The NRG Foundation of Government of Gujarat and NRG Centre organised a seminar on passport, visa, immigration, OCI/PIO Cards and financial remittances to India at Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry hall in Ahmedabad on 26th March. In January 2015 Government of India has merged the PIO and OCI cards which are issued to Indians possessing foreign citizenship. Now only OCI cards are issued, however, it is not issued to persons residing in Pakistan and Bangladesh.
M D Antani, former Gujarat chief secretary, said that Domicile Certificate was an important document for obtaining Overseas Citizens of India card. OCI card holders enjoy practically all privileges except engaging in political activity and holding any constitutional position.
Anita Shukla, deputy passport officer, said the issuance of passport by the regional passport office in Ahmedabad was rising by 10% to 30% every year. She added that India did not have the concept of dual citizenship and once an NRI obtains foreign citizenship they must relinquish Indian citizenship and surrender their Indian Passport. Regarding issuance of Indian passport to babies who have born abroad, she said Indian passport would be issued provided the parents were holding Indian citizenship. The application has to be made in the country of stay.
Jigar M Patel, international tax attorney, said that NRIs can open two types of bank accounts i.e. Non Resident External Account- NRE and Non Resident Ordinary-NRO Account. In the liberalised investment scenario, NRIs now have the liberty to invest in all sectors except purchase of new agricultural land. Similarly, NRIs can remit outside India an amount up to US $ 1 million after paying all applicable Indian taxes.
