10 Year Visa Question from US Citizen

happytraveler · Oct 8th, 2005, 04:41

I have looked at other threads on this site but haven't found an answer to my specific question, so I'm hoping someone can help! I understand it is possible to get a 10 year visa and my question is: my passport expires in 2008, so would I just pay a fee to transfer the visa or would I run into trouble if/when the 10 year visa is discontinued??

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you!

crvlvr · Oct 8th, 2005, 05:00

Typically the visa will not be issued for date past the passport expiry date. The india govt require that the pasport be valid for atleast 6 months after the visa expiry date. the passport expiry date is required to be included in your visa application form.

If you do recive the visa that extends past your passport expiry date and you travel after your current passport expires, then you will have to carry 2 passports - the expired one that contains the visa and the new valid passport.

happytraveler · Oct 8th, 2005, 05:36

Thank you crvlvr for the quick reply. This may be a dumb question, but is it possible/advisable to renew/get a new passport now? I am basically leaping off to some long-term travel that could easily extend beyond 2008. I would like to live in India for at least a year but very possibly longer and it would seem wise to take advantage of the 10 year visa while it is available.

Thank you! Thank you!

crvlvr · Oct 8th, 2005, 06:18

Quote:

I would like to live in India for at least a year but very possibly longer and it would seem wise to take advantage of the 10 year visa while it is available.

Regardless of the length of your visa, each stay is limited to 180 days. ie. you have to leave india 180 days after you enter the country. there is an abundance of posts regarding this topic. you'll find it if you search.

bijapuri · Oct 8th, 2005, 06:44

Ask the nearest consulate of India. Anything else is rumor and hearsay.
Not that you'll get any help from them, lolol

lotus blossom · Oct 8th, 2005, 07:24

i have a ten year visa that i got last year but my passport expires in five. the remainder of the time left on the visa will be transferred to a new passport upon my application of it. i'm not sure that you can apply for a new passport when you have one that is still valid, though you could always claim it as lost.

edwardseco · Oct 8th, 2005, 08:45

Lotus blossom's experience echos mine. When you get a new passport you can pay to have the 10 year visa transferred or simply carry the old passport with the visa stamp along with the new passport (more weight but cheaper)..

lotus blossom · Oct 8th, 2005, 09:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by edwardseco

... simply carry the old passport with the visa stamp along with the new passport (more weight but cheaper)..

i didn't know you could do this but if it is cost-effective, it may be a good option, although keeping track of one can be a challenge sometimes.

LavieQ · Nov 23rd, 2005, 11:43

Actually, this exact thing happened to me recently. My passport with the ten year visa expired and I got a new passport. The old passport was returned, but the cover had two holes punched in it to show that it had expired.

I now take both passports and show the visa in the old passport to the immigration upon landing in India. They then do their inscrutable head-nod and put the stamp on the new passport.

Works for me!

LaVieQ

LuAnnandJawahar · Nov 23rd, 2005, 12:33

You get your ten year visa. You get your new passport when the time comes. You send the old one with your visa in it along with your brand new passport to your nearest Indian consualte. They transfer the 10 year visa on to your new passport. (Well actually it's a new piece of paper pasted in and on it it will say "transfered from passport #.....whatever your old passport number was.) No need to carry two passports.
Do it. It is such a relief not to have to hassle with getting a visa every year.
The instructions for this are all at indianembassy.org as well as downloadable forms.

james st. aubin · Dec 4th, 2007, 02:10

We asked the same question to the consulate.

Apparently they will extend the duration of the 10 year visa onto your new passport upon request.

edwardseco · Dec 4th, 2007, 02:51

Subject to a fee so that is why I carry the old one instead..

james st. aubin · Dec 4th, 2007, 02:58

Edward, doesn't the U.S. take your old passport when they re-issue a new one? If so, you couldn't carry your old passport, only your current one.

Alohaguy · Dec 4th, 2007, 03:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by james st. aubin

Edward, doesn't the U.S. take your old passport when they re-issue a new one? If so, you couldn't carry your old passport, only your current one.

No, they don't take your old one. It is returned to you with holes in it!

Diana · Dec 4th, 2007, 03:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by Namaste India Tours

You get your ten year visa. You get your new passport when the time comes. You send the old one with your visa in it along with your brand new passport to your nearest Indian consualte. They transfer the 10 year visa on to your new passport. (Well actually it's a new piece of paper pasted in and on it it will say "transfered from passport #.....whatever your old passport number was.) No need to carry two passports.
Do it. It is such a relief not to have to hassle with getting a visa every year.
The instructions for this are all at indianembassy.org as well as downloadable forms.

