In a memorandum submitted recently to the Parliamentary Committee set up to look into problems of visa, immigration and airport facilities, the UEA has highlighted the hurdles faced by NRIs in obtaining visa permits.

As per the government norm, British passport holding NRIs receive a five year residential permit (RP) entitling them to reside here for the period, following the expiry of which they are required to seek a renewal. Applications for the same are forwarded to the regional General Establishment Office (here in Gandhinagar) by the local foreign registration office, that of the city Police Commissioner.

In a memorandum to Chairman Vijaykumar Malhotra of the Parliamentary Committee, the UEA points out, ``It takes two to three months for the regional office to approve the extension of visa permit or RP after it is sent there for recommendation from Vadodara, Surat, Bharuch and other cities and villages''.

Talking to Express Newsline, C O Kanabar of the UEA said, ``In such a case, one is either required to wait till the visa is approved or simply travel on a No Objection Certificate (NOC). The problem with the latter arrangement is that while re-entering India, one is treated as a newcomer, had to acquire a new visa and appear for an AIDS examination. On the other hand, the prolonged wait for extension very often results in cancellation of tickets or even the visit thus ensuing in a loss of foreign currency''. The UEA has suggested that the government authorise officers in the category of chief or assistant commissioner of police to grant/approve/extend the visas instead of routing applications to Gandhinagar.

The UEA has also objected to the new rules for visa extension and declaration that have come into force from July 1998. Says Kanabar, ``The government has decided to charge each NRI Rs 1,950 or Rs 3,600 for a one or five year RP, respectively. Also, all foreigners including NRIs registered with the FR officer have to declare their assets''.

Stating that both the rules were ``stringent and of Jewish nature'', the UEA has added that if the rules would restrict if not stop foreign funds from NRIs ``as declaration of assets is an additional hardship and inconvenience. They could better stay away and India would lose remittance of foreign funds''. The UEA had added that while on the one hand the government has announced issuance of Visa cards to NRIs offering them privileges in travel, the new rules would serve as a ``retrograde step'' and NRIs would lose confidence in the government. The UEA has also complained about the lack of facilities at Indian airports, including troubles faced by them during customs clearance while passing through the Green Channel.