6 Month Tourist Visa Extension

Hello!

I have my six month tourist visa for India and will be traveling there for the four months left on the visa. (Jan - May) I have a feeling that I will want to stay longer but I am not totally positive of the process. Can you please confirm the following:

1. I can extend my six month tourist visa for a maximum of 14 days while in India.

2. If I would like to apply for another six month tourist visa/extend my stay for another six months, I will have to leave the country (e.g. Bangladesh, Sri Lanka), apply, then return.

Thanks in advance for the help!

Officially, tourist visa are not renewable--they say that in the fine print. You can often get your visa extended for two weeks because of some accident or unforeseen circumstance that prevents you from leaving the country. This extension is really just a courtesy, since it is illegal to be in India with an expired visa (you are an illegal alien at that point).

You can, however, leave the country and get a new six month visa.

There is almost no way to stay in India for more than six months at a time. Leaving and getting new visas are really the only way maximize a stay in India.

Why do so many people think that if they want to stay on with a 6-month visa they can? No, you can't.

Why is mail2web advert showing on almost every IndiaMike page? Smacks to me of spam! Hope Mike gets lots of money out of them for this indescriminate coverage!

Right. Rants over....

Hello Roo, and welcome to IM . There is lots of information on visas here, but the Indian High Commision Website really does spell it out.

Yes, you will have to leave the country and reapply for a fresh tourist visa. No alternative to this.

The only exception is if you are a citizen of the US which would make you eligible for a 10 year tourist visa or if you are a citizen of Canada which would make you eligible for a 5 year tourist visa. If you are a citizen of the US/Canada you have to leave India after a 6 months stay but you can come back after spending a day or two in a neighbouring country without applying for a fresh visa.

I was talking to a friend in Coonoor on Monday. He's the Nilgiris representative for the Deputy British High Commission in Chennai. He told me that he had a memo saying that British Subjects could no longer get an Indian Visa in Sri Lanka.

Is he right, or is he wrong?

Well, that worked! no Mail2Web add on this page this time

Sorry Roo --- streaming cold and coarse Indian tissues; not good for the temper!