INDIA BANGALORE 27782 FOREIGN CITIZENS FROM 174 NATIONALITIES ARE LIVING IN THE CITY WITH 5312 USA LARGEST FOLLOWED BY 1747 IRANIAN AND OUT OF MAXIMUM OVERSTAYING AFTER VISA EXPIRY ARE AMERICAN WHICH STANDS AT 421 OUT OF 3948 OVER STAYERS At 5,312, US nationals also make up the largest segment of legal foreign citizens in the city, followed by Iranians (1,747) Hold your breath...It is that believe-it-or-not moment. Recently released figures reveal that US nationals, and not Bangladeshi citizens, form the largest chunk of foreigners illegally overstaying in Bangalore. As on December 31, 2013, there were 421 US nationals overstaying their visas, compared to 159 Bangladesh nationals. During the same time, a total of 3,948 people from 117 different countries were overstaying in the city, according to data furnished by the State home department. Bangladeshis are not even second...they are the sixth largest group of foreign nationals overstaying their visas. The dubious runners-up among illegal immigrants are Iranians (346). The number of Pakistan nationals overstaying is not provided, but the category others puts the figure at 10. There are 75 Pakistani nationals legally staying in Bangalore. Four countries from Africa (Congo, Ivory Coast, Sudan and Nigeria) and four from Asia (Iran, Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Iraq) form the top 10 overstaying nationalities. The other two places are claimed by the US at No. 1 and UK at No. 8. Not surprisingly, US nationals also make up the largest segment of foreign citizens living in Bangalore. There are 5,312 US citizens in the city, followed by Iran (1,747), Yemen (1,336) and Democratic Republic of Congo (1,232). Meanwhile, Bangalore can now rightfully claim the world city tag with the data revealing that the city is home to people from 174 different nationalities with a total of 27,782 foreigners legally living here. There are citizens from virtually unknown countries like Belize, Gabon, Nauru and Togolese Republic. In comparison, the International Cricket Council has only 107 member countries. Among the legally staying foreigners, seven countries contribute more than 1,000 people each. Apart from the US, there are more than 1,000 expats from Iran, Yemen, Congo, Iraq, UK and Sudan each. Another important indicator of Bangalores growing influence in the rest of the world is reflected in the large number of Japanese and South Korean nationals in the city. They are among the groups that make up the top 10 of legal expats. While better employment opportunities and living conditions is the lure for many foreigners from African countries and the Middle-East to overstay, sheer carelessness -- or the imbibing of sab chalta hain attitude during their prolonged stay in the country -- with regard to updating papers is what results in the Americans and Europeans overshooting visa deadlines. A pointer to the latter is the murky incident pertaining to the visa extension issued to global courier delivery services firm TNTs managing director Gerard Matthew David Power, a UK citizen. The Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) in Bangalore had alleged that the company had furnished fabricated documents to claim visa extension after failing to apply within the time frame.
Posted on: Fri, 07 Mar 2014 02:46:26 +0000