Charter Flight Entry rules - urgent advice sought!!!

blackbird · Mar 10th, 2007, 16:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by cathwatkin

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

No that's just wishful thinking!

They won't let you overstay your visa. But I think the risk is that you could miss your chosen return flight, and have to buy another one (which would of course not be a charter flight....) And possibly also pay a fine for breaking the rules.

wp7713 · Mar 10th, 2007, 16:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by kmalik

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.

I think that is a part of the message I was trying to convey to the OP.

That, yes, your arriving flight number/entry place will be recorded.

kmalik: I was not trying to suggest anything beyond that.

cathwatkin · Mar 10th, 2007, 17:06

Thanks Blackbird.
So I guess I take a chance. I've already bought my flight and don't really want to pay again - and have the hassle of transferring via Mumbai. So I will take a chance and when I'm ready to leave I'll make sure I check through at the airport with loads of time to spare to deal with any immigration problems/fines that crop up. Sounds like the worst thing that will happen is I have to buy two flights to get home - so same difference as just buying a new one now.
So my gut feel is I'll take a chance - unless anyone has heard any really bad experiences of doing this.

matt67 · Mar 10th, 2007, 17:59

There is one other thing you could do. There is a bible for the travel industry called the Travel Index manual (TIM). It is updated every month and a book that is sent to the travel agents/airline every month and quite expensive. I have a copy that is June 2004 so out of date. this was not mentioned in it. You could contact your charter company....and ask them to look at the latest TIM and see if it is mentioned in there. Alternatively walk into the travel agent where you booked this trip and ask them to consult TIM.It is quite a definitive book and not available on the net due to the subscription chrages. But all agents and airlines know about it.

cathwatkin · Mar 14th, 2007, 16:05

Thanks everyone for your advice.
Having failed to pick up any horror stories from people who'd got into trouble doing this, I bit the bullet and flew out on my charter flight last night (so wonderful to be in India, haven't been here for 12 years, what took me so long????)
I intend to leave by scheduled airline from Delhi in August - will keep this post posted as to what happens ......

matt67 · Mar 14th, 2007, 16:10

hey well done. You will be OK on the way back. For the return journey just pick a time when the airport will be full and cramped with passengers so the immigration staff will be overworked.

Now go on write a Journal on this site...you know you want to.

Dont overdose on masala dosas or idli sambars

goangoangone · Mar 15th, 2007, 09:57

Even Dabolim (Goa) has scheduled flights now. How do they tell who your carrier is?

cyberhippie · Mar 15th, 2007, 14:01

Loads of people do this every year without a problem. Your visa is for 6 months so..................!

Same as buying seat on European Charters out of Goa not strictly legal but there you go!

SteamBuff · Mar 15th, 2007, 16:32

They know who your carrier is, as you have to put the arriving flight number on your immigration card.

goangoangone · Mar 16th, 2007, 09:19

I did it a while back. I don't know about current rules. Who holds the immigration card?

SteamBuff · Mar 16th, 2007, 17:22

Indian Immigration ... visitors with non-Indian passports has to fill it in, it is usually handed out on the plane and you have to hand it in at customs. (The information is entered on a computer)

Nick-H · Mar 16th, 2007, 18:33

...You hand in half on arrival, and keep the other half for departure...

SteamBuff · Mar 16th, 2007, 18:47

Nick,

That is not what happened to us .... They took 3/4 of it when they stamped my passport and they took the other 1/4 after I had picked up my luggage.

All I had was the stamp in my passport.

This was at Calcutta. (Arriving on a Air India flight from London)

Nick-H · Mar 16th, 2007, 19:04

Of the half that's left, there is a little bit at the bottom that gets torn off and given to customs on the way out.

the bit that's then left is your exit slip (de-embarkation card, I think it says on it!).

So you're right: not quite half

SteamBuff · Mar 16th, 2007, 19:16

Nick,

Everybody had to hand everything thing in at the airport.

