India tightens visa extension rules for foreigners

Foreigners who enter India on a visa valid for 180 days and wish to stay back beyond this period must now register with the competent authority prior to expiry of their visa, instead of the earlier norm which allowed them to register within 14 days of visa expiry, reports The Immigration and Foreigners (Amendment) Rules, notified by MHA Monday, also introduce an "only in emergent circumstances" clause for extension of stay for those with a visa for over 180 days, with a single stay not lasting beyond 180 days. Birth intimation visa rule waived if one of the parents Indian citizen Such registration pleas must be filed prior to expiry of the 180-day stay. Under the amended rule, foreigners wanting extension of their 180-day stay visa will need to register with the foreigners registration officer or foreigners regional registration officer (FRO/FRRO) prior to the expiry date. Such registration may be through a dedicated mobile application or by filing Form-I before the registration officer via the online foreigner registration portal. Owners of premises that have been closed fully or partially for hosting foreigners who are illegal immigrants or criminals may now file an appeal with the commissioner of Bureau of Immigration in electronic mode, within 30 days of such a direction by the civil authority. Earlier, this appeal was required to be filed with the central govt. On children born to foreigners, the rule requiring the latter to intimate the FRO/FRRO within 30 days to avail visa services has been waived where one parent is an Indian citizen and wishes to retain Indian citizenship of the child under Section 3 of Citizenship Act, 1955. Another amendment to Rule 18(6) mandates medical institutions to transmit details of departure of any foreigner to the registration officer as soon as possible but not beyond 24 hours.