Alternatives to overstaying my visa.

Haylo · Jul 18th, 2009, 17:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick-H

Whilst it seems a lot of money, isn't flexibility something that one pays through the nose for? aren't the cheapest-of-the-cheap seats not changeable at any price?

Perhaps things are different in Canada and the US, but the conditions of carriage on the majority of the flights to India that I have booked in the UK have been very simple. You either take the flight you've booked, or you start again and pay for another; no refunds are available, nor are any changes to the flight date, passenger name etc.

Nick-H · Jul 18th, 2009, 17:57

My BA flights in recent years, not all at the lowest fare level, because one or two have been at take-what's-left short notice, and I travel premium-economy if I can possibly afford it, have been changeable/cancellable, with a fee attached.

BA do make it fairly clear when booking online.

countingtoten · Jul 18th, 2009, 18:05

In the last six months I have changed two flight dates on Virgin and one on Air India, between India and the UK. The most I paid for changing was 62 pounds (5000 rupees) and I always book the cheapest seats.

I would recommend calling the airline direct rather than go through the travel agent as the price quoted seems ridiculously high.

federica · Jul 18th, 2009, 18:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by edwardseco

Of course, and you pay for the second visa..

less than for changing the flight... guess this is the cheapest way if you're not in India yet.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick-H

Whilst it seems a lot of money, isn't flexibility something that one pays through the nose for? aren't the cheapest-of-the-cheap seats not changeable at any price?

True. The cheapest offers you can't change/cancel at all, it's written in the contract under which circumstances and for how much money changes can be made.

machadinha · Jul 18th, 2009, 18:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by Haylo

Perhaps things are different in Canada and the US, but the conditions of carriage on the majority of the flights to India that I have booked in the UK have been very simple. You either take the flight you've booked, or you start again and pay for another; no refunds are available, nor are any changes to the flight date, passenger name etc.

That flight of mine with BA mentioned above was over London though. Could be, of course, that it was subject to Dutch regulations.

nb

Quote:

Originally Posted by countingtoten

I would recommend calling the airline direct rather than go through the travel agent as the price quoted seems ridiculously high.

That would, of course, always be a sensible step that costs you very little. So, yes, please do.

adityabee · Jul 18th, 2009, 19:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by humblehermit

Hi Everyone,

I've been browsing posts regarding overstaying visas hoping that there is a small fee I can pay to overstay, but it seems the general concensus is to avoid overstay.

So here's my (unfortunate) situation:

I've got a 6 month tourist visa which expires 3 days before my flight out of Mumbai. The minimum cost to change the flight by 3-days?... $600!!!

So here's some alternatives I'm considering, I'm hoping one will be viable? Anyone with experience out there, advice would be greatly appreciated:

1) Go directly to the nearest consulate when I arrive and start grovelling. I know Indian beauracracy can be a nightmare, but I'd be willing to allocate days if it'll save me the $600.

2) Go to Nepal just before my visa expires and immediately apply for another 30 day tourist visa, then high-tail it to Mumbai for my flight. This would assume a) an Indian visa from Nepal can be issued within a day and b) I can get from Nepal to Mumbai in a day.

Like I say, any feedback on these options (or any other possible alternatives) would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks so much,
HH

my solution? i would do the following:

A), i would ask for an extension and plead my case right away in advance of the foreseen overstayal and hope for the best.

B), two weeks before my Indian visa expired i would either go to Sri Lanka or Nepal and apply for a transit visa to leave India with that flight from Mumbai (they ask for a copy of the ticket for your onward flight), the only way you can get to Mumbai from Kathmandu is either overland in 'hops' or by air Kathmandu - Delhi and change a flight to go on to Mumbai (there is no direct flight).

the first option involves grovelling and maybe a little expense and time on your part; the second would require the following expenses (indicative):

Nepal Visa - 15 days @ 25 USD
Indian transit visa valid for 15 days (also overland travel allowed - proof of tickets to leave India to be given) @ 800 Rs.
airfare - Mumbai - Kathmandu - Mumbai (via New Delhi) approx. Inr. 17000 (you have to check for the lowest possible price, but Delhi - Kathmandu is 10000 Inr.) or overland costs would be in the range of 3000 - 7000 Inr. (depends on how you travel).

if you instead go to Sri Lanka - you can apply for a transit visa there for a similar cost (only cheap flights are available which usually fly through Chennai for around 12000 rs.) and you would have to follow the same process and at similar costs.

you would end up spending around 350 USD on such a trip (and in the bargain see Nepal or Sri Lanka).

let me know if you need any further tips or suggestions.

machadinha · Jul 18th, 2009, 19:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by adityabee

my solution? i would do the following:

A), i would ask for an extension

I'm sorry, have not read the rest, but there exists no extension.

