12 December 2011, Male';A joint press conference was held today by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Indian High Commission in Male' to inform the public about the technical change that have been brought to dependant visa. At the press conference held at the MNBC One studio, information was shared to the media by the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, H. E. Mr. Aslam Mohamed Shakir and the First Secretary at the Indian High Commission in Male', Mr. S. C. Agarwaal.
Speaking at the press conference State Minister Aslam said that the Government had initiated the work since 2009, and had been working very closely with the Indian Government to find a permanent solution to the visa arrangements. He said that a draft agreement had been made and shared with the Indian Government for their comments.
He also expressed confidence that the concerns of Maldivians traveling to India for education, medical and business will have a permanent solution with the signing of the bilateral visa agreement between the Maldives and the Indian Government. He assured the public that the Ministry was working very closely with the Indian High Commission to resolve the issue at the earliest.
Mr. Agarwaal explained to the media that there was no change in the visa arrangements, but a technical error that was highlighted by the Government of India and enforced by Indian Missions worldwide. He said that there should be no immediate problem and those parents that will be rejected dependant visa in the future can travel in a 6 month tourist visa and during the meantime the High Commission will be working with the Foreign Ministry to find a solution to the matter as soon as possible.
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