Prime Minister Narendra Modi today announced a lifetime visa for holders of the Person of Indian Origin or PIO card. He also announced visas on arrival for US citizens at New York's Madison Square Garden. Mr Modi said his government was committed to solving the problems of people of Indian origin who held different cards like the one for PIOs or then the Overseas citizen of India or OCI card, and said these schemes would soon be combined.

About 18,500 Indian Americans packed the venue. Many more watched the PM's near hour-long address on large screens at Times Square.