The bit that was left after having our passport stamped was about 3 inch by 1 inch and basically the only information it contained was the number of checked-in bags and hand bags we were carrying. This was handed in and we were left with nothing. (There was no visable tear-off bit on this)

This appeared to be the same for everyone ... we were NOT asked for any slip when we left the country, when we checked in everyone was given a new full form to fill in. (Different to the first)

Looks as things may have changed .... or is this just Calcutta. (We travelled in and out in February 2007)

Mar 15th, 2007, 09:57	#22
goangoangone What happened? Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Goa Posts: 1,953	Even Dabolim (Goa) has scheduled flights now. How do they tell who your carrier is? __________________ GoanGoan......here

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Mar 10th, 2007, 17:06	#18
cathwatkin Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Brighton, UK Posts: 8	Thanks Blackbird. So I guess I take a chance. I've already bought my flight and don't really want to pay again - and have the hassle of transferring via Mumbai. So I will take a chance and when I'm ready to leave I'll make sure I check through at the airport with loads of time to spare to deal with any immigration problems/fines that crop up. Sounds like the worst thing that will happen is I have to buy two flights to get home - so same difference as just buying a new one now. So my gut feel is I'll take a chance - unless anyone has heard any really bad experiences of doing this.

Mar 10th, 2007, 17:59	#19
matt67 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Bath Posts: 207	There is one other thing you could do. There is a bible for the travel industry called the Travel Index manual (TIM). It is updated every month and a book that is sent to the travel agents/airline every month and quite expensive. I have a copy that is June 2004 so out of date. this was not mentioned in it. You could contact your charter company....and ask them to look at the latest TIM and see if it is mentioned in there. Alternatively walk into the travel agent where you booked this trip and ask them to consult TIM.It is quite a definitive book and not available on the net due to the subscription chrages. But all agents and airlines know about it.

Mar 14th, 2007, 16:05	#20
cathwatkin Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Brighton, UK Posts: 8	Thanks everyone for your advice. Having failed to pick up any horror stories from people who'd got into trouble doing this, I bit the bullet and flew out on my charter flight last night (so wonderful to be in India, haven't been here for 12 years, what took me so long????) I intend to leave by scheduled airline from Delhi in August - will keep this post posted as to what happens ......

Mar 14th, 2007, 16:10	#21
matt67 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Bath Posts: 207	hey well done. You will be OK on the way back. For the return journey just pick a time when the airport will be full and cramped with passengers so the immigration staff will be overworked. Now go on write a Journal on this site...you know you want to. Dont overdose on masala dosas or idli sambars

Mar 15th, 2007, 14:01	#23
cyberhippie Account Closed by User's Request Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: the Netherlands Posts: 6,009	Loads of people do this every year without a problem. Your visa is for 6 months so..................! Same as buying seat on European Charters out of Goa not strictly legal but there you go!

Mar 15th, 2007, 16:32	#24
SteamBuff Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Essex, Endland Posts: 373	They know who your carrier is, as you have to put the arriving flight number on your immigration card.

Mar 16th, 2007, 09:19	#25
goangoangone What happened? Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Goa Posts: 1,953	I did it a while back. I don't know about current rules. Who holds the immigration card?

Mar 16th, 2007, 17:22	#26
SteamBuff Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Essex, Endland Posts: 373	Indian Immigration ... visitors with non-Indian passports has to fill it in, it is usually handed out on the plane and you have to hand it in at customs. (The information is entered on a computer)

Mar 16th, 2007, 18:33	#27
Nick-H This is just a cameo appearance Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 36,204	...You hand in half on arrival, and keep the other half for departure...

Mar 16th, 2007, 18:47	#28
SteamBuff Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Essex, Endland Posts: 373	Nick, That is not what happened to us .... They took 3/4 of it when they stamped my passport and they took the other 1/4 after I had picked up my luggage. All I had was the stamp in my passport. This was at Calcutta. (Arriving on a Air India flight from London)

Mar 16th, 2007, 19:04	#29
Nick-H This is just a cameo appearance Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 36,204	Of the half that's left, there is a little bit at the bottom that gets torn off and given to customs on the way out. the bit that's then left is your exit slip (de-embarkation card, I think it says on it!). So you're right: not quite half

Mar 16th, 2007, 19:16	#30
SteamBuff Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Essex, Endland Posts: 373	Nick, Everybody had to hand everything thing in at the airport. The bit that was left after having our passport stamped was about 3 inch by 1 inch and basically the only information it contained was the number of checked-in bags and hand bags we were carrying. This was handed in and we were left with nothing. (There was no visable tear-off bit on this) This appeared to be the same for everyone ... we were NOT asked for any slip when we left the country, when we checked in everyone was given a new full form to fill in. (Different to the first) Looks as things may have changed .... or is this just Calcutta. (We travelled in and out in February 2007)