That is, essentially, the problem.

Wildhorse · Jul 18th, 2009, 19:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by Haylo

Perhaps things are different in Canada and the US, but the conditions of carriage on the majority of the flights to India that I have booked in the UK have been very simple. You either take the flight you've booked, or you start again and pay for another; no refunds are available, nor are any changes to the flight date, passenger name etc.

Exactly. And even if you pay more for your flight and hence for the possibility to change it if the need arises, the airline usually tells you that you will have to pay not only the change or cancel fee but also the DIFFERENCE in case your original tariff is no longer available. So, when the OP talks of 600 dollars, this is most certainly not the cancel fee but includes the "surcharge" for his new ticket because no more tickets at the original, cheaper rate are available.

nycank · Jul 19th, 2009, 06:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wildhorse

Exactly. And even if you pay more for your flight and hence for the possibility to change it if the need arises, the airline usually tells you that you will have to pay not only the change or cancel fee but also the DIFFERENCE in case your original tariff is no longer available. So, when the OP talks of 600 dollars, this is most certainly not the cancel fee but includes the "surcharge" for his new ticket because no more tickets at the original, cheaper rate are available.

In many cases it might be true, and in fact, in simple RT it tends to fluctuates by farebasis. Same booking class, different farebasis. Dunno in OP's case.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Haylo

Perhaps things are different in Canada and the US, but the conditions of carriage on the majority of the flights to India that I have booked in the UK have been very simple.

CC for each carrier is different. US based airlines (post deregulation have based their CC on old DOT regulations and made some changes post 9/11) Canada ? When Air Canada gobbled up Canadian...

for their residents. So, yes. US,UK,CA carriers have all have different Contracts of Carriage. Delta has two - Domestic and International.

Quote:

Originally Posted by countingtoten

In the last six months I have changed two flight dates on Virgin and one on Air India, between India and the UK. The most I paid for changing was 62 pounds (5000 rupees) and I always book the cheapest seats.

I would recommend calling the airline direct rather than go through the travel agent as the price quoted seems ridiculously high.

Cheapest straight RT is based on fare basis. It may be cheapest but farebasis might be very flexible. However, TA has no control on the regulation, other than read from the same GDS as you and I can, if we had access to it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by machadinha

That flight of mine with BA mentioned above was over London though. Could be, of course, that it was subject to Dutch regulations.

Nope: BA's CC is what it files applies. Dutch or British regulations are guided by EU passenger rights and regulations. It is some EU directive number which I forgot. It applies to EU carriers and flights originating/terminating or transiting through EU.

It is simple: OP does not have a straight laced round-trip ticket; I think. His was probably crafted by combining various carriers, and multiple farebasis, it is typical in a Round-The-World ticketing or something similar. Ultimately, the BOM-Canada portion/leg's fare-basis will determine what rules apply. Sometimes a really ridiculously inexpensive ticket might just have a very generous change and stop-over rule and sometimes, its SOL. If his trip was crafted using unpublished farebasis (somewhat common) with additional riders tagged in, then ......

PS: If it was a paper ticket on ARC stock, I would be *not* surprised on the settlement problems that airlines might want to avoid. ETs are easier to deal with.

adityabee · Jul 19th, 2009, 16:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by machadinha

I'm sorry, have not read the rest, but there exists no extension.

That is, essentially, the problem.

of three days under the possible to extend upto fifteen days in case of an emergency point... to simply explain the situation to the FRO/FRRO - it is worth a try.

i agree that it is not possible to extend a visa, however as the OP has not stayed for the entire duration - he would not cross the 180 day mark.

Nick-H · Jul 19th, 2009, 16:39

Quote:

i agree that it is not possible to extend a visa, however as the OP has not stayed for the entire duration - he would not cross the 180 day mark.

That really doesn't matter: it is still not possible to extend a tourist visa.

There are two separate things a tourist may not do:

1. Stay for more than 180 consecutive days on one visit.

2. Stay beyond the validity of their visa.

They will not let a person do one just because they have not done the other!

Haylo · Jul 19th, 2009, 23:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick-H

That really doesn't matter: it is still not possible to extend a tourist visa.

