India in New York February 14, 2014 | Page 2

India in New York Community 2 INDIA IN NEW YORK is published every Friday by India Abroad Publications, Inc. 42 Broadway, 18th floor, New York, NY 10004. INDIA IN NEW YORK FEBRUARY 14, 2014 Ajit Balakrishnan Chairman and Publisher Nikhil Lakshman Editor-in-Chief Community hails India’s visa on arrival scheme Rajeev Bhambri Chief Operating Officer-US Media THE EDITORIAL TEAM NEW YORK Aziz Haniffa, Editor, News Arthur J Pais, Editor, Features Suman Guha Mozumder, Associate Managing Editor George Joseph, P Rajendran, Deputy Managing Editors Paresh Gandhi, Chief Photographer Ritu Jha, Special Correspondent Parimal Mehta, System Manager Production: Dharmesh Chotalia, Production Supervisor. 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Ajit Balakrishnan Chairman and Chief Executive Officer EDITORIAL & CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS 42 Broadway, 18th floor, New York, NY 10004 MAIN OFFICE: Call: 646-432-6000; Fax: [phone] Web site: http://ia.rediff.com/index.html GEORGE JOSEPH T have been advocating visa reform for years, hailed the decision. Last year, Ommen submitted a memorandum to Congress party leader to Dr Karan Singh, asking for visa on arrival for at least Indians living abroad. “If the system is supposed to work as it has been announced with an online application and then arrival at the airport to pick up the visas, it would be a dream come true for our community,” Abraham said. “However, it is also fraught with security risks and anything less than efficient governance at the airports could backfire on the entire efforts.” Inder Singh, chair, Global he Indian-American community has welcomed the Indian government’s decision to grant visa on arrival to tourists from 180 countries, including the United States. Most foreigners have to wait weeks after submitting their applications to get an India visa. Under the new scheme, tourists can apply online and then receive the green light within five days, before picking up their visa at the airport on arrival into India. Citing security reasons, India is not extending the visa on arrival scheme for citizens from eight countries including Pakistan, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka and Iraq. “It will be a boon for Indian Americans,” said George Abraham, chair, Indian National Overseas Congress (I), “as they no longer have to visit BLS (the company handling the visa and passport applications Applicants outside the for the Indian consulates) BLS office in New York offices and struggle for days share their woes with with uncertainty whether Norman Solovay, chairman, they could travel to India on Indo-American a certain date.” Global Chamber of Thomas T Ommen, on