FOREIGNERS REGISTRATION OFFICE (FRO)

URL: https://police.py.gov.in 

Phone- 0413 -2231327                                                                                                                E-mail-spsb.pon@nic.in

         FOREIGNERS REGISTRATION OFFICE (FRO), Puducherry is functioning in the Ground Floor of the CID Building Complex, Gubert Avenue near Police Head Quarters.

INTRODUCTION

              Initially, the FRO @ FRRO (Foreigners Regional Registration Office) of IB, MHA was established in Puducherry during 01.10.1963 wherein Chief of Puducherry Police was nominated as FRRO Foreigners Regional Registration Officer, Puducherry UT covering nearby Kottakuppam PSL and Vanour PSL of Tamil Nadu Limits till 13.04.1977. It was under direct supervision of CIO (Chief Immigration Officer), Bureau of Immigration, Madras with an officer of IB (Intelligence Bureau) on deputation to look after the registration work.

           The growth of Foreigners population in and around Puducherry had increasing day by day, respectively their activities including their migration / settlement in Puducherry, Auroville, and other nearby Tamil Nadu areas had also increased. Following the growth of floating population of Foreigner to Auroville, IB has placed its own office FRO, Puducherry under its direct handling vide MHA - GO. No. 25022/7/77-F.I.(i) dt-01.04.1977, MHA, New Delhi.

            To monitor their activities and movements, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, has appointed a Regional Registration Officer with the supporting staff from Intelligence Bureau for Puducherry and its nearby Tamil Nadu areas like Auroville, Kottakuppam, etc. under the control of Chief Immigration Officer, Chennai by de-marking the jurisdiction limit of IGP Puducherry as Mahe, Yanam, and Karaikal regions of U.T. of Puducherry vide. Notification No.25022/7/77-I (1) of Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, New Delhi, dt:01.04.1977 and the notification of Home Department the Government of Puducherry vide G.O.Ms.No.1/77 dt: 25.05.1977, the Inspector General of Police, has been appointed as Foreigners Registration Officer for Karaikal, Mahe and Yanam regions.

           Accordingly, the other regions of Puducherry UT, namely Karaikal, Mahe and Yanam, Puducherry was entrusted with DGP @ IGP Puducherry UT vide Notification G.O. Ms. No. 1/77 dated 25.5.1977 - Home Department, Puducherry UT.

           DGP / IGP had re-delegated his FRRO powers to Inspector FRRO, Puducherry vide Order No. 25022/112/82-F.I, July 1982, MHA, Government of India. Authorization / re-delegation order conferred on the Inspector FRRO, Puducherry with sample signatures sent to IB including all RRO’s in India / all Immigration Gates in India for information.

           Now the Regional SDPOs were delegated with the powers of FRRO by DGP @ IGP Puducherry to facilitate the easy access and process by every process have to be endorsed by Home Department, Puducherry. 

FRRO AT KARAIKAL:

             The Inspector General of Police, Puducherry had authorized the Inspector of Police, Kottucherry Circle, Karaikal to perform the functions of the Registration Officer in respect of Karaikal region on behalf of IGP under rule 3(2) of the Registration of foreigners’ rules, 1939 vide order No.XI/Misc/305/2003, dt: 24.03.2003. 

             As per the above order an office was functioning at Karaikal in CI, Kottucherry office from 01.04.2003. All the corresponding files relating to the foreigners of Indian origin residing at Karaikal region were handed over to Thiru. D. Marimuthu, Inspector of Police, Kottucherry Circle on 29.03.2003. Then the authorization of powers of Registration Officer was given to Supdt. of Police, Karaikal vide Memorandum No.24/SP(HQ)/TR/2004 dated 28.6.2004.

   The Foreigners’ Registration Office, Puducherry is functioning under the direct supervision of the Supdt. of Police, Special Branch, Puducherry and consisting of 1 Inspector, 2 Sub-Inspectors, 6 Head Constables and 3 Police Constables as its actual strength.

              With the sole intension to cooperate the Ministry of External Affairs in the issuance of Passport to the Citizens of India within the stipulated time, the staff of FRO are often instructed/briefed from time to time regarding the schemes often introduced by the Ministry to provide quick service to the public in issue/re-issue of Passports and procedures relating to issuance and renewal of Passports. 

