Global Goans Convention 2010 to be held in Kuwait on November 16 & 17, 2010
Now, long-term visas for PIOs, dependents
Published on: September 30, 2010 in The Navhind Times
PANAJI: The Commissioner for NRI Affairs, Mr Eduardo Faleiro has said
that people of Indian origin holding passports of foreign nations, their
spouses and dependents would henceforth be issued long term "X"
(extendable) visas only and not tourist visas, as was being done till
recently. Addressing a press conference here, on Wednesday morning, Mr
Faleiro said that these visas would be issued subject to producing proof
of the PIO status, marriage certificate (in respect of spouse) and the
birth certificate (in respect of children). He further said that he had
taken up the issue with the Union Home Minister, Mr P Chidambaram who
directed that the Visa Manual be revised accordingly to provide for
grant of long-term visas to PIOs. He also said that the Union Home
Ministry has instructed all the state governments and other authorities
to strictly comply with the revised guidelines.
The state NRI Commissioner further stated that the Union Law Minister,
Mr Veerappa Moily, has informed him that the Representation of People’s
Act to provide for voting rights to non-resident Indians has been
amended to by the Parliament and the bill was now before the President,
Ms Pratibha Patil for her consent, which was expected soon, enabling
Goans and NRIs to be entitled to vote during next elections. He further
said that the Union Law Minister informed him that rules concerning time
within which the NRIs should be registered in the electoral rolls and
the procedure for registration of NRIs were being drafted by the ministry.
He also stated that the NRIs would have to register their names in the
electoral rolls of the constituencies in which they reside and the
address which has been mentioned in their passports. Mr Faleiro also
stated that the Union Revenue secretary has told him that upon the
implementation of the Direct Tax Code Bill the people living in multiple
countries would be entitled to claim deduction of tax liabilities to the
extent of tax paid abroad. The new bill provides for tax if a person
stayed in India for more than 60 days in a year and 365 days or more in
the previous four years.
Announcing that the next annual Global Goans Convention would be held in
Kuwait on November 16 and 17, Mr Faleiro went on to add that the event
was being organised by the Goan Cultural Centre, Kuwait during which the
Vishwa Konkani Sammelan too would be held along with a cultural
programme with the involvement of Konkani speaking expatriate
communities of Goa and elsewhere in India.
Mr Faleiro also informed that he has been invited by the Institute of
Strategic Studies of European Union to address the Second India-European
Union Symposium to be held in Brussels on October 11 and 12. He further
said that he has requested Indian ambassador in Brussels to identify
Goan residents in that country so that he could meet them and listen to
their problems, if any.
For more information on the Global Goans Convention 2010, please visit
www.goanculturalcentrekuwait.com website.
http://indiancommunityinkuwait.blogspot.com/2010/09/global-goans-convention-2010-kuwait.html
http://www.navhindtimes.in/goa-news/now-long-term-visas-pios-dependents
