(a) whether there is any proposal to amend visa norms to check its misuse in view of security considerations;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the said revised visa norms are likely to cause inconvenience to foreigners;
(d) if so, the details thereof; and
(e) the remedial measures taken by the Government in this regard?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI MULLAPPALLY RAMACHANDRAN)
(a) to (e): To check the misuse of Business visa, it has been decided that Business
Visa will be issued only to bonafide businessmen who want to visit India to establish an
industrial/business venture or to. explore possibilities to set up industrial/business
venture in India or who want to purchase/sell industrial products or commercial products
or consumer durable etc. It has been further decided that all foreign nationals coming
for execution of projects/contracts in India will have to come only on an Employment Visa
and such visa will be granted only to highly-skilled and qualified professionals appointed
at a senior level, skilled positions etc and will not be granted for jobs for which a
large number of qualified Indians are available. Suitable instructions/guidelines have
been issued to the Indian Missions abroad to effectively regulate Employment and Business
Visa regimes and ensure that these are issued as per prescribed norms. With a view to curb
the abuse/misuse of Tourist visa, it has been decided that there should be a gap of at
least two months between two visits to the country on a Tourist Visa. A provision has
also been made for genuine tourists who have to re-enter India largely on account of
neighbourhood tourism. In such cases, the Indian Missions/Posts abroad have been authorized
to permit two or three entries, subject to submission of a detailed itinerary and supporting
documentation (ticket bookings).
This stipulation of two months gap does not apply to foreign nationals coming on
any other type of visa. This regulation also does not apply to people of Indian origin
holding PIO and OCI Cards. In emergent cases involving re-entry of persons of Indian
origin on Tourist Visa within sixty days, of their earlier departure from India, FRROs
have been authorised to exercise their discretion in allowing such passengers to enter
into the country after being convinced of their genuineness of their visit.