Railway Protection Force officers in Roorkee, Uttarakhand, detained a 40-year-old Afghan citizen on 15 December after routine checks revealed he had overstayed his student visa by four years. According to police, the individual entered India legally in 2018 to study at a madrasa in Deoband but failed to depart when his visa expired in 2021, citing political turmoil in Afghanistan.
The arrest is among the first made under the Immigration and Foreigners Act 2025, which introduced stiffer penalties for visa overstay—including imprisonment of up to two years and immediate blacklisting. The Roorkee court has remanded the suspect to 14 days’ judicial custody while intelligence agencies verify his activities and contacts.
Corporate mobility advisors note that the case reflects India’s sharpened focus on tracking long-term foreign residents, particularly in smaller cities where compliance monitoring has historically been lax.
![Afghan overstayer arrested in Roorkee under new Immigration Act crackdown]()
For individuals and employers unsure about the evolving requirements, VisaHQ can streamline the entire process—from initial visa applications to timely renewals—through its India-focused portal (https://www.visahq.com/india/). The platform provides step-by-step guidance, automated expiry reminders, and dedicated support, helping travelers and HR teams avoid costly overstays and ensuring full compliance with the latest Immigration and Foreigners Act provisions.
Hotels, universities and landlords are now required to submit real-time data on foreign guests; failure to do so carries fines of up to ₹500,000.
Multinationals employing foreign nationals in India should review internal compliance protocols, ensure FRRO registrations are updated, and prepare contingency plans for employees who may be unable to renew visas because of the new zero-tolerance stance. Experts recommend proactive outreach to local Foreigners Regional Registration Offices at least 60 days before visa expiration to avoid inadvertent violations.
The arrest is among the first made under the Immigration and Foreigners Act 2025, which introduced stiffer penalties for visa overstay—including imprisonment of up to two years and immediate blacklisting. The Roorkee court has remanded the suspect to 14 days’ judicial custody while intelligence agencies verify his activities and contacts.
Corporate mobility advisors note that the case reflects India’s sharpened focus on tracking long-term foreign residents, particularly in smaller cities where compliance monitoring has historically been lax.
For individuals and employers unsure about the evolving requirements, VisaHQ can streamline the entire process—from initial visa applications to timely renewals—through its India-focused portal (https://www.visahq.com/india/). The platform provides step-by-step guidance, automated expiry reminders, and dedicated support, helping travelers and HR teams avoid costly overstays and ensuring full compliance with the latest Immigration and Foreigners Act provisions.
Hotels, universities and landlords are now required to submit real-time data on foreign guests; failure to do so carries fines of up to ₹500,000.
Multinationals employing foreign nationals in India should review internal compliance protocols, ensure FRRO registrations are updated, and prepare contingency plans for employees who may be unable to renew visas because of the new zero-tolerance stance. Experts recommend proactive outreach to local Foreigners Regional Registration Offices at least 60 days before visa expiration to avoid inadvertent violations.
