Lok Sabha Question No. 2250 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-10
Subject: Difficulty in Obtaining Visas
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Behanan Benny

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2250 TO BE ANSWERED ON 10.12.2021

## DIFFICULTY IN OBTAINING VISAS

## 2250. SHRI BENNY BEHANAN:

Will the minister of External Affairs be pleased to state :

- (a) whether   the   Ministry   has   set   up   a   system   for   students   who join/return to studies abroad to contact the Ministry if they face any difficulties in this regard;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether the Government has taken up the issue of difficulty in obtaining overseas visas for higher education with the concerned Government;
- (d) if so, the details thereof and the steps taken by the Government in this regard; and
- (e) the steps taken by the Government to ensure that visa services are open for all countries where students are to travel?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## [SHRI V. MURALEEDHARAN]

(a) & (b) Welfare of Indians abroad, including students, is top priority of the   Government   of   India. Indian   Missions/Posts   have   provision   for voluntary registration of all Indian nationals, including students, living in the country.  MADAD portal, launched in February 2015, extends helping hand   to   all   Indians   abroad.     Student   Module   of   the   MADAD   portal, launched on 15 July, 2016, enables Indian students abroad to register voluntarily   and   provide   data   about   their   course,   location,   institution, duration of the course, etc. besides creating a database of Indian students going abroad.  Separately, the India Centre for Migration, a think tank of the Ministry, has prepared a 'Student Handbook for Studying Abroad', providing basic information to students intending to study overseas. The Ministry,   through   its   Missions/Posts   abroad,   has   also   been   regularly interacting with the   Indian students studying abroad. The Ministry and Indian Missions abroad issue advisories, from time to time, asking Indian students   to   carry   all   documentation   and   undertake   due   diligence   to ensure that the foreign institutions to which they are seeking admission have proper authorization and capacities. In addition, the Ambassador and senior officials in  Missions abroad regularly visit local universities and colleges to meet Indian students & address their issues.   Missions are also

in   constant   touch   with   Indian   student   associations   and   University administrations. (c) to (e) The   Ministry   has   been   making   efforts   for   easing   travel restrictions,   wherever   in   place,   for   Indian   students   enrolled   in   foreign universities to make their travel to respective countries possible.     Our Missions   abroad   have   been   actively   taking   up   these   issues   with   the respective   Governments   and   have   been   impressing   upon   those Governments to ease travel restrictions. The issue of travel restrictions has   been   taken   up   at   the   Ministerial   level   with   several   countries. Consequently, travel restrictions have been eased for Indian students to travel to many countries, including USA, UK, Canada, Australia, Ireland, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg etc ; more countries are expected to open up when Covid situation improves.

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