While pinterest is flooding with “how to go viral” tips for bloggers, I always took comfort in the fact that nobody knows my blog exist. This way, I can take a couple of months break from writing, without thinking of all the potential readers waiting for the new post. I actually didn’t mean to take a break at all, but so much happened in past few weeks, that writing just flew right out of my mind.
Apart from some life-changing events, we made yet another trip to Mumbai, to, attention ladies and gentleman, pick my PIO card up. In all honesty, it’s been ready for quite a while, but I was really dreading these few days in the city while the weather in Goa was so perfect. Of course, in the meantime, the rules concerning PIO cards changed a couple of times, resulting, as always, in one big mess.
First, PIO cards were given lifelong validity, and the obligation of registration with FRRO after every arrival in India was lifted.
Then someone decided that merging PIO and OCI card would be a good idea. And that’s where the fun begun. Till today, every FRRO office in India (and Indian Embassies around the world) gives different information. Goa office still stamps PIO cards with a “Lifelong validity” stamp, while Mumbai insists on exchanging PIO to OCI card immediately since PIO cards have been canceled. This means yet another tedious application process, multiple copies of exactly the same documents as during PIO application. I guess, providing people with OCI cards, based solely on their PIO cards would be no fun whatsoever… Not to mention that now, from a “Person of Indian Origin”, I’ll be changing my status to “Overseas Citizen of India”- go figure!
Anyway, I just filled the online application and sent all the papers* to Mumbai, so the only thing left to do is to wait and see. On the plus side, this time I will be able to track the progress of my application online. Also, I should count myself lucky, as, according to the new rules, one has to apply for OCI card in the same office where their PIO card was issued. For me, it means a trip to Mumbai, but there are people out there living in different countries, sometimes across the globe.
While I can appreciate, that having an OCI card will, eventually, make a lot of things easier for us, the whole exchange process doesn’t seem to be very well thought out. No surprise there…
While I can appreciate, that having an OCI card will, eventually, make a lot of things easier for us, the whole exchange process doesn’t seem to be very well thought out. No surprise there…
*The documents I submitted along with my application:
-copy of my passport
-copy of my passport
-copy of my first visa
-copy of my last visa + the conversion/ extension of the visa
-copy of my PIO card
-address proof (rent agreement)
-copy of my marriage certificate
-copy of my husband’s passport
-indemnity bond on 100rs paper – notarized
