NEW DELHI: In yet another relief to Pakistani citizens belonging to the minority community, the government of India has enabled them to apply online for their long-term visa (LTV) and track the status of their application. The online system, which will also cover processing of the LTV visa application by various agencies, replaces the manual system of accepting such applications.The online application system will help Pakistani nationals belonging to minority community, particularly Hindus and Sikhs, who seek refuge in India for fear of religious persecution back home. These minority nationals come to India with the intention to settle permanently. The government, sympathetic to their cause, has been taking steps to streamline the procedures to facilitate their stay in India.While the manual system of submission of LTV application by eligible Pakistani citizens will continue along with the online system for a period of three months, with effect from August 1, 2015, all applications for LTV will be received and processed only in online mode.