After an African student studying in Symbiosis International University, brought to notice to the Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh the problems of the foreign students regarding visa, the ministry of Home Affairs has reissued guidelines pertaining to students and research visa to all FROs and foreign regional registration offices (FRRO) in the country.
The student claimed that they have been facing discrimination from all quarters and even face difficulties during registration at the foreigner registration offices (FRO).
On last 5th September when Singh was invited as chief guest and during the interaction with the minister, Simon Kuany Kirr, president of the cross-campus International Student Council, said that they faced discrimination and also face tough time at the registration process.
"It has been brought to the ministry's notice that the foreign students face considerable difficulties in getting themselves registered at the FRRO and FRO in some places and that the request for registration remains pending for a long time,” said a circular from the home ministry.
The circular reissued the instructions of the visa manual- like research visa, student visa or a regular student visa. The circular reinstructed that the time limit for the provisional registration is 14 days from the arrival in India for all foreign nationals. The final registration should be done within 90 days of the arrival and a system should be put in place by FRRO or FRO to ensure that registration and renewal of residential permits are done within one day after the receipt of the application after all security checks.
The ministry, also made a copy of the circular to Dr. Vidya Yeravdekar, principal director, Symbiosis International University.
"We are happy that the ministry has taken the necessary steps within one month and instructed all the concerned authorities to ensure that these students will not face any problems at registration offices," said Yeravdekar.
“We are happy that the ministry has taken steps within one month and instructed all the concerned authorities to ensure that these students will not face any problems at registration offices,” said a foreign student.