The Indian Home Affairs Ministry has clarified that the foreign students can obtain student visas for pursuing full time courses in India. Although they had made clear that the foreign students cannot get student visas for pursuing distance learning or part time courses.
The overseas nationals that arrive in India often pursue part time or distance courses and even manages to get with those despite of the long procedures for documentation and approval that is required for them to stay in India.
The call has affected around 200 foreign students who are enrolled in part time or distance courses in Pune. As it is one of the country’s biggest hub for the overseas students who pursue their academic interests.
The Office of the Foreign Registration (FRO) had already stayed the new admissions, but there has been some ambiguity that has persisted over the student visa grant by the External Affairs Ministry (MEA).
Under Secretary of MHA, has stated clearly that the Student visa are granted to the overseas students, with the objective of visiting India for pursuing the regular and full time courses and not for any other activity or purpose.
Sanjay Patil, Deputy Commissioner of Police (FRO) said that the Ministry has made it clear that the permits for residency (RP) and the other documents will not be issued to the students who want to pursue distance courses.
The MHA has also said that the Human Resource Development Ministry (MHRD) has maintained the list of all the approved universities or colleges for higher learning for the purpose of granting the student visas.
According to the details from Pune FRO, currently there are around 8,000 foreign citizens on the student visa. Around 2500 of them are studying under Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU), 2000 students are studying under the Symbiosis International University. And many students are pursuing courses with NIIT and APTECH, while many other students are pursuing English learning course in other institutes.
