President Pranab Mukherjee inks ordinance to amend Citizenship Act to provide life long visa to PIO

President Pranab Mukherjee has signed an ordinance to amend the Citizenship Act.

The ordinance will give life long visa to People of Indian Origin and exempt them from appearing before local police station every time they visit India.

It may be recalled that Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his speech at Madison Square Garden in New York had announced to merge Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) and Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) cards.

The amendment also clears the way for relaxed visa norms for minor children of OCI card holders. It will also do away the clause of foreigners who marry Indians to continuously stay in the country for a period of one year before they get an Indian citizenship.