An eminent Indian- American social activist has urged the Indian Government to extend the date of the renewal of the OCI cards till the 31st of December as the diaspora has been facing inconvenience of having OCI in the United States.
The OCI card which stands for Overseas Citizen of India allows multiple entry and also multi- purpose life long visa to an individual of the Indian origin foreign national in order to visit India being the important benefit among the others.
The Ministry of Home Affairs Foreigners Division has issued an office memorandum which is said to direct the relevant agencies of the government and the airlines in the month of December which states that the individuals who are the Overseas Citizens of India card holders and who are not between the age of 20 and 50 years of age and who have renewed their passport will be able to travel to India as long as they also have in their possession their old passports that have been canceled.
It has been said that they would be provided with time until 30th of the month of June in order to get their OCI card renewed.
Currently, basing on the feedback that has been provided from the Indian- Americans and the diaspora community, it has been said by Prem Bhandari who is an Indian- American that the time that has been provided until the 30th of June would not be sufficient as it would need a massive awareness campaign on part of the government of India.
Prem Bhandari who is a New York based Indian- American has made a humble request to the government of India to extend the date regarding the renewal of the Overseas Citizens of India cards till the 31st of December 2020 so that enough time would be made available for the Non- resident Indians or the Person of Indian Origin community to understand the new requirement and to renew their OCI cards, as said by Bhandari in a latest communique to the government of India during this week.
The communique has been sent to the External Affairs Ministry and other relevant ministries which includes civil aviation.
He has mentioned in the letter that several individuals of the Indian origin have been stopped at several airlines as they did not get their Overseas Citizens of India cards renewed and did not carry their old passports. He added saying that the individuals are facing difficulties as they were not aware of the new rules that have been embedded which asks the individuals below the age of 20 years and above the age of 50 years to renew their OCI cards each time they get their passports renewed.
The new rules also asks to get their Overseas Citizens of India cards renewed or to carry their old passports which has the same number that is present on their OCI cards.
