Employment visas for foreign journalists

sabrina.buckwalter

I have some issues regarding an employment visa and would like to know if anyone else has been through similar problems. If so, how did you resolve it?

I’m an American who was employed by a newspaper in Mumbai on an employment visa. When it came time to renew that visa, I was denied on the basis that foreign journalists working for Indian publications are not allowed to be on employment visas. I was told to go get a journalist visa, but since I was working with an Indian newspaper, I was not eligible for one (they’re only issued to journalists working for international publications).

In the end, I was forced to leave India since I was not eligible for any visa and am now trying to get back.

A few words about this ordeal: I have a feeling that while the reasoning behind the denial may be accurate, it may be a rule not usually enforced (I think that it may have been enforced in my case due to the fact that I found out I had a negative report in my file with the Maharashtra State Government from a story I did). My newspaper worked very hard to negotiate with the MHA for me, but was unsuccessful. The American Consulate in Mumbai and Delhi worked very hard to work out a renewal for me, but were unsuccessful as well.

I was told by the MHA that foreign journalists working for Indian publications fell into a gray area in terms of which visa they should be granted. Thus, I’d like to find others who may have had similar problems to work together to seek legal help to move the MHA to make a ruling in what kind of visas to grant to foreign journalists working for Indian publications.

At this point, getting another visa to come back is not guaranteed. I may be able to get my job back, but, it would do no good if I’m unable to attain another employment visa.

Has anyone else run into difficulties like this?

Nick-H

The long arm of the law ends at a politician's shoulder.

Hmmm.... maybe that's a coat-getting bad one, but you know what I mean.

You probably know better than I do that there are two areas in which it is very tough to get visas: research concerning any social area, and journalism.

Even for tourist travel, suggestion of journalistic connection can elicit some sharp questioning. This happened to a London friend of mine who put, without a second thought, photographer on his application for a tourist visa.

__________________
.


Just one member of the IndiaMike Mod Team

sabrina.buckwalter

Has anyone ever been denied an Indian visa? If so what happened?

sabrina.buckwalter

Does anyone have any recommendations for immigration lawyers that deal with people coming to India (as opposed to Indian immigrating to outside countries)?
Thanks

steven_ber

You may be best to add more details, it would help others to give better advice.

EDIT.

I found your other thread, it gives many more details.

Employment visas for foreign journalists

A

Note: This post no longer makes sense. That is because it comes from a thread that was merged with this one

__________________
.
How to get helpful replies to your transport/Itinerary questions.



Train information.

Nick-H

I had one that gave me nothing but bullshit for about five months, then tried to get money out of me.

There might be good ones, I suppose.