Foreigners Regional Registration Officers In India (FRRO OFFICES IN INDIA)
The Immigration services at the major International Airports in India and the Foreigners’ registration work in seven major cities, are handled by the Bureau of Immigration (BOI). The field officers in charge of immigration and registration activities at Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Amritsar, Bengaluru and Hyderabad are called Foreigners Regional Registration Officers (FRROs). Apart from the FRROs who look after the immigration/registration functions in the above mentioned seven cities, the concerned District Superintendents of Police function as Foreigners Registration Officers (FROs) in all the states in the country.
Registration at FRRO Mumbai : Police Verification of Address
The foreign nationals required to register at FRRO Mumbai should get their addresses verified from local Police station before going for the registration at FRRO Mumbai. Since the verification of address from local Police station can take some time, the foreign nationals should start the process of registration early so that they can file the registration papers with FRRO Mumbai within the 14 days time limit.
Registration at FRRO, New Delhi/ Delhi: Requirements for address proof :
If you are registering at FRRO at New Delhi (Delhi), please take note of the following requirements if you are submitting your lease deed as a proof of your address:
- The lease deed can be executed between Indian company (lessee) and owner (lessor). The foreign national can also execute lease deed in personal capacity with lessor.
- The lease deed should be properly executed with the names and addresses of lessor, lessee and two witnesses. The lease deed has to be notarized. You should also enclose copies of photo identification documents of lessee (or authorized signatory), lessor and two witnesses.
Please carry the “lease deed” fulfilling the above requirements at FRRO Delhi; otherwise you may have to face delays.
Address of FRRO, Delhi:
FRRO Delhi, East Block-VIII, Level-II, Sector-1, R.K. Puram, New Delhi-110066.
FRRO Delhi is located behind Hotel hyatt regency and Bhikaji Cama Place( an office complex) adjoining Hotel Hyatt. FRRO Delhi is at a walking distance from both these buildings and Inner Ring Road.
Foreigners Registration Office (FRO) in Tiruvannamalai
Many foreign nationals have been visiting Tiruvannamalai town to visit Sri Ramana and other Ashrams. Those requiring registrations or extensions should visit the Foreigner’s Registration Office ( FRO) office which is located at Vellore Road in the Superintendent of Police ( SP office) near the Collectorate building. The person in charge is Mr. Prateebhan.
Foreigners Registration Office, FRO, Goa: Procedures for foreigners’ registration and extension of Visas
Goa attracts thousands of tourists every year who come here to for beautiful beaches, happening nightlife, beach parties and good sea food. Many foreigners visit Goa on business also as the place offers good opportunities for tourism related business.
The foreigners who require registration, extension or miscellaneous services as per their visa types and stipulations should approach Foreigners Registration office (FRO) Goa located at Panaji (also called Panjim). The FRO Goa exercises jurisdiction over the entire state of Goa. The FRO Goa is situated on the ground floor of the Goa Police Head Quarters Building, Opp. Azad Maidan at Panaji Goa. The FRO at Goa is not a full FRRO so it reports to the State Home Department located at Porvorim, Goa.
(For more information about difference between FRRO and FRO, please visit : http://indianimmigration-law.blogspot.com/2010/01/foreigner-registration-office-fro.html)
Extension of Business and Employment Visas at FRO Goa:
If you wish to apply for an extension of business or employment visa at FRO Goa, please submit your application at least 90 days before the expiry of your visa. The FRO Goa will not accept your extension application if you apply late and you will be required to apply at the Goa State Home Department at Porvorim, Goa.
Otherwise, for extension of Business or Employment visas, you may apply directly at the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) at New Delhi. If your extension application is accepted at MHA, they will give you a three months temporary extension and ask for local report from FRO Goa. On receipt of satisfactory report from FRO Goa, the MHA can provide the balance nine months (or less if requested). After approval of extension, your residential permit will be stamped by the FRO Goa while the visa stamp in the passport will be stamped by the Goa State Home Department at Porvorim.
For extensions, the fee (exact amount dependent on type and duration of extension) in cash has to be deposited at the State Home Department at Porvorim. The Goa State home department is located at the new Secretariat building at Porvorim. You can find it on right side, soon after crossing the river bridge over the river Mandovi, on the highway from Panjim to Mapusa.
Tourist visas to India can not be extended beyond 180 days except in emergent situations. For registrations at Goa FRO, a fee of Rs. 100 per applicant is charged which you can pay in cash at FRO.
Address and timings of Foreigners Registration Office (FRO) at Goa:
Goa Police Head Quarters Building,
Ground floor
Opp. Azad Maidan
Panaji Goa
Timings: 9:30 to 13:00 and 14:00 to 17:30, Monday to Friday.
After submission of all documents and payment of fees for registration at the Goa FRO, it takes about one week for the issuance of Registration certificate and Residential Permit to the foreign national applicant.
You may take an appointment with Ms. Rina Tarcato, Deputy SP, FRO if you have any questions or concerns about your visa.
Address and timings at Goa State Home Department:
Under Secretary (Home)
Goa State Home Department,
Foreigners Division
Secretariat, Porvorim, Goa
Timings: 10:00 to 13:00 and 14:00 to 17:00, Monday to Friday.
Foreigner Registration Office (FRO) Bangalore elevated to full FRRO (Foreigners Regional Registration Office) status
Foreigner Registration Office (FRO) Bangalore has been elevated to FRRO (Foreigners Regional Registration Office) status with effect from 11 January, 2010. In view of increased number of foreign workers and business persons traveling to Bangalore every year, the government of India elevated the status of the Bangalore FRO to full FRRO.
In India, the FROs are the smaller offices within the district Police offices to provide services to foreigners within their jurisdiction. They deal with the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) at New Delhi through the State Home departments located in the capitals of various states. The FRROs are bigger offices working mostly in the metropolitan areas and report directly to the Ministry of Home Affairs without the intervention of the State Home departments. The FRROs in India are located at New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata Amritsar and now at Bangalore.
In practical terms, it will not make much difference for the foreigners applying for the services like registration, extensions and other miscellaneous services at the Bangalore FRRO. The new timings for filing the applications are from 9:30 to 13:00. Under the old timings, the applications could be filed from 10:30 till 17:00 in the evening. So the applicants can expect longer queues at the window. However, the FRRO is expected to be shifted to a new bigger facility (probably at Indira Nagar in Bangalore) and get additional staff from the month of March and that should greatly reduce the waiting times for the applicants to submit their applications.
Regarding the procedural part, the FRRO will deal directly with the MHA at New Delhi. This will provide for faster turn around times for the applications which require approval from MHA. For example, earlier, an application for the first extension of an employment or Business Visa, filed at FRO Bangalore was sent to State Registration office at Police headquarters and from there it was forwarded to the State Home Department (located at Vidhan Soudha, Bangalore) which forwarded it to the MHA at New Delhi. Now, the FRRO Bangalore will directly send all such applications to the MHA and act directly after receiving appropriate instructions from the MHA, New Delhi.
In the long run, it is expected that FRRO Bangalore will streamline the procedures and provide better services and faster turnaround times for the foreigners applying for various services at the FRRO Bangalore.