The Visas & Law Desk
Status, paperwork, and the rules that govern movement
A practical guide to what Overseas Citizens of India can and cannot buy on the subcontinent, how the 2021 government notification settled the rules, why a Supreme Court judgment caused panic — and what the tax position looks like on the way out.
Persons of Indian Origin cards are no longer accepted at India's border check posts. PIO holders who did not convert to OCI must now apply for an Indian visa to travel.
Effective 8 April 2026, eligible foreign nationals can apply for an Overseas Citizenship of India card without completing six months of stay in India.
From 1 May 2026, OCI applications and renewals are paperless. The new fee structure: US$275 from abroad, ₹15,000 in India.
A wage-weighted lottery, a US$100,000 petition fee, and a Congressional bill calling for a 3-year pause: the H-1B is in the middle of its biggest overhaul in a generation.
From April 2026, every passenger flying to India — including NRIs and OCI cardholders — must complete a Digital e-Arrival Card before boarding. The physical disembarkation card has been discontinued.
What the OCI actually is The Overseas Citizen of India card, in plain language, is a lifetime visa to India that comes with most — but not all — of the practical rights of Indian citizenship. It is a document, not a status. It does not make you a citizen of India. India does not permit […]
Who is Smita Ghosh? Smita Ghosh is an Indian-origin attorney in the United States known for her work in constitutional and immigration law. She serves as a Senior Appellate Counsel at the Constitutional Accountability Center, where she focuses on legal cases that shape public policy and civil rights. Her expertise incl
It was January 21, 1974 , At that time, Jharkhand was still a part of Bihar, and the Chief Minister of Bihar was Abdul Ghafoor. There was a leader in those days named Vishwanath Modi. He gave a speech in Jhumri Telaiya and then led a large rally through the town. When the rally reached […]
21 जनवरी 1974 की बात है । उस समय झारखंड, बिहार का ही हिस्सा हुआ करता था, और बिहार के मुख्यमंत्री अब्दुल गफूर थे। उन दिनों एक नेता हुआ करते थे — विश्वनाथ मोदी। उन्होंने झुमरी तिलैया में एक भाषण दिया, जिसके बाद उन्होंने जनसमूह को साथ लेकर एक रैली निकाली। जब रैली सरकारी बस […]