OREANDA-NEWS. The Central Government has decided that henceforth the Long Term Visa (LTV) will be granted initially by the Ministry of Home Affairs for five years at a time on the specific recommendation of the State Government/ UT Administration instead of one year at present. Powers have been delegated to Foreigners Regional Registration Officer (FRRO)/ Foreigners Registration Officer (FRO) concerned to grant extension for a period up to six months on the short term visa of the minority nationals from neighbouring countries applying for LTV. A time line of one month for FRRO/ FRO and 21 days for the State Government/ UT Administration has been fixed for processing of LTV applications.

Children of minority nationals from neighbouring countries staying on LTV can now take admission in schools, colleges, universities, technical/ professional institutions etc. without any specific permission from the State Government/ UT Administration. Only an intimation is to be given in this regard to FRRO/ FRO concerned. The State Governments/ UT Administrations have also been empowered to grant permission to minority nationals from neighbouring countries staying on LTV to engage themselves in employment of purely private nature.

The State Governments/ UT Administrations have now been empowered to grant a maximum of two additional places at any given point of time in addition to the place of stay, grant of Return Visa for a maximum period of 90 days at a time and permission for change in mode of travel and port of exit in respect of minority nationals from neighbouring countries living in India on LTV or whose LTV proposal is under consideration.

The Central Government has been constantly reviewing the hardships being faced by the applicants from the neighbouring countries especially the minorities in those countries for grant of Indian citizenship and LTV. In continuation of the efforts, the Union Home Minister, Shri Rajnath Singh has approved the above measures to streamline grant of LTV and facilitate the stay of minority nationals from neighbouring countries living in India on LTV, especially the minority communities from Pakistan.