International participants planning to attend the conference ASCML 2027 at BITS Pilani, Pilani Campus, Rajasthan, are advised to follow the instructions below for the visa application process:
Visa Type
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A Conference Visa is preferred for attending international conferences in India. For detailed information, please visit https://indianvisaonline.gov.in.
Visa Application Details
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e-Visa: We recommend applying for an e-Conference Visa through https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/evisa/tvoa.html. This process generally takes about 3-5 days. A list of eligible countries for the e-Visa is available on the website.
- Regular Visa: If you prefer to apply at an Indian consulate or seek a regular conference visa through the standard online method, please expect a processing time of 1-2 weeks. You may need to pick up the clearance in person from the consulate once it has been processed.
Required Documents for a Conference Visa
- Clearance: We (the organizers) will obtain the necessary clearances from the Ministry of Education (MoE), the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), and the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). These clearances will then be forwarded to international participants.
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Invitation Letter: You will receive an official invitation from the Conveners, only after completing your registration.
Frequently Encountered Issues with Ministry Clearances during Visa Application
- The visa application may include fields requesting clearances from the 'Nodal Ministry' and the 'State Government.' For ASCML 2027, these documents are not required. Clearance from the MoE will suffice for the Nodal Ministry, and an Initiation Letter will work for the State Government clearance.
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Please mention the following in the remarks section of your visa application:
- The MoE's clearance has been attached in place of the Nodal Ministry clearance.
- The Initiation Letter has been attached in place of the State Government clearance.
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Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) Clearance: The online visa application may indicate that clearance from the MHA is necessary. This specifically applies only to participants from Prior Reference Categories (PRC) or those intending to visit 'Restricted/Protected areas' as outlined by the MHA.
- PRC countries include China, Taiwan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq, Sudan, and individuals of Pakistani origin or stateless persons. Attendees from these groups will need MHA clearance.
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If the application prompts for MHA clearance, it can be ignored as it is considered optional and can be substituted with the MEA clearance.
Please follow these guidelines to ensure a smooth visa application process for your attendance at the conference at BITS Pilani, Pilani Campus, Rajasthan, India. For more details, please consult https://conference.mha.gov.in/events/FAQ.aspx.
Note: To obtain Government of India clearances, the following information is required from all international delegates:
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Country of Birth
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Passport details
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Professional credentials (organization name with designation and address)
Data Security and Privacy Assurance
- We understand the importance of protecting sensitive personal information, including passport details. At ASCML 2027, we are committed to maintaining the highest standards of data security. Passport details will be used strictly for obtaining clearances from the Government of India.
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Important: Please apply for a visa only after obtaining the clearance letters and conference invitation letter from the organizer.
