Conversion of PIO card to OCI card

PIO Card Validity Extended up to December 31, 2024

Indian Immigration will accept all Person of Indian Origin (PIO) cards (including handwritten ones) along with valid foreign passport, as valid travel document till December 31, 2024, instead of earlier deadline of December 31, 2023.

2. Indian Immigration Check Post(s) will continue to consider all PIO cards (which were valid as on January 9, 2015) valid for exit from/entry into India till December 31, 2024. This extension of timeline is subject to the condition that if in the meantime, any deadline is notified by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) thereby making handwritten PIO cards invalid, then PIO cardholders may have to obtain appropriate visa from Indian Missions/Posts.

3. All PIO cardholders (handwritten and machine-readable) are meanwhile advised to convert their PIO card to OCI card before this deadline.

4. It is informed that VFS Globalis the Outsourced Service Provider of OCI Services, including PIO to OCI conversion, for the Embassy of India, Washington DC and its Consulates in Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, New York and San Francisco. 

5. All the applicants under the Consular Jurisdiction of the Embassy of India (those living in Bermuda, Delaware, District of Columbia, Kentucky, Maryland, North Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia) may visit the following link for details: https://services.vfsglobal.com/usa/en/ind/apply-oci-services.

VFS Helpline Numbers:

Consular Services (For PIO, OCI and Renunciation) + 1 800 320 9693

Operational Days: Monday to Friday, 0800 to 2000 hours EST

In case of any other specific queries related to PIO to OCI conversion, please email fsoci.washington@mea.gov.in