6 month visa

Hi i'm new to the forum and have tried the search for my question without success.

I know it maybe a silly question to most.
If I'm issued a 6 month visa on a British passport can I stay in india the full 6 months.
When I return back to the UK how long do I have to wait to apply for another 6 months.

My plan is to work with a NGO and have been told I can only stay for 6 months at a time.
Thanks
Dino

You can stay until the day the visa expires, and the 180 days starts running the minute they stick it in your visa --- which means that full six months can't actually happen.

But you ask a vague question about a specific thing. What kind of visa were you thinking of applying for? What kind of visa does the NGO think you need? I think you need to do some more basic homework on this. Try searching this forum for volunteering and visas...

Dino,

You need to do your research and have better advice than you appear to currently.

Start here: http://in.vfsglobal.co.uk/employmentvisa.html

Don't they now require a work visa for volunteer work as well as paid..

Yes !!

Thank you all that have replied to my questions.
Seems to be that I get the answers which lead to more questions.
To give some back ground info which may help. About 4 years ago I travelled out to India to work with a Indian group of men who were drilling and setting up fresh water hand pumps in various villages. I'm in a position finacially to afford not having to be paid for my time out there, hence the original question of doing 6 months in India then 6 months back in the UK working to build up my funds.
I don't want to do anything illegal or try to pull the wool over the officials eyes. But need to be out there for at 5-6 months a year.
I don't think that I could be offered employment by the group in India, which means I have to use an alternative way. Any other suggestions

Thanks again to all
Dino

The rules have changed a lot in recent years, and they do keep changing.

I summed up what I think I know about volunteering in India nowadays here: Tourist Visa or Employment Visa for Volunteering? Note that is all just what I've gathered, I've never done it myself.

As Mach so gently puts it a ton of changes have occurred on visas due to 9/11, Mumbai, etc. Its hard to keep up. But, my guess is you need an employment visa. Start early! The good news is after all the hassle you should have visa that more suits your needs..

No need for guessing.

As Dino is applying from the UK, he needs an employment visa for unpaid volunteer work, as John said clearly above.

Fact.

And as per my link, posted at post #3 in this thread:

An Employment Visa is granted to those who are an employee of an Indian company / or those who intend to do honorary work (without salary) with Registered NGOs in India. The Embassy/Consulate may grant Employment visa valid for a limited validity irrespective of the duration of the contract. Further extension up to 5 years could be obtained from MHA / FRRO in the concerned state in India. Please note the validity of the visa is effective from the date of issue.The duration of the visa is at the sole discretion of the Issuing Authority. All visa fees once paid are non-refundable irrespective of the outcome of the visa application and duration granted.

Sorry forgot to ask in my last posting. Would my wife have to apply for her own employment visa or can she be added to mine, even though she will not be doing any paid/unpaid work.

Thanks again to all.

Dino

Your wife can apply for an X visa on the basis of your E visa. She will not be able to do any work, paid or volunteering.

<cross-posted>

Your legally married wife would be granted an X visa, or Entry visa (two words for the same thing), concomitant with your employment visa. She would not be allowed to work on that.

These sites are also in the other post I pointed to above, but on visa and immigration issues in India, kindly carefully study also:

http://www.immigrationindia.nic.in/,
http://www.mha.nic.in/, notably currently its http://mha.nic.in/ForeigDiv/ForeigHome.html,
and for those of Indian backgrounds over the past few generations, http://moia.gov.in/.

Thank you once again all for your helpful advice.

Here's another question, what if I was to apply for a business visa, I've read that they can last up to 5 years.

Part of what I/we plan to do is drilling and installing handpumps for fresh drinking water and then also various other means of water filtration as used in bio-sand filters, and the manufacture of them.


Thank You

Dino

but recently are often issued for 3 months.

AndyD 8-)₹