I have been trying to figure out what to get OCI or PIO or stay on Visitor's VISA....?

There are too many different versions I am getting on the internet and from folks I have spoken to and not able to figure out the right approach....

I have come to CDs for more views on giving me more inputs on what should be my approach....

While talking to the Indian High Commission one of my friend found out that the great Indian Govt are/have done some changes on the perks of PIO and OCI, wrt Property ownership. This needs reconfirmation though.


PIO
- Is being discouraged especially for people with recent ties to India, 1st generation and even 2nd generation
- PIO is primarily being looked at for people like Jamaicans/South African, who have very remote ties to India and no close family left anymore in India.
- PIO holders cannot own property in India
- Inheritance of residential property allowance has been left at State level to decide and could be a path for lawyers to make big bucks Agriculture land inheritance is not allowed. Commercial is also not allowed
- Trend is NOT to ALLOW - Intention or drive is be OCI

OCI
- Inheritance of Residential and commercial property is allowed.
- Transaction is also allowed
- Inheritance of Agriculture land is left at the State Level and has riders like when did the ownership of the land start. If the ownership started 2 generation ago, it is considered legitimate and if only in the previous generation, they are looking at the length of ownership to establish legitimacy - making judicial process richer
- Outside of inheritance of land, transactions are not allowed - buying/selling. It contradicts the above point making it very questionable and all roads lead to going to courts.

There are some changes being made in the ability to work on PIO as well.

I need to know more......

CDs please share your views.....

Quote:

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Originally posted by shaileshjkumar

I have been trying to figure out what to get OCI or PIO or stay on Visitor's VISA....?

There are too many different versions I am getting on the internet and from folks I have spoken to and not able to figure out the right approach....

I have come to CDs for more views on giving me more inputs on what should be my approach....

While talking to the Indian High Commission one of my friend found out that the great Indian Govt are/have done some changes on the perks of PIO and OCI, wrt Property ownership. This needs reconfirmation though.


PIO
- Is being discouraged especially for people with recent ties to India, 1st generation and even 2nd generation
- PIO is primarily being looked at for people like Jamaicans/South African, who have very remote ties to India and no close family left anymore in India.
- PIO holders cannot own property in India
- Inheritance of residential property allowance has been left at State level to decide and could be a path for lawyers to make big bucks Agriculture land inheritance is not allowed. Commercial is also not allowed
- Trend is NOT to ALLOW - Intention or drive is be OCI

OCI
- Inheritance of Residential and commercial property is allowed.
- Transaction is also allowed
- Inheritance of Agriculture land is left at the State Level and has riders like when did the ownership of the land start. If the ownership started 2 generation ago, it is considered legitimate and if only in the previous generation, they are looking at the length of ownership to establish legitimacy - making judicial process richer
- Outside of inheritance of land, transactions are not allowed - buying/selling. It contradicts the above point making it very questionable and all roads lead to going to courts.

There are some changes being made in the ability to work on PIO as well.

I need to know more......

CDs please share your views.....

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OCI and PIO have been merged.
Soon regulations will be implemented across all consulates, including Canada.
So that essentially leaves two options for you : OCI or visit visa.
That depends on how often you plan to visit India and the nature of your affairs there.
If you have no assets or economic interests there and visit only once in few years, then visitor visa is probably ok.
However, if you visit often and/or have economic interests there, then OCI is the way to go.
You can recover the cost of OCI in about 4 visits.

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