MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI MULLAPPALLY RAMACHANDRAN)
(a) to (d): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.
STATEMENT IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 388 FOR 30.08.2011
(a) & (b): The details of cases of forged visas reported in the country during the last three years and the current year are given below :
Year No. of cases of forgery of Indian visas No. of cases of forgery of Foreign visas
2008 178 69
2009 264 36
2010 271 35
2011 (upto June) 85 (for the current year, details 21( for the current year, details are available only for 7 BoI managed are available only for 7 BoI managed Airport ICPs) Airport ICPs)
Total 798 161
The Indians intercepted while travelling on forged foreign visa are handed over to the police at the ICPs for further action. The foreigners intercepted with forged visa at the time of arrival are refused entry into India and are deported back to the port of embarkation from the Immigration Check Post.
(c) to (d) The Ministry of Home Affairs is implementing Mission Mode Project (MMP) on Immigration, Visa and Foreigner’s Registration & Tracking (IVFRT) which interalia include:
i) Authentication of traveller’s identity at the Missions, Immigration Check Posts (ICPs) and Foreigners Registration Offices (FROs) through use of intelligent document scanners and biometrics;
ii) Online registration of foreigners at the time of grant of visa and automated updation of the particulars of the foreigners at entry and exit points;
iii) Availability of a centralized system for sharing of information across the concerned Agencies about foreign travellers;
iv) Improved tracking of foreigners by integrating and sharing information captured during visa issuance at Missions, during immigration check at ICPs, and during registration at FRRO/FROs;
A number of steps have been taken by the Government to prevent travel by persons on forged visa. These steps include:
(i) Machine Readable Zone (MRZ) has been included in the new Indian Visa sticker.
(ii) Photograph of the visa holder has been introduced in the new visa sticker to be issued by the Indian Missions.
(iii) The Immigration officers have been provided with technical gadgets i.e. Ultraviolet lamps and magnifying glasses, Questionable Document Examiner (QDX) machines, Passport Reading Machines etc. to detect forgeries.
(iv) Visa details of foreigners coming to India from some countries are available in Visa PISON system to the Immigration authorities for cross checking of visa details.
(v) The specimen copies of the visa stickers of different countries are provided to the Immigration counter officers to ascertain genuiness of the doubtful visas.
(vi) Special training is organized on the detection of forgeries in travel documents for the Immigration counter officers.
