Change to tourist visa rules re multiple entries - 60-day-out rule scrapped

Thanks Andy and everybody else!
Just to be with the safe side, I have brought forward the trip so I will be able to return to the UK before my present Visa runs out on the 30th of March.
There appears to be mixed messages and confusion out there, and whilst I'm sure this will all get sorted out eventually, I would rather be absolutely sure I can go on my trip, and get on with booking tickets ect!
As we would say in Scotland-What a guddle!!

Only if she has a tourist visa, which as someone of Indian ancestry she should not have, as she qualifies for an Entry visa. In fact she even qualifies for OCI, as do you, so if she'd obtained that status, she would not need a visa at all and it wouldn't be an issue at all!

She will probably be allowed to enter India, but there is no guarantee and I certainly would not rely on immigration officials using their common sense!

Whatever happens this time, tell her to apply for OCI, there is no need for all this.

Right so obviously this is a complicated issue but can i just get a very simple yes or no answer as to wether you think this is correct please:

One backpacker flying to india with 6 month multi entry visa wanting to visit nepal for a few weeks is ok to re-enter india within their 3 month visa as long as they do not do it more than three times and can provide a plane ticket?

Based on this: Foreigners holding Tourist Visas, who after initial entry into India plan to visit another country largely on account of neighbourhood tourism related travel and re-enter India before finally exiting, may be
permitted two or three entries, as the case may be (need based), by the Indian Missions/Posts subject to their submission of a detailed itinerary and supporting documentation (ticket bookings). If they are already outside of their country of origin, they can also get such an endorsement from the nearest Indian Mission/Post.

Please just a simple answer. Cheers

Here is your answer.

http://mha.nic.in/pdfs/FAQ-TVisa311209.pdf

I don't know that we can assume she necessarily qualifies for OCI status just because antariksh describes her as "Indian Origin/British Passport". The term "Indian origin" can be thrown around pretty loosely but qualification for OCI status is based on criteria that are narrower than, for example, the criteria for "Person of Indian Origin" status. If she once held an Indian passport she'd be OK for sure (unless she was ever a citizen of Pakistan or Bangladesh), but even if she doesn't qualify for OCI, I suspect she can at least qualify for a PIO card. According to the website for the Indian Embassy in the U.S., here's who qualifies for OCI:

"A foreign national, who was eligible to become a citizen of India on 26.01.1950 or was a citizen of India on or at anytime after 26.01.1950 or belonged to a territory that became part of India after 15.08.1947 and his/her children and grand children, provided his/her country of citizenship allows dual citizenship in some form or other under the local laws, is eligible for registration as Overseas Citizen of India (OCI). Minor children of such person are also eligible for OCI. However, if the applicant had ever been a citizen of Pakistan or Bangladesh, he/she will not be eligible for OCI."

Unfortunately, if she's pressed for time before her return trip, OCI or a PIO card are probably not going to be the solution to her immediate problem, but they're definitely worth looking into because they'll make future trips a lot easier!

Yes it is possible if you have taken prior permission. It costs 7 GBP to get the permission.
http://hcilondon.in/tourist_advisory.php

What a saga eh?!

Quick question for you all:

I'm on here on employment visa, my girlfriend is here also but was only allowed Tourit visa as we're unmarried. Any idea if they'll now permit dependent's visa's(x-Visa) for unmarried couples? Otherwise she'll have to be out of country for 2 months after every 6 months, which is irritating to say the very least.

(We're both British passport holders)

thanks

No, they will not.

So the only way for us to live here legally is to be married?



This must surely catch out many thousands of ex-pats in India?

Well i don't know that it's that unusual; there's no such thing as a girl/boyriend visa in the U.S. either.

Haylo & Nick- H thanks for your help guys. I checked my passport it is a type X visa. so I think this means I will be okay.

No chance.

Correct, unless she is sufficiently skilled in her own field to be able to independently employed and acquire an employment visa in her own right.

Tourist visas have never been given to unmarried partners, their issuance has never been guaranteed, and they have been tightening up on repeat applications for some time now. I'm sure there will be many people who have been having to travel all the way back to their home countries for renewals, who will now be even further inconvenienced.

Frankly I doubt the Indian authorities care very much about people who are so dissolute that they are not even married. Not meaning to insult you, my partner worked in Delhi, and I had to have a tourist visa too.

This is something that any unmarried couple needs to take into consideration before one of them relocates / chooses to remain in India.

It is worse for same sex couples, as they do not even have the option of marriage - as even a legal marriage would not be recognised by the Indian authorities.

Haylo, We both are Indian born. She has lived in India for over 30 years and me till me primary schooling. Anyway, there is no time for applying OCI. Maybe after we come back.

On HCI website, they say:

"However, those holding Tourist Visas, who after initial entry into India plan to visit another country and re-enter India before finally exiting, could be permitted more than one entry, as the case may, be subject to their submission of a detailed itinerary and supporting documents i.e. confirmed Air tickets."

On that basis, she should be allowed back... but anyway, will try to get the re-entry permission from the embassy. They still don't have the form online! If they did, I could have sent an agent to do this all.

Yes she should be allowed back, if the immigration officer is up to speed with the new rules. At first there were reports of them having stopped holders of employment and entry visas from re-entering India.

I have written to VFS about this, in their response they say that they will have the form both online and available at VACs very soon.

However, even when the forms are on the website, you will still not be able to use an agent, as applications must be made in person at the HCI.

You're welcome. Go for that PIO!

antariksh, I've just skimmed the last few posts, so forgive me if this is not relevant, but... If you can show that you are of Indian origin, but do not have time to apply for PIO/OCI, then how about an "Entry" (X) Visa?