Question 1: Will a foreigner be allowed to enter India only with a V.A.F. stamp affixed on the passport?

Answer:

• No, V.A.F. (Visa Applied For) stamp endorsement is not a visa.

• The foreigner will be refused entry and sent back to the place of embarkation.

Question 2: Can a citizen of Nepal or Bhutan enter India without a passport from any country other than Nepal or Bhutan?

Answer:

• Nepal and Bhutan Nationals require a passport when entering from a country other then Nepal and Bhutan respectively.

• In such cases entry into India will be refused.  

Question 3:  What is NORI? To whom is it issued?

Answer:

• The expanded form of is "No Objection to Return to India".

• ‘NORI’ is not a VISA and is only an endorsement made by MEA on the Certificate of Identity issued to Tibetan Refugees settled here to facilitate their return to India.

• 'NORI' does not, by itself, empower the holder of Certificate of Identity to enter India, as it is not a visa. It is, however, a means to obtain visa without prior reference to MEA/MHA and the State Govt. concerned.

 Answer:

• Under delegated powers, Spouse of a registered foreigner can be given extension by FRRO/FRO cum Superintendent of Police co-terminus to the registered foreigner, if the spouse is in India on a X-Visa.

• However, if the spouse has entered India on tourist visa, then he/she has to get it converted into X-Visa from the MHA in order to get such extension.

Question 5: Which are the "Visa fee free regime" countries for India i.e. for whose nationals no fee is charged for granting Indian visa?

Answer:

• Afghanistan, Argentina, Bangladesh, Jamaica, Maldives, Mongolia, Mauritius, Poland, Slovak Republic, South Africa, North Korea and Uruguay are VISA fee free regime countries.

• Nationals of these countries are not charged any Visa fee for grant of Indian VISA and subsequent extensions.

Question 6: Whether overstay of the citizens of visa fee free regime countries can also be condoned without charging penalty?

Answer:

• No. Penalty in Indian currency Rs. 1395/- equivalent to US$ 30 is charged from nationals of these countries for condoning overstay.

• However, no visa fees are charged.

Question 7: Whether the domestic helps of foreign national employed with foreign diplomats in India can be given visa extension co-terminus with their employers?

Answer :

• Such cases are taken up by the Ministry of Home Affairs, Foreign Division, Jaisalmer House, 26, Man Singh Road New Delhi with due recommendation from MEA.

• Extensions are carried out on the specific orders of the MHA.