Anybody with recent PIO application experience?
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Posted on: 22-01-11 01:51:21
Quote:
Originally posted by kulb
Pramod ji, did you get your PIO card? Not sure if CGI is still processing or accepting new PIO applications in the wake of OCI/PIO merger announcement.
As mentioned in my earlier post that I had opted to collect the PIO card personally on 20th January. So, we went to CGI Toronto on 20th January at 3 PM and got the cards at 3.02 PM and today I am flying to India for 3 weeks.
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Pramod Chopra
Senior Mortgage Consultant
Mortgage Alliance Company of Canada
Quote:
Originally posted by Pramod Chopra
Quote:
Originally posted by kulb
Pramod ji, did you get your PIO card? Not sure if CGI is still processing or accepting new PIO applications in the wake of OCI/PIO merger announcement.
As mentioned in my earlier post that I had opted to collect the PIO card personally on 20th January. So, we went to CGI Toronto on 20th January at 3 PM and got the cards at 3.02 PM and today I am flying to India for 3 weeks.
Pramod ji, Congrats for getting your PIO card. Enjoy your trip back home.
Quote:
Originally posted by kulb
My spouse is going to apply for a PIO card. Anyone have recent experiences with PIO application? VFS does not accept PIO applications in Brampton and these have to be submitted directly to CGI Toronto. We want to go there in person at the earliest opportunity. Does CGI return originals same day upon verification? How long does it take to get the PIO card? I would appreciate if you can share your timelines and experiences in this matter.
Thanks.
My experience is with Ottawa HCI. I applied for PIO at VFS in Ottawa on Feb 26, and it was ready for pick up at VFS on Mar 2. Just before applying, I had obtained surrender certificate and had talked to the officer responsible for PIO cards at HCI explaining the urgency due to my upcoming travel. She had told me that it will take 10 days, and she will try her best to do it before that. But, I was pleasantly surprised that the PIO card was actually issued on Feb 28.
I had submitted original canadian passport, original cancelled Indian passport with original landing paper, copies of surrender certificate, citizenship card and certificate. Since I have travel on March 10, I had also enclosed a letter requesting urgent issuance of PIO card. Ottawa HCI was very considerate in my case.
PIO was easy to get and that was the main reason I went for it. OCI takes a few months, and several visits to VFS. I don't see myself living in India for more than 6 months at a time in a single visit at least in the next 10 years or so, and for the rest both offer the same benefits. There is a difference in how fast you can become an Indian citizen. With OCI it takes only 5 years after the OCI is issued, and out of 5 years one is expted to have lived in India for 1 year. With PIO it takes 7 years, and I believe one should have lived in India for 3 years to become Indian citizen again.
If one does not intend to become Indian Citizen in the next 5 years and does not intend to stay in India for more than 6 months in India on a single visit, that is if you are concerned about registering with FRRO, I would say go for PIO. PIO can be converted to OCI anytime by paying $ 25 fee. I think that it will take a while before PIO and OCI are merged.
Dilip
I have been reading about the process for these and have to agree with others who have applied for PIO. The multiple visits and thought of leaving your documents with the VFS guys scares me.
Once when I renewed my wife's Indian passport in New York Indian consulate, we sent the original marriage certificate by mail as that's what they said on the website. We even put in a pre-paid return envelope and post it notes asking to return the original. They never did that we had to frantically call them to trace where the original was and get it back.
OCI fees is C$275 while PIO is C$330
And regardless of which one you apply, you will end up paying $168 + $120 + $21.75 for getting the Indian passport cancelled and a Surrender endorsement put in, if you became Canadian citizen after June 2010.
With the Surrender Certificate + PIO scenario, it still looks like 2 visits to VFS office and 2 visits to CGI Toronto office will be needed(assuming you don't take the return by post option for the PIO Cards).
I wished there were some efficiencies in this whole process. Why CGI hired VFS, I don't get it.
