The Cox and Kings website (
https://www.in.ckgs.us/) now states that free PIO-to-OCI conversion has been extended to Dec 31 2017.
It is also reported at this website:
http://www.firstpost.com/india/centr...r-3752887.html
However, the US Indian embassy and consulate websites all continue to state the June 30 deadline, so thus far I have seen nothing on an official govt site confirming the extension.
Whether the whole PIO-to-OCI conversion is even mandatory or optional is still not clear-cut, I've received email from the embassy stating that PIO cards continue to be valid after June 30, but friends have been told over the phone by consulate personnel that a PIO will only be valid if it is accompanied by a receipt indicating the OCI has been applied for.
And of course, none of the embassy/consulate websites have anything that addresses this, instead using words like 'advised to convert', 'last day to convert', 'convert to avoid inconveniences', and never actually state if it's required (probably because they don't want to lose out on application and processing fees).
Some basic questions I'd love to see answered AND POSTED on official sites:
1. Is PIO-to-OCI conversion mandatory or simply recommended?
2. If one does nothing, will existing valid PIO cards continue to be valid for entry to India? (since some statements posted on the embassy/consulate sites that say that all PIO cardholders are now considered OCI holders). And if so, are they now valid for life or will they expire per expiration date on them?
3. Can PIO-to-OCI conversion be done after the period of 'free' conversion ends?