New Delhi: The Union government has extended the visa validity of foreigners stranded in the country till 31st August. The Ministry of Home Affairs has announced the new decision. The decision was taken considering the difficulties faced by foreign nationals who came to the country prior to March last year and got stranded due to lockdown and travel restrictions.
“Due to non-availability of normal commercial flight operations on account of the COVID-19 pandemic since March 2020, a number of foreign nationals who came to India prior to March 2020 on valid Indian visas had got stranded in India. Keeping in view the difficulties being faced by such foreign nationals in getting their visas extended in India due to the lockdown. The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) had issued an order on 29 June 2020 conveying that the Indian Visa or stay stipulation period of such foreign nationals expiring post 30 June 2020 shall be deemed to be valid until 30 more days from the date of resumption of normal international flight operations, on gratis basis. However, such foreign nationals have been applying for extension of their visas or stay stipulation period on a monthly basis,” MHA said in a statement.
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“The matter has now been reconsidered by the MHA in the light of non- resumption of normal commercial flight operations, and it has accordingly been decided that the Indian visa or stay stipulation period of such foreign nationals stranded in India will be considered as deemed to be valid till 31 August on gratis basis without levy of any overstay penalty. These foreign nationals will not be required to submit any application to the FRRO/FRO concerned for extension of their visas,” it further added.
Indian visa or stay stipulation period of foreign nationals stranded in India due to COVID-19 pandemic to be considered as deemed to be valid till 31.08.2021
Press release- https://t.co/LtgjatoMVA@HMOIndia @PIB_India @DDNewslive @airnewsalerts
— Spokesperson, Ministry of Home Affairs (@PIBHomeAffairs) June 4, 2021
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