Foreigners studying in India now under MHA radar

Foreigners studying in India now under MHA radar

After NGOs, the Home Ministry has now trained its guns on foreign students.In a latest notification, MHA has directed all universities to inform within 24 hours of enrolment of a foreign student and also to submit attendance records every six-months of such students.

The new notification amends the Foreigners Rules 1992 which mostly was limited to greater scrutiny of hotels asking them to maintain a regular register with passport and visa details of all foreign tourists.

But the Ministry is at loss to explain the latest trigger.

“A person may enter the country using a student's visa. Instead of attending classes, he may be involved in other activities. This is merely a way to keep an eye on the students,“ a senior MHA official said.

As per the new notification, every university and educational institution shall furnish to the Foreigner Regional Registration Officer (FRRO) information in respect of foreign students enrolled in the institute within 24 hours of his or her arrival.

While course name, course duration and fee structure have to be furnished at the beginning, a half-yearly report has to be given on attendance of the student in the class, result and general conduct of the student. The FRRO also has to be informed within 24 hours when a student leaves the university after completing a course. In the US, which has a sizeable Indian student population, authorities do not keep an eye on academics or attendance of the students.

Students from Nigeria, Afghanistan and few central Asian countries primarily form the foreign students community here.

The notification also tightened the scrutiny on hotelslodges housing tourists. All hotels will require to furnish details of a foreign guest, including his or her signature, on arrival at its premises. 

Source | Mumbai Mirror | 23 March 2016

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