American Institute of Indian Studies
1130 East 59th Street, Chicago, Illinois 60637
(773) 702-8638
September 15, 2008
To: AIIS Trustees
From: Ralph W. Nicholas
Regarding: New Visa Rules for Research Scholars / Faculty.
From June 15, 2008 the Government of India started implementing new rules concerning the issue of visas for researchers and visiting faculty. Power to issue visas for foreign research scholars has now been delegated to Indian Missions abroad. The rules (a copy follows) appear to be simple and clear, but they leave many questions unanswered. We are seeking clarifications, but it appears that empirical experience and creating a track record may be necessary before we have a smoothly functioning system for securing research visas. Fellows who are planning research in 2009 may encounter uncertainties in the visa application process. (Fellows who are beginning work this year, most of whom already had project approvals AIIS obtained under the old rules, have not had delays in receiving visas.)
AIIS has received research visa applications for 2009-10 and the Delhi office will now be seeking affiliations with appropriate institutions for those who wish to conduct research in India. The “Certificate of Affiliation” will meet the requirement for “admission into a recognized or reputed institution.” The original Certificate of Affiliation will have to be submitted at the time of applying for the visa along with a two-page synopsis. The brief synopsis of the research project will, of course, be taken from the project description that was presented in the Fellowship competition, but it will be much briefer and should be written so that a non-academic person can understand the work that is planned, the location, and the methods of inquiry to be used.
While applicants are directed to apply for their visas through the outsource agency, Travisa, visas will still be issued by the Indian Missions. We have yet to see how familiar the Indian Consulates are with the new procedures. We are considering other possible means of simplifying the process.
We need patience and understanding while the new system is put in place. While the authorities here vouch by the new system, we really do not know how it is going to work in practice. We know it is nerve-wracking to wait for a research visa on which so many personal and professional plans hinge, recall that AIIS has had good success overall in obtaining visas.
Power to issue visas to foreign research scholars has been delegated to Indian Missions abroad. The foreigners who desire to undertake research in India should therefore apply to the concerned Indian Missions abroad with the brief synopsis of the research project to be undertaken in India, the details of places to be visited, previous visits, whether the scholar has secured admission into a recognized or reputed institution and evidence of financial resources.
For professors/teachers and scholars who are invited as visiting faculty, the powers to issue visas have been delegated to Indian Missions abroad, on the same lines as for research scholars. The Indian Missions are authorized to issue visas based on an invitation from a Central Educational Institution or Publicly Funded State University.
Indian Missions have been authorized to issue conference visas to delegates if they are able to produce an invitation to a conference/seminar/workshop being organized in India by a Ministry or Department of the Govt. of India, State Govts., Public Sector Undertakings, Central Educational Institutions, Public Funded Universities, or an organization owned and controlled by the Government of India or State Governments, United Nations or its specialized agencies and a reputed NGO.