PM Modi welcomes issuing of lifetime visas for PIOs

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday welcomed his government's move to ensure that People of Indian Origin (PIO) were issued visas for life. This announcement was made via a gazette notification issued on September 30.

Taking to Twitter, the Prime Minister expressed his satisfaction over the progress made via a series of tweets.

"Am very glad to share that GoI has moved swiftly on the announcements I had made on consular and visa issues during my USA visit."

"On 30th Sept a Gazette notification was issued, which said that all PIO cards are valid for lifetime of cardholders. Earlier it was 15 yrs."

"The Gazette notification on 30th September fulfils the announcement that all PIO cardholders will now enjoy a lifelong visa to India."

"The Gazette notification also says that PIO card holders would not have to report to police stations, even if their visit exceeds 180 days."

Prime Minister Modi also said that the Ministry of Home Affairs was working to merge the PIO scheme with that enjoyed by Overseas Citizens of India (OCI), tweeting, "The Home Ministry is working on the new scheme that will merge PIO and OCI schemes."

"Am sure these efforts will further strengthen our bond with the diaspora and give an impetus to our development journey," he added.

Prime Minister Modi also stated that citizens of the United States would enjoy new visa rights, with almost every American receiving a visa for ten years.

"Instructions have been issued to Embassies and Consulates that apart from special circumstances, USA nationals should get visas for 10 years," he tweeted.

Prime Minister Modi had called for changes in consular and visa issues during his address at the Madison Square Garden in New York City during his visit to the U.S. in September.