Visa Run

Merchant · Mar 21st, 2007, 00:11

You should, however, recognize that Indian officialdom may simply refuse to grant your overstay request. It's not your right to overstay your visa. There is just a mechanism to deal with emergencies, and unless you are immobilized in the hospital, you should be prepared to leave the country. The "oh, my friends got their visas extended" scenario may or may not come true for you.

TrinTrin · Mar 22nd, 2007, 03:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by federica

A lot are complaining about corruption in India, so why become an active part of that system... on the long run it makes things worse.

I have no problem paying bribes. I see it as part of the government system here and other places.

I'm here on a tourist visa. If I could delay my trip about 7 days that would be utterly sublime.

So basically my understanding is that I should buy a plane ticket, and go ask the local authority. Yeehaa!

Nick-H · Mar 22nd, 2007, 07:55

Well, that's gambling the ticket money --- and I'd say the odds are not that good...

As you seem to be working (or what the authorities may very well see as working) in India on a tourist visa, and as, consequently, your livelihood perhaps depends on getting back in again, I would do nothing to bring yourself to the attention of the authorities.

Once they start enquiring....

federica · Mar 22nd, 2007, 17:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by TrinTrin

I have no problem paying bribes. I see it as part of the government system here and other places.

I'm here on a tourist visa. If I could delay my trip about 7 days that would be utterly sublime.

So basically my understanding is that I should buy a plane ticket, and go ask the local authority. Yeehaa!

I've told you that it can work even if you are on a tourist visa, but I don't say it has to... the birthday of your brother doesn't sound like a good excuse....

And as Nick said. Working on a tourist visa plus asking for special treatment is extremely risky... you might not set your foot back into India again....

Bribes: it might not be a problem for you as you have the money, but you do harm others who don't have...Indians and foreigners.... in general it is a spiral upwards.... and even in India not everyone takes a bribe... there are people who will maybe take your bribe but send you directly into troubles.

bayareaabroad · Mar 26th, 2007, 17:33

I don't want to wade into the discussion of pros and cons of bribes (I've been living in Mumbai for six months and haven't found the need thus far), but I have some personal experience with overstaying on a tourist visa. As one of the previous posters noted, there is a mechanism for having your overstay condoned, and I found it to be very straightforward. Go to the FRRO office in your region, pay a few thousand rupee fine and provide your exit flight details (bring xeroxes of your ticket and passport/visa) and you can be granted an exit permit for up to two weeks time (generally only up to the date of the exit ticket you've shown them). A reason for the overstay is asked, but I marked mine as having been an oversight and didn't face questioning on how I could mistake the date of my visa expiry by so many days. I was more than one month overstayed on my visa and was told that it was not a particularly major problem - it didn't affect my ability to be issued a new visa once I was abroad.
That said, the best policy is probably just to stay on top of visa expiry dates and take care of extending/renewing them before it becomes an issue, I certainly don't intend to overstay on my current visa.
Hope that helps!

sandhyamrdul · Apr 6th, 2007, 15:33

Overstaying for a maximum of 15 days is OK, as has been said, all you need is an outbound ticket, I have done this before. The best destination for a pukka visa run is Bangkok...Sri Lanka used to be good, but they seem to have tightened up lately...I have heard Nepal is a major headache.

bayareaabroad · Apr 8th, 2007, 17:45

I have a question about the pukka trips. When I had to leave to update my visa, I ended up (for a variety of reasons) returning to the USA to do it. I know that obviously you can do the same procedure in a nearby country instead of trekking all the way to North America (or wherever home is), but I was wondering what the difference can be in terms of time to process the visa? I was told at the High Commission in London that, as I was not a resident of the UK, it could take up to 10 business days to process my visa application when I attempted to do so in late December. Is the same kind of lag time true in places like Bangkok or Abu Dhabi? I got my visa back the same day at the Indian consulate in America, which is wildly more convenient than spending two weeks in London or Dubai or wherever (which can turn out to be quite expensive!). Basically, when I go next time to update my visa, will I have to turn the trip into a one or two week vacation in order to process the visa?

sandhyamrdul · Apr 8th, 2007, 19:29

Bangkok took about 4 days, in Sri Lanka it is 5 days. But Bangkok is a far more interesting place to spend 4 days...

onajourney · Apr 9th, 2007, 09:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by bayareaabroad

I have a question about the pukka trips. When I had to leave to update my visa, I ended up (for a variety of reasons) returning to the USA to do it. I know that obviously you can do the same procedure in a nearby country instead of trekking all the way to North America (or wherever home is), but I was wondering what the difference can be in terms of time to process the visa? I was told at the High Commission in London that, as I was not a resident of the UK, it could take up to 10 business days to process my visa application when I attempted to do so in late December. Is the same kind of lag time true in places like Bangkok or Abu Dhabi? I got my visa back the same day at the Indian consulate in America, which is wildly more convenient than spending two weeks in London or Dubai or wherever (which can turn out to be quite expensive!). Basically, when I go next time to update my visa, will I have to turn the trip into a one or two week vacation in order to process the visa?

