NEW DELHI: The house ministry on Friday ordered the visas of foreign nationals now stranded in India because of non-availability of regular commercial flights due to their Covid-19 pandemic, will be deemed valid till August 31.
Such foreigners won’t be asked to submit any program to the overseas regional enrollment officer or overseas registration officer for expansion of the visas.
The visa extension will be on a gratis basis and with no levy of any overstay penalty.
Based on MHA, several foreign nationals who came to India before March 2020 on legitimate Indian visas had started stranded in India in light of this Covid lockdown and suspension of regular domestic and worldwide flight operations.
Keeping in view the problems faced by these foreign nationals in receiving their visas stretched, the house ministry within an order issued by 29.06.2020 conveyed the Indian visa or remain stipulation span of these foreign nationals dying post 30.06.2020 will be deemed valid till 30 more days by the date of resumption of regular global flight operations, on gratis premise.
Yet, these foreign nationals are implementing for expansion of the visas or remain stipulation interval on a monthly basis.
MHA on Friday reported the issue had been reconsidered in the light of non-resumption of regular business flight operations, and it was determined that the visa or remain stipulation span of stranded foreigners would be deemed as’deemed legitimate’ until 31.08.2021, on gratis foundation without recourse of any overstay punishment.
Without a software for visa extension required, those foreign nationals currently just should submit an application for an exit consent to the FRRO/FRO worried before departing the nation, which will likewise be allowed on gratis foundation without recourse of any overstay penalty.