"The project envisages facilitation services to the travellers including online application forms, 24X7 online channel, phone support for grievance redressal and e-mail/SMS support for dissemination of information, application status and feedback," a Home Ministry statement said.
Once the project 'Immigration Visa and Foreigners Registration and Tracking (IVFRT)' is activated, it will result in "online registration of foreigners at the time of grant of visa and automated updation of the particulars of the foreigners at entry and exit points."
Other salient features of the project are authentication of traveller's identity at the Missions, Immigration Check Posts and Foreigners Registration Offices through use of document scanners and biometrics, availability of a centralised system for sharing information across the agencies concerned about foreign travellers, improved tracking of foreigners by integrating and sharing information captured during visa issuance.
It will also help in software aided passenger profiling for identifying risky travellers at Missions, ICPs and FRROs, and generation of automated alerts about overstay and failure to register with concerned FRRO/FRO.
Besides the other benefits are convergence and integration with other initiatives such as e-passports, e-migration and crime and criminal tracking network for expeditious and informed decision-making.
The new system has already been implemented and operationalised at 60 Indian Missions like in the UK, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Netherlands, Germany, New Zealand, Finland and Estonia among others.
Remaining missions, according to the statement, would be covered during financial years 2012-13 and 2013-14.