<span style="color: #222222;">A group of Indians working in China has jointly appealed to the External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar to help them reunite with their families who have not been able to return after leaving China because of the spread of COVID since early 2020. Last week's decision by China to allow some Indian students to return to their Chinese universities has rekindled their hopes of a family reunion. Several Indian professionals from Beijing, Shanghai and other cities, have submitted a petition to the Indian Embassy in Beijing requesting to take up their plight with the Chinese Government. The group includes Indians from sectors like automobile, technology and media working in China for a long period ranging from five to 27 years.<br />''<br />''China has effectively banned issuing any visas to Indians since November 2020. Due to this, the petitioning Indians have also not been able to visit their home country because their residence visas and work permits – mandatory to stay and work in any country — would automatically be cancelled, if they leave China with almost no chance of being renewed. In the letter addressed to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, the Indian group wrote that they and their families are going through severe mental anxiety; emotional trauma; financial losses; interruption in kids' education; and many intangible damages, most significant of which is the irreparable loss of family time together. Expressing inability to travel to India due to restrictions on entry into China, they said, if they leave the country, they will have to give up their careers and employment, which is not a viable option.<br />''<br />''After China agreed to permit the return of some Indian students, a list of Indian students who will be allowed to return is currently being prepared by the Indian side. In the letter to Jaishankar, the petitioning Indian group requested that a list of their separated family members be submitted along with that list.</span><br />