Delhi is the most sought-after destination for anyone seeking permanent employment or casual work.

Delhi - NCR has high-tech companies with offices in Delhi, Gurgaon and Noida that take up outsourcing jobs from Europe and the US. One can find excellent jobs as executives at entry level or top-level management profiles. The executive language of communication is English. Job openings are advertised through 'Times Ascent' a supplement of the national daily 'Times of India' each Wednesday, and through 'HT Careers' a supplement of the national daily 'Hindustan Times' each Tuesday.

Professionals from Europe, the US and other parts of the world have found growth opportunities in BPO and KPO sector, mainly due to outsourcing and job cuts in their countries. Lots of MNCs are launching projects in India, dealing in cars, furniture, etc, so they prefer to send their own employees for high-end managerial posts. It is also easy for these managers to achieve excellent productivity levels from the hardworking and patient Indian workforce.

On the other hand, Indian employers accept this situation, because foreign workers bring with them more specialized skills.

Unemployment is high in Europe and so are the taxes. Owing to the high currency difference between INR and Euros or Dollars, a multinational company can look forward to as much as 60% or more savings for a similar job being done in the US. Perks may include domestic help, chauffeur, gardener and club memberships. Pay packages are getting fatter.

The only restriction on expats taking up any job in India is to hold a valid work permit. A person can come to India with an employment visa or a work permit, which is valid for one year or till the end of the contract for which the visa is being obtained.

There are two ways to apply for a work permit. Either the applicant can apply to the High Commission or Indian Embassy in his or her home country, or the employer who offers the job initiates the visa application process in India. Residential permits should also be obtained from the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (Hans Bhawan, 1st Floor, Bhahadurshah Zafar Marg). In either case, the following documents are required:

(1) A completed application form;
(2) Three to four recent photographs of the applicant;
(3) Proof of employment, ie, appointment letter, applicant's resume, contract letter, terms and conditions of employment, proof of registration of the employer's organization in India, etc.;
(4) Other related documents supporting employment;
(5) Proof of legal residence in the country where the application is being submitted;
(6) Valid passport

Extension of work visas can be arranged in Delhi, from the Ministry of Home Affairs, Director (F), Lok Nayak Bhavan (1st floor), Khan Market, New Delhi - 110003. However, a foreign national employee is generally NOT allowed to convert his or her immigration status from a 'Visitor' status to 'Work' status while remaining in India.

There is a lot of demand for highly-skilled engineers and professionals in Delhi. There are companies that deal in the Telecomms and Microelectronics sector and employ expats. A 4-year university degree is preferred while seeking an Intra-company transfer to India. Intra-company transfer visas come under "E" Visas. For high-end managerial jobs, a post-graduate degree in Management studies is a must. One can post resumes on Naukri.com, www.monsterindia.com, www.timesjobs.com, www.ListingsInDelhi.com, and in.jobstreet.com/employers long before coming to Delhi. A lot of consultancy firms and agents also provide these services.

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