Indian-Americans hail relaxation of travel curbs for OCI cardholders

The Indian-Americans welcomed the decision of the Indian government to ease the coronavirus-linked global travel restrictions imposed on those having Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cards. Giving a major relief to the OCI card holders stranded abroad, the Ministry of Home affairs on Friday relaxed the visa and travel restrictions imposed during the coronavirus lockdown for certain categories.

The MHA in a detailed notification said that the categories now eligible to return to India for minor children born to Indian nationals abroad and holding OCI cards, OCI card holders who wish to come to India on account of family emergencies, such as a death in the family, couples where one spouse is an OCI cardholder and the other is an Indian national, and they have a permanent residence in India and University students who are OCI card holders (but are not minors) and whose parents are Indian citizens living in India.

Overseas Citizens of India or OCI card is issued to people of Indian origin globally which gives them almost all the privileges of an Indian national except for the right to vote, government service and buying agricultural land. The OCI card gives them a visa free travel to India.

ALSO READ: Over 300 biz groups urge Trump to keep skilled-worker visas amid Covid-19

The decision comes in the wake of several complaints raised by the Indians stranded abroad. The OCI card is issued to people of Indian origin, allowing them visa-free travel in most cases.

Over 23,000 Indians, who had been stranded abroad after the lockdown was imposed in March, have been repatriated from dozens of countries under the government's "Vande Bharat Mission".

This privilege of visa free travel to India was causing distress among a large number of people of Indian-origin and Indian citizens in countries like the US whose children were OCI card holders as they were born in this country.

Many Indian parents, several of whom lost their jobs as a result of the economic crisis due to coronavirus pandemic, but were not allowed to take the special evacuation flights of Air India from various US cities, took to social media and urged the Indian leaders to allow them to travel to India.

This is a big relief for the OCI card holders. It was a humanitarian crisis in the making. I am pleased that the Indian Government listened to their voices, said social activist Prem Bhandari, chairman of Jaipur Foot USA, who has been taking up the cause of the OCI card holders.

(This is a) much needed relaxation to the distressed parents with minors having OCI need to travel back home, said Geeta Somani.

In a family of four, her six-year-old daughter is a OCI card holder and rest are Indian citizens and their US visa is about to expire. But they were not able to travel because of the previous travel restrictions for the OCI card holders. Now they are planning to travel back home.

ALSO READ: UK expands visa reprieve for Covid-19 stranded foreigners to July 31

Many thanks to all of you and the Government of India for understanding our concern, said a person named Rajesh.

Bhandari who for the past few weeks had launched a relentless campaign for the Indian Government to reverse its recent OCI order, said voices of overseas Indians were humanely considered by its leaders, right from the top Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan. Flooded with questions on the OCI card issue, Muraleedharan during a webinar last week organised by Federation of Indian Americans (FIA) and Bihar Jharkhand Association of North America (BJANA), assured Indian Americans that the government will soon take a decision.

During the webinar, after listening to their concerns, top RSS leader Dr Krishna Gopal had assured us that he will take up the matter with appropriate authorities in India, Bhandari said adding efforts made by every-one from inside and outside India helped resolve this emerging humanitarian crisis.

ALSO READ: Visa, OCI card suspension prevents many Indians in US from flying back home

This is great news for the diaspora in need, said Ranjeet Singh Champawat. Today is such a great day. The Government of India resolves the big concern for OCI holders, said Alok Kumar, former FIA president.

Good news for OCI Card holders.... Multiple-entry lifelong visa facility granted to Overseas Citizen of India card holders restored for minor children of Indian nationals abroad and holding OCI cards, tweeted Oxomiya Jiyori. Good News for OCI card holders, said Sunanda Sondhi.

At the same time, a number of OCI card holders on Friday sought further relaxation. Please include OCI kids of OCI parents and parents living in India. It would be a nominal number in the scheme of things, urged Sunil Kumar. I am an OCI card holder living in India from 2008 and my son is an OCI card holder stuck in the USA, he wrote.

Request you to please allow OCI students of OCI parents residing in India for almost 16 years, urged Uma Sitaraman.