The Bureau of Immigration, India has announced the launch of ‘E-Services’ for all foreign nationals residing within the jurisdictions of the following Foreigners Regional Registration Offices (FRROs):
- Mumbai FRRO;
- Delhi FRRO;
- Bengaluru FRRO; and
- Chennai FRRO
This means that various visa services including in-country registration and visa extensions must now be completed via an online procedure, eliminating the need for foreign nationals to visit the FRRO in person.
Even visa fees and late registration dues will be payable online.
This service, which is supposed to be effective from February 12, 2018, has been made with a view to ease the in-country immigration procedures applicable to foreign nationals.
Please note, that though these services are effective from today, i.e. February 12, 2018 in practice the FRRO continues to grant in-person appointments and entertain foreign nationals in person.
The team at LawQuest is monitoring the situation to provide updates on this announcement and its implementation in practice. Further information will be made available on this platform as and when it becomes available.
Until there is further clarity on how this new system will work, we recommend that current practices continue to be followed at these FRROs. Poorvi Chothani, Esq., Managing Partner
