Hi Gabe! With reference to your post below particularly with reference to PIO /
OCI "This will entitle them to stay in India for 15 years or 30 years
respectively without any need for a visa. The PIO and OCI cards are
renewable." to the best of my knowledge and belief OCI is valid for lifelong
as per the stamp fixed on the passport whereas you have quoted that it's valid
for 30 years. Secondly, the Indian mission here in Canada informs the holders
of OCI that they should transfer the Visa from old passport to new passport.
When this writer contacted the Indian mission in Canada, they were not sure but
stated that it is advisable. The writer also contacted the Immigration Office
in Bombay to clarify the matter and it has been clearly told that so long as
one carries the old passport is good enough to enter India repeat to carry old
expired passport with the Lifelong Visa stamped along with the New Foreign
Passport is a must. The transfer of the Visa Stamp from old passport to new
foreign passport is done at a cost of Dollars 25/- presently. This is
confusing to the minds of the fellow OCI holders abroad. Will u please check
with our NRI Commissioner and revert back on this issue so that minds are
clear.Wilson Coelho (Toronto/Goa/Kuwait) Message: 3
Date: Sat, 23 Jul 2011 10:09:09 +0100
From: Gabe Menezes <gabe.mene...@gmail.com>
To: "Goa's premiere mailing list, estb. 1994!"
<goanet@lists.goanet.org>
Subject: [Goanet] India moves to give long term visas Goans settled
abroad
Message-ID:
<caafx5v5_fjnbyu4tazd3pvzdm_czheh-b2sstbi2vaxnbwi...@mail.gmail.com>
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India moves to give long term visas Goans settled abroad
LONDON: Union Home Ministry has advised Indian missions abroad to extend
long-term visas to Goans settled abroad, NRI Commissioner Eduardo Faleiro
has said.
Inaugurating a two-day global Goans Convention at the Indian Gymkhana near
Osterley here, Faleiro said he had taken up the issue with the Union home
minister after receiving "several complaints from Goans holding foreign
passports that some of our Embassaies and High commissions abroad issue them
tourist visas, lasting three to six months."
Faleiro, a former Union Minister of State for External Affairs, said that
the Union Home Minister agreed that the procedure being followed is not
correct and that Goans settled abroad must be given long-terms visas or X
(extendable) viasas.
"The minister informed me that his Ministry is advising the Missions
concerned as well as the Foreigners Regional Registration Office, Goa to
ensure that long term visas are issued to them and these visas are extended
from time to time," Faleiro.
He advised all Non-Resident Goans holding foreign passports to apply at the
earliest for a PIO (Person of Indian Origin) or OCI (Overseas Citizen of
India) card.
"This will entitle them to stay in India for 15 years or 30 years
respectively without any need for a visa. The PIO and OCI cards are
renewable."
