FRRO 180 days - Registering in a Different State Okay?

So, I'm headed to India and I plan to stay beyond 180 days (I have a 10 year tourist visa). I know you're supposed to register within 14 days of arriving. My question is, I plan to be staying in a different part of India then where I'll be for the initial 14 days. Can I register anyway? (I'll be in Delhi to start out, but will be in Bir, Himachal Pradesh for the long haul...).

So, is it okay to register at the Delhi FRRO even though I'll be elsewhere later on? (Oh, and I have the address of where I'll be later on, and some proof that I'll be there).

I now have a five year visa obtained in Canada. I have twice registered and each time after roughly five months stay. There were no problems whatsoever doing this. Also, I move from state to state without re registering.

That's my experience but hey, this is India and you never know what you might run into. I wouldn't worry about it too much. But as they say "Trust in God but tie up your camel".

Re your Bullet desire, I've had five over five years. Done over 100,000 kms so far and only been asked for my papers twice. This also is not to be concerned about. I have no international licence but do have papers for the bike, not in my name.

I've purchased them all from Ranjeet Motorcycles in Rishikesh. Great guy, great mechanics and honest as the day is long.

On a Tourist visa, you should leave the country at 180 days. You must then remain out for 2 months. If you manage to register (it has been done), you would need to notify change of address.

goangoangone - that's what registration is for. So you DON'T have to leave at 180 days. I've done it myself, and stayed a year in India on a tourist visa. It's quite easy... but last time I was late in registering, and had to pay the $30 fee (Like Kengonetoindia suggests doing). The problem with that is it adds so much extra hassle, since of course you can't pay the fee along with your registration, but then have to worry about going to the bank, waiting in THAT queue, then coming back to the FRO again (If you're lucky, you can do it all in one day, but I've heard of people having to go again and again, up to three times).

Anyway, I want to just register in Delhi within the 14 days to avoid that, and to get it out of the way. My question is, can I use the address where I'll be staying in H.P., or would it be safer to just go with whatever Delhi address/hotel I'm at? That is, does it matter to the FRO if I'm registering in the right state? THAT is my question, please...

Registering is a separate requirement than the visa term. In the past the authorities were quite lax in this regard. But, with all that has gone on you may find that overstaying the 180 day limit may be problematic. Try it & write us from Tihar..

In the distant past the period of stay on tourist visas was extendable and they did register you in those cases. However, this used to happen many, many years ago.

The maximum period of stay for U.S. & U.K. citizens is 180 days. (Some country nationals only receive 90 days stay based on reciprocity.) You will have to leave India after this time and remain outside for a period of 2 months before reentering.

Your 10-year tourist visa is valid for entry for 10 years from the date of issue. It does not mean you can live in India continuously for 10 years.

What he said.

If you give them an address in another state, they'll tell you you have to register in that state. So just give a Delhi address. Technically you're supposed to inform them if you're away from your registered address for longer than a certain period: 6 weeks? or maybe 8 weeks? Not sure.

i know. hence my q re: registering for longer than 180 days.

i just did it myself a little over one year ago... i stayed for nearly a year without a problem. that's the not-so-distant past

thanks jumpingfrog, this is what i'll do... i'm stuck in delhi for a bit anyway, so may as well give it a go. if it doesn't work in delhi, i'll try again in H.P., and i'll let everyone know how it works out!

Can i ask, is there a reason you've had five over five years? Have they been breaking beyond repair, or are you upgrading, or...? I've read they're notoriously unreliable.

And yes, you're right. This IS India, so I'm not really concerned, I certainly didn't have the appropriate papers last time I had a bike (no fault of my own, beyond ignorance, I did have "papers", just not the right ones). I was stopped once, didn't even have ANY papers on me, much less a license, but was sent on my way with a warning (didn't even lighten my wallet).

Anyway, the reason I want papers is so that I can sell it, if need be, and not lose 50% of my investment simply b/c it has no papers... Also, in the unlikely, but possible, event that I get into some kind of trouble, it would make life easier... Just picked up my International Driver's permit the other day, was only $15, no test or anything. Easy enough, why not be legal if I can be?

The max that one is allowed to stay on a Tourist Visa in India is 180 days, IRRESPECTIVE of REGISTERING. You may have done it (and got away) a year ago, but doesn't mean you can or are allowed to.

You can register for a "Residential Permit". Or, at least you could when I registered in 2009. Yes, maybe they changed it. But yes, I did it LEGALLY through the FRO. You return a copy of the permit to the FRO when you leave, and the official at the airport collects the portion you've kept with your passport. There was no "getting away with" something I wasn't "allowed" to do... No need to get feisty Just politely describe the changes, please, and your experience with the matter...

Just mentioning the facts.
Here a link:
http://www.immigrationindia.nic.in/tourist_visa2.htm
http://mha.nic.in/pdfs/FAQ-TVisa280710.pdf

A lot of changes have been made to all visa categories in the past few months so things are likely to have changed since 2009. The only way you'll know is to go to the FRO and ask.

Every one of the five bikes I've had (TBird, Bullet left gears, right gears) have been fabulous. Maybe I've been lucky but every one of those bikes was a great bike. Yes, I made sure they were running perfectly before I took delivery. I've had five because of several reasons. One, I sold my TBird in Nepal since I didn't know about the one month rule here. I've given two away to local Indians who work at the animal rescue shelter in Tamil Nadu. One one I just sold because I didn't want to store it in Goa with the salt water air which can corrode a bike quickly.

I know what they say about them been unreliable but I think this may have something to do with guys who buy and old junker and just drive it away. Of course they are going to have problems.

k apparently not technically legal... so i won't encourage it.

safe travels, everyone!