Overseas citizens cannot volunteer in India on mere “tourist” visa
According to a
report in the Times of India (July 22, 2017): “Immigration authorities at Chennai
airport deported 19 UK citizens who arrived here on Monday to
take part in a charity at a children’s home.
report in the Times of India (July 22, 2017): “Immigration authorities at Chennai
airport deported 19 UK citizens who arrived here on Monday to
take part in a charity at a children’s home.
The UK citizens – 16
students and three staff members from Poynton High School in Manchester in the
UK — were told that they could not
enter the country using the visa they were holding because they were going to
work in an NGO in Chennai. The children landed in Chennai
carrying crates of materials to be distributed to children’s homes supported by
an NGO, India Direct.”
students and three staff members from Poynton High School in Manchester in the
UK — were told that they could not
enter the country using the visa they were holding because they were going to
work in an NGO in Chennai. The children landed in Chennai
carrying crates of materials to be distributed to children’s homes supported by
an NGO, India Direct.”
Click here to read the full report: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/immigration-authorities-at-chennai-airport-deport-19-uk-citizens-including-children/articleshow/59701111.cms
Quoting the concerned
NGO (India Direct), the report adds: “They
all had valid tourist visas.”
NGO (India Direct), the report adds: “They
all had valid tourist visas.”
Now, this is a
myth and fallacy under which hundreds of NGOs in this county invite and allow
overseas citizens, especially foreign students to work as “volunteers” in this
country.
myth and fallacy under which hundreds of NGOs in this county invite and allow
overseas citizens, especially foreign students to work as “volunteers” in this
country.
All through
last year, CAP through its “Compliance Complete Certificate” Program and
Volunteer Management Workshops had been cautioning NGOs not to appoint or
engage foreigners arriving in India on “tourist visas” as volunteers.
last year, CAP through its “Compliance Complete Certificate” Program and
Volunteer Management Workshops had been cautioning NGOs not to appoint or
engage foreigners arriving in India on “tourist visas” as volunteers.
Reader’s attention is also drawn to our Blog Post of 3rd February
2017 titled: “NGOs Hiring Foreigners Must Exercise Due Diligence”.
Click here to
revisit the post:
revisit the post:
There is no point some MNC taking this issue up with the government or
meeting External Affairs Minister. The question to ask is whether you can visit the
U.K. or the USA on a tourist visa and then volunteer with an NGO there? If not,
why are we blaming Indian immigration authorities?
meeting External Affairs Minister. The question to ask is whether you can visit the
U.K. or the USA on a tourist visa and then volunteer with an NGO there? If not,
why are we blaming Indian immigration authorities?
The law in India is clear. A person wishing to volunteer at an NGO in India
must obtain E-Visa even if he/she desires to come to India for honorary work
(without salary) with an NGO registered in India for working on voluntary
basis. Such a Visa is granted
by the Indian Mission or Post abroad with special endorsement on his/her E-Visa
“To Work with NGO — (Name of the NGO and place of work)” subject to usual
checks and formalities.
must obtain E-Visa even if he/she desires to come to India for honorary work
(without salary) with an NGO registered in India for working on voluntary
basis. Such a Visa is granted
by the Indian Mission or Post abroad with special endorsement on his/her E-Visa
“To Work with NGO — (Name of the NGO and place of work)” subject to usual
checks and formalities.
Noshir H.
Dadrawala
Dadrawala
Thanks for share this post and keep share for Ngo News Its valuable and nice information .Thanks for sharing it.