Passport or PIO Card for child born in US

[Sharmila]

Hi everyone,

I need to address a problem...need to hear some solutions.
Well my husband is on H1 and I am on H4.My husband has H1 till 2006.First when we came to US in Oct 2003 we were planning to stay for a year.But now it seems that we will have to stay a few more years and are planning to stay atleast till my husband has the H1 visa.So we are planning to have a Baby soon. So now I am concerned about ...
1. What about getting my parents and In-laws to visit us. How sooner they should apply for Visa so that they can be in time over here. What all documents are required for them. How difficult it is to get visa for them ? Any specific reason they can provide ...
2.Next they may have to come alone while coming(unless we can think of something else).This will be thier first flight ever. So what help is possible to get for them to guide them to travel safely.
3. Next the biggest concern is ...since child will be having US citizenship been born in US. What about child traveling to india and his/her staying there. For few years untill we are here in US we will be visiting India for few days or months once a while. But once we decide to go back to india, forever i mean(which we intend to at some point) how about child staying there and education stuff and all (as a normal indain citizen).
I just read about PIO card and dual citizenship. which is better ?. Also I could not get more information on dual citizenship. Has it started ? Is it difficult to get dual citizenship then to get a PIO card.Anyway which option is good ? Advantages ,disadvantage of both.

Please any input from u guys especially form who have faced such problems whould help.
Thanks

Sharmila

[spiderman]

I am in the same boat except a little ahead. I just had a baby and I will share whatever info. I have and I seek other's input aswell.

Once the baby is born in a US hospital they will give you a form to fill up which is for child's official birth certificate and Social Security Number. It is best you fill this up right when you are at the hospital before being discharged lest the process will be extremely delayed. In about 4 to 6 weeks you should be able to get the child's BC from DOH. So also an application for SSN will get the baby one.

Next step will be to apply for Passport, there is a procedure for it. Check out http://travel.state.gov.passport/get_minors.html for details.

Subsequently I am assuming we will need to apply for the child's visa to vist India.

Anyone has more information or want to differ, please do so.

S.

[kumkum]

is PIO card and dual citizenshipthe same thing????