MHA issues guidelines for visa seekers

An official release said on Thursday that the detailed July 15, 2009, guidelines were issued to ensure that all organisers of such international events strictly adhere to the timeline for submitting their proposals to the home ministry at least six weeks before the commencement of the event.

The issuance of these instructions had also become necessary because security vetting is a time-consuming process and most of the organisers of international events were not strictly adhering to the time schedules prescribed.

As per the revised procedure, while the ministry of home affairs grants in-principle approval for holding the event, security clearance for grant of Conference Visa is required from this ministry only in respect of participants from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, China, Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Sudan and in respect of foreigners of Pakistani origin and stateless persons.

The participants from other countries can obtain Conference Visa from the Indian Mission on production of an invitation letter from the organiser, event clearance from the ministry of home affairs.