3 tourist visa in a row

Belgian · Sep 19th, 2006, 14:35

I got my first tourist (6months) visa from belgium. Than 4 months ago i went to sri lanka for another one (6 months). Is it difficult to get a third one for 6 months from colombo?

Thx everyone

goangoangone · Sep 19th, 2006, 18:58

I know a Dutch who renewed in Colombo last week. He has many visas in his passport already, some from Sri Lanka. He said they called him in to ask why he had so many visas. He answered that he loved staying in India (Goa). He said as little as possible and let them do the talking. They calmed down and then stamped his application.

cyberhippie · Sep 19th, 2006, 22:06

Difficult one, as the rules for this are purely arbirtary. The Embassy has full power to refuse you a visa if you have multiple visas in you passport, back to back!!

However it's been a while since I heard of anyone being refused on these ground, Though someone I know got her second one in Colombo and was informed, that the next visa would be better picked up at home!!!

mise · Sep 21st, 2006, 13:54

hi belgian,

if that is your real name!!??!!

I am currently here on my 3rd tourist visa in a row. I got the first one from home, the second from srilanka and the 3rd one from thailand. I have been told it's better not to go to the same embassy twice, but others may know better on this than me. Do please let us/me know what you decide to do and how you get on though.

Also see this thread where I asked about this six months ago...

3rd tourist visa in a row...

I am in fact now thinking of going for a fourth one (haha, no stopping me, nor do i want to go home!!)!!! Anyone know how that is?? Options seem limited, given my previous adventures, to bangladesh, pakistan or nepal (but they are supposed to be dodgy on those with back to back visa??). Anyone got the latest info on this??!! I would happily go back to sri lanka also if I thought it would be ok there...

thanks, as ever

TimMakins · Sep 21st, 2006, 15:22

Sirensongs is familiar with the process of getting visas in Nepal - why not send her a PM?

Tim in England

sirensongs · Sep 21st, 2006, 17:27

Hmm, well I have not had a problem getting back-to-backs, but people have been known to have problems. Just last month I met an Australian Tibetan monk whose monastery and lama are here in Nepal. He had gotten some four or five in a row from here in Kathmandu, and suddenly the embassy looked at him and said "you've had too many from here, you must go home to your home country."

This guy is a very committed monk in robes with shaved head and has a very legit reason to come here and to India a lot. I was surprised they would question a holy person in that way.

Whether this is actually a real law, or just a whim of a suspicious embasssy bureauprat, is a valid question. No one seems to know. But, it has been known to happen.

I told him to just go to Thailand...no one ever seems to have a problem there.

In the India visa renewal world, the consensus seems to be: Thailand is the most liberal and easygoing; Nepal can be unpredictable but gives few problems; Sri Lanka seems to be a bit more conservative.

My friend Nicolas is a Belgian NGO worker in Tamil Nadu who is just there on a tourist visa. He got 2 back to back from Colombo and never had a problem. Yet! ;-)

frosty · Sep 21st, 2006, 19:08

Hey belgian,

i remember having this conversation with you for the last time we were renewing our visa,s

well i did manage to get the my second visa in nepal i also had one from thailand as well the last one from nepal made it three in a row after i got it i enquired with the toupeed man (be aware he,s an absolute stickler for the rules when it comes to filling in the visa) at the counter if it would be ok to come back in six months to grab another one he said no problem so good luck if you choose that option

sirensongs · Sep 21st, 2006, 20:09

Oh, the toupee man! Yep, he's got a really painfully obvious rug - I think it's a weird reddish brown colour. Wish I could take a photo of him...but they're too finicky about that there. ;-)

Nick-H · Sep 21st, 2006, 22:57

Frosty... Did you take that fish with you?

It looks very persuasive

Belgian · Sep 23rd, 2006, 13:50

Hi guys

Thx for the many replies...

For me there is only one option... Sri lanka... Im staying in the south of india (kerala)... And my finances are not that good at the moment... Luckely i have some buddhist monk friends in Sri lanka ... where i can stay... So i can keep my trip to sri lanka very cheap... Which is not the case when i go to nepal or thailand...

So for me there is only the sri lanka option...

I got my last 6 months visa from Colombo... Do you guys think i can easily get another 6 months visa from colombo?

Anyone has experience with that?

