A large number of foreigners, mostly from Africa and the Middle East, are deported for violating visa conditions and overstaying in Bengaluru. “Among them, 90 per cent are from Africa and the Middle East. Every year, about 250 to 300 people from those regions are deported,” a senior official at the Foreigner Regional Registration Office (FRRO) told The Sunday Standard.
The police have collected information about 700 foreigners overstaying in the city. Students from Africa top the list. About 24,000 foreigners live in Bengaluru. Other places in Karnataka with a significant population of foreigners are Manipal, Mysuru and Mangaluru.
“Most come on student visas. Those who plan to stay for more than 180 days must report to the FRRO office and provide all credentials. It is mandatory for every foreigner,” the officer said. “We usually recommend legal action and sometimes even blacklist their passports,” an official said. Over the last three years, 250 to 300 foreigners have been deported from the city annually. In many cases, students blame their colleges for the delay in returning home.