In Bangkok, you can turn your application in on Monday morning and pick it up on Friday afternoon.

palerider · Apr 16th, 2007, 11:18

In bangalore, you need to go to your local deputy Police guy and have a letter with you explaining that you are applying to extend because you are doing volunteer stuff. etc. You can bribe them, but , as happened to a friend, when you come back for the new visa, they just deny the bribe and the extension. The easiest way by far, is to go to sunny downtown Nepal, and come back a week later with six months more. the biggest extension you will get is one month on a six month visa, and three months on a ten year visa. It just isn't worth the money and hassle.

sirensongs · Apr 16th, 2007, 21:40

Quote:

I have no problem paying bribes. I see it as part of the government system here and other places.
I'm here on a tourist visa. If I could delay my trip about 7 days that would be utterly sublime.

Just in case my earlier suggestion was misinterpreted:
I had always heard the 2-week extension to be a legitimate, legal form of extension from the Dep. Supt. of police in any locality. Most usually, it's given in the case of serious illness.

If there is any illegality about it, I would not suggest nor advocate it, for a number of reasons.

TheTourist · Sep 24th, 2007, 06:23

Quote:

The ministry of Home affairs is empowered to convert tourist visas to entry visas and grant extension of upto 5 years!

Can someone clarify this?

Specific qualifications for entitlement to this?

Entry visa means what?

Possible to do this with 10 year tourist visa?

Any insight would be much appreciated!

Nick-H · Sep 24th, 2007, 11:07

"Entry" ("X") visas are issued to people of Indian Origin only --- according to the rules.

They are also issued to spouses of Indian Citizens, spouses of those here on employment visas, and whatever else the bureaucrats feel appropriate at the time. This can be a moving goalpost --- such as you can read about in the Goa property thread.

They are not issued for tourism.

You can find details of visa types on your local Indian Embassy website.

robinwyatt · Oct 20th, 2007, 19:21

Hi,

I'm not sure whether this is the right place to post this. Perhaps somebody could suggest somewhere else or simply move this.

I am coming to the end of a 28-month stint in India on a research visa. I have just been approved for a further 36-month research project. An immigration lawyer recently advised me that after five years living in the country, it is possible to apply for citizenship. I don't want to do this, but permanent residency might be useful, given that it takes so long to get a research project approved. I was told that my country (UK) is on the list of preferred countries for applicants for this. But I was asked to submit Rs5000 for further information on procedures. Has anyone got any experience of applying for permanent residency, especially after being in India for 5+ years as a researcher? It would be good to know more.

Cheers,

Robin

Nick-H · Oct 21st, 2007, 02:11

My initial reaction is that there is no such thing as PR in India, and that India does not welcome immigrants from UK any more than any other European country, which is not a lot.

I also know of no valid reason for a government officer to ask for any money for information on procedures.

The requirements for acquiring citizenship are on the Ministry of Home Affairs site --- but India does not allow dual citizenship and you would have to renounce your British citizenship.

Don't tell anybody, but ISTR that the British Home Office is prepared to let people pretend to do that. Check out their site. It sounds all wrong, but...

Mar 22nd, 2007, 07:55	#18
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 25,861	Well, that's gambling the ticket money --- and I'd say the odds are not that good... As you seem to be working (or what the authorities may very well see as working) in India on a tourist visa, and as, consequently, your livelihood perhaps depends on getting back in again, I would do nothing to bring yourself to the attention of the authorities. Once they start enquiring.... __________________ . Just one member of the IndiaMike Mod Team

Apr 16th, 2007, 11:18	#25
palerider adam singh Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Udayapura, Bangalore soon Posts: 196	In bangalore, you need to go to your local deputy Police guy and have a letter with you explaining that you are applying to extend because you are doing volunteer stuff. etc. You can bribe them, but , as happened to a friend, when you come back for the new visa, they just deny the bribe and the extension. The easiest way by far, is to go to sunny downtown Nepal, and come back a week later with six months more. the biggest extension you will get is one month on a six month visa, and three months on a ten year visa. It just isn't worth the money and hassle. __________________ I finally realised, in the nic of time, that Life was for Living.