Best regards
Belgian

Ps : no my name is not belgian

mise · Sep 25th, 2006, 17:44

aha, I knew it!! what parent would do that to a child (weeeellll - a filmstar belgian nationalist perhap?? aaanway...)

of course my name is not mise either!!!

meanwhile, am rather pleased to hear that the info on nepal may be a scurrilous rumour or not quite up to date. Am slightly surprised to hear it sounds ok for repeat requests. I 'blame' lonely planet, because on reflection, I think that's the only place I saw feedback that it was a bad place to renew/get a new visa, but the consensus from all you wise people seems to be it's ok, which makes life easier as i ponder visa run no 4 (am in delhi - flights much cheaper to ktm than anywhere else, as are logistics!!!)

good luck on your travels belgian and all others too.

mise · Feb 6th, 2007, 13:20

just a quck update, which i shoulda done months ago...

I had no problems getting a fourth visa in Kathmandu in early November. No questions asked by Mr Toupee (bless him!). Main issue is having to drag yourself out of bed seriously early in the morning, and watching the neat queue descend into chaos and various westerners almost ending up in fisticuffs over their positions in the queue!!! oh how important that wee piece of paper is to all of us eh?!

vespertine · Mar 6th, 2007, 15:57

Hello hello,

Been posting up a storm about this. You folk seem to be experienced so...

I want to stay in India for 7.5 months (would really like longer but have to be back in UK within 1 year of leaving)

Will go on a 6 month tourist visa and either travel to Nepal or Sri Lanka so that I may be in India for full 7.5 months.

Question: Must I wait until my first 6 month visa is nearly/completely run out before I apply for the next/new visa or can I travel to Nepal/Sri Lanka only 2 months into my 6 month tourist visa and ask for a new 6 month visa?? Common sense says you would need to wait until the current visa has or has nearly expired before requesting a renewal/ne visa but you never know. Tis a mad world.

Hope I'm making sense. A wee late for my head that is desperately swimming in India-speak...

Cheers

vespertine · Mar 6th, 2007, 15:58

p.s mainly want to go to kathmandu office just to see this mr toupee. sounds fascinating

batistuta · Mar 6th, 2007, 16:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by vespertine

Question: Must I wait until my first 6 month visa is nearly/completely run out before I apply for the next/new visa or can I travel to Nepal/Sri Lanka only 2 months into my 6 month tourist visa and ask for a new 6 month visa?? Common sense says you would need to wait until the current visa has or has nearly expired before requesting a renewal/ne visa but you never know. Tis a mad world.

Cheers

That should not be much of an issue(hopefully).They will cancel the visa that is about to run out and issue a New visa to you.

Sep 19th, 2006, 14:35	#1
Belgian Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Belgium Posts: 24	3 tourist visa in a row I got my first tourist (6months) visa from belgium. Than 4 months ago i went to sri lanka for another one (6 months). Is it difficult to get a third one for 6 months from colombo? Thx everyone

Sep 19th, 2006, 18:58	#2
goangoangone Monsoon Loon Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Goa Posts: 1,504	I know a Dutch who renewed in Colombo last week. He has many visas in his passport already, some from Sri Lanka. He said they called him in to ask why he had so many visas. He answered that he loved staying in India (Goa). He said as little as possible and let them do the talking. They calmed down and then stamped his application. __________________ GoanGoan......here

Sep 19th, 2006, 22:06	#3
cyberhippie Account Closed by User's Request Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: the Netherlands Posts: 6,012	Difficult one, as the rules for this are purely arbirtary. The Embassy has full power to refuse you a visa if you have multiple visas in you passport, back to back!! However it's been a while since I heard of anyone being refused on these ground, Though someone I know got her second one in Colombo and was informed, that the next visa would be better picked up at home!!! Last edited by cyberhippie : Sep 19th, 2006 at 23:19.

Sep 21st, 2006, 17:27	#6
sirensongs Eeny meeny mango Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: All India Permit (somewhere between Delhi & Dharamsala) Posts: 1,213	Hmm, well I have not had a problem getting back-to-backs, but people have been known to have problems. Just last month I met an Australian Tibetan monk whose monastery and lama are here in Nepal. He had gotten some four or five in a row from here in Kathmandu, and suddenly the embassy looked at him and said "you've had too many from here, you must go home to your home country." This guy is a very committed monk in robes with shaved head and has a very legit reason to come here and to India a lot. I was surprised they would question a holy person in that way. Whether this is actually a real law, or just a whim of a suspicious embasssy bureauprat, is a valid question. No one seems to know. But, it has been known to happen. I told him to just go to Thailand...no one ever seems to have a problem there. In the India visa renewal world, the consensus seems to be: Thailand is the most liberal and easygoing; Nepal can be unpredictable but gives few problems; Sri Lanka seems to be a bit more conservative. My friend Nicolas is a Belgian NGO worker in Tamil Nadu who is just there on a tourist visa. He got 2 back to back from Colombo and never had a problem. Yet! ;-) __________________ *"Why do people go to India to find themselves? India is where you go to lose* yourself."** Feringhee: The India Diaries

