Applying for an Indian tourist visa in Bangkok

mushika

I'm a US citizen, currently on a six months India tourist visa and am planning to soon fly from India to Bangkok to get another 6 months India tourist visa. I'd like to return to India within two weeks.

Can anyone confirm, from their experience, that the outsourcing visa office in Bangkok is not objecting to issuing back-to-back six month India tourist visas?

sebos

do they still give 6 months easily or do they give 3?

Scandojazzbuff

I doubt they care, but, you should check the website for Indian visas and make sure there is not a maximum amount of time limitation in a year that the Indian gov't. allows one to spend in India on tourist visa.

sebos

which website would that be?

mushika

http://www.indianembassy.gov.in/bangkok/visa.htm is the Embassy of India in Bangkok page detailing visa procedures.

There's no info there about limitations that's why I asked for someone who has been through it to relate their experience regarding back-to-back visas.

gobi

Anyone know of any service agents that can expedite the process in less than five days?

....have some family thinking of coming on the spur-of-the-moment now in thailand?

daindm

Hi,
Myself and 2 others all with Oz passports, have been doing the tourist visa every 6mth routine, for a while now (since 2000). No problems except for the last year or two. Just last month we did our usual Sri Lanka (Colombo) trip to get another 6mth TV.
The one which was just expiring, we got from our home country Australia.
Like Thailand and now also GB, Oz and lots of other places the same private company is doing the initial processing, in Colombo you go to 433 Galle Rd - VFS Global (website= http://www.vfs-in-lk.com/) which is much calmer, quicker and smoother than it used to be. Then 5 working days later they tell you to go to High Commission for handing in of your passport and getting the visa.
We were told very clearly that from now on if you have just had a 6mth TV from your home country, then ANY commission (other than your own country) can only give you 3mth TV maximum.
From experience I've learnt not to take anything told by these employees at face value or as %100 true, but he did sound very sure. so bottom line you won't rreally know until you do it. But you should be able to get 3mth for sure, and maybe 6mth you never know.
One thing to note - we were told the commission would phone the number we gave VFS on our apps but we didn't want to risk them not calling so just appeared at the commission the morning of the due day and - no worries but we never got the call, even though we had our mobile with us all morning. Maybe the system sussed we were already started being processed that morning, so don't freakout if you don't get call after they tell you, just go wnyway.
Good luck - keep us updated.
Yours sincerely, Dain

mushika

Thanks, daindm, for your helpful information. I, too, have been hearing that 3 months is becoming more common for repetitive Indian tourist visas.

I will update regarding my experience.

zerosumgame

Hey Mushika - how did you get on?

I'm planning on going for my second from BKK soon - I emailed the embassy (prompt, helpful response) and they said it's possible, but because it's a 2nd from them, they'll need to interview me to explain my frequent visits.

I had also been told BKK was giving several back to backs no questions asked. Does someone have recent experience of this, or any tips on interview do's and don'ts?

Any other updates on the unwritten rule of back-to-back limitations without returning to home country?

Has anyone tried KL as an alternative 'fresh' consulate if you wear out your welcome at the other favourites? ;-)

mushika

Sorry I forgot to get back to the forum. Yes, I did get another six months tourist visa for India but, like zerosumgame says, an interview at the consulate was required. My reason for frequent trips to India is that I am retired and want now to thoroughly enjoy what's left for me to experience. (Guess that won't work for young folks.)