Foreign nationals and Indian laws

icetea · Jul 14th, 2006, 13:23

An article that explains the rights of foreign residents in India in what banking, insurance, property and transfer of assets are concerned. You might find it useful, here it is:

deleted..ok now?

(this is not an official or updated source, though, so do your research before blindly relying on it)

Maybe we could have a sticky with this sort of legal info relevant for the residents around here? Anyone volunteering to compile it?

(or should I go post this on the volunteering thread?)

I could use that sticky too, since I found out just now, from a post, that I can actually open a bank account in India....

dzibead · Jul 14th, 2006, 14:02

The problem with this article is that it's misleadingly incomplete. Just one example: it mentions the ten-year tourist visa that Americans can get, without also noting that this visa doesn't entitle the holder to stay in India continuously for ten years. Makes me wonder about the accuracy and completeness of the rest of the information.

This kind of half-baked information can be more problematical and even dangerous than no information at all. Quite honestly, I don't think a "sticky" with "legal" information is a good idea. If people want legal advice,they should seek it from a qualified lawyer or an official source, not from IndiaMike.com. It's one thing for all of us to have free-form discussions about these issues in a thread (or multiple threads, as the same issues come up over and over), but at least those don't pretend to be anything other than what they are: bull sessions. Once you put the info in a "sticky," it invests it with an air of legitimacy that's totally unwarranted. Even posting the information with a big disclaimer doesn't really cure the problem.

I myself am a lawyer, and if I had a nickel for every time some client came into my office because they got into a jam by relying on half-baked advice ("my brother-in-law told me" ..."I found this webpage that said"... etc., etc., I'd be retired and living in the South of France. I don't think we should get into the business of purporting to offer this kind of advice. It would make more sense to have a sticky that just provides links to various official Indian government websites.

icetea · Jul 14th, 2006, 14:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by dzibead

I don't think we should get into the business of purporting to offer this kind of advice. It would make more sense to have a sticky that just provides links to various official Indian government websites.

Once it's a sticky, it should be official info only, sure.

I posted this one because I found it to be informative; not exhaustive..official..updated. .or necesarly very reliable. This one is not a sticky...I just flashed a link. No ill intentions, I don't think it will do more harm than good..if anyone reads it at all. Please don't throw stones..it was just a suggestion, and I think a reasonable one (about the sticky)

dzibead · Jul 14th, 2006, 14:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by icetea

Official, sure, just let's compile it!

Good idea.

Quote:

Originally Posted by icetea

...if anyone reads it at all

Yeah, most people will fall asleep after two sentences.

icetea · Jul 14th, 2006, 14:47

oh it's so nice to get a friendly word nowadays...

Nick-H · Jul 14th, 2006, 14:56

Well, we have done this with the Visa stuff. I compiled a sticky on tourist visas and related issues, others contributed to and corrected it, and I hope people still find it useful.

It does have a big disclaimer, that it is based on our collective researches and experiences, but none of us are lawyers, immigration or otherwise, etc...

I want to have a separate forum for questions, experiences and information on property buying, which, after visas is the next biggest issue on IM. But it hasn't happened next (Nadreg... Nudge, Nudge

).

icetea · Jul 14th, 2006, 15:29

that sounds good. And then there are the money/income-related issues: cards, ATMs and banking in general; income tax; employment-related questions.

Penri · Jul 14th, 2006, 17:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick-H

I want to have a separate forum for questions, experiences and information on property buying,...

Excellent idea, 'cause I was thinking of buying a property in Goa and ...

Nick-H · Jul 14th, 2006, 18:54

...Well you'd better get that business visa changed to a Tourist visa for a start. Then you can start with the daft questions!

Penri · Jul 14th, 2006, 19:07

I might need the business visa to start up my 'legit' company.

Sorry... 6pm on a Friday and I really should be going home.

dzibead · Jul 14th, 2006, 22:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick-H

...Well you'd better get that business visa changed to a Tourist visa for a start. Then you can start with the daft questions!

Now, now. Do I detect a bit of cyncism - "moderator burn-out"? - creeping in?

By the way, looking back over my previous "cautionary" post, I realize what a "lawyer" I sound like.

Well, I am one, so I can't help it. But I guess that just makes me unusually nervous/sensitive to the risks/downside of providing advice or information that even touches on "legal" matters.

For sticky's on such topics, I would include a BIG DISCLAIMER and links to pertinent official websites where appropriate, and where the other information in the sticky is based on anecdotal evidence (see, there I go again), I think that should be indicated as well, to distinguish it from information gleaned from "official" sources.

capt_mahajan · Jul 15th, 2006, 06:42

oh no! not another buying property in goa thread!!

Nick-H · Jul 15th, 2006, 09:50

Dzibead is right.

Oh jsut imagine what IM sigs could get like

.

Like those stupid and, in my humble opinion, legally worthless disclaimers that often dwarf their accompanying emails!

