Moving to India for employment specially a city like kolkata brings opportunities and cultural combination along. Kolkata, the IT sector of West Bengal India is a destination for skilled professionals. As newly emerging technologies, fintech, and educational hubs are growing in kolkata, the attraction of foreign companies towards this east Indian city is growing day by day.
Employees who moves to Kolkata India for employment, they are not concerned about their visa instead they are concerned about their family visa as sometime they came along with their families. This immigration is not only a smart move but a life changing decision for the employees. Like other countries Indian has also some immigration regulations for visa application under the Ministry of Home Affairs to be followed.
These rules are designed to manage the residence of foreign nationals specially for those who are coming with their families. These steps are to be followed to get a seemless family immigration in Kolkata India. This guide provides a step by step guide from eligibility criteria to long term compliance.
Primary Visa Holder’s Status
The eligibility of immediate family members depends upon the primary visa holder. The primary visa holder must have a long term type of visa which typically includes:
- Employment (E) Visa: The most common category of visa given to employees during immigration.
- Business (B) Visa: Another type of visa given to those individuals who came for business visit or establish their business in India.
- Student (S) Visa: This type of visa are given to students who has enrolled into a Bachelors or Masters degree in India
- Research (R) Visa: For those who want to research and affiliated with a recognized Indian institution they got this type of visa.
The primary visa must have been given for a longer duration to the primary visa holder to support immediate family member applications.
Eligible Family Members
Immediate family members require a dependent visa. The term family is has a very different definition in Indian immigration laws. Not every person lives with the employee is not eligible to immigrate with them, as the the term “family” is nothing but just the immediate dependent person over the primary visa holder. They can be their parents, or their spouse or their children below 18 of age.
- Spouse: The applicant must have a legal recognized marriage certificate with the primary visa holder which can prove their legal relation. Non formalized types of marriages are not going to be accepted for visa. Another thing to be mentioned that the dependent visa for the spouse does not permit to undertake employment in kolkata or anywhere else in India. If they want to work they must qualify for their job by themselves.
- Children: Children who are either biological or adopted both are eligible for the visa but until the age of 18, after that they need to prove their dependency over the primary visa holder. Else they must have to apply for a visa for themselves.
- Dependent Parents: This is the category which requires higher verification. The primary visa holder must have to prove that their parents are highly dependent on them, both financially and physically. This category goes through frequent security verifications, which requires evidence of dependency, such as financial records and proof of no other income in their origin country.
Document Attestation
The most time consuming part of immigration process is the document preperation. To avoid rejection or delays its better to prepare the docs which are commonly required. Even minor mistakes can halt the process.
Common Documents Requirements:
- Valid passports: Every applicant who are applying for immigration must have a valid passport. A standard six month validity rules or 180 days validity rules beyond the date of departure from kolkata or India and it must contain at least two blank pages.
- Passport size photographs: Indian visa applications require specific dimension photographs eg: 2×2 inch size, white background, no specs, clear face visibility and no smile.
- Proof of relationship: The is the core evidence.
- Marriage Certificates(for spouse)
- Birth Certificates (for children), attested by origin country local authorities.
- Hauge convention: If the country where the document was made is part of the Hague Apostille Convention, it needs to be apostilled by the right person.
- Embassy Legalization: If the origin country of primary visa holder is not the part of the agreement, the document needs to go through a few steps to get legal. First, it will be checked by the local authority of that country (eg: the local clerk). Then, it will go to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the country it came from or the origin country of primary visa holder.
These documents must be attached with the application to prove the authenticity.
Primary Visa holder documents:
- A clear copy of the primary visa holder passport and their Indian visa.
- Employement Proof: The employee must have an appointment letter or joining letter or invitation letter from the Indian employer(Kolkata branch or any other branch), a signed employment contract detailed with the role and salary and the duration of employment or commitment.
- Financial Proof: The primary visa holder must represent enough financial capability to support their family or themselves in kolkata India, which can be proved by
- Last 6 months to 12 months of bank statement
- Salary slips from the employer of the primary visa holder
- Proof of residence in Kolkata: This is another most critical thing for post arrival registration, that the primary visa holder must have a permanent shelter either rented or company allocated
Apply at Indian Embassy
After the document collection is completed, family members or the person themselves can begin the process of application. Immediate family members of primary passport holder can apply through the local Indian Embassy in their country or through the FRRO online portal. The application process is simple.
Steps to be followed:
- Visa application fillup: Each family member must fillup their own form online carefully. Everything must match their documents.
- Document submission: Applicants will have to upload the digitally scanned copy of the documents, after which they will be called for one to one appointment at the embassy or a visa center to submit their documents.
- Visa fees payment: Once the documents are submitted they will have to pay a fees which are non refundable if the application is rejected.
- Interview scheduling: This is an optional step which may be required if the verification officers wants an interview with the immediate family members.
Post arrival process
After getting the visa the process is not complete. Once the family is arrived in Kolkata India, they need to get in touch with FRRO office within 14 days of arrival. The FRRO in kolkata is the local MHA authority who is responsible for monitoring foreign residents.
FRRO Registration Process:
- Passport with valid indian visa sticker.
- Passport sized photos (face match require)
- Proof of residence in kolkata (Form C in case of a hotel resident, in case of renting just and NOC will be required)
- Primary visa holder’s employment proof from the employer
After registration is successful the FRRO will provide a Residential Permit which has a certain validity, this is the most important document for any legal task.
Compliance during Stay
Immigration compliances need to be followed throughout the complete stay in Kolkata.
- Visa validity check: Any type of visa will have an expiry date, the visa extention must be done within the validity and 60 to 90 days in advance through the FRRO portal. Extension might require different type of document from the previous process.
- Maintenance of FRRO registration:
- Change of Address: If the family or the primary visa holder move to another play to stay that must be reported the FRRO within 14 days of change.
- Change of passport: If the passport is renewed or changed or lost everything must be reported to the FRRO.
- Adhere Indian immigration laws must be followed during the stay.
- Birth of children: If a child is born during the stay their citizenship will be Indian by default instead the parents have to get an origin country passport for them and then the child must be registered with the FRRO for legal residance in Kolkata India.
To avoid visa rejection or delay its better to consult a Family Immigration Lawyer in Kolkata.
Value of Professional Consultation:
It is usually recommended by everyone to consult a professional to avoid visa rejection, delays or penalties. Indian immigration laws are not easy to handle at very first place. A legal expert can easily help immigrants in:
- Document correction
- FRRO portal navigation to avoid mistakes
- Dealing with immigration officers
Conclusion
Immigrating with family to a new province can be very easy if done with proper docs. By adherence with local Govt. and following eligibility and keep all docs prepared families can immigrate with their loved ones without rejection or delays. Planning from the begining and having a clear understanding of the rules and regulations are the key to successful immigration, allowing every member of the family building their new life in Kolkata India.
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