Applying for fresh visa before expiration of previous visa

suzi

Hi all, I am looking for some advice/help/suggestions about what to do regarding the renewal of my and my husband's visas this time.

First, some background. We are Americans who moved to India in Nov. 2006 for employment reasons. I was issued a one year employment visa and my husband was issued an X visa (has also been called a co-terminus visa I think) from the Indian Consulate in Chicago. We tried to renew our visas in India in 2007 three months before their expiration and found the process to be impossible as the employees at the FRO stated that they would process my paperwork, but my husband could apply only after my visa was issued (which would take the full 3 months meaning my husband would only be able to apply for his visa after his old one had actually expired, something that we were not at all comfortable with). I am sure that the people at the FRO are wrong but I have found that arguing and trying to use reason with them is not at all productive so on the advice of friends and colleagues (both Indian and non-Indian) we went to Bangkok and applied for fresh visas there and again received for me a one year employment visa and for my husband a one year X visa.

Well, it is 2008 and time for us to decide how to get our next visas. Our visas expire in October 2008, but my appointment with my employer lasts only until July 2009 so we do not require a full year from the date of expiration (we plan on returning to the US in July 2009 just after my appointment ends). We are planning a visit home in July 2008 and thought that maybe we could apply for our visas in Chicago as we had done in 2006, but I am worried that they will take a look in our passports and see that we both have visas valid for almost 4 more months and turn down our application. The only alternative to this as my husband absolutely refuses to deal with the FRO here in Bangalore is to go to somewhere else to get our visas in Sept/Oct just before they actually expire. We would prefer to get them in Chicago as the alternative would mean that we then have to organize another trip and be away from work but we don't want to try to apply in Chicago unless we are pretty confident that we won't face any troubles because I am pretty sure that they keep the fees even if they don't issue a visa.

Has anyone been issued a new visa 4 months or more before their old one expired? Any thoughts that you guys have would be really appreciated.

If the consensus is that we should just wait and plan a trip to get our visas around Sept/Oct, any suggestions? We have already been to Singapore and Thailand but would like to go to UAE or Malaysia sometime, has anyone successfully got employment visas from either of these places?

Thanks so much everyone, I look forward to some input...

__________________
I personally believe that U.S. Americans are unable to do so because, uhmmm, some people out there in our nation don’t have maps

suzi

Geez, 24 hours and no responses? I guess that I should have thrown in something to spice the question up like asking who travels to India to get laid and is it fine to piss in sinks. People seem to have a lot to say on these very important matters...

Nick-H

Simple answer is probably no-one had anything useful to say, and I'm not sure that I do either --- although somehow I missed your post entirely.

As far as my experience goes, there is no problem with getting a new visa before the old one expires. Even visitors may find themselves doing this; I have applied for a new tourist visa before my visa for the previous trip expired.

I have also applied for an 'X' visa (as the spouse of an Indian citizen) while I still had validity on a tourist visa, and a PIO while the X visa still had time to run.

But I've never done the employment thing.

As to dealing with the FRO, I guess you come to the FRRO in Chennai (but they might just send you back to your local man) or to the Big Cheese Numero Uno Head Office in Delhi.

Staff change, get transferred, etc. You might find a new man with new answers at your FRO now. I would have thought they should extend your husband's visa with yours, whilst the renewal is being considered.

__________________
.


Just one member of the IndiaMike Mod Team

Inua

Here's something I found on the net and it sounds encouraging, however as we all know its the one who sits behind the counter that holds everything in his/her hands I'm not giving any guarantees. (click on Visa Extensions once your on their homepage).

I don't really have any experience with this myself but others here have been in your shoes before so read this.

I would suggest not going to the UAE and trying from there as they are disorganised and persnikety.