Oct 20th, 2007, 19:21	#29
robinwyatt Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: India Posts: 23	Permanent residency Hi, I'm not sure whether this is the right place to post this. Perhaps somebody could suggest somewhere else or simply move this. I am coming to the end of a 28-month stint in India on a research visa. I have just been approved for a further 36-month research project. An immigration lawyer recently advised me that after five years living in the country, it is possible to apply for citizenship. I don't want to do this, but permanent residency might be useful, given that it takes so long to get a research project approved. I was told that my country (UK) is on the list of preferred countries for applicants for this. But I was asked to submit Rs5000 for further information on procedures. Has anyone got any experience of applying for permanent residency, especially after being in India for 5+ years as a researcher? It would be good to know more. Cheers, Robin

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Mar 21st, 2007, 00:11	#16
Merchant Maha Guru Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: New York Posts: 2,079	You should, however, recognize that Indian officialdom may simply refuse to grant your overstay request. It's not your right to overstay your visa. There is just a mechanism to deal with emergencies, and unless you are immobilized in the hospital, you should be prepared to leave the country. The "oh, my friends got their visas extended" scenario may or may not come true for you.

Mar 26th, 2007, 17:33	#20
bayareaabroad Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Mumbai Posts: 20	I don't want to wade into the discussion of pros and cons of bribes (I've been living in Mumbai for six months and haven't found the need thus far), but I have some personal experience with overstaying on a tourist visa. As one of the previous posters noted, there is a mechanism for having your overstay condoned, and I found it to be very straightforward. Go to the FRRO office in your region, pay a few thousand rupee fine and provide your exit flight details (bring xeroxes of your ticket and passport/visa) and you can be granted an exit permit for up to two weeks time (generally only up to the date of the exit ticket you've shown them). A reason for the overstay is asked, but I marked mine as having been an oversight and didn't face questioning on how I could mistake the date of my visa expiry by so many days. I was more than one month overstayed on my visa and was told that it was not a particularly major problem - it didn't affect my ability to be issued a new visa once I was abroad. That said, the best policy is probably just to stay on top of visa expiry dates and take care of extending/renewing them before it becomes an issue, I certainly don't intend to overstay on my current visa. Hope that helps!

Apr 6th, 2007, 15:33	#21
sandhyamrdul Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Mumbai Posts: 7	Overstaying for a maximum of 15 days is OK, as has been said, all you need is an outbound ticket, I have done this before. The best destination for a pukka visa run is Bangkok...Sri Lanka used to be good, but they seem to have tightened up lately...I have heard Nepal is a major headache.

Apr 8th, 2007, 17:45	#22
bayareaabroad Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Mumbai Posts: 20	I have a question about the pukka trips. When I had to leave to update my visa, I ended up (for a variety of reasons) returning to the USA to do it. I know that obviously you can do the same procedure in a nearby country instead of trekking all the way to North America (or wherever home is), but I was wondering what the difference can be in terms of time to process the visa? I was told at the High Commission in London that, as I was not a resident of the UK, it could take up to 10 business days to process my visa application when I attempted to do so in late December. Is the same kind of lag time true in places like Bangkok or Abu Dhabi? I got my visa back the same day at the Indian consulate in America, which is wildly more convenient than spending two weeks in London or Dubai or wherever (which can turn out to be quite expensive!). Basically, when I go next time to update my visa, will I have to turn the trip into a one or two week vacation in order to process the visa?

Apr 8th, 2007, 19:29	#23
sandhyamrdul Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Mumbai Posts: 7	Bangkok took about 4 days, in Sri Lanka it is 5 days. But Bangkok is a far more interesting place to spend 4 days...

Sep 24th, 2007, 11:07	#28
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 25,861	"Entry" ("X") visas are issued to people of Indian Origin only --- according to the rules. They are also issued to spouses of Indian Citizens, spouses of those here on employment visas, and whatever else the bureaucrats feel appropriate at the time. This can be a moving goalpost --- such as you can read about in the Goa property thread. They are not issued for tourism. You can find details of visa types on your local Indian Embassy website.

Oct 21st, 2007, 02:11	#30
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 25,861	My initial reaction is that there is no such thing as PR in India, and that India does not welcome immigrants from UK any more than any other European country, which is not a lot. I also know of no valid reason for a government officer to ask for any money for information on procedures. The requirements for acquiring citizenship are on the Ministry of Home Affairs site --- but India does not allow dual citizenship and you would have to renounce your British citizenship. Don't tell anybody, but ISTR that the British Home Office is prepared to let people pretend to do that. Check out their site. It sounds all wrong, but...

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