Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government has any report on illegal stay or work of Indians in any foreign country;
(b) if so, the details thereof; and
(c) the action taken by the Government in this regard?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
[GEN. (DR) V. K. SINGH (RETD)]
(a) to (c) Many foreign countries do not provide information on illegal stay or work of Indian nationals in their countries, except when they are under orders of deportation. As such, our Missions and Posts do not have any reliable data on the number of Indians staying or working illegally in foreign countries.
The Government enables legal travel and stay of Indian nationals abroad. Whenever any detention of an Indian national for violation of immigration laws is brought to our notice, our Missions/ Posts seek consular access and visit detention centres where Indian nationals are detained. After confirmation of Indian nationality, our Missions/ Posts issue Emergency Certificates to Indian nationals who do not hold valid Indian passports, to facilitate their return to India. The Mission officials also attend labour/ general court hearings against Indian nationals for violation of immigration laws. Some of our Missions also issue advisories to Indian nationals, from time to time, counselling them to regularize their visas and residency documents.