Kochi-The Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh today said that the Government was committed to strengthen and smoothen the twin processes of Immigration and Visa for the Indian citizens and foreigners. He was addressing the Parliamentary Consultative Committee meeting on Immigration Visa Foreigners Registration & Tracking (IVFRT) at Kochi in Kerala.
Underlining the importance of IVFRT, the Home Minister said that the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) was implementing the project in mission mode. We need to facilitate safe and convenient entry inside the country to legitimate international travellers. We also need to provide all Visa related and consular services to foreigners staying in India in a faster and convenient mode, he added.
Mr Singh further said, We also have to keep in mind the security aspect while facilitating easier immigration. At the same, there is need to track the movement of foreigners already present in the country.
E-Visa scheme has become very popular among the foreigners. In 2015 the number of e-Visas issued was 5,17,417 which increased to 19,01,309 in 2017. This year till 5th July 11,16,985 e-Visas have been issued, he said.
We are increasing the number of Departure and Arrival counters at major airports as well as providing Human Resource to the BoI to fast-track the immigration process, said Mr Rajnath Singh.
