'Employment visa only for highly skilled jobs'

The entry of foreign nationals coming for execution of various projects in the country will be allowed on employment visa which will be granted to highly skilled professionals working at senior levels, Rajya Sabha was informed today.

"All foreign nationals coming for execution of projects/contracts in India will have to come only on an Employment Visa and that such visa will be granted only to skilled and qualified professional appointed at senior level," Minister state for Home Mullappally Ramachandran said in a written reply.

He said these visas will not be granted for jobs for which a large number of qualified Indians are available.

"It has come to the notice of the government that a number of foreign nationals coming for execution of projects or contracts in India have come on Business Visa instead of the Employment Visa," he said.

He said the matter has been reviewed by the government and it has been decided that henceforth Business Visa will be issued only to bona fide businessmen who want to visit India to establish or to explore possibilities to set up an industrial or business venture here.

He said suitable instruction and guidelines have been issued to the Indian Missions abroad to effectively regulate Employment and Business Visa regimes and ensure that these are issued strictly as per prescribed norms.

"Foreign nationals who are not on appropriate visa in the country have been directed to exit by October 31, 2009 (extendable for a short period in respect of some foreign nationals engaged in some strategic or sensitive projects) and were permissible to seek re-entry on appropriate visa," he said.

He said foreigners, including Russians who are on Business Visa and are engaged in some strategic or sensitive projects, have been granted extension till November 30.

"It has also been decided to convert their Business Visas into Employment Visas as a special case," he said.