Furnishing foreigners’ details mandatory

Ongole: Prakasam District Superintendent of Police V Harshavardhan Raju has said that details of foreigners staying in the district must be recorded online.

The SP explained that this rule applies to hotels, guest houses, house owners, hospitals, hostels, ashrams, choultries, educational institutions and other places that give shelter to foreigners. They must report the arrival, stay and departure of every foreigner. This also covers OCI card holders and citizens of Nepal and Bhutan.

The SP said that the details must be filed through digital reporting using Form III or Form C. The report must reach the Foreigners Registration Officer within 24 hours. Passport, visa, personal and stay details and the date of arrival must be entered on the official FRRO website. This is required under Section 8 of the Immigration and Foreigners Act 2025. The duty to report on time lies with the institutions that give shelter.

Harshavardhan Raju warned that those who break the rule will face action. Under Section 23(b) of the Act, owners can be fined Rs 50,000 to Rs 1 lakh. They can also be jailed for two to seven years, or face both punishments.

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The Hans India