Applied for 1-year Tourist, but got 6 months Tourist Visa

NickGray · Jun 29th, 2007, 05:39

I am an American citizen. Last month I applied to my regional embassy (Washington, DC) for a 1-year Tourist visa to India. I included all fees ($85 + $15 Priority Mail) and I filled out all of the paperwork.

Today I received my visa and it was for only six (6) months. There was a receipt inside the envelope showing my $85 + $15 payment. The envelope had no other notes or information inside.

Was I denied a 1-year visa? Or could the six month visa have been a processing error?

My flight leaves on July 11th, so I do not have time to re-submit.

Thanks in advance for your help and suggestions!
Nick from Atlanta

dzibead · Jun 29th, 2007, 05:52

I couldn't speculate on why this happened, but even if you had been given a full one-year visa (or if you had applied for a 10-year visa and received it), you could still not stay in India more than 180 days at a time. You'd be required to leave the country and re-enter it, which is what you're going to have to do now. Now you have to leave, and spend a few days in Nepal or Sri Lanka or someplace else (a side trip to Bangkok) and apply for a new tourist visa to fill out the rest of the year, if that's how long you plan to stay travel in India.

Nick-H · Jun 29th, 2007, 11:06

Should the 6-month visa have cost less?

dzibead · Jun 29th, 2007, 11:22

The visa form used in the San Francisco Office of the Consulate General of India does have two different prices for 6-month visas and 1-year visas. There's also a space to check to indicate which period of time you're applying for.

Nick-H · Jun 29th, 2007, 11:28

So they owe this guy money?

Either they got the period wrong, or they forgot the change: there's a mistake there somewhere.

NickGray · Jun 29th, 2007, 23:34

I called the Embassy today, and it was a mistake. I will send my passport FedEx overnight and they will return it to me with a corrected visa next week. (They cannot under any circumstances return my money.) Nice person on the phone and she seemed genuinely concerned about the mistake.
Thanks for your help everyone.

Nick-H · Jun 29th, 2007, 23:39

Good outcome

the irish indian · Jun 30th, 2007, 00:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by NickGray

I called the Embassy today, and it was a mistake. I will send my passport FedEx overnight and they will return it to me with a corrected visa next week. (They cannot under any circumstances return my money.) Nice person on the phone and she seemed genuinely concerned about the mistake.
Thanks for your help everyone.

In the UK the Indian Embassy never answer the phones.

Thats my experience anyway although you can e-mail your queries via the HCI London website.

Nick-H · Jun 30th, 2007, 00:18

Do you get answers to the emails?

nycank · Jun 30th, 2007, 15:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick-H

Do you get answers to the emails?

I have known of people who live in non-english speaking countries, have had prompt email responses from Indian Embassies or Consulates in their respective countries.

Nick-H · Jun 30th, 2007, 19:15

I meant from London.

There seems to be a huge difference between the foreign missions in different countries.

London has a reputation for efficiency and getting the work done at the counter, but I have the impression that they are not so good at communication --- eg not answering the phone.

Jun 29th, 2007, 05:39	#1
NickGray Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Atlanta, Georgia USA Posts: 2	Applied for 1-year Tourist, but got 6 months Tourist Visa I am an American citizen. Last month I applied to my regional embassy (Washington, DC) for a 1-year Tourist visa to India. I included all fees ($85 + $15 Priority Mail) and I filled out all of the paperwork. Today I received my visa and it was for only six (6) months. There was a receipt inside the envelope showing my $85 + $15 payment. The envelope had no other notes or information inside. Was I denied a 1-year visa? Or could the six month visa have been a processing error? My flight leaves on July 11th, so I do not have time to re-submit. Thanks in advance for your help and suggestions! Nick from Atlanta

Jun 29th, 2007, 11:06	#3
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 25,811	Should the 6-month visa have cost less? __________________ . Just one member of the IndiaMike Mod Team

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Jun 29th, 2007, 05:52	#2
dzibead Maha Guru Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Northern California Posts: 1,976	I couldn't speculate on why this happened, but even if you had been given a full one-year visa (or if you had applied for a 10-year visa and received it), you could still not stay in India more than 180 days at a time. You'd be required to leave the country and re-enter it, which is what you're going to have to do now. Now you have to leave, and spend a few days in Nepal or Sri Lanka or someplace else (a side trip to Bangkok) and apply for a new tourist visa to fill out the rest of the year, if that's how long you plan to stay travel in India.

Jun 29th, 2007, 11:22	#4
dzibead Maha Guru Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Northern California Posts: 1,976	The visa form used in the San Francisco Office of the Consulate General of India does have two different prices for 6-month visas and 1-year visas. There's also a space to check to indicate which period of time you're applying for.

Jun 29th, 2007, 11:28	#5
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 25,811	So they owe this guy money? Either they got the period wrong, or they forgot the change: there's a mistake there somewhere.

Jun 29th, 2007, 23:34	#6
NickGray Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Atlanta, Georgia USA Posts: 2	I called the Embassy today, and it was a mistake. I will send my passport FedEx overnight and they will return it to me with a corrected visa next week. (They cannot under any circumstances return my money.) Nice person on the phone and she seemed genuinely concerned about the mistake. Thanks for your help everyone.

Jun 29th, 2007, 23:39	#7
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 25,811	Good outcome

Jun 30th, 2007, 00:18	#9
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 25,811	Do you get answers to the emails?

Jun 30th, 2007, 19:15	#11
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 25,811	I meant from London. There seems to be a huge difference between the foreign missions in different countries. London has a reputation for efficiency and getting the work done at the counter, but I have the impression that they are not so good at communication --- eg not answering the phone.

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