New Delhi: The government has received around
1,800 applications from Chinese workers, engaged in different
projects in India, to change their visa status -- from
business to employment.
Home Ministry sources said the applications have come
following the government's directive to around 25,000 Chinese
nationals working in different projects across India to
convert their visas from business to employment.
"We have received around 1,800 applications. We are
verifying them for clearance. Rest of the Chinese nationals
will go back home," a Home Ministry official said.
Home Minister P Chidambaram had said last week that India
would issue employment visas only to highly skilled workers
and it does not apply only to Chinese workers but to other
countries as well.
"Chinese companies engaged in different projects also have
decided to hire local workers which would solve their visa
problems," the official said.
The Chinese nationals have been given time till October 31
to change their visas from business to employment.
The decision came after China's Ambassador to India Zhang
Yan met Home Secretary G K Pillai requesting him to extend the
September 30 deadline given to Chinese citizens to change
their visa status.
Around 25,000 Chinese are working in various power,
communication and petroleum sector projects across the
country. The Indian missions in China have issued 1,60,190
business visas from 2007 to June 30, 2009.
Bureau Report
First Published: Wednesday, October 21, 2009, 21:25