International cruise ship arrives in Cox’s Bazar

[Roybot]

So India consider anyone with Indian background an 'overseas citizen of India' even if they renounce Indian citizenship and acquire other's?Is there any time period for it?Is it applicable for the descendant?

Yes it does, with the holders of Pakistani and Bangladeshi passport being the exception.

There are some rules, and yes its applicable to the descendants as well.

Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) Cardholder


(a) The following categories of persons (except Pakistan and Bangladesh) are eligible to apply under OCI scheme:

1. Who is a citizen of another country, but was a citizen of India at the time of, or at any time after, the commencement of the constitution; or
2. Who is a citizen of another country, but was eligible to become a citizen of India at the time of the commencement of the constitution; or
3. Who is a citizen of another country, but belonged to a territory that became part of India after the 15th day of August, 1947; or
4. Who is a child or a grand-child or a great grandchild of such a citizen; or

http://boi.gov.in/content/overseas-citizen-india-oci-cardholder

 

[Homo Sapiens]

Yes it does, with the holders of Pakistani and Bangladeshi passport being the exception.

There are some rules, and yes its applicable to the descendants as well.

Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) Cardholder


(a) The following categories of persons (except Pakistan and Bangladesh) are eligible to apply under OCI scheme:

1. Who is a citizen of another country, but was a citizen of India at the time of, or at any time after, the commencement of the constitution; or
2. Who is a citizen of another country, but was eligible to become a citizen of India at the time of the commencement of the constitution; or
3. Who is a citizen of another country, but belonged to a territory that became part of India after the 15th day of August, 1947; or
4. Who is a child or a grand-child or a great grandchild of such a citizen; or

http://boi.gov.in/content/overseas-citizen-india-oci-cardholder

So,the descendant of Indian people who have gone to Mauritius,Fiji,Suriname or other countries hundred years ago and currently citizen of those countries are Overseas citizen of India? Point 3 and 4 indicate that.

 

[Roybot]

So,the descendant of Indian people who have gone to Mauritius,Fiji,Suriname or other countries hundred years ago and currently citizen of those countries are Overseas citizen of India?

Yes subject to approval!

Earlier they were given PIO (Persons of Indian Origin) card, but now the government has merged the PIO card with the OCI card. So yes in short, Indians from Mauritius, Fiji, Suriname and Guyana can also apply for OCI card.

http://defimedia.info/mauritians-now-eligible-overseas-citizen-india-card

Who is eligible to apply?

1. 
   A person of full age and capacity

1. Who is a citizen of another country, but was a citizen of India at the time of, or at any time after, the commencement of the Constitution (26.01.1950); or
   
   
2. Who is a citizen of another country, but was eligible to become a citizen of India at the time of the commencement of the Constitution (26.01.1950); or
   
   
3. Who is a citizen of another country, but belonged to a territory that became part of India after the 15th day of August 1947; or
   
   
4. Who is child or a grand-child or a great grandchild of such a citizen; or

1. A person, who is a minor child of a person mentioned in clause (a); or
   
   
2. A person, who is a minor child, and whose both parents are citizens of India or one of the parents is citizen of India; or
   
   
3. Spouse of foreign origin of a citizen of India or a spouse of foreign origin of an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card holder registered under Section 7A of Constitution of India and whose marriage has been registered and subsisted for a continuous period of not less than two years immediately preceding the presentation of the application. Such spouse shall be subjected to prior security clearance from a competent authority in India.

Note : No person, who is or had been a citizen of Pakistan, Bangladesh or such other country notified in the Gazette, shall be eligible for registration for OCI Card.

3. Who was eligible to become Citizen of India on 26.01.1950 (commencement of Constitution of India)?
Any person who, or whose parents or grand-parents were born in India as defined in the Government of India Act, 1935 (as originally enacted), and who was ordinarily residing in any country outside India was eligible to become citizen of India on 26.01.1950.

http://www.indianhighcommissionfiji.org/hc.php?id=oci_faq

 

[extra terrestrial]

Nope, not the case with India. Indian expats get OCI and PIO cards, they don't need visas to visit India, and are therefore not counted as tourists. That is not the case with Bangladesh.

There are separate medical visa and business visas. You can not conduct business on a tourist visa, Bangladesh is much more lenient.

It's the norm in every country to list all the arrivals regardless their purpose of visit, India is no exception. That's why the correct term would be "International arrivals"...

In Bangladesh, as far as I've heard, earlier the government used to consider all the arrivals as tourists but since 2009/10 I think, they have begun to list only the arrivals registered with the tour operators in Bangladesh as foreign tourists...

 

[Arthur]

Yes it does, with the holders of Pakistani and Bangladeshi passport being the exception.

There are some rules, and yes its applicable to the descendants as well.

Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) Cardholder


(a) The following categories of persons (except Pakistan and Bangladesh) are eligible to apply under OCI scheme:

1. Who is a citizen of another country, but was a citizen of India at the time of, or at any time after, the commencement of the constitution; or
2. Who is a citizen of another country, but was eligible to become a citizen of India at the time of the commencement of the constitution; or
3. Who is a citizen of another country, but belonged to a territory that became part of India after the 15th day of August, 1947; or
4. Who is a child or a grand-child or a great grandchild of such a citizen; or

http://boi.gov.in/content/overseas-citizen-india-oci-cardholder

BD citizens who has acquired a foreign Citizenship or PR, don't need a VISA to visit Bangladesh, their childrens too (even if borned as an foreign citizen).
All you need to do is to submit an appeal to the embassy of Bangladesh for a police verification & if okeyed get a NVR seal on your passport. So no they wouldn't be counted by the immigration as "alien".

@Doyalbaba

 

[monitor]

then why bahrain dubai have more tourists in a week then BD have in a year ? facilities land marks alcohol nudity freedom and everything matters sir

If that the criteria of becoming tourists hub then we can give up our hope about. Pretty tourist.

 

[Roybot]

It's the norm in every country to list all the arrivals regardless their purpose of visit, India is no exception. That's why the correct term would be "International arrivals"...

In Bangladesh, as far as I've heard, earlier the government used to consider all the arrivals as tourists but since 2009/10 I think, they have begun to list only the arrivals registered with the tour operators in Bangladesh as foreign tourists...

Probably why the Bangladesh Bureau of tourism stopped publishing the stats after 2009, cause the number of tourists as I said, would be miniscule !

 

[extra terrestrial]

Probably why the Bangladesh Bureau of tourism stopped publishing the stats after 2009, cause the number of tourists as I said, would be miniscule !

Could be... However, given the targets they have set, it doesn't seem to be that low... The overall tourism expenditure in Bangladesh has been growing steadily...

 

[Roybot]

BD citizens who has acquired a foreign Citizenship or PR, don't need a VISA to visit Bangladesh, their childrens too (even if borned as an foreign citizen).
All you need to do is to submit an appeal to the embassy of Bangladesh for a police verification & if okeyed get a NVR seal on your passport. So no they wouldn't be counted by the immigration as "alien".

@Doyalbaba

I already mentioned the NVR, you still enter Bangladesh as foreigner though, a foreigner who doesn't require a visa. Its no different than people from visa exempt countries visiting Bangladesh.

 

[bluesky]

Majority of those 5 lakh "tourists" are Bangladeshis with foreign citizenship and Indians( Again Bangladeshis who have acquired Indian citizenship through legal and illegal means).

There are very few actual tourists who visit Bangladesh for tourism, the number is probably less than 10000 a year.

There may be some truth in your post. But, things will not stay as it is for the foreign tourists to visit. Numbers will certainly go up. However, the situation on the ground is such that all our tourist spots are occupied throughout the year by the local people. Even, more than 11 lakh BD citizens go to India for different purposes. So, you can guess how many of our local people visit the domestic spots. However, we need better infrastructure as well as new branding of BD. Foreign tourists should not see BD through an Indian prism.

 

[Homo Sapiens]

Yes subject to approval!

Earlier they were given PIO (Persons of Indian Origin) card, but now the government has merged the PIO card with the OCI card. So yes in short, Indians from Mauritius, Fiji, Suriname and Guyana can also apply for OCI card.



http://www.indianhighcommissionfiji.org/hc.php?id=oci_faq

Now my point is,why anyone from USA,UK or Mauritius will go through these lengthy procedure to obtain OCI card just for visiting India suppose one or two times in their life? Will nor be it far easier to just acquire tourist visa with their existing foreign passport rather than going through that complex procedure of proving themselves as an Indian origin person and all those paperwork?

If you see the top three source of tourist visiting India namely Bangladesh,USA and UK,than it is obvious that India is getting two of the top three tourist number from the countries where there is a large Indian diaspora.Most visitor from BD are patients,businessmen and Hindu Bangladeshi who have relatives in West Bengal(which is numerous given the history).And for USA and UK,it is obvious that Indian diaspora visiting their country of origin with their foreign passport rather than OCI card due to above mentioned reason.If you don't agree with it,than it look very suspicious about why it have to be American or British in top ranking visiting India,Not the German,French,Russian,Chinese or Japanese? Top three country sent 70 percent of all tourist India receive.Rest are other South asian or other Indian diaspora. Now tell me what is the percentage of genuine foreign tourist just for vacation?

 

[Roybot]

There may be some truth in your post. But, things will not stay as it is for the foreign tourists to visit. Numbers will certainly go up. However, the situation on the ground is such that all our tourist spots are occupied throughout the year by the local people. .

I never said that Bangladesh has no potential, for this imho Bangladesh should team up with the Indian tourism board. Market Bangladesh as an extension of the Indian experience, a package deal. Bangladesh as a stand alone destination is a non starter.

No foreigner would waste their money just to visit Bangladesh, that's a fact even Bangladeshis will accept. Let's face it Bangladesh is no Nepal or Bhutan. Its a very crowded place, with very little to see, and not to forget Islamic restrictions.

