India to ease visa norms for Pakistani nationals

By
Hussain
-
14
185

India will greatly ease visa restrictions on Pakistani nationals in what is described as a reach out gesture to improving relations with Islamabad, an Indian TV channel reported on Tuesday.
The news channel quoted unnamed official sources as saying that India will let Pakistanis to visit five Indian cities, instead of three, as was restricted earlier, and that Pakistanis who enter one Indian city can exit from another city.
Meanwhile, children, elderly, women and physically challenged, as well as people with close relatives in India will be given priority in visa issuing, while business groups and tourist groups are also expected to see easier norms for visa application, said the report.

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14 COMMENTS

  1. Most recently, our government granted Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status to our neighbouring country India. But to visit our “most favoured” neighbour, Indian government wants an applicant of Pakistani origin to provide following documents:

    1) Sponsorship certificate from your relative in India attested by not less than a police commissioner. 2) Copy of electricity bill of your relative in India. 3) Copy of telephone bill of your relative in India. 4) Copy of PAN Card (Permanent Account Number used for voting purpose) of your relative in India. 5) Applicant’s character certificate issued from area police station. 6) Applicant’s salary/bank statement. 7) Applicant’s letter of employment in case of employee of private organisation. 8) If applicant is housewife/child, a written statement that she/he is dependent on husband/father’s income. 9) Applicant’s monthly salary should be PKR 25,000. 10) Applicants passport should have 8-month’s validity. 11) Visa process takes 8 to 16 weeks (2 to 4 months). 12) Visa fee PKR 722 (courier charges PKR 707 + Visa fee PKR 15 only).

    If we start from point no 5, we all know how difficult it is to get a character certificate from area police in Pakistan. For point no 6, what if the applicant is self-employed and does not have a bank account? Same applies for point no 7. What if the applicant’s salary is less than PKR 25,000? Last but not the least, visa fee is PKR 15 and courier charges are PKR 707!

    In other words, Pakistani nationals having relatives in India should not even dream of visiting their loved ones in the ‘most favoured nation’. India is the largest democracy of the world but what is compelling it to discourage Pakistani nationals from visiting India is anybody’s guess?

    M RAFIQUE ZAKARIA

    Karachi

  2. If by any chance you got visa along with two forms (which shall be deposited with Indian authorities at port of entry) then on arrival at Indian airport you have to ask from Immigration authorities about an additional form for Pakistani Nationals. On this form again you have to write down the details of your host/contacts in India. This form will take your 30-45 minutes. Then you have to stand in the immigration line. Immigration officer will take at least 30 minutes to look into your passport, visa & these forms. During this process he will seek help from some his neighboring colleagues or passerby other officers to learn the process. Once he stamped your passport and gives you a residence permit form and you step out from the airport then within next 24 hours you have to report to the Foreigners Registration Office of Police Department. In Delhi this office is located on Asaf Ali Road in Police Head Quarter. You can reach this place by auto rickshaw or cycle rickshaw, after crossing Delhi Stock Exchange you will find long lines of illegal street venders selling things in very dirty & unhygienic conditions and most of the times road will block due to cycle rickshaw & flowing gutters, yes you reached the Police Head Quarters. Now you have to submit copy of your passport, visa, two photographs, details of your address in Delhi and most important a letter from your host that he will be responsible for your all acts in India during your stay in India. Even you have already given two photographs, the gentleman (ASI or SI) will take your photo from his camera. After submitting these documents if you are the only visitor of this office (in most of the times this will be the case) then within next 15-20 minutes the Registration Office will issue a Residence Permit Letter for you other wise you have to wait for longer time. The good thing staff at Delhi office is nice & cooperative. If you have visa for three cities, then whenever you leave Delhi, you have to visit this Registration office. They will put a stamp on your residence permit and write about your date of departure of Delhi and arrival in next city. On reaching next city again you have to visit the local Police registration office and go through the same registration process with same documents. They will also ask some additional documents and tell you that “Delhi Police Does’nt exactly knows the registration process”. When you will leave this city again you have to get a departure stamp on the same residence form. If you come back to Delhi even for one day, you have to report your arrival & get stamp on residence form and also for the departure stamp, if you again want to visit the second city. Just imagine how nice your experience will be.

  3. All that is stated above by shahid also applies to legally married pakistani wife of an indian citizen if she wants to visit india every time! World's largest democracy..wah wah:) Those who take the excuse of security should understand that even the US which is a bigger victim than india(due to the scale of terror attacks) is not following this policy for spouses. Shame.

  6. both country high commission should provide the to both country people specially samjota victims for their legal fight and indian accused persons family members those are in pak jails and in india jail ofr both

  7. Applied for the Indian Visa with complete papers in all respect, The Indian Embassy refused to issue the Visa and even did not assign any reason. Had to return from Islamabad disappointed.An old man of 79 wanted to visit his native place near AMRITSAR on invitation from his childhood friends;

  8. I got an question to ask, a pakistani national has to get his or her attested from india on the sponsorship certificate but the picture has to be half stamped as well ?? kindly help

  9. I have completed all requirements including sponsorship certificate with attested P/S in-charge in India, then reached at TCS and FEDEX points of drop box, for handing over the applications for visit visa , both courier official has been refused to collect the application and demands the service card or letter of the attesting officer i.e. Police station In-charge in India. It is surprised that Teliphone of the said officer is provided. please reply.

  10. it is a very happy news that india pakistan agreed to give relax for the people of vpakistan. but is not so far announced waht is the break through in this regards. still the same documents are required for indian visa. if it is so, then it is not possible for any pakistani national to get indian visa. it should be cosidered on humanitarian ground to give an opportunity for the citizen of both countries. it is very, for an indian national,difficult to get sponsorship certificate. sponsorship certificate on stamp paper should be enough authetication

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