Charter Flight Entry rules - urgent advice sought!!!

cathwatkin · Mar 9th, 2007, 17:57

Hello out there,
Am really hoping that someone out there will have some knowledge of this and can give me some advice.

I am due to leave the UK for Goa on 13 March (this Tuesday!) on a return Charter with Thomsonfly. It only cost £174 so I planned to not use the return portion and buy another ticket home when I'm ready.

However I've since discovered that it is illegal to enter India on a Charter and return on a Scheduled airline. As I would be coming back in August for a wedding the charter airlines will not be running so I will have to get a scheduled flight.

The British High Commission tell me this is illegal and I could find it very difficult to leave the country if I do this.

Does anyone have any experience/knowledge of this rule? How tightly do they regulate it? Should I take a chance??

If so then I will need to purchase a new flight - and quickly.

Fingers crossed that someone can help - and thanks in advance.

Catherine

SteamBuff · Mar 9th, 2007, 18:11

What type of VISA do you have?

cathwatkin · Mar 9th, 2007, 18:29

I have a 6 month multiple entry tourist visa valid from yesterday.

matt67 · Mar 9th, 2007, 18:59

Why did you contact the British High Commission?. it is the Indian high commission in London who will have the definitive answer. I suspect that the british high commission are under the impression that the visa was obtained as part of a group travel (is that what you said to them?)in which case they are right. However if you have obtained your visa independently then how you go in or out of india is immaterial as long as you return tothe Uk before your visa expires. So ask the contact in the british high commission (where was the high commission, was it in India)if you have obtained the visa independently is it OK. I am curious about this one.

cathwatkin · Mar 10th, 2007, 02:09

Hi Matt, I contacted the British High Commission in Delhi because I haven't been able to contact anyone at the Indian High Commission in the UK - rationale for BHC contact was I thought that if this was a genuine rule then it would follow that lots of Brits would come unstuck over it and would be aware of it - eg if I was unable to leave India then they would be my first port of call. I'm not travelling as part of a group and was clear about this when I spoke to them. There does seem to be a genuine 'law' in India against using a charter to enter and a scheduled to leave - but so few people know much about it that I'm starting to think it can't be that much of an issue so maybe I shouldn't worry about it...

matt67 · Mar 10th, 2007, 02:26

I find it strange that this rule exists. However Indian immigration are hardly likely to keep records of which flight someone entered the country on and which flight they were booked to go out on. Furthermore you could always have a excuse at hand....i fell ill.......but i dont think you will have to use it at all.

Nick-H · Mar 10th, 2007, 02:37

I seem to remember that, furthermore, charter-flight tourists are only permitted to depart from their port of arrival.

It may not be much of an issue because the vast majority of of charter arrivals depart at the end of their two weeks just as they are supposed to. It is better not to mess with immigration laws.

But, I do wonder how anyone is supposed to know this, prior to arrival. It is something I learnt from this site not so long ago and was very surprised.

Nick-H · Mar 10th, 2007, 02:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by matt67

I find it strange that this rule exists. However Indian immigration are hardly likely to keep records of which flight someone entered the country on and which flight they were booked to go out on. Furthermore you could always have a excuse at hand....i fell ill.......but i dont think you will have to use it at all.

That's what I thought. In the previous thread I mentioned above I was told (IIRC) that all charter flights and no scheduled flights to Goa arrive at one particular airport, so it is evident from your entry stamp that you arrived on a charter flight.

This is all vague memory of other IM posts from me: the input of someone with experience of this would be good.

Oh, BTW... they certainly keep records of which flight you arrived on, on your arrival card, and probably entered on their computer.

wp7713 · Mar 10th, 2007, 03:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick-H

T

Oh, BTW... they certainly keep records of which flight you arrived on, on your arrival card, and probably entered on their computer.

Yes, I'm sure this is the case. Fifteen years ago my passport was stolen, and the new passport had an endorsement, "The foreigner entered India on flight XYZ at Calcutta on..."

kmalik · Mar 10th, 2007, 05:19

It would be very bizarre for GOI to care how someone left India after the completion of their visit - as long as it was legal means and within the specifications of their visa. So, I would be very skeptical of such requirement - but then, governments have cornered the market on bizarre rules, so I can hardly be definitive. I did look at the Indian Embassy visa information - and there is no mention of this requirement and I assume it is unfounded...

wp7713 - Embarkation / Disembarkation record is very much a part of the process, and it is not confirmatory as to the requirement OP is worrying about.

GoanCanuck · Mar 10th, 2007, 12:05

Sorry to tell you that what you heard from the BHC is absolutely correct. Until last year you were free to travel into India on a charter flight and leave India later on by using a scheduled flight but this is no longer allowed. The only exception is if you were to fall sick and you were unable to use the return portion.

cathwatkin · Mar 10th, 2007, 14:19

Thanks guys.
That is really helpful, and things are becoming clearer.

GoanCanuck, thank you for that, you seem to know what you are talking about. Based on what you know would you recommend I just buy a new flight and save future problems?

Also, does anyone happen to know what sort of penalty I would face if I 'unknowingly' tried to break this rule (as it is only by sheer chance that I heard about it at all...)

Nick-H, thanks also for your extremely helpful comments. I tried the find the previous thread you refer to but no luck. You also give the wise advice of don't mess with immigration laws. But I wonder, is this an immigration law or an airline law, and how much trouble could I actually end up in? (being a generally cautious sort of type....!)

GoanCanuck · Mar 10th, 2007, 15:00

This rule has been made by the Civil Aviation ministry.

blackbird · Mar 10th, 2007, 16:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by cathwatkin

Also, does anyone happen to know what sort of penalty I would face if I 'unknowingly' tried to break this rule (as it is only by sheer chance that I heard about it at all...)

