandatory for adults above 18 years. for kids it is not mandatory "For minor no registration is required on any type of visa.")
Place of embarkation would be the place from where you started to India.
Hope that helps.
- Saro
HI
ReplyDeleteWE CAME BACK TO INDIA 2YEARS BACK(2010 APRIL).MY TWO KIDS ARE US CITIZENS AGE 7YRS BOY AND 4YRS GIRL NOW. THEY HAVE PIO CARDS BUT WE DID NOT REGISTERED THEIR NAMES ANYWHERE.WILL IT BE ANY PROBLEM IF WE GO BACK TO US. WE ARE PLANNING TO GO TO US IN MARCH2012. WHAT WE HAVE TO DO NOW.
It shouldn't be a problem.
ReplyDelete"Children below 16 years of age are exempt from Registration if they have entered on PIO card or on any type of VISA"
http://www.immigrationindia.nic.in/reg_req2.htm
However, I would recommend calling the nearest FRRO and checking that.
All,
ReplyDeletePlease read it at http://www.immigrationindia.nic.in/Pio_Card2.htm or below point 2 from the same site. "For minor no registration is required on any type of visa"
Registration:
1. PIO card holder will be exempt from the requirement of registration if his stay on any single visit in India does not exceed 180 days.
2. In the event of continuous stay in India of the PIO card holder exceeding 180 days, he/she shall have to get himself/herself registered within 30 days of the expiry of 180 days with the concerned Foreigners Regional Registration Officer/Foreigners Registration Officer. For minor no registration is required on any type of visa.
3. An amount of US$ 30 (=Rs1395) is charged as penal fee towards late registration.
4. Every foreigner at the time of Registration, shall furnish, such information in registration report, as may be in his possession for the purpose of satisfying the Registration Officer and shall, on being required, shall sign the registration report in the presence of the said officer and shall thereupon be entitled to receive from the said officer a certificate of registration in Part III of Form A:
5. The following documents are required to be submitted at the time of registration.
Registration form in triplicate (3 Copies).
4 Recent passport size photographs.
Copy of PIO Card
Copy of passport/VISA/arrival immigration stamp.
Copy of valid and notarised Lease/Rent agreement OR Copy of C-Form from the Hotel OR copy of recent electricity/telephone bill along with the letter from the landlord, towards proof of residence.
Duly filled in Registration Book (Upto page 8).
Passport in original.