Like NRIs, PIOs Turned OCIs Can Apply for Aadhaar Card

Around 30 billion Indians are contributing their services across the globe. Out of these a huge number is of PIOs and OCIs. On 9th January 2015, the facilitation of PIOs has been withdrawn by the government of India. However, they are offered a golden opportunity of merging their status into OCIs.    

Why the date of PIO conversion extended?

The decision of extension is taken while keeping in view the problems of indentured or contractual labour living in the Fiji since mid-1800s. Indeed, the ancestors of those labours (Girmitiyas) were migrated to Fiji, Reunion Islands, Suriname, Guyana and other Caribbean States for plantation in the sugarcane farms.

Deadline extended for PIO conversion to OCIs

Like them, there are more such Indians who were migrated in ages. Taking into account their difficulties in attaining OCI card, the Indian government has decided to give them leverage. Now, such PIO card holders have chance to convert their status to OCIs till 30th June 2017.

Those who have applied for PIO cards from India, their application will be rejected since this card’s issuance is out of service permanently. No new request for this card will ever be addressed now. So, the emigrants are urged to apply for OCI cards for hassle free visit & stay across India.           

Conversion to OCI status is a piece of cake due to the presence of many authorized outsourcers, like S2NRI, and online application submission facility. There are a number of benefits that emigrants can claim after getting it, for example Aadhar card.

Aadhar Card: It’s a unique 12-digit number that allows digital authentication of one’s identity. Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) holds all right to issue it for ensuring its benefits.  

Let’s check how this card can empower the NRIs, PIOs and OCIs.

Benefits of Aadhar card for NRIs, OCIs & PIOs: It enables the emigrants to present their KYC (Know Your Customers) that is required for:

• Banking
• Telecom
• Cooking gas subsidy
• Vehicle registration
• Driving licence
• Government scholarship
• Pension
• Public distribution system  
• Apply for PAN card

PIOs turned OCIs are Eligible for Aadhar Card

After getting OCI card, the emigrants win eligibility to claim Aadhar card in India. UIDAI offers this facility to:

• Native Indians
• Non-residents of India
• Person of Indian Origin
• Overseas Citizens of India
• Foreigners

This card has nothing to do with the citizenship of the person. On the contrary, it facilitates the valid proof of an individual’s identity. 

How to apply for Aadhar card online?

The UIDAI has already established some enrollment centers in every locality for the convenience of people. Therefore, the applicant can apply aadhar card for which the following documents are essential:

• Identity proof
• Address proof
• Birth certificate

Subsequently, these steps prove pretty helpful while applying for this card at the centre:

• Fill the Aadhar card application form completely.
• Enclose it with foretold proofs of identity, address and birth.
• As the concerned person completes feeding the applicant’s details in the system, provide him the documents for verification.
• The biometric tracking will occur. For it, the applicant has to scan his finger prints and iris of the eyes. The data will be enclosed to his database in the government’s records.
• Then, the intense verification will take place for which the applicant has to wait for few days.
• The government has set its timeframe of 60-90 days after submission of applicant’s form and biometric details.
• Get the receipt of registration that state date, time and enrollment number.

It’s not the matter to get worried since the government facilitates an easy access to the digital set up.it allows him to access what’s the status of his aadhar card.

Steps to check the Aadhar status:

Providing the registration details, the applicant can check his Aadhar status online. For doing so, he should visit the official government website. The check in will ask for:

• Date which must be in the said format (i.e. dd/mm/yyyy )
• Time should also be in the said format (i.e. hh:mm:ss)