The Canadian Parvasi - Issue 03

The International News Weekly July 14, 2017 | Toronto 14
The author RPSWALIA is an expert on NRI matter is a
former PCS Officer and now an advocate at Punjab &
Haryana High Court at Chandigarh,India.
Recently he has authored a comprehensive book
“Legal Guide for NRIs”with an aim to educate,create
awareness and make NRIs aware of their rights and
duties in the most appropriate and legal manner.
The excerpt from the book would be published as a regular column in our
newspaper.He can be contacted on direct number +1 647 982 2643 and
+91 9878445045(Whatsapp).
BRAMPTON: With the aim of boosting international
tourism and business with India, the Government of India
on November 27, 2014, launched the electronic visa
facility for tourists from 43 countries, including the US
and Australia, unless the foreign national is a person of
Pakistan origin. Earlier, only 13 countries - South Korea,
Japan, Finland, Singapore, New Zealand, Indonesia,
Myanmar, Vietnam, and Laos - were availing this facility.
The Indian government plans to extend e-visa to all
the countries except Pakistan, Afghanistan, Sudan, Iran,
Iraq, Nigeria, Sri Lanka, and Somalia.
The tourist visa on arrival service enabled with Electronic
Travel Authorization (ETA) scheme was initially
introduced at nine international airports, including Delhi,
Mumbai, Chennai, Calcutta, Hyderabad, Bangalore,
Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram, and Goa, and later extended
to seven more airports - Ahmedabad, Amritsar, Gaya,
Jaipur, Lucknow, Trichy and Varanasi from August 15,
2015.
SCHEME RENAMED AS `E TOURIST VISA (ETV)'
After the initiation of the scheme in November
2014, it was observed that the nomenclature
of the scheme is creating confusion
among foreign tourists. Foreign tourists
thought that the visa would be granted on
arrival whereas in the present scheme system
the "pre-authorization of visa" is being given
before travel.
To remove misunderstanding that visa is
granted on arrival, the Ministry of Home Affairs
decided to rename the `tourist visa-onarrival-
electronic travel authorization' scheme as `e-tourist visa' scheme with
effect from April 2015.
EXTENSION OF SCHEME TO OTHER COUNTRIES IN 2016
To promote tourism, India extended the scheme and today it is available for
nationals of 158 countries. Multiple - Entry Visa for India a New Latest Initiative
Further, the Indian on November 30, 2016, approved new policy measures of
visa liberalisation for foreigners that will boost tourism and foreign exchange
reserve of the country.
According to estimates, India is missing a huge opportunity worth about $80
billion annually in term of foreign exchange.
Medical tourism in India has a great potential to grow. It is projected to grow to
$7-8 billion by 2020.
Under the revised liberalised visa policy, a long-term multiple entry comprehensive
visa is to be granted by merging tourist, business, medical and conference
visas into one.
How simplified
e-visa system will
help India and NRIs
What is the
comprehensive
visa all about
Multiple-entry facilities will be a
boon for tourism, business and
medical tourism.
The visa will be granted up to ten
years taking a cue from countries
such as the US and Canada.
Visitors will not be allowed to work
or stay permanently and their visit
will be restricted to 60 days.
Visitors will have to share biometric
details and fulfill security
obligations.
WHO IS ELIGIBLE?
• International travellers whose sole objective of visiting India is
recreation, sightseeing, casual visit to meet friends or relatives,
short duration medical treatment or casual business visit.
• Passport should have at least six months validity from the date
of arrival in India. The passport should have at least two blank
pages for stamping by the Immigration Officer.
• International travellers should have a return ticket or onward
journey ticket, with sufficient money to spend during his/her
stay in India.
• International travellers having Pakistani Passport or Pakistani
origin will have to apply for regular Visa at Indian Mission.
• Not available to diplomatic/official passport holders.
• Not available to individuals endorsed on parent's/spouse's
passport, i.e. each should have a separatea passport.
• Not available to international travel document holders.
• The holder of ETA is eligible for a stay of up to 30 days in India.
• ETA is processed electronically and conveyed to the applicant
via email.
PROCEDURE
• Applicant has to apply on the website online along with the
requisite fee.
• Visa is issued within 96 hours of the application.
• Under this scheme pre-authorization of visa is being given
before travel in the country of domicile of the applicant.
• ETA is processed electronically and conveyed to the applicant
on email gave by the applicant.