Indian Citizen Act, 1955 amended Centre has amended Indian Citizen Act, 1955 to come good on its promise of simplifying visa rules for NRIs. The ordinance merges PIO, OCI schemes and is now into effect following the presidents signature. What is new? At present one year continuous stay in India is mandatory for Indian Citizenship which is relaxed stating that if the Central Government is satisfied that special circumstances exist, it may, after recording such circumstances in writing, relax the period of twelve months specified upto a maximum of thirty days which may be in different breaks. It enable for registration as Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) by a minor, whose parents are Indian Citizens. Even grand-child or a great grandchild of Indian citizen can avail this facility. It enable for registration as Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) by such spouse of a citizen of India or spouse of an OCI registered under Section 7A and whose marriage has been registered and subsisted for a continuous period of not less than two years immediately preceding the presentation of the application under this section. PIO card holders Centre will soon - by notification in Official Gazette - specify a particular date from which all existing PIO card holders will be deemed to be OCI card holders. The Indian Citizenship Act, 1955: The Indian Citizenship Act, 1955 provides for acquisition, termination, deprivation, determination of Indian Citizenship and other related aspects. The Act provides for acquisition of Indian citizenship by birth, descent, registration, naturalization and incorporation of territory under certain circumstances, and also for the termination and deprivation of citizenship. What is the difference between OCI, NRI and PIO Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) is a sort of ‘Dual Citizenship’ awarded to a Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) of certain category who migrated from India and acquired citizenship of a foreign country other than Pakistan and Bangladesh, are eligible for grant of OCI as long as their home countries allow dual citizenship in some form or the other under their local laws. Such persons are not entitled to any voting rights, election to state or central legislature, and holding Constitutional posts such as President, Vice President, Judge of Supreme Court/High Court etc. This grant result in following benefits... Life long visa to visit India with multiple entry and multi-purpose facilities. They can stay for any length in India with impunity from reporting to Police authorities. They are treated as equivalent to NRIs in financial, economic and educational matters, however such is not the case in the acquisition of agricultural or plantation properties. An OCI can be granted Indian citizenship if... He/She is registered as OCI for five years and has been residing in India for one year out of the five years before making the application. Non-Resident Indian (NRI): An Indian Citizen who stays abroad for any business, like for study or employment, for an uncertain duration is a non-resident. Non-resident foreign citizens of Indian Origin are treated on par with non-resident Indian citizens (NRIs) for the purpose of certain facilities. Persons staying abroad on official deputation by Central/State Governments and Public Sector undertakings on temporary assignments are also treated as non-residents. Person of Indian Origin (PIO): A citizen of any country other than Pakistan or Bangladesh if... He/She ever held an Indian passport. The applicant or either of his/her parents or grand parents was a citizen of India as per Citizenship Act, 1955 (57 of 1995) of Indian Constitution. The applicant is a legal spouse of an Indian citizen. For investments in immovable properties... Any individual (must not be a citizen of Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, China or Iran) Who ever held an Indian passport. Who or either of whose father/grandfather was a citizen of India as per Citizenship Act, 1955 (57 of 1995) of Indian Constitution.
Posted on: Sat, 10 Jan 2015 08:46:24 +0000
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