Crack-down on overstaying foreigners

MARGAO: Foreign tourists overstaying in the coastal paradise are finding the going tough with cops hot on their heels. A British tourist, Kirsty Louise Frost, en route to London and armed with a boarding pass, was stopped at the immigration counter of Dabolim airport on Saturday morning, as her visa had expired several months ago.
SP immigration and security, Tony Fernandes said Kirsty had come on a tourist visa for six months on May 18, last year. But after her visa expired in November, she continued to stay on and got another visa for six months this year valid till September. While she was boarding the flight, the police noticed the anomalies in the visa and the airline was asked to off load her.
Fernandes said that for any extension of visa a foreign tourist needs to travel in person outside the country. In this case, Kirsty never left India as her documents did not have any departure or arrival dates. "She probably sent her passport through someone and got an extension which is not allowed," he said. The matter is under investigation as the foreign tourist has claimed that she was married to a Goan and residing at Betalbatim.
Though in the past the police have arrested overstaying foreigners, few have actually been deported. In 2006, the Goa police had arrested 34 persons but deportation orders were served on only against 25. The situation was no different in 2007, when 51 persons were arrested for overstaying without valid documents, but only 29 deportation orders were served. This year until March, six persons were arrested for overstaying and three deportation orders served.

Courteay:timesofindia.com

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