Being India, you never know. One immigration officer might not notice; one might knowingly overlook it; another might take great pleasure in kicking you off your flight home. I wouldn't risk it myself.

cathwatkin · Mar 10th, 2007, 16:19

So it sounds like the worst possible outcome is that I find I can't get home and get stuck in India indefinitely?

Mar 9th, 2007, 17:57	#1
cathwatkin Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Brighton, UK Posts: 8	Charter Flight Entry rules - urgent advice sought!!! Hello out there, Am really hoping that someone out there will have some knowledge of this and can give me some advice. I am due to leave the UK for Goa on 13 March (this Tuesday!) on a return Charter with Thomsonfly. It only cost £174 so I planned to not use the return portion and buy another ticket home when I'm ready. However I've since discovered that it is illegal to enter India on a Charter and return on a Scheduled airline. As I would be coming back in August for a wedding the charter airlines will not be running so I will have to get a scheduled flight. The British High Commission tell me this is illegal and I could find it very difficult to leave the country if I do this. Does anyone have any experience/knowledge of this rule? How tightly do they regulate it? Should I take a chance?? If so then I will need to purchase a new flight - and quickly. Fingers crossed that someone can help - and thanks in advance. Catherine

Mar 10th, 2007, 02:37	#7
Nick-H This is just a cameo appearance Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 35,898	I seem to remember that, furthermore, charter-flight tourists are only permitted to depart from their port of arrival. It may not be much of an issue because the vast majority of of charter arrivals depart at the end of their two weeks just as they are supposed to. It is better not to mess with immigration laws. But, I do wonder how anyone is supposed to know this, prior to arrival. It is something I learnt from this site not so long ago and was very surprised. __________________ ... Can't connect to local MySQL server through socket '/var/lib/mysql/mysql.sock' (2)

Mar 10th, 2007, 14:19	#12
cathwatkin Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Brighton, UK Posts: 8	Thanks guys. That is really helpful, and things are becoming clearer. GoanCanuck, thank you for that, you seem to know what you are talking about. Based on what you know would you recommend I just buy a new flight and save future problems? Also, does anyone happen to know what sort of penalty I would face if I 'unknowingly' tried to break this rule (as it is only by sheer chance that I heard about it at all...) Nick-H, thanks also for your extremely helpful comments. I tried the find the previous thread you refer to but no luck. You also give the wise advice of don't mess with immigration laws. But I wonder, is this an immigration law or an airline law, and how much trouble could I actually end up in? (being a generally cautious sort of type....!) Last edited by cathwatkin : Mar 10th, 2007 at 14:40. Reason: to finish message

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Mar 9th, 2007, 18:11	#2
SteamBuff Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Essex, Endland Posts: 373	What type of VISA do you have?

Mar 9th, 2007, 18:29	#3
cathwatkin Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Brighton, UK Posts: 8	I have a 6 month multiple entry tourist visa valid from yesterday.

Mar 9th, 2007, 18:59	#4
matt67 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Bath Posts: 206	Why did you contact the British High Commission?. it is the Indian high commission in London who will have the definitive answer. I suspect that the british high commission are under the impression that the visa was obtained as part of a group travel (is that what you said to them?)in which case they are right. However if you have obtained your visa independently then how you go in or out of india is immaterial as long as you return tothe Uk before your visa expires. So ask the contact in the british high commission (where was the high commission, was it in India)if you have obtained the visa independently is it OK. I am curious about this one.

Mar 10th, 2007, 02:09	#5
cathwatkin Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Brighton, UK Posts: 8	Hi Matt, I contacted the British High Commission in Delhi because I haven't been able to contact anyone at the Indian High Commission in the UK - rationale for BHC contact was I thought that if this was a genuine rule then it would follow that lots of Brits would come unstuck over it and would be aware of it - eg if I was unable to leave India then they would be my first port of call. I'm not travelling as part of a group and was clear about this when I spoke to them. There does seem to be a genuine 'law' in India against using a charter to enter and a scheduled to leave - but so few people know much about it that I'm starting to think it can't be that much of an issue so maybe I shouldn't worry about it...

Mar 10th, 2007, 02:26	#6
matt67 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Bath Posts: 206	I find it strange that this rule exists. However Indian immigration are hardly likely to keep records of which flight someone entered the country on and which flight they were booked to go out on. Furthermore you could always have a excuse at hand....i fell ill.......but i dont think you will have to use it at all.

Mar 10th, 2007, 05:19	#10
kmalik Maha Guru Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Ohio Posts: 670	It would be very bizarre for GOI to care how someone left India after the completion of their visit - as long as it was legal means and within the specifications of their visa. So, I would be very skeptical of such requirement - but then, governments have cornered the market on bizarre rules, so I can hardly be definitive. I did look at the Indian Embassy visa information - and there is no mention of this requirement and I assume it is unfounded... wp7713 - Embarkation / Disembarkation record is very much a part of the process, and it is not confirmatory as to the requirement OP is worrying about.

Mar 10th, 2007, 12:05	#11
GoanCanuck Maha Guru Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Vancouver Posts: 3,380	Sorry to tell you that what you heard from the BHC is absolutely correct. Until last year you were free to travel into India on a charter flight and leave India later on by using a scheduled flight but this is no longer allowed. The only exception is if you were to fall sick and you were unable to use the return portion.

Mar 10th, 2007, 15:00	#13
GoanCanuck Maha Guru Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Vancouver Posts: 3,380	This rule has been made by the Civil Aviation ministry.

Mar 10th, 2007, 16:19	#15
cathwatkin Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Brighton, UK Posts: 8	So it sounds like the worst possible outcome is that I find I can't get home and get stuck in India indefinitely?