A: HOW TO DO APPLICATION?
B: HOW TO ARRANGE THE APPLICATION(S)?
C: HOW MUCH IS FEES AND HOW TO PAY?
D: WHERE TO SEND THE APPLICATION AND THINGS NOT TO FORGET.
E: PROCESSING TIME
F: HOW PIO CARD LOOKS LIKE?
| Important Notice |
A: HOW TO DO APPLICATION?
An application for issue/renewal of a PIO Card shall be made in the prescribed form which can be downloaded from the tab below.
Please note that:
a) Application form should be submitted in two sets. However supporting document should be one set only.
b) Please fill up the application with black ink and in bold (capital) letters.
c) Please provide signature or thumb impression of the applicant in the boxes provided for signature. Please note that if minors (less than 18 years of the age) are able to sign then let them do so. Thumb impression should be left for male and right for female. Signature of thumb impression should not spill over out of the box provided.
d) Wherever question is not applicable fill “N/A” in front of that.
e) In case of minors both parents and legal guardian should sign the declaration.
f) Please provide reachable telephone number in the column 11 (b), so that in case of any communication, Consulate official can reach to you.
g)Attach 4 recent passport size (2" X 2" without border) good quality colour photographs with full frontal view with white background only. One to be pasted (not stapled) on each application (first on original and second on the copy) and remaining 2 to be stapled on the first original application form.
h) Furnishing of false information will result in outright rejection of the application. Acceptance of application does not confer any right on the applicant to the PIO Card.
i) Address in India – If the address indicated in the passport of the applicant/parents/grand parents is no longer valid, please furnish verifiable address of a close relative.
j) The expression India in column 22 (a) in PIO application is as follows:
B: HOW TO ARRANGE THE APPLICATION?
You need to provide the following documents with the duly filled application.
(i) Proof of present citizenship:
The copies of first two and last two pages of foreign passport should be enclosed. The original Passport should also be sent. Old foreign (US or other) passport carrying valid Indian visa should also be sent. We will cancel the valid Indian visas and return the foreign passports to you.
(ii)Proof of Indian citizenship:
The photocopies of first three and last two pages of Indian Passport should be enclosed. If Indian Passport is still valid, the same may be sent for cancellation.
(iii)Birth Certificate:
If applicant is born abroad, his/her birth certificate, wherein both parents’ names have been mentioned, should be provided.
(iv)Relationship proof:
If parents/grand-parents origin is being claimed as basis for grant of PIO Card, following documents may be furnished:
(a) Copies of first three and last two pages of both parents’ Indian passports
OR
Copies of their domicile certificates issued by the competent authorities (class one Gazetted officer in India)
(b)Evidence of relationship with the applicant i.e.
(i)In case of Parents origin: birth certificate of applicant wherein names of parents have been mentioned should be submitted.
(ii)In case of grand / great grand parents’ origin: birth certificate of applicant wherein names of parents have been mentioned; birth certificate of parents wherein their parents’ names have been mentioned should be submitted.
(v) Proof of Residence:
Any two of the following i.e. copy of utility bill (phone bill /electricity bill) or Driving License or Lease Deed (of residence) etc. where your USA address in the USA is clearly mentioned should be provided. The copies should be duly notarized, if you are sending your application by mail.
(vi) Visa Status:
Copy of Permanent Resident Card (both sides) or Employment authorization card or copy of page showing H1 / H4, L1/L2, F1/F2, J1/J2 etc. visa should be enclosed in case of non-US citizens. The Indian passport holder parents who are applying PIO card for their kids, then also visa status proof is essential. If you have applied for visa extension, then such proof should be provided.
(vii) Address in India:
If this different from the one in the Indian passport, please provide proof in r/o new address.
(viii) Copy of the Surrender certificate issued by the Government of India authorities
If you do not have surrender certificate issued by the Indian Government authorities after seeking foreign nationality, then follow the procedure for applying the surrender certificate by clicking the tab below, without which your PIO application will not be processed.
Note:
Please note that all the photocopies should be duly notarized, if you are sending your application by mail. If you are submitting your application in person, then show the original documents along with the photocopies to the Consular officer and in that case notarization is not required.
Please do not include instruction page with the application.
C: HOW MUCH IS FEES AND HOW TO PAY?
(a) FEES: Adult: US$ 365/-
Minor: US$ 185/-
Reference fee: US20/- for non-US Citizens
Surrender certificate fee:Please note that if you have acquired US (foreign) Citizenship on or before 31 May 2010 and if you have "Cancelled" stamp on your Indian passport, then there is a no requirement of acquiring "Surrender Certificate". If you do not have a cancelled stamp on Indian passport then you need to get the "Surrender Certificate". However fees for that is US$ 20/- only. For all other naturalized citizens of Indian origin surrender certificate fees will be US$ 175/-.
(b) Mailing Fee
( i ) Individual applicant : US$ 20/-
(ii) More than one application: Add one US$ additional to US$ 20/-.
-.
NOTE:
You can submit your PIO application as well as collect your PIO card in person or you can apply by mail also. It is advisable to collect the PIO card in person to avoid any possibility of losing PIO card in the mailing process.
(c) Mode of Payment:
Cashier Cheque/Postal Order or Money Order should be on the name of “ Consulate General of India, Chicago” . In the event of dishonoring of Cashier Cheque/Postal Order/ Money order submitted by the Applicant owing to "Stop payment" or by any other reasons, the applicant has to pay the due fees along with the penalties levied by the Bank. Failing to do so by the applicant will attract legal action including cancellation of the service (if provided already). No arguments on this will be accepted. Cashier check/MO/PO should be properly signed and name of the applicant should be written on it.
If you are submitting the application in person then only payment in cash is allowed, otherwise not.
- Personal checks / cash / credit or debit cards are not acceptable.
- Application fee plus mailing fee can be combined and paid together through one CC/MO/PO
- You can club fees of two or more applicant, however name of the first applicant should be written on CC/MO/PO.
Dishonored Cashier Cheque / MO / PO attracts penalty. If this happens, applicant has to pay due fees as well as the penalty levied by the bank, otherwise applicant will face legal action including cancellation of the PIO card (if issued already).
Please note that applications not arranged in the above manner, order and instructions and inadequate fees will be returned back un-processed and these will not get priority in processing after you sent it with corrections as they will again go in the queue.
D: WHERE TO SEND THE APPLICATION AND THINGS NOT TO FORGET.
You have to send/submit a duly filled application to the following address:
“Consulate General of India, Chicago, 455 N. Cityfront Plaza Drive, NBC Tower Building, Suite # 850, Chicago, Illinois-60611”.
Before sending application, please check once again that you have enclosed all necessary documents and appropriate fees & mailing fees etc.
Write on the top of the envelope “PIO Application”. Please keep photocopy of your application with you.
Consulate will not be responsible for any kind of loss of documents during transit mail. Make sure that while sending your application by mail send by FEDEX or USPS express mail only so that you have the tracking number and you can trace down your application yourself and thus there are less chances of loosing it by the postal agencies.
Fee once paid is non-refundable in any situation.
Submission at Counter between 900 to 1230 hours (Chicago time): 15 working days
By mail: 6 weeks
Submitted at Counter between 900 to 1230 hours (Chicago time) and requested for delivery by mail: 21 working days
F: HOW PIO DOCUMENT LOOKS LIKE?
Please click below to see how the PIO card looks like.