India simplifies stay and travel regulations for Tibetans refugees in India
By Lobsang Tenchoe
DHARAMSALA, Dec 21: The government of India has simplified stay and travel regulations for Tibetans refugees in India.
Regulations regarding renewal of Residential/Registration certificates for Tibetans in India have been slightly relaxed. The validity and number of entry for return visas for those who wish to travel abroad have been increased from single to multiple entry lasting a year, Central Tibetan Administration’s(CTA) official webpage Tibet.net reported citing a circular issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs/Foreigners Division.
The President of CTA Dr Lobsang Sangay has applauded New Delhi’s move to relax the regulation. “On behalf of CTA, I want to extend my deepest appreciation and gratitude to the Government of India for not only heeding to our requests, but for putting in place all possible measures for CTA and the Tibetans people,” the report quoted President Sangay as saying.
India’s Ministry of Home Affairs/Foreigners Division is said to have made the decision public on Dec 7.
The details of the circular are as follows:
(i) Tibetan migrants who are registered online may be granted Residential/Registration certificate for 5 years and such certificates may be renewed for five years on each occasion as and when applicable. However, if a Tibetan Migrant faces difficulty in online registration and desires renewal of Residential/ Registration Certificate without online registration, his/her Residential/Registration Certificate may be renewed as per extant instructions i.e registration will be valid for one year with provision of extension by one year on each occasion. The present instructions of issuing five-year extension of Residential Certificate to those Tibetan Migrants, who have stayed in India for more than twenty years, will continue to remain valid.
(ii) Transfer of Residential/Registration certificate in case of migrants shifting from one place to another may also be done online, avoiding need for personal visits and delays in manual transfer of registration.
(iii) In case of delays in renewal of Registration Certificate by any Tibetan Migrant due to any unavoidable reason or oversight, stringent action like prosecution/imprisonment may be resorted to only if a serious offence has been committed which is not compoundable. In normal cases, pecuniary fine/penalty as per provisions of Law/Rules/Instructions may be imposed.
(iv) Tibetan migrants, who wish to visit abroad, may be granted one-year multiple entry Return Visa which may be issued by FRRO/FRO, or Indian missions abroad. This one-year Return visa will be given to Tibetan migrants whose cases are recommended by the Central Tibetan Administration.
- All concerned authorities may be sensitized that as a general policy Tibetan migrant in India may be dealt with dignity. It should be the endeavor of officers concerned to facilitate them within the provisions of Law/Rules. However, in case of any specific violation of any provision of Law/Rules/instructions, due action may be taken as applicable to other foreigners.
- All authorities concerned are requested to strictly comply with the above mentioned instructions.
