getting info in India about visas

I have emailed over 10 Indian embassies trying to obtain information on visas and they either don't bother answering or send something incomprehensible/useless. ie. *yes you can get a five years visa if you have been visiting India often*. Does anyone know where I can get definitive information within India, Dept. of Immigration for example?

Cheers

Carol

Depends on your nationality. Does your country allow Indian tourists to stay for 5 years? Its usually a reciprocal arrangement. The visa guide for US citizens is clearly listed here - http://www.indianembassy.org/consular/visa_guide.htm

thanks Crv,

That makes sense now, getting different answers from different places. Sorry to say Ireland (my country) won't even let an Indian national in for a short holiday unless he/she is wealthy/educated. Horribly racist. I'll keep looking, thanks

Carol

Carol, I've been searching for the same sort of info. Same results. One visa agency that I drew into a little converstion revealed that it has been known for the Embassy/HC to issue a 12month multiple if you've previously had a 6month. It's not automatic though.This is what I'm going to try for soon. If it doesn't work, hopefully they'll only knock me back to a 6month. If you get more than 6months you register with the FRO and it's easier to extend, I think
Good luck, I'll let you know what happens.

Carol all embassies are entitled to issue 5 year "tourist" visas at their own discretion. there is no way it seems to "qualify" for this visa they are issued purely on a case by case basis.
Ok so that's the rules my experience tells me that these extended visas are very difficult to come by whichever country you apply for them!!
In fact everyone I know who posses these visas seem to have just been lucky!!
A friend of mine asked for years for such a visa as he has been practically living in India for the last 24 years. Every year it was the same answer no no no!!
He even suggested to the head honcho at the Visa section that perhaps his application might go smoother if he took the embassy guy and all his family out for an expensive dinner!! To which the head honcho replied "you are not in India now sir"
The answer was still no!!!
The following year he asked again, was asked why he wanted a five year visa to which he replied "I want to live in your beautiful country" then stamp stamp he had his visa after some 8 years of trying!!
All the other folks I know with five year visas seem to have got them in a similar fashion, out of the blue so to speak!!
So be lucky Carol all embassies are allowed to issue these visas but no one wants to take the risk it seems.
I wish I could be more positive but these are the realities I've discovered over the last 5-6 years of inquiring about this very subject!!