             The letter with Ref. No. MAS/551/11/2002, dt:25.09.2003 from the RPO, Chennai reached our office in the year 2003 intimating  the decision of  the Government to reimburse      Rs. 100/- to State Government/Union Territory w.e.f 01.04.2004 for each clear Police Verification Reports received subject to the condition that such PVRs are received in response to Personal Particular Forms directly referred by RPO at Chennai and the Passport Application Collection Centre, Puducherry.

             Recently in letter D.O. No. 25022/53/04-Imm. Dated: 11.07.2005 from the Home Secretary, Govt. of India, New Delhi, it is stated that the Police verification reports for issuance of Indian Passport should be completed within the period of 3 weeks utmost with intension that the Police Verification shall be so reengineered that the verification in respect of each individuals reference from the Passport officers is completed in a time bound manner and the PVRs delivers within a maximum period of 3 weeks.   In this scheme the Ministry of External Affairs has been decided to continue the payment of incentive of Rs. 100/- for each application in respect of which clear Police verification is received within 20 days but   Rs.  25/- (As against Rs. 50/-) for each application in respect of which clear Police verification report is received from 21st days and beyond with effect from 01.09.2005 onwards.  In concerned with FRO, Puducherry the conditions laid in the above mentioned letter are strictly followed and the PVRs received by this office so far has been cleared and submitted within the stipulated period of less than 3 weeks.  Monthly abstracts containing the details regarding the time of disposal of PVR in respect of Passport applicants is also submitted by this office to the Deputy Secretary to Government, Home Department, Puducherry.

STAY PERMIT TO FOREIGNERS:

          The Foreigners including foreigners of Indian origin having their respective foreign nationality in any form including retired French Soldiers, retired French civil officers etc. settled temporarily/ permanently in Karaikal, Mahe and Yanam regions will apply for their periodical extension to stay in India as per Registration rules.

While applying for extension of stay, they will submit their written application to the Regional Administrative Officer (Karaikal/Mahe/Yanam). Regional Administrative Officer (Karaikal / Mahe / Yanam) will recommend to the Home Department, Puducherry after obtaining necessary police verification, and will intimating Inspector FRO, Puducherry. Home Department will issue necessary orders to Inspector - FRO, on the approval of the Chief Secretary, Puducherry if the period of stay exceeding six months. Accordingly, Inspector FRO will issue the stay permit as per the orders of the Home Department.

            1.  If the stay permit is for the first time, the Home Department will directly issue order to Inspector - FRO, Puducherry, on the approval of the Chief Secretary, Puducherry for the grant of extension of stay.

            2.   If the stay permit is for the second time or subsequent extension for the stay of the foreigner entered India on a valid visa and wants further extension then in such cases, the copy of the order granting extension of stay will be marked to the Under Secretary to Government, Ministry of External Affairs, Govt. of India, New Delhi.

STRENGTH PARTICULARS

FUNCTIONS

          Whenever any Non Residential Indians belongs to Karaikal, Mahe and Yanam regions arrives India and staying more that the specified days (90 days) have to register his entry into India with FRO and if he seeks further extension of stay beyond the visa period then he have to apply for it before the Regional Administrative Office / Regional Executive Officer concerned who will recommend the fit case to Home Secretary, Puducherry for extension of VISA. Home Secretary will then pass necessary order deems fit to FRRO, Puducherry to endorse extension of visa period in the passport and make due entries in the specified register being maintained there.

            During 2003, following the workload at FRRO Puducherry and the request of the NRI of Karaikal, the FRRO work of Karaikal Region was reallocated with Inspector Kottucherry Circle under rule 3(2) of Registration of For Foreigners rules, 1939 vide order No.XI/Misc/305/2003, dated 24.03.2003 and again reallocated on SP (Karaikal) for administrative reasons.

           It makes endorsement for VISA EXTENSION on the NRI Passports as ordered by Home Secretary, GOI / Home Secretary, Puducherry on the recommendation of the respective REO’s (Karaikal / Mahe / Yanam) for the fit case .

PASSPORT VERIFICATIONS

At present FRRO, Puducherry additionally doing the duties of passport verifications received from RPO, Chennai  (Regional Passport Officer) of entire Puducherry regions and directly sending the reports Regional Passport Officer, Chennai marking a copy to Home Department under the administrative Control of SP (SB) and SSP (C&I). Passport verifications relating to Karaikal, Mahe & Yanam Regions are carried out by SSP's Karaikal, SP Mahe and CI Yanam respectively as per the standing instruction of IGP.

DETAILS OF PASSPORT VERIFICATION