Indian origins requiring visa to go to India

When we obtained the citizenship in the United States, we immediately rushed to get 10 year multiple entry visa to go to India. As most of our close family live in India, during that wait time, if there was any emergency, the only way we could go to India was to visit the Indian consulate that had appropriate jurisdiction and obtain the visa in person.

I understand the U.S.immigration requiring the Indians to obtain visa before entering the United States. This is primarily because, there are lot of Indians still migrating to the United States. But there are not a whole lot of Americans migrating to India. Mostly the Americans of Indian origin are the ones that would like to go to India. In the circumstances, does it make sense for Ministry of External Affairs to have restrictions for persons of Indian origin to come back to India? The regulations are becoming more stringent now. Even for surrendering Indian passport, one had to pay fees. If one need to obtain visitor's visa, he needs to pay a fee. If some one needs OCI card, they need to pay a hefty fee as well. Why can't the Ministry of External Affairs make a simple procedure for Americans of Indian origin as well as other nationals of Indian origin to enter India without much of restrictions?

If someone does not have a criminal background, if they had a valid Indian passport in the past, why can't they permit them to obtain visa at the time of departure from the U.S. airport? Why can't they simplify the procedure for OCI card? After all, the foreign nationals of Indian origin are remitting so much of precious foreign currency into India and why can't the Ministry of External Affairs take a liberal approach to the person of Indian origins?

Is it not a national pride for India now that so many Indians doing well overseas? Now, so many Indian Americans are playing prominent role in the federal government in the US. The Indian government is fighting to have more lenient approach for issuing H1B visas in the United States for Indians. Can they pay a little attention in being liberal to the Indians who have migrated earlier to visit India without any major processes and procedures?

Please send your comments and suggestions to this post. All ideas are welcome. Hopefully, someday, Ministry of External Affairs will read it and make it liberal. Even if you have a good reasons why they should not make it liberal, please mention it so that we can discuss all and every opinion in this forum. Thank you and I look forward to valuable views of IL members.


Viswa

 

Dear Justmyself,

You are entitled to your opinion and that is precisely why I asked everyone to post their opinion whether it is positive or negative. In my opinion, there is nothing in my post that warrants your blood to boil. After all I am expressing my opinion on visa rules which may or may not be aligned with your views. I have nothing against India, the country where I was born. Please don't convert this into a forum where everyone's patriotism is discussed. I love India as much as I love the United States.



Viswa

 

Preetitech,

Thank you for your response. I understood that you are not in favor of changing those difficult procedures.

I am not addressing the rest of your response. Only thing I would suggest is for you to attend one of the Diaspora meetings conducted by the Government of India to find out what the Government of India wants from the OCI.

Viswa

 

Nettem,

Thank you for your response and your support to reduce the difficult procedures.

Viswa

 

Finally, the Prime Minister listened to the voice of the People of Indian Origin understanding the rational of liberalizing the visa regime to go to India.

Gift for PIOs, OCIs: liberal visa regime | mydigitalfc.com

Viswa