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Presently, the numbers of foreign tourist arrivals in India are gradually increasing. That is the reason why Indian government has been stepping forward to reform its immigration policies. To increase the number of foreign tourist arrival in India, the government is proposed to extend the validity of E-tourist visa from one month to two months. Previously, the e-tourist visa entitled two entries to the foreign nationals but in the recent reformation proposal that has been changed to a single entry. The Home Ministry of India also proposed a new initiation to extending the validity of visa for foreign nationals who are traveling to India for medical treatment. Now the medical tourist can avail the extension of electronic visa facility. This will be helpful to approach them and get the proper medical facilities from India by staying 60 days. The medical tourists have to apply for the e-medical visa through online and will get an electronic travel authorization via email.  The Home Minister of India has been stated in a press conference that, the medical tourists need to fly with a printout of Electronic travel authorization or e-medical visa to clear immigration at the Indian airports. Source link

UAE has initiated a proposal to make more efficient and faster visa issuing facilities for the citizens of Egypt. Ministry of foreign affairs and international cooperation of UAE has already opened the fifth consular section and visa issuance center in Cairo. Ahmed Elham Al Dhaheri the assistant undersecretary of UAE consular affairs had told in the opening ceremony that the initiative will provide a fruitful result to improve the bilateral relationship.  Again he expected that the opening of these facilities will be a helpful approach to improving cordial relationship, customer service, consular collaboration and permits the skilled worker into the UAE. Al Nakeeb, The USA embassy to Egypt had told that these two facilities have significant importance to improve the bilateral bond between the two nations. He admired these initiatives of UAE ministry of foreign affairs. He again added in his speech that the new visa issuing system is one of the most efficient and faster processing systems for the current time. The major responsibilities of these centers include verification of travel documents, biometric system, and the eye print ID. UAE ministry of health and prevention also take the necessary steps to identify the persons of contagious disease to make this process more efficient. This move will increase the Egyptian arrival on UAE through speeding up the entry procedures of e-gates. Source link

The high commission of India has said that the candidate can submit their applications for tourist visa without any scheduled dates or E-tokens at the visa camp of Eid from 4th June to 16th June 2016. This one is really a great initiative and the camp will active from morning 8 am to afternoon 2 pm from4th June to 16th June 2016, Except Friday. The camp only receives the applications for the tourist visa from the citizens of Bangladesh those have not any appointment dates or E-tokens. The major application centers for this purpose are Motijheel, Gulshan, Uttara, and Dhanmondi, in Dhaka and Barisal, Khulna and Mymensingh are on the outside of Dhaka. Business visa and medical visa applications will be accepted in the IVAC Centers. This initiative is introduced only for the citizens of Bangladesh those are currently living in Dhaka, Barisal, Mymensingh divisions and Khulna. Family members visiting together have to submit visa applications on behalf of their families. For this purpose every applicant must have a valid passport, having minimum six months of validity. The Indian visa application center (IVAC) will take Tk 600 for the visa processing. The visa application centers are the outsourcing organization of Indian high commission and take the responsibility for accepting the application for the visas.  In this concern, the applicant has not to pay the visa fee expect the processing charge. The high commission of India has strictly warned that the applicant must not pay any money to the intermediate people for the facilitation of visas. Source link

The United States of America is going to initiate the global entry program very soon.  India is hopefully becoming the part of this program .The Indian politicians,celebrities, business individuals and the officials may get a hassle free entry in America by this initiative. This will be finalized at the upcoming meeting of Homeland security in July. India expects that the USA may make India as a part of this global entry program. After the implementation of this program,the VVIPs of India can ensure hassle free entry to the United States of America without any annoyance at the immigration center. Previously, India has been raised it’s voiced regarding this matter on several occasions. Many Indian cabinet ministers, celebrities, and politicians had faced so many problems in the US airports for tight security check at the immigration centers. India was buoyant of admittance to this program duringPresident Obama’s last visit but the deal could not be materialized due to some issues. According to a source, the authorities of US have decided to make India as a part of their global entry program. Top countries like Germany, United Kingdom, Mexico, South Korea, Netherlands, Canada, and Panama are going to be part of this initiative. One should don’t have any kind of criminal offense and economic offense to be the part of this global entry program. India has planned to forward a list of 2000 individuals for this approach. Source link

