Rules get tougher for overstaying foreign students

“As a foreigner,the girl should have paid visa extension fees every year,which has not been paid for the past 19 years. She also paid less school and college fees,which are approximately,double for foreign students studying in India. The school and college where Lovely studied are also at fault,as it did not check her nationality while granting her admission. The girl studied at St. Helena School,Nowrosjee Wadia College and Fergusson College and it’s was the educational institutes duty to check the girls nationality while giving her admission” he said

Barge said that the girl would now have to pay a penalty of 30 dollars for each year that she overstayed in the country. She would also have to pay extra fees to the schools and colleges she studied in. Also,cases under section 176 of Indian Penal Code (Whoever,being legally bound to give any notice or furnish information fails to do so,one months imprisonment and fine of Rs. 500) would be registered against the responsible authorities in colleges,which fail to give information about foreign students. Barge said that the student has to inform and take permission from the FRO in case the student wants to take admission in a different college.

Barge said that the FRO issues a leave India notice who repeatedly fail in their course for more than three years. From September 2008,164 foreign students have been issued leave India notice while 22 have been deported. He said there have been cases where foreign students submit fake bonafide certificates. Such cases come to light when the FRO enquires about students in various colleges around the city.

“One of the foreigner student was found to be running a hotel in partnership with an India,even while he was staying on a student visa. We have issued him a Leave India notice but he has absconded since then” Barge said.

Deputy Commisioner of Police,Ravindra Sengaonkar (Special Branch) has issued notices to 70 colleges in Pune on the guidelines to be followed while granting admission to foreign students under section 7 (3) of the Foreigner’s act 1946.

The guidelines issued by the Sengaonkar are –
* If the student’s place of birth is abroad,please check nationality and mention name in the admission form.
* Check validity of passport and if passport has to be renewed during studies in Pune,instruct student to inform college and FRO.
* Check validity of visa.
* Check special endorsement of visa,if any.
* Check extension of visa granted to foreigner student for each academic year.
* Check whether application is submitted for visa extension or not.
* Regarding any doubt about foreigner student’s visa,contact senior inspector of FRO branch.
Sengoankar also said that only authorised or approved educational institutes only can give admission to foreigner students. He also informed about the new format for Bonafide certificate. He said students would now have to mention their overall attendence,pass/fail/ ATKT record,recommendation for extension from the college.