Frequently Asked Questions
If your question is not answered here, please contact us.
Getting help
Who can contact Videsh Mitra?
Any Indian migrant worker facing distress abroad, and anyone reporting on their behalf — family, friends, community members, or partner organisations. Families of missing or deceased workers can also contact us.
Does it cost anything?
No. Videsh Mitra never charges a worker or a family for assistance. If anyone asks you for money in our name, it is not us — please tell us.
I do not have my passport or any documents. Can I still get help?
Yes. Document retention is one of the most common problems we see. Tell us what you can, and we will work from there.
I am not sure my situation is serious enough.
Contact us anyway. Deciding how serious a situation is, is our job, not yours. We would much rather hear about something early.
Do I have to fill in the whole form?
No. Only the worker’s name, the country, what is happening, and one contact number are needed. Everything else can be skipped.
Can I contact you on WhatsApp instead of using the form?
Yes. The WhatsApp number reaches the same team. Some people find it easier or safer than a web form, and that is fine.
What happens next
What happens after I submit a case?
You receive a reference number immediately. The case is assessed, verified where possible, and we coordinate with whichever authorities, missions, legal professionals or local organisations are appropriate. You can follow the stage using your reference number.
How quickly will you respond?
It depends on urgency. Life-threatening situations are treated as immediate; withheld documents or abandonment, the same day; wage and contract disputes, within 48 hours; general enquiries, within five working days.
Are you available at night and at weekends?
The team is currently available Mon – Sat, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm IST. A case submitted outside those hours is recorded immediately and picked up when the team is next available. If there is an immediate danger to life, contact local emergency services and the nearest Indian Embassy or Consulate without waiting for us.
Will you definitely rescue or repatriate the worker?
We cannot promise that. Videsh Mitra has no governmental, diplomatic, police or judicial authority. What is possible depends on the circumstances, the applicable laws, the cooperation of the relevant authorities, and the resources available. We will tell you honestly what we can and cannot do in a given case.
Can you pay for a flight home?
Not as a matter of course. Repatriation usually involves the Indian Mission and other stakeholders, and a ticket on its own rarely solves the underlying problem — unpaid wages, a held passport, or an exit permit often have to be resolved first.
Privacy and safety
Who sees the information I send?
Only the Videsh Mitra case team. Where it helps the case, we may share relevant details with the Indian Embassy or Consulate, lawyers, doctors, shelters or local partner organisations.
Will you tell my employer or agent that I contacted you?
No. We never share anything with an employer or agent without specific permission from the worker.
It is not safe for me to receive a call. What do I do?
On the form, answer “No — please do not call.” We will use WhatsApp or the family contact in India instead.
Someone might see my screen. Can I leave quickly?
Yes. The “Quick exit” button at the top of every page leaves this site immediately and removes it from the back button. Pressing Escape three times does the same.
How long do you keep my information?
For as long as it is needed to help, after which the record is anonymised into statistics. You can ask us to close or delete a case at any time.
Getting involved
How can I volunteer?
Through the volunteer form. We particularly need translation, legal expertise, counselling, medical expertise and case coordination. Volunteers who handle case information are screened first.
Do volunteers have any official authority?
No. Field representatives and volunteers have no governmental, diplomatic, police, immigration or enforcement powers. Their role is outreach, information gathering and connecting people to the right support.
How can my organisation partner with Videsh Mitra?
Use the partner form. We work with NGOs, legal professionals, diaspora groups, healthcare organisations, employers, recruitment stakeholders, CSR partners and skill-development institutions.
Can I donate?
Yes — through the Support the Project page.
About the organisation
What is the relationship with NexGen Foundation?
Videsh Mitra is an initiative of NexGen Foundation. It operates under NexGen Foundation, which also works in education, scholarships and community support.
Are you a government body?
No. Videsh Mitra is a humanitarian support initiative. We work alongside government authorities and Indian Missions, but we do not replace them, and we have no legal authority of our own.
Which countries do you cover?
We aim to build field representation wherever there are significant Indian migrant populations. Coverage varies by country and is growing — contact us regardless of where the worker is, and we will tell you what we can do.
Important Notice
Videsh Mitra is a humanitarian support initiative and does not have governmental, diplomatic, police, immigration or judicial authority. Submission of a case does not guarantee rescue, financial assistance, repatriation or any particular outcome. Each case is assessed individually, and assistance depends on the circumstances, applicable laws, cooperation of relevant authorities and available resources.