Sep 21st, 2006, 22:57	#9
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 26,908	Frosty... Did you take that fish with you? It looks very persuasive __________________ . Just one member of the IndiaMike Mod Team

Sep 21st, 2006, 13:54	#4
mise Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: currently, Delhi Posts: 16	hi belgian, if that is your real name!!??!! I am currently here on my 3rd tourist visa in a row. I got the first one from home, the second from srilanka and the 3rd one from thailand. I have been told it's better not to go to the same embassy twice, but others may know better on this than me. Do please let us/me know what you decide to do and how you get on though. Also see this thread where I asked about this six months ago... 3rd tourist visa in a row... I am in fact now thinking of going for a fourth one (haha, no stopping me, nor do i want to go home!!)!!! Anyone know how that is?? Options seem limited, given my previous adventures, to bangladesh, pakistan or nepal (but they are supposed to be dodgy on those with back to back visa??). Anyone got the latest info on this??!! I would happily go back to sri lanka also if I thought it would be ok there... thanks, as ever

Sep 21st, 2006, 19:08	#7
frosty Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: fishing in nepal Posts: 23	Hey belgian, i remember having this conversation with you for the last time we were renewing our visa,s well i did manage to get the my second visa in nepal i also had one from thailand as well the last one from nepal made it three in a row after i got it i enquired with the toupeed man (be aware he,s an absolute stickler for the rules when it comes to filling in the visa) at the counter if it would be ok to come back in six months to grab another one he said no problem so good luck if you choose that option

Sep 21st, 2006, 20:09	#8
sirensongs Eeny meeny mango Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: All India Permit (somewhere between Delhi & Dharamsala) Posts: 1,213	Oh, the toupee man! Yep, he's got a really painfully obvious rug - I think it's a weird reddish brown colour. Wish I could take a photo of him...but they're too finicky about that there. ;-)

Sep 23rd, 2006, 13:50	#10
Belgian Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Belgium Posts: 24	Hi guys Thx for the many replies... For me there is only one option... Sri lanka... Im staying in the south of india (kerala)... And my finances are not that good at the moment... Luckely i have some buddhist monk friends in Sri lanka ... where i can stay... So i can keep my trip to sri lanka very cheap... Which is not the case when i go to nepal or thailand... So for me there is only the sri lanka option... I got my last 6 months visa from Colombo... Do you guys think i can easily get another 6 months visa from colombo? Anyone has experience with that? Best regards Belgian Ps : no my name is not belgian

Sep 25th, 2006, 17:44	#11
mise Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: currently, Delhi Posts: 16	aha, I knew it!! what parent would do that to a child (weeeellll - a filmstar belgian nationalist perhap?? aaanway...) of course my name is not mise either!!! meanwhile, am rather pleased to hear that the info on nepal may be a scurrilous rumour or not quite up to date. Am slightly surprised to hear it sounds ok for repeat requests. I 'blame' lonely planet, because on reflection, I think that's the only place I saw feedback that it was a bad place to renew/get a new visa, but the consensus from all you wise people seems to be it's ok, which makes life easier as i ponder visa run no 4 (am in delhi - flights much cheaper to ktm than anywhere else, as are logistics!!!) good luck on your travels belgian and all others too.

Feb 6th, 2007, 13:20	#12
mise Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: currently, Delhi Posts: 16	just a quck update, which i shoulda done months ago... I had no problems getting a fourth visa in Kathmandu in early November. No questions asked by Mr Toupee (bless him!). Main issue is having to drag yourself out of bed seriously early in the morning, and watching the neat queue descend into chaos and various westerners almost ending up in fisticuffs over their positions in the queue!!! oh how important that wee piece of paper is to all of us eh?!

Mar 6th, 2007, 15:57	#13
vespertine Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: New Zealand Posts: 11	visa renewal from either nepal or sri lanka Hello hello, Been posting up a storm about this. You folk seem to be experienced so... I want to stay in India for 7.5 months (would really like longer but have to be back in UK within 1 year of leaving) Will go on a 6 month tourist visa and either travel to Nepal or Sri Lanka so that I may be in India for full 7.5 months. Question: Must I wait until my first 6 month visa is nearly/completely run out before I apply for the next/new visa or can I travel to Nepal/Sri Lanka only 2 months into my 6 month tourist visa and ask for a new 6 month visa?? Common sense says you would need to wait until the current visa has or has nearly expired before requesting a renewal/ne visa but you never know. Tis a mad world. Hope I'm making sense. A wee late for my head that is desperately swimming in India-speak... Cheers

Mar 6th, 2007, 15:58	#14
vespertine Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: New Zealand Posts: 11	p.s mainly want to go to kathmandu office just to see this mr toupee. sounds fascinating

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