There is some confusion on cgitoronto site about procedure to apply for a PIO card. if anyone has gone through it recently, can you please share your input about following two questions
1. Is one supposed to apply directly to consulate general or to that outsoucing agncy vfs something?
2. Where is the application sent by mail...to Bloor office or Eglinton Office
3. What is the exact amount of postal order ...480 or 480+19.25+gst

Please let me know ASAP

thanks

PIO Card is to be applied to the Indian Embassy known as CGI (Counsulate General of India).
The counter time is open at 9 am to 11 am. The CGI is on Bloor street near SHrerborne station. VFS does not handle PIO cards. I agree. The websites has not been updated properly.
Always go on Tuesday to Thursday. Never on Monday or Friday as the counulate is a bit crowded (Not for PIO but for other stuff like Attestation, EMergency Visa etc..). Besides the staff are very grumpy on those 2 days.
They need 2 sets of all documents + all originals. Originals will be checked and returned to you on the spot. Only DD / Money order for $ 480 has to be taken. 2 pictures need to be taken as per speciifcation and they are not much concerned about the photo's.
When I went, the people at the embassy (except the guard and the initial checking man behaved as if they were helping me for free. The attitude).
When I was initially checked (by the initial checking man), I was told that I HAD to bring a post paid reply Canada Post envelope (which is not mentioned anywhere in the website). So I ran down and got this and joined the line again. When the Vice counsel checked my application, She told me that if I wanted the PIO card by post, then I need to submit teh envelope. Otherwise I had an option of collecting my PIO card in person. So there is some confusion. Since I already got the envelope (due to compulsion), I just told them to mail it.
I was told by the cashier taht I will get the PIO card in 2 weeks and I got it back by post in 3 days.
So it is worth the money.
Hope this helps.

Peace by a PD

Sidenote : Just a reminder that the toilets attached to the embassy are very clean though it is used by a majority of Indians. Also they have a free magazine there about India which highlights the positive aspects of India (Specifically the govt. and its programs). At the ground floor of the embassy is a MacDonalds as well as a post office.. So no need to worry about trivial stuff.

-----------------------------------------------------------------
I am a Gents and not a Ladies.

TK, thanks a lot for answering everything plus adding a lot more useeful information. I once applied for a visa to India many years ago and decided then to get a PIO to finish the matter for next 15 years. The atmosphere in the consulate is a shame. Even in 21st century when rest of the world runs to India for uotsourcing, these fools can not update their own properly.
By the way it is not an embassy but a consulate. India, infact, does not even have an embassy in canada....just a high commission in Ottawa which is in between a consulate and an embassy.

thanks TK for the information. What kind of prepaid envelope? Express?

Anyone has any recent experiences with PIO submission at the consulate?

One thing not clear yet is whether on canadian passport renewal, if one needs to get a new PIO card or get it reregistered for the new passport?
Is there a card we get or a visa stamp on the passport or both?

For OCI, one has to get a new OCI sticker and booklet for every new foreign passport for ages below 20 and above 50. I had heard on this forum, lot of folks getting PIO for their kids for this purpose.

Anyone had to redo the PIO when their kids passport's got renewed?
Consulate gives differing answers on this.

Also confusion is if kids need to register in FRRO in India for stays more than 6 months.

PIO CARD needs to be applied directly at th Indian Consulate General on Bloor Street. PIO CARDs are not handled by VFS. Its strongly adviced you apply in Person. The fee can be paid by Money order or Demand Draft (No cash/ credit/debit). No addtional service charges like the the charges from VFS. You will have to present the application form along with the photocopies and originals. The consular will call you for interview and verify your original documents and attest the photocopies. All originals are returned to you immediately. The fee along with the application and photocopies and a return envelope must be handed over at the counter once the consular accepts your application.

Parking is available on left side of Sherbourne road ($2.00 per hr. 3hrs recommended). Food, post office TD bank are available on the same street on adjacent bulidings (less than 50 mtrs). The consulate has a token system for calling you for interview though this was not followed. The security guy (typical desi attitude guy ) asked everyone to wait near Room 1. the first in line went in first and thus the token had no meaning.

PIO card can be obtained on US / CANADA or any forign passport as long as you are eligible

One more thing if you have kids over 5-6 years of age and if they are not coming with you then make sure you carry two filled up forms on one form where it says "Two specimen signatures of the applicant OR thumb impression incase of child" get your child's thumb impression and on other form get your child to "SIGN".


Depending upon the consular sitting in the chair (Read Buffoons sitting in the chair) they either tell you that they need thumb impression or can say they need SIGNATURE of the child.

Also avoid mailing as when I was there I saw lots of fight / shouting going on between applicants and CGI staff regarding misplaced passports and original documents which were mailed to CGI toronto.