Deliverables *

Registration of Foreigners in India Registration is required for a foreigner who enters India on a long-term (visa valid for more than 180 days) Student (Including those who come to study yoga/Vedic culture/Indian system of dance and music), Research, Employment, Missionary, And Medical, And Medical Attendant Visa should register within 14 days of his/her first arrival in India. Preserving Residence as a US Green Card Holder While Residing in India Visa Rules and Guidelines: Entry, stay, and exit of foreigners into India is governed by the Passport (Entry into India) Act 1920, Passport (Entry into India) Rules, 1950, Foreigners Act 1946, and the Registration of Foreigners Rules, 1992. The policy, acts, and rules relating to the entry of foreigners into India are framed by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Government of India. (website: http://mha.nic.in) The Visa regime is implemented abroad by Indian missions and posts and in India by Foreigners Regional Registration Offices (FRROs), home departments, and district administrators in the states besides immigration posts. PV-II Section of the CPV Division provides the interface with MHA in the formulation and implementation of visa policy and is also entrusted with advising Indian Missions/Posts on visa matters. PV- II also formulates policy on the grant of diplomatic and official passports. Other important functions and responsibilities of PV-II are appended. (Appendix I ) The basic principle of the visa policy is non-discrimination, subject of course to underlying considerations of reciprocity, security, and national interests. While a large majority of foreigners are covered under general visa rules, specific visa rules and procedures apply to certain categories of nationals. Visa is not a matter of right and it is entirely up to the competent authority to decide on the issue of a visa to any foreigner. Visa like passport and consular services is a service and a fee is charged for the grant of a visa by the scale laid down by the Government of India. Visa Fees, once charged, are not refundable. Details of visa fees applicable since 1st July 2008, are appended. (Appendix II). However, it is advisable to also consult the website of the concerned Indian Mission/Post for the scale of visa fees applicable. General provisions: All foreigners entering India must have a passport or any other internationally recognized travel document and visa. Nepalese or Bhutanese nationals entering by land must have some Photo Identity Papers as proof of their nationality. But in case of entry by air directly from Nepal/Bhutan or from a country other than China, they must have a passport. No visa is required. However, they must have a visa if they are traveling from China. The visa applicant should ordinarily be within the jurisdiction of the mission/post or else it is necessary to make a reference to the Indian mission/post in the country to which the applicant belongs. An additional fee is chargeable for referring to the concerned mission/post. Gratis visa is granted to diplomats and officials, UN officials traveling on duty, or those traveling to India on the invitation of the Government of India as its guest. Those granted scholarships under Cultural Exchange Programmes are also granted gratis visas. Diplomatic/Official/UN Official Visa: Diplomats/Officials assigned to their country’s Missions/Posts in India or Diplomatic/Official/UN passport holders working in UN or international organizations located in India and their spouses/children holding any type of passport are granted diplomatic/official visas.