726 Chinese placed on ‘unfavorable list’ for grant of visas in 2019-21: Government
AS MANY as 726 Chinese nationals were put on the “adverse list” for grant of visas by the Centre between 2019 and 2021, the government told Lok Sabha on Tuesday. These Chinese nationals were blacklisted for overstaying in India without valid reasons and for “other illegal acts”.
In a written reply to a question, Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai said that during this period as many as 81 Chinese nationals were given Leave India Notice and 117 were deported for violating visa conditions and certain illegal acts.
“The government maintains the records of such foreigners (including Chinese nationals) who enter with valid travel documents. Some of such foreigners overstay beyond the visa period owing to ignorance or under compelling circumstances like a medical emergency or other personal reasons. In genuine cases, where overstay is unintentional or because of ignorance or under compelling circumstances, the period of overstay is regularized after charging the penalty fees and visa is extended if required,” Rai said.
“Where overstay is found to be intentional or unjustifiable, appropriate action is taken as per the Foreigners Act 1946 including the issuance of Leave India Notice to the foreigner and charging penalty/visa fee,” he added.
The Ministry of Home Affairs maintains an adverse list of foreign nationals who it does not want to enter the country. These could be people who have violated visa conditions or even people with criminal antecedents. This list is constantly used by all Indian Missions and Consulates to stop the individuals named in it from entering India.
The list is maintained by the ministry with inputs from all the state governments and central intelligence agencies. The list is reviewed periodically.
In 2019, the Centre removed 312 people of the Sikh community living abroad from the “adverse list”. They had been put on the list during the peak of militancy in Punjab as they were suspected of having supported or participated in the Khalistan movement.
The adverse list prevented these people, who have now either taken asylum in other countries or are citizens there, from getting an Indian visa.