Now my point is,why anyone from USA,UK or Mauritius will go through these lengthy procedure to obtain OCI card just for visiting India suppose one or two times in their life? Will nor be it far easier to just acquire tourist visa with their existing foreign passport rather going through that complex procedure

Because the ease of travel isn't the only benefit for OCI holders. Apart from the benefits already available to OCI holders, there is also talk of getting voting rights in the future.

OCI Benefits
While dual citizenship may probably have been the ideal solution for many NRIs settled abroad. Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) is perhaps, the best alternative for many foreign citizens of Indian origin. Some of the benefits that are applicable to OCI registrants are mentioned here:

• 
  
  

  [*]Benefits allowed to OCI holders Per section 7B of the Citizenship act multi-purpose, multiple entries, lifelong visa for visiting India.
  [*]Exemption from registration with local police authority for any length of stay in India. Parity with NRIs in respect of economic, financial and education fields, except in matters relating to the acquisition of agricultural/plantation properties.
  [*]Parity with non-resident Indians on inter-country adoption. Parity with resident Indian nationals in domestic airfares Parity with Indian nationals in entry fees for national parks and wildlife sanctuaries
  [*]Pursuing professions in India in pursuance of the provisions contained in the relevant act. Professions such as: o Doctors, Dentists, Nurses o Pharmacists o Advocates o Architects o Chartered Accountants
  [*]Appear for the All India Pre-Medical Test or such other tests to make them eligible for admission in pursuance of the provisions contained in the relevant Acts. • Any further benefits that may be announced by the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs (MOIA) under section 7B (1) of the Citizenship Act, 1955.

 

[Arthur]

Now my point is,why anyone from USA,UK or Mauritius will go through these lengthy procedure to obtain OCI card just for visiting India suppose one or two times in their life? Will nor be it far easier to just acquire tourist visa with their existing foreign passport rather going through that complex procedure of proving themselves as an Indian origin person and all those paperwork?

If you see the top three source of tourist visiting India namely Bangladesh,USA and UK,than it is obvious that India is getting two of the top three tourist number from the countries where there is a large Indian diaspora.Most visitor from BD are patients,businessmen and Hindu Bangladeshi who have relatives in West Bengal(which is numerous given the history).And for USA and UK,it is obvious that Indian diaspora visiting their country of origin with their foreign passport rather than OCI card due to above mentioned reason.If you don't agree with it,than it look very suspicious about why it have to be American or British in top ranking visiting India,Not the German,French,Russian,Chinese or Japanese? Top three country sent 70 percent of all tourist India receive.Rest are other South asian or other Indian diaspora. Now tell me what is the percentage of genuine foreign tourist just for vacation?

এই ইন্ডিয়ট গুলা হইলে গুয়ের লাদি। যতই বুঝান লাভ নাই। এরা অন্যদের ছোট কইরা দেখাইতে ভালোবাসে। কিন্তু কেও যদি ওদেরো একইভাবে ট্রিট করে তো হাউকাউ লাগাইয়া দেয়।

I already mentioned the NVR, you still enter Bangladesh as foreigner though, a foreigner who doesn't require a visa. Its no different than people from visa exempt countries visiting Bangladesh.

Are you dense?
There is a difference from "aliens". And looking at the benefits your OCI gives, a BD Diaspora with NVR already gets most of them. Like lifelong Multiple entry, equal fares in travel mods, entry fees to any tourist spots etc. etc.

 

[Homo Sapiens]

Because the ease of travel isn't the only benefit for OCI holders. Apart from the benefits already available to OCI holders, there is also talk of getting voting rights in the future.

OCI Benefits
While dual citizenship may probably have been the ideal solution for many NRIs settled abroad. Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) is perhaps, the best alternative for many foreign citizens of Indian origin. Some of the benefits that are applicable to OCI registrants are mentioned here:

Can you provide me any data on what percentage of Indian diaspora have acquired OCI card? If it is not very high than my above mentioned assumption is correct.

 

[Roybot]

এই ইন্ডিয়ট গুলা হইলে গুয়ের লাদি। যতই বুঝান লাভ নাই। এরা অন্যদের ছোট কইরা দেখাইতে ভালোবাসে। কিন্তু কেও যদি ওদেরো একইভাবে ট্রিট করে তো হাউকাউ লাগাইয়া দেয়।


Are you dense?
There is a difference from "aliens". And looking at the benefits your OCI gives, a BD Diaspora with NVR already gets most of them. Like lifelong Multiple entry, equal fares in travel mods, entry fees to any tourist spots etc. etc.

LOL NVR doesn't give you the same benefit as OCI.

You can enter India with your OCI card without even having to show your foreign passport to the border control! Whereas your NVR is only valid till the time your passport is valid, one you passport expires so does your NVR. You can not stamp an NVR on your forehead
and enter Bangladesh, you enter on your foreign passport as a foreigner.

Can you provide me any data on what percentage of Indian diaspora have acquired OCI card? If it is not very high than my above mentioned assumption is correct.

2.5 Million OCI holders by now.

 

[Homo Sapiens]

2.5 Million OCI holders by now.

While Indian diaspora is more than 16 million.So around 15 percent received that card.Not significant.