Letters of recommendation / visa update

A small group of people have been given letters or recommendation for very short time periods (for example, 3 months instead of 5 years) seemingly for holding opposing views to the Foundation Office. In several instances, family members of those expressing disagreement with the Office have also been targeted. Since the Auroville Visa Policy as published by the Ministry of Home Affairs does not provide for 3-month visa extensions, these visas could not be processed and some Aurovilians have been forced to leave on Exit Visas.

A much larger group of people have been given one year letters instead of the expected five years. In most cases, the letters of recommendations are given just a few days ahead of the visa expiring, in spite of the required paperwork being handed in several months in advance. In other cases the visas expired months before, and the residents are still awaiting their letter of recommendations without news.

This has created fear and uncertainty amongst the section of the community reliant on visas to stay in Auroville. Travel plans cannot be made with any clarity as it is not known when the letter and therefore the subsequent visa will arrive. Additionally, one year visas are over time significantly more costly than five year visas, creating a new financial pressure. These practices have upended several decades of visa stability for foreign Aurovilians, stability essential for building the international community as envisioned by Sri Aurobindo and The Mother.