Two days’ sensitization programme for IVFRT Project was organized by DGP Office Gujarat at Gandhinagar for Gujarat FROs officials. Various modules related to FROs like PRC, C-FRO, Form-C and S-Form under IVFRT MMP is demonstrated to 160 participants from all 31 FROs.

State Nodal Officer Sh. H.G Patel, DCIO, DGP Office, Gandhinagar has emphasized the hoteliers, institutions and hospitals contribution by way of performing their duty to give foreigner’s information electronically, as the national security is the main concern. He stressed that all hotels, institutions and hospitals should comply with the legal requirement and should register with FRO for online Form-C & S-Form submission immediately. He appreciated the NIC for the continuous and effective technical support.

IVFRT State Co-coordinator Sh. Himanshu Mehta explained how to track a foreigner from visa submission to exit from India under IVFRT-MMP project and also explained process of online application for various services through web portal and FRO officials can process all service online and can refer to MHA State or MHA New Delhi. Gujarat IVFRT team members Sh. Viren Makodiya and Sh. Neeraj Nama has given brief technical guidance and highlighted on importance of IVFRT project. NIC IVFRT Team has also explained the implementation strategies to the participants and clarified their queries. Prior Reference Check (PRC) Modules will be rollout in all FROs of Gujarat very soon. Gujarat is in progress to rollout cFRO and Form-C Application in all FROs. S-Form will start from 1st August, 2013 in all related FROs. General procedures and regulations to follow for the smooth functioning of Form-C and S-Form applications were briefed by NIC State Co-coordinator Sh. Himanshu Mehta.

Sh. Rajendrakumar CHIO, Sh. Tanmay Mitra DCIO and Sh. Arvind Srivastav DCIO, BOI Ahmedabad was also present for the immigration & foreigner’s related training and queries.

Centralized FRO training was given by live demonstration using live application. In Gujarat C-FRO module successfully implemented in 28 FROs and FROs are referring online application to MHA State, Gandhinagar and also MHA New Delhi for various services like new visa, visa conversion, visa extension, LTV for Pakistani nationals.

The IVFRT-MMP implementation assumes significance as it will bring more efficiency in immigration, visa and online registration of foreigners, security and other services. Once implemented, foreigners need not run around foreign registration office to register their details and extend visa period. Hoteliers, who are now coming to FRO to inform about the arrival of foreign tourists in their hotels, can send the details online using Form-C web portal. The project envisages facilitation services to travelers, including online application forms, dissemination of information, application status and feedback. Since IVFRT would be implemented across the country, there will be availability of a centralized system for sharing of information across the concerned agencies about foreign travelers. It can help to track immigrants who were on the watch-list, look-out list, no-entry list and the foreigners overstaying their visa. The Sensitization Programme ended with hearty vote of thanks to all.