As the national capital gears up for a busy festival and conference season, Delhi Police’s Foreigners Registration wing mounted a city-wide operation late on 19 September to identify overstaying or undocumented foreign nationals. Officers visited 43 locations across South and North-East Delhi, verifying the papers of 40 individuals and initiating proceedings against several who lacked valid visas. The overnight sweep forms part of a broader Ministry of Home Affairs directive to tighten internal immigration enforcement ahead of the high-profile G20 cultural events scheduled for October. Police teams coordinated with the Bureau of Immigration to cross-check visa expiry dates in real time, using handheld scanners linked to the Immigration, Visa, Foreigners Registration & Tracking (IVFRT) database. While most of those questioned held legitimate documents, four were found using expired tourist or student visas. They were served departure notices under Section 14 of the Foreigners Act and may face blacklisting from future Indian visas. Landlords who failed to file mandatory C-Forms—digital tenant-information reports for foreign nationals—will also be prosecuted. For multinational companies that house expatriate staff in Gurgaon and Noida but entertain clients in Delhi, the message is clear: ensure residence registrations and visa extensions are up to date. Mobility managers should brief assignees on the need to carry passport and visa copies when travelling within India and remind landlords of their reporting obligations under the Foreigner Regional Registration Office (FRRO) rules. Experts note that such visible enforcement actions serve a dual purpose: deterring illegal stay while reassuring citizens about safety, especially with heightened global attention on Delhi in the run-up to the BRICS Leaders’ Retreat.
Source: Akashvani News (News On AIR)
