Had an interesting experience this week. I had applied or the OCI card early July and mailed my paperwork to the local CGI who put the process into motion in late July. I was in China before coming to India and saw that my OCI card had been apparently printed and dispatched that week.

When I arrived in CCU the officer was confused. My passport number had already been associated to the new OCI card, but I had a PIO card with me. He understood what had happened, but had no way to please the system to let me into the country without scanning the OCI card. A colleague showed him how to override that and I was let into the country.

Last night when leaving DEL the same problem. Computer says I have an OCI and wants to see it. Again BoI officer has to employ a trick to override the system.

Re clueless airline employees: in KMG the MU checkin agents were clueless what a PIO card was. 'You Indian?' 'This not OCI card, you need Visa' etc. In the end the supervisor OKed me to board.