Visa on arrival? Nearly there...

New Delhi: If the tourism ministry has its way, “visa on arrival” might soon become a reality in India.
As this would give a boost to arrival of foreign tourists in the country, the ministry is working on getting its proposal cleared from the home ministry, which is said to be giving the finishing touches.
“We hope to get clearance for the proposal (to grant visa on arrival) sooner rather than later,” a senior ministry official said. The ministry of external affairs has cleared the proposal.
Apart from the home ministry clearance to the proposal, the visa on arrival scheme also needs “the advanced passenger information system” in place for its implementation.
The APIS is an electronic database system that stores information about airline travellers.
The system provides searchable biographical and security information on travellers entering a country from a foreign location.
The APIS is expected to come into operation at six major airports in the country by April and the visa on arrival scheme could become operational after the system comes into use.
13/02/08 Ranjeet S Jamwal/The Statesman

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Categories: airports Feb 2008