The Government of India has amended the Immigration and Foreigners Rules, tightening the registration requirements for foreigners who enter the country on a visa valid for 180 days. Under the new rules, such individuals must register with the competent authority prior to the expiry of their visa, rather than the earlier provision that allowed registration within 14 days after the visa expired. The amendments were notified by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Monday.
Key Changes in Registration and Extension
The revised rules introduce an "only in emergent circumstances" clause for the extension of stay for those holding visas valid for more than 180 days. A single stay cannot extend beyond 180 days. Foreigners seeking an extension of their 180-day visa must now register with the Foreigners Registration Officer (FRO) or Foreigners Regional Registration Officer (FRRO) before the expiry date. This registration can be done through a dedicated mobile application or by filing Form-I on the online foreigner registration portal.
Appeals and Compliance
Owners of premises that have been fully or partially closed due to hosting illegal immigrants or criminals can now file an appeal with the Commissioner of the Bureau of Immigration in electronic mode within 30 days of receiving a direction from the civil authority. Previously, such appeals had to be filed with the central government.
Birth Intimation Rule Waived for Indian Citizen Parents
The rule requiring foreigners to intimate the FRO/FRRO within 30 days of a child's birth to avail visa services has been waived if one parent is an Indian citizen and wishes to retain Indian citizenship for the child under Section 3 of the Citizenship Act, 1955.
Medical Institutions to Report Departures
Another amendment to Rule 18(6) mandates that medical institutions transmit details of any foreigner's departure to the registration officer as soon as possible, but no later than 24 hours.
These changes aim to streamline the registration process and enhance monitoring of foreign nationals in India.
