Kristina Kumar, a 26-year-old Russian YouTuber and influencer staying in Delhi on an X1 visa, has accused two female officials at the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) of harassment during a recent visit.
Kumar, who has been living in Delhi for about a year with her Indian boyfriend, said she went to the FRRO on September 26 to submit documents for her visa extension. Kumar holds an X1 visa.
What is an X1 visa?
An X1 visa is a long-term entry visa mainly issued to people of Indian origin (PIOs) who do not hold an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card but wish to live in India for an extended period.
It is commonly granted to foreign nationals of Indian descent, spouses and dependents of Indian citizens, and in some cases, dependents of foreign nationals residing in India on valid visas.
The X1 visa allows multiple entries and can be renewed yearly for up to five years. However, it does not permit the holder to work or engage in any business activities in India.
What happened to Kristin Kumar?
“When I visited the office last week with my boyfriend, they were polite. But on Friday, when I entered room 303 alone to submit my papers, they started asking me personal questions. They read my messages and questioned my personal life,” Kumar told Times of India.
Kumar alleged that the officers asked questions that were not related to her visa application, making her feel uncomfortable. She messaged her boyfriend during the interaction, telling him how uneasy she felt.
“They (officials) saw me messaging and demanded to check my phone. I felt I shouldn’t refuse, so I handed over my phone.”
She added that the officials then began reading through her personal messages.
“They started to read my chats, including with a man from my gym who helps me shoot videos. They asked me, ‘Why are you talking to him when you have a boyfriend?’”
Kumar also claimed that the officers made comments about her income and lifestyle.
“The officials started telling me that they know what I do and how many hotels I have stayed in. They asked me how much I earned in a month. It made me extremely uncomfortable as the officials were indirectly implying that I am an escort.”
The experience was so upsetting, she said, that she considered leaving India altogether.
“I was deeply disturbed, not just by the inappropriate questions, but also by the fact that they came from officials in charge of my visa extension. I even considered applying for an exit permit.”
FRRO denies claims
In response to the allegations, a senior official at the FRRO denied any wrongdoing. The official stated that the questions were part of a routine inquiry, triggered by irregularities found in Kumar’s documents.
The official said the questions were meant to clarify her living situation and address issues related to her visa application.
Meanwhile, Kumar has contacted the Russian Embassy and has written to the head of FRRO, requesting a review of the officers’ conduct