After all of documents are provided, the visa process can take anywhere from 8 to 16 weeks, with no guarantee.
KARACHI: Recently, our government granted MFN (Most Favoured Nation) status to India. But to visit any relative who lives in our ‘most favoured’ neighbour, the Indian government requires all applicants from Pakistani to provide the following documents: 1. A sponsorship certificate from one’s relative in India, attested by a police officer not less than the rank of commissioner. 2. A copy of an electricity bill of the relative’s residence in India. 3. A copy of the telephone bill of the relative. 4. A copy of the relative’s ‘PAN’ card (Permanent Account Number, which is used for voting purposes). 5. A character certificate of the applicant issued from his or her area police station.
Apart from this there are the usual requirements such as salary/bank statement, letter of employment from one’s organisation, a minimum salary requirement of Rs25,000 per month and so on.
After all of this is provided, the visa process can take anywhere from eight to sixteen weeks, and there is no guarantee that it will be given.
In other words, Pakistani nationals having relatives in India should not even dream of visiting their loved ones.
M Rafique Zakaria
Published in The Express Tribune, February 4th, 2012.
