NEW DELHI : Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s decision to give life time visa to Persons of Indian Origin(PIOs) and other visa and consular announcements made to them during his recent US visit have come into force. All PIO cards are now valid for the lifetime of the card holder, instead of 15 years, an official statement said here today.
The government notified the decision last week itself. It has also issued instructions that the PIO card holders would not be required to report to a police station even if their visit to India exceeds 180 days.
Instructions have also been issued to Embassies and Consulates that unless there are exceptional circumstances, visas to US nationals should normally be given for 10 years. Systems are in place to introduce visa on arrival for US tourists in October itself.
The Ministry of Home Affairs is working on a new scheme that will merge the PIO and Overseas Citizen of India (OCI)schemes. All these announcements had been made by Mr Modi during his address to the Indian community at Madison Square Garden in New York on September 28. A large number of Indian living in the US had thrown up a grand reception for the Prime Minister and his promise to fulfil their long standing demands had brought cheers to them.
(AGENCIES)
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