(a) whether the records regarding arrest/conviction of persons in connection with issuing/using fake visas are not maintained by the Government;
(b) if so, the reasons therefor;
(c) whether the Government is facing any difficulty in formulating strategy or formulates strategy randomly for effective control of any visa related criminal cases for want of such records; and
(d) if so, the reaction of the Government thereto?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI KIREN RIJIJU)
(a): No, Madam. Records are maintained by the Government regarding arrest/conviction of persons in connection with issuing/using fake visas.
(b): Does not arise.
(c) to (d): A number of steps have been taken by the Government to prevent travel by persons on forged visa. These steps include:
(i) Special training is organized on the detection of forgeries in travel documents for the Immigration counter officers.
(ii) The specimen copies of the visa stickers of different countries are provided to the Immigration counter officers to ascertain genuiness of the doubtful visas.
(iii) Unique Case File relating to visa and immigration details are available with Immigration officer.
(iv) Machine Readable Zone (MRZ) has been included in the new Indian Visa sticker.
(v) Photographs of the visa holder has been introduced in the new visa sticker to be issued by the Indian Missions.
(vi) 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.