Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi (MS)
New Delhi, Nov 22: All Indians working in the 18 notified countries should register on the online portal of the Emigration department of government of India from New Year 2019. Failure to do so will result in not allowing them to travel from India.
It may be recalled that Indian government made it compulsory for all Indians holding non-emigration clearance required (Non-ECR or ECNR) passports who have employment visas to 18 notified countries to register themselves on the online portal. Now the department says that even Indians who are already working in these countries have to register online when they come to India.
As per M C Luther, joint secretary for overseas employment and protector general of emigrants, only one-time registration is enough as far as the said Indian works for the same company. There is no need to register every time a person travels to India, unless there is a change in the visa.
Registration must be completed on the www.emigrate.gov.in portal between 21 days and 24 hours prior to the date of travel. Failure to do so will result in offloading of the person or persons, according to a recent advisory issued by the Ministry of External Affairs. This rule holds good for Emigration Clearance Required (ECR) passport holders who change their passport status to ECNR after three years of overseas employment also.
The details that the applicants have to furnish are personal, visa and travel details, emergency contact details in India and destination country and contact details of foreign employer/sponsor in the destination country. The applicant will receive an SMS/email once the process of registration is complete.
Giving the reason behind this initiative by the government, Luther said, "The basic idea is to get the information on the employers of the person, so that they can be contacted in case of emergency. Also this will help in reaching the contacts of the concerned person in India if there is a need. This system is totally non-intrusive form in which the privacy of individuals and their employers is safeguarded."
"This facility will not be used to investigate cases of bogus employers or contract substitution. In such situations, the employees have to use the prevailing system of grievance redressal. However, the authorities can check the recruitment done through government approved agents, since they also have to update the details on the same portal. Already 40,0000 ECNR passport holders have registered voluntarily on this portal after the government approved overseas recruitment agents were informed about the pilot phase," added Luther.
Main features of the new system
All Indians holding ECNR passports with overseas employment visa should register on https://emigrate.gov.in/ext/preECNREmig.action before flying out of India.
Registration is mandatory for Indians taking up jobs in 18 notified countries: Afghanistan, Bahrain, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, South Sudan, Syria, Thailand, UAE and Yemen.
Those already working on employment visas in these countries will have to register when they visit India and fly back again.
They need to re-register only if their work visa has changed.
Details to be furnished include personal, visa and travel details, emergency contact details in India and destination country and contact details of foreign employer/sponsor in the destination country.
On successful completion of registration, the applicant will receive an SMS/email.
From January 1, 2019, failure to register will result in applicant getting offloaded.