Indian Commerce and Industry Ministry is planning to frame a comprehensive visa policy to boost service sector of the country. A proposal for the same is being prepared at the Indian Prime Minister’s office.  Regarding the proposal, the Indian Commerce Secretary Rita Teaotica held discussions with the Home Ministry and other departments.  The New visa policies will relax visa norms to the tourism, healthcare sectors and to the business individuals coming to India to attend conferences and seminars.  The Commerce Ministry official said that “We want relaxation in visa norms for industries including healthcare, tourism, business and people coming for seminars and conferences. A note would be sent to the Home Ministry as it is their domain,”  The Commerce ministry’s initiative strengthens India’s service trade.  Another Commerce Ministry official stated that India is missing significant opportunity worth $80 billion annually. Even the small countries are attracting millions of travelers every year, whereas tourists’ inflow to India is very low.  The official reasoned that to meet the objective of the Government’s popular programmes like Digital India and Make in India, “we need to have an easy visa regime.” For important and the most sensitive countries Indian Government is considering to introduce group visas to travelers and business people.  “We also need investments in technologies. Several countries like Indonesia have significantly relaxed their visa norms and put in place modern systems to cut time,” the official said.  The Commerce Ministry is identifying areas that are creating barriers to the services and working on the specific reforms. Source link

The Japanese policy makers are looking to frame a policy for bringing foreign workers to counter the rapidly growing – aging population, without naming it as an actual immigration policy.  Japanese Conservatives give high importance to the cultural homogeneity and they fear of losing votes of the workers who feel insecure with the new policy.   Stringent labor policies and decreasing workforce have compelled the Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s team to consider new immigration policy.  “Domestically, there is a big allergy. As a politician, one must be aware of that,” Takeshi Noda, an adviser to the LDP panel, told Reuters in an interview. Japan immigration history is little, and the foreign nationals in Japan workforce are negligible.  The people believe in preserving the ethnic and cultural diversity.  Though Japan did not embrace migrants in large scale, the present situation of mass migration in the United States and European countries may impact the Japanese and their view on immigration.  The Japanese lawmakers had proposals on immigration a decade ago, but nothing turned into reality. The demographic needs have become severe, and the shortage of skilled force has worsened in the country.  More Progressive and liberal Shinzo Abe took charge in December 2012 and the responsibility of rebuilding Japan drove him to introduce significant policies that helped to integrate and increase foreign workers by 40% in 2013.  Ahead of Tokyo Olympics in 2020, Japan needs more labor, and the demand is highest in the last 24 years.  Foreign workers in Japan make up only 1.4 percent, quite low according to the IMF estimates. The International workforce in advanced economies constitutes to 5 percent or more in the total labor force. Source link

Indian Students enrolled in the US Universities STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) programs can work for three years under the Optional Practical Training.  The New guidelines are active from May 10, 2016, for the international students in the United States.  By the new guidelines, the Department of Homeland Security released new rules and published in Federal Register.  According to a noted educational consultant, “this is a welcome news and will benefit our Indian students as majority of our students going to the US prefer STEM programs. Also, by giving authority to only credit-worthy universities, they will be able to manage the growth of unscrupulous agents who send the students to fake universities just to make easy money. It’s a welcome step, which will not only boost education but also check immoral elements in the field of education.”  However, only students under the OPT training will be allowed for extending the program which initially is issued for 12 months.  Earlier Optional Practical Training was for 29 months; now it has been extended for another seven months, making it to a total of 36 months. Source link

The Indian Government is planning to introduce a liberalized visa policy which entitles tourists multiple entries in three months.  The Home Ministry held discussions with all the departments on the possibilities of new visa regime. The officials said that initially, the multiple entry systems will be extended for the ‘visa on arrival’ facility.  The Government also asked the officials to come up with ideas that boost medical tourism.   Presently, the visa on arrival facility is for 30 days; travelers can apply for same before four days of arrival. A senior official said, “The government plans to extend the duration from the current 1 month to 60-90 days.”  The official further added, “Other than promoting tourism; we also aim to expedite the grant of visa in other sectors like services and employment while ensuring that the security features are not compromised.”  Similarly, India had plans to ease visas for Students coming from SAARC nations. The multiple entry one year visa for SAARC students, “We are also considering waiving the 60-day cooling off period for the second visit by a visitors from SAARC countries, added another official. Source link

Google CEO Sunder Pichai and three other people of Indian origin are in the list of 42 US nationals to be honored with the United States “Great Immigrants: The Pride of America” award.  The three other prominent personalities are Hari Sreenivasan, Senior Correspondent, PBS NewsHour, Award-winning author Bharati Mukherjee and chairperson of McKinsey & Company Vikram Malhotra.  The awards will be presented on June 30, at an event in New York.  The 42 US nationals who are from 30 different countries of the world will be honored for their accomplishments and inspiring immigration stories.  The people who received awards are representatives of millions of immigrants living in the United States who entered for economic opportunity.  The United States is the great land of opportunities and numerous people settled here and well integrated with the American society.  Source link