6 month Tourist Visa "Extension"

I have been traveling around India on a 6 month tourist visa. I would like to keep traveling for another 6 months. I was told by the US Embassy in India that the Indian government will allow me to leave and go into Nepal before the expiration and come back into India (Multiple entry visa), while getting a stamp on my visa for another 180 days when after I will leave and go back to the U.S.
Questions:
1. Does anyone else have experience with this?
2. Is this a fail safe way to do it?
3. Would you suggest just getting another visa (first time applying for one IN nepal and second overall FOR India)?
4. Any other suggestions/comments/helpful hints regarding this thread?
--Thank you

Did you get this info from US embassy recently? IM's been flooded with similar queries and it seems no one knows for sure what's going on.

But I think you have to wait out for 2 months before you could re enter. I think you can apply for a new visa in a months time from the expiration of your previous visa, but the new visa wouldn't commence until the end of the 2nd month.

Also, there is no guarantee you would get one. But seeing that you have only ever held a solitary 6 month visa, hopefully you will be right for another one after you've waited out the required period.

It may be only 3 or 1 month single entry though.

Good luck, let us know how you go.

I got this information just today from the embassy

So you're saying that even though my visa has not expired and I have mutliple entries left, I would have to wait to go back into India? So when I get to the border and am looking for a stamp from the border patrol, they will not let me in? (This is all WITHOUT getting a new visa..just using my old one)

Yes, Getaloaf, that seems to be exactly what everybody on here is saying.
Do a search for the phrase "2 months" and you'll find the hysteria revolving around this issue.

I have to say, as a UK citizen I haven't seen anything official displayed on any Indian website in the UK.

If you fall within the new rule (eg you have just spent 90 days or more in India (I think, but I'm confused)) then, Yes.

What's more, getting a new visa wouldn't change anything: they would still look at how long you had spent in India, when you left, and restrict you from coming back.

First, you say you're on a 6 month visa & want to travel another six months. In that case, a) You must leave India before 180 days (a little less than 6 months) and b) you need to get another visa. Otherwise, you cannot travel "another six months."

India has recently issued notice that on long term visas, you must stay out of the country for two months before returning. How this affects short term (6 month) visas no one seems quite sure, but it stands to reason the same rules apply. You may have to get a letter from the Indian embassy in Nepal to get permission to come back in earlier. The entry stamp as you come back into India does NOT give you permission to stay beyond the expiration of your visa, only states that you left India and returned.

Additionally, there are other discussions that in Nepal only a second 3 month visa can be issued and you must wait one month from the expiration of your current visa before you can apply for the 3 month visa. This may cause some problems in your travel plans also.

Things are in flux right now. You will get conflicting answers even from Indian officials. But there is no guarantee that you will be able to cross over and come back into India without some major problems right now.

You seem very confused about this whole issue. One of the above statements must be incorrect.

If you have been travelling for nearly six months on a 6 month tourist visa, it is now about to expire and you will need to obtain a new visa before entering India again. Even without the new "two month between trips" rule, if you entered India with only say two weeks left on your visa, that does not entitle you to a "180 day stamp" because there is no such thing! What you DO get is a stamp showing the date of entry into India. One of many rules relating to tourist visas is that the longest length of one stay is 180 days, but that doesn't mean you can stay in India for 180 days if your visa is about to expire!!!

SO... What is the expiry date on your visa? Until you answer that question, nobody is in a postion to give you a clear answer about whether or not you need a new Indian visa.

Whether or not you need a new visa, you will not be permitted to enter India until you have been out of India for two months.

How do you have "multiple entries" left? In your OP, you said you were on a 6-mo tourist visa and had been in India 6 months.

Since you're American, sounds like you've got a 5 or 10 yr multiple-entry visa. Even if that is the case, from info posted on the forum lately, it seems that given you have already spent >90 days in India you won't be allowed back in right away i.e. without a 2 month stay outside India.

You two are absolutely correct about my timeline. I did not mean to be vauge. I am on a 6 month visa, which will expire on the 30th of January. I have a month and a half still on the visa.

My appologies

In that case, as soon as you leave India, it will become useless due to the 2 month between trips rule. You will have to spend at least two months in Nepal, you must wait a month after leaving India before you can even apply for a new visa, you may have to wait for your visa to expire before you'll be permitted to apply for a new one, and they're likely to give you only a three month Indian visa if any.

See the Kathmandu Visa sticky thread and Two month rule thread for the latest situation.

Thank you everyone for your inputs.

Has anyone else heard anything about this stamp at the border? Whether it could work or not? (not that I dont value your opinion..just want to hear more!)

What would be the best plan of action for me?
1. Try for the stamp?

If that doesn't work..
2. Try for the visa?

OR if those options sound bad (as they seem to)
3. Go home within my visa and just say "had fun anyways!"?

Thanks!

So far it doesn't appear to me that the 2-month rule applies to the 6-month tourist visa - except for re-applications for another 6-month tourist visa. But within your 6-month visa validity you can leave and re-enter as usual. That's my understanding.

Yes, I have heard of this "stamp at the border" thing, though in my many years in India I've never seen it. However, all tourist visas include the stipulation that the maximum stay on any given visit is 180 days. However, Indian visas (unlike some other countries such as the US) are NOT valid for entry up to the date of expiry PLUS the stay stamped on arrival. Indian visas are valid for stay only up to the date of expiry.

Your best bet is to plan to stay in India for as long as you can and like on this visa, since you've already stayed more than 90 days. Nobody is sure if the 2-month outside rule applies to a 6-month visa.

One thing that everybody with experience in India will agree with, is that you cannot count on officials to be lenient when the rules are unclear as they are now. The officials at the consulate and at the border are likely to be inconsistent, and while you may hear of one person who gets a lenient treatment, the next may not.

Thank you all..this helps a lot.

The next question I have is: If I try to go to Nepal to attempt for a new visa, even if I don't get it (or have to wait for one month of expiry) will I at least be able to get back into India to get my things?
(at least one month on my visa, having entered India on my visa only once, having a mutliple entry 6 month visa)
?