Easier visa norms for some Pak nationals
India has decided to relax visa extension norms for certain specific categories of Pakistani nationals, including Pakistani Hindus and Sikhs, Pakistan women married to Indian nationals and staying in India and Indian women married to Pak nationals and returning due to widowhood or divorce, having no male member to support them in
Pakistan. Further, the government is considering grant of long-term visa in the case of male Muslim community members who were originally Indian citizens and went to Pakistan after partition leaving behind family in India but returned back to India on a valid passport issued by Pakistani government.
Following a notification issued by the government dated May 15, the home ministry has asked state governments and Union Territories to consider cases for extension of the long-term visa (LTV) of certain categories of Pakistani nationals without insisting of validity of passports as such Pakistani nationals have come to India permanently with the intention to attain Indian citizenship.
However, only those Pakistani nationals will be eligible to be considered for extension of LTV who have come to India on or before December 31, 2009. The home ministry’s move has come following consultations with the ministry of external affairs and the ministry of law and justice. “Accordingly, it has been decided to grant exemption to a select category of Pakistan nationals from the provisions of Rule 3 of the Passport (Entry into India) Act, 1920. An order to this effect has been notified May 15, 2010,” the statement said. The home ministry has also said that the relaxation of visa norms will also be applicable in cases involving extreme compassion.
The home ministry has decided to examine the pleas of male Muslim community members who were originally Indian citizens and went to Pakistan after partition.
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