What a useful post! Thanks!

Oct 8th, 2005, 04:41	#1
happytraveler Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 45	10 Year Visa Question from US Citizen I have looked at other threads on this site but haven't found an answer to my specific question, so I'm hoping someone can help! I understand it is possible to get a 10 year visa and my question is: my passport expires in 2008, so would I just pay a fee to transfer the visa or would I run into trouble if/when the 10 year visa is discontinued?? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

Oct 8th, 2005, 06:44	#5
bijapuri laid traps for troubadours Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Priustan Posts: 2,601	Ask the nearest consulate of India. Anything else is rumor and hearsay. Not that you'll get any help from them, lolol __________________ Focusing your life solely on making a buck shows a certain poverty of ambition. It asks too little of yourself. Because it's only when you hitch your wagon to something larger than yourself that you realize your true potential. Barack Obama lookit me!!!: http://www.flickr.com/photos/bijapuri/ Utube fuzzy logic: http://youtube.com/profile_videos?user=bijapuri&p =r

Oct 8th, 2005, 07:24	#6
lotus blossom re-member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: blowin' in the wind Posts: 1,885	i have a ten year visa that i got last year but my passport expires in five. the remainder of the time left on the visa will be transferred to a new passport upon my application of it. i'm not sure that you can apply for a new passport when you have one that is still valid, though you could always claim it as lost. __________________ Not all who wander are lost

Nov 23rd, 2005, 12:33	#10
LuAnnandJawahar Maha Guru Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Delhi/U.S. Posts: 663	You get your ten year visa. You get your new passport when the time comes. You send the old one with your visa in it along with your brand new passport to your nearest Indian consualte. They transfer the 10 year visa on to your new passport. (Well actually it's a new piece of paper pasted in and on it it will say "transfered from passport #.....whatever your old passport number was.) No need to carry two passports. Do it. It is such a relief not to have to hassle with getting a visa every year. The instructions for this are all at indianembassy.org as well as downloadable forms. __________________ Reject violence.

Dec 4th, 2007, 02:10	#11
james st. aubin Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Milford, Michigan, USA Posts: 5	10 year visa on 3 year passport We asked the same question to the consulate. Apparently they will extend the duration of the 10 year visa onto your new passport upon request.

Oct 8th, 2005, 05:00	#2
crvlvr Guru Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Hollywood Posts: 4,413	Typically the visa will not be issued for date past the passport expiry date. The india govt require that the pasport be valid for atleast 6 months after the visa expiry date. the passport expiry date is required to be included in your visa application form. If you do recive the visa that extends past your passport expiry date and you travel after your current passport expires, then you will have to carry 2 passports - the expired one that contains the visa and the new valid passport.

Oct 8th, 2005, 05:36	#3
happytraveler Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 45	Thank you crvlvr for the quick reply. This may be a dumb question, but is it possible/advisable to renew/get a new passport now? I am basically leaping off to some long-term travel that could easily extend beyond 2008. I would like to live in India for at least a year but very possibly longer and it would seem wise to take advantage of the 10 year visa while it is available. Thank you! Thank you!

Oct 8th, 2005, 08:45	#7
edwardseco Maha Guru Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Land that shakes and bakes. Posts: 3,777	Lotus blossom's experience echos mine. When you get a new passport you can pay to have the 10 year visa transferred or simply carry the old passport with the visa stamp along with the new passport (more weight but cheaper)..

Nov 23rd, 2005, 11:43	#9
LavieQ Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: WA, USA Posts: 75	Actually, this exact thing happened to me recently. My passport with the ten year visa expired and I got a new passport. The old passport was returned, but the cover had two holes punched in it to show that it had expired. I now take both passports and show the visa in the old passport to the immigration upon landing in India. They then do their inscrutable head-nod and put the stamp on the new passport. Works for me! LaVieQ

Dec 4th, 2007, 02:51	#12
edwardseco Maha Guru Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Land that shakes and bakes. Posts: 3,777	Subject to a fee so that is why I carry the old one instead..

Dec 4th, 2007, 02:58	#13
james st. aubin Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Milford, Michigan, USA Posts: 5	10 yr visa Edward, doesn't the U.S. take your old passport when they re-issue a new one? If so, you couldn't carry your old passport, only your current one.

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