Passports and Citizenship
The Indian government recently launched a program called "Overseas Citizens of India" or "OCI". This program often has been mischaracterized as "dual nationality" or "dual citizenship"; however, a person who holds an OCI Card is not granted Indian citizenship. An American citizen who obtains OCI status remains a citizen only of the United States. The OCI Card is a special visa which grants the holder the right to indefinitely visit, study or work in India, and also the right to own most types of property in India (excluding certain agricultural and plantation properties). A holder of an OCI card also need not register with local police/immigration authorities, unlike other holders of Indian visas. An OCI holder does not receive an Indian passport, and has no other political rights in India, including the right to vote or eligibility for government employment.
The OCI card is similar to a Person of Indian Origin (PIO) Card, except that PIO cards are not granted for life, and PIO Card holders may be required to register with police/immigration authorities under certain circumstances.
An American citizen who wishes to obtain a PIO or OCI Card may apply outside of India at an Indian Embassy or Consulate. An American citizen who resides in India may apply at a Foreigner’s Regional Registration Office (FRRO) or the Foreigner's Division of the Ministry of Home Affairs, located at Jaisalmer House, 26 Man Singh Road, New Delhi (tel. 2338-7436). For more information on the OCI program, please see http://mha.nic.in/uniquepage.asp?Id_Pk=553