Sensi · Aug 15th, 2006, 01:11

An interesting law is that any indian policeman can order a foreigner deported at any time for any reason!!!

rangss · Aug 15th, 2006, 02:02

Indians are the friendliest folk on earth
Indian government is xenophobia defined

Jul 14th, 2006, 13:23	#1
icetea 'sort of hate India' club member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Chennai, via Romania Posts: 917	Foreign nationals and Indian laws An article that explains the rights of foreign residents in India in what banking, insurance, property and transfer of assets are concerned. You might find it useful, here it is: deleted..ok now? (this is not an official or updated source, though, so do your research before blindly relying on it) Maybe we could have a sticky with this sort of legal info relevant for the residents around here? Anyone volunteering to compile it? (or should I go post this on the volunteering thread?) I could use that sticky too, since I found out just now, from a post, that I can actually open a bank account in India.... Last edited by icetea : Jul 15th, 2006 at 12:36.

Jul 14th, 2006, 14:56	#6
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 25,860	Well, we have done this with the Visa stuff. I compiled a sticky on tourist visas and related issues, others contributed to and corrected it, and I hope people still find it useful. It does have a big disclaimer, that it is based on our collective researches and experiences, but none of us are lawyers, immigration or otherwise, etc... I want to have a separate forum for questions, experiences and information on property buying, which, after visas is the next biggest issue on IM. But it hasn't happened next (Nadreg... Nudge, Nudge ). __________________ . Just one member of the IndiaMike Mod Team

Aug 15th, 2006, 02:02	#15
rangss Bulk Carrier Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Chennai Posts: 1,834	Indians are the friendliest folk on earth Indian government is xenophobia defined __________________ ...and I took the road less travelled.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Several foreign nationals to be deported from Goa	GoanCanuck	Goa	17	Jan 13th, 2007 04:21
49 Indian nationals caught (wrongly?) in USA drug sting	byronic	Chai and Chat	39	Oct 13th, 2006 09:48
Foreign Men In Traditional Indian Clothing?	Seeker710	Chai and Chat	9	May 10th, 2005 20:36
UK Working holiday maker visas for Indian nationals	AntonyW	Chai and Chat	0	Mar 16th, 2005 04:28
UK introduces new visa controls for Indian nationals	steven_ber	India Travel News and Commentary	0	Oct 15th, 2003 21:46

Jul 14th, 2006, 14:02	#2
dzibead Maha Guru Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Northern California Posts: 1,979	The problem with this article is that it's misleadingly incomplete. Just one example: it mentions the ten-year tourist visa that Americans can get, without also noting that this visa doesn't entitle the holder to stay in India continuously for ten years. Makes me wonder about the accuracy and completeness of the rest of the information. This kind of half-baked information can be more problematical and even dangerous than no information at all. Quite honestly, I don't think a "sticky" with "legal" information is a good idea. If people want legal advice,they should seek it from a qualified lawyer or an official source, not from IndiaMike.com. It's one thing for all of us to have free-form discussions about these issues in a thread (or multiple threads, as the same issues come up over and over), but at least those don't pretend to be anything other than what they are: bull sessions. Once you put the info in a "sticky," it invests it with an air of legitimacy that's totally unwarranted. Even posting the information with a big disclaimer doesn't really cure the problem. I myself am a lawyer, and if I had a nickel for every time some client came into my office because they got into a jam by relying on half-baked advice ("my brother-in-law told me" ..."I found this webpage that said"... etc., etc., I'd be retired and living in the South of France. I don't think we should get into the business of purporting to offer this kind of advice. It would make more sense to have a sticky that just provides links to various official Indian government websites.

Jul 14th, 2006, 14:47	#5
icetea 'sort of hate India' club member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Chennai, via Romania Posts: 917	oh it's so nice to get a friendly word nowadays...

Jul 14th, 2006, 15:29	#7
icetea 'sort of hate India' club member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Chennai, via Romania Posts: 917	that sounds good. And then there are the money/income-related issues: cards, ATMs and banking in general; income tax; employment-related questions.

Jul 14th, 2006, 18:54	#9
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 25,860	...Well you'd better get that business visa changed to a Tourist visa for a start. Then you can start with the daft questions!

Jul 14th, 2006, 19:07	#10
Penri Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Chennai Posts: 169	I might need the business visa to start up my 'legit' company. Sorry... 6pm on a Friday and I really should be going home.

Jul 15th, 2006, 06:42	#12
capt_mahajan (in charge of navel affairs) Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: India Posts: 9,753	oh no! not another buying property in goa thread!!

Jul 15th, 2006, 09:50	#13
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 25,860	Dzibead is right. Oh jsut imagine what IM sigs could get like . Like those stupid and, in my humble opinion, legally worthless disclaimers that often dwarf their accompanying emails!

Aug 15th, 2006, 01:11	#14
Sensi Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: in a bungalow Posts: 118	An interesting law is that any indian policeman can order a foreigner deported at any time for any reason!!!

User Name		Remember Me?
Password