Oh, it is possible to extend a tourist visa, but only in cases of genuine emergency, with documented proof. Booking a return flight after your visa has expired hardly constitutes an emergency!

Perhaps as a last resort the OP could get someone to break his leg just before his flight.

adityabee · Jul 19th, 2009, 23:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by Haylo

Oh, it is possible to extend a tourist visa, but only in cases of genuine emergency, with documented proof. Booking a return flight after your visa has expired hardly constitutes an emergency!

Perhaps as a last resort the OP could get someone to break his leg just before his flight.

i am sure Nick-H would be glad to do that for us

Nick-H · Jul 19th, 2009, 23:38

Oh, yes... emergencies are there of course!

As to the leg breaking, well... I could always think about new career opportunities! I think I'm a bit too much of a wimp though, unless special machinery is provided

NonIndianResident · Jul 20th, 2009, 15:45

Back when I was on a tourist visa I did get extensions of 15 days a couple of times, at my local FRO which is the police station, or you can do it at the FRRO in a bigger city. Unless the rules have changed drastically, which Nick and others might know. But the authorities used to give a 15-day extension on a tourist visa easily, but never more than 15 days for any reason.

USEFUL LINK from the airports authority of India:
http://www.airportsindia.org.in/immi...aextension.jsp
"FRRO can grant 15 days extension of stay on all types of visas on production of confirmed ticket for departure."

Official Indian govt site about foreigners and their visas. (The domain nic.in means it's an official Indian govt site.)
http://www.immigrationindia.nic.in/visa_extension.htm and http://www.immigrationindia.nic.in/
It says:
"Extension of stay up to 15 days on any type of Visas in emergent cases such as illness, death, non-availability of flights etc, subject to production of confirmed onward journey ticket with applicable Visa fee."

So go into the FRRO, show your ticket, and say you tried to get an earlier date but couldn't. For example, you have to stay for a close Indian friend's wedding just before your visa ends, and this was your first available ticket out after it.

Advice on how to get around the FRRO in Delhi:
http://www.delhiexpat.com/frro.php
Expect frustration, expect to have to go three times and spend four hot hours each time. Bring reading matter.

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Jul 18th, 2009, 17:57	#17
Nick-H This is just a cameo appearance Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 36,218	My BA flights in recent years, not all at the lowest fare level, because one or two have been at take-what's-left short notice, and I travel premium-economy if I can possibly afford it, have been changeable/cancellable, with a fee attached. BA do make it fairly clear when booking online.

Jul 18th, 2009, 18:05	#18
countingtoten Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: UK Posts: 5	In the last six months I have changed two flight dates on Virgin and one on Air India, between India and the UK. The most I paid for changing was 62 pounds (5000 rupees) and I always book the cheapest seats. I would recommend calling the airline direct rather than go through the travel agent as the price quoted seems ridiculously high.

Jul 19th, 2009, 23:38	#29
Nick-H This is just a cameo appearance Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 36,218	Oh, yes... emergencies are there of course! As to the leg breaking, well... I could always think about new career opportunities! I think I'm a bit too much of a wimp though, unless special machinery is provided

Jul 20th, 2009, 15:45	#30
NonIndianResident Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: India Posts: 115	Back when I was on a tourist visa I did get extensions of 15 days a couple of times, at my local FRO which is the police station, or you can do it at the FRRO in a bigger city. Unless the rules have changed drastically, which Nick and others might know. But the authorities used to give a 15-day extension on a tourist visa easily, but never more than 15 days for any reason. USEFUL LINK from the airports authority of India: http://www.airportsindia.org.in/immi...aextension.jsp "FRRO can grant 15 days extension of stay on all types of visas on production of confirmed ticket for departure." Official Indian govt site about foreigners and their visas. (The domain nic.in means it's an official Indian govt site.) http://www.immigrationindia.nic.in/visa_extension.htm and http://www.immigrationindia.nic.in/ It says: "Extension of stay up to 15 days on any type of Visas in emergent cases such as illness, death, non-availability of flights etc, subject to production of confirmed onward journey ticket with applicable Visa fee." So go into the FRRO, show your ticket, and say you tried to get an earlier date but couldn't. For example, you have to stay for a close Indian friend's wedding just before your visa ends, and this was your first available ticket out after it. Advice on how to get around the FRRO in Delhi: http://www.delhiexpat.com/frro.php Expect frustration, expect to have to go three times and spend four hot hours each time. Bring reading matter.