(Image source from: wionews.com)

India has suspended all the regular visas which includes the e- visas that are granted to the nationals of France, Germany and Spain on or before the 11th of March, 2020 where these foreigners have not entered the country yet.

The suspension of regular visas including the e- visas have been made that are granted to all the foreign nationals who have a travel history to the countries of France, Germany and Spain on or after the 1st of February 2020. the visas of the foreign nations belonging to these countries who have not entered the country have also been suspended, as mentioned in a government statement that has been issued after the Cabinet Secretary has held a meeting in order to review the COVID-19 situation in New Delhi, on Tuesday.

The government has also strongly advised the citizens of India to refrain from travelling to the countries of France, Germany and Spain.

The Bureau of Immigration of India has issued an order last week where in it had said that all the regular visas/ e- visas which also include the visa on arrival or VoA for Japan and South Korea, that have been granted to the nationals of Italy, Iran, South Korea and Japan and have been issued on or before the 3rd of March 2020 and also who have not yet entered the country India, would be suspended with an immediate effect.

It has also been said that such nationalities of the foreign countries may not enter the country India from any air, land or seaport and that any individual requiring to travel to India due to any compelling reasons may have to seek another fresh visa from the nearest Indian embassy/ consulate.

The statement that has been issued on Tuesday has said that the visas of all the foreigners who are already in India would be remained to be valid and that they might have to contact he nearest FRRO/ FRO through the e- FRRO module for the extension conversion and the other services of their visa or grant of any consular service, if they choose to do so.

The statement has also said that the Bureau of Immigration (BOI) is also issuing a notification to this effect and that the advisory also calls for the passengers who have a travel history to China, Hong Kong, Republic of Korea, Japan, Italy, Thailand, Singapore, Iran, Malaysia, France, Spain and Germany to under a quarantine period which would have to be self imposed for two weeks from the date of their arrival to the country and also that the employers of these individuals would have to facilitate work- from- home during their self- imposed quarantine period.

It has been advised to the passengers from the foreign countries who are arriving to India for self- monitoring themselves regarding their health as the deadly novel coronavirus has crossed to more than hundred countries across the globe where in confirmed cases of being infected by the deadly novel COVID-19 has been reported.

Currently, the count of the people getting infected by the coronavirus and who have been tested positive for the deadly virus has been increased to 119,233 in number and the deaths that has been caused due to being affected by the deadly novel coronavirus has been recorded to be 4,299 in number.

By Shrithika Kushangi