indian-firang marriage, visas and all that jazz...

mise

Ok, this is a slightly odd question I know but anyway...

Me and a very lovely Indian man are considering tying the knot, for various reasons (we do like each other a LOT , though there are also practical reasons too!!). I am an EU citizen, staying in India on my third consecutive tourist visa. Basically it’s the old residency/longterm visa for non-Indian spouse question. My current visa will expire at the end of October. If I am married by then, how do I go about getting a residency visa??!! I think I will have to go home (which would be nice in some ways, I’m kinda lusting after drizzly rain and other such things from home) and apply in the embassy there, with all those complicated legal documents re the marriage. But does my spouse have to be there with me (not at all sure he/we can afford the ticket or take the time out then to visit)? Secondly, to complicate matters, he is in fact likely to leave India to take up a job in South Africa in January 2007 , but for now I would be staying in India. Is this likely to be a problem? Would they be likely to refuse me the dependency visa (or what exactly is it called??!!) because my husband is not staying in the country/intending to go out for some time??!!

I am doing some informal voluntary ngo type stuff, and hoping to continue with that for another year or more. Would it be easier to go about it the official way and try to get a work visa? Does anyone know how amenable the powers that be are to giving firangs visas to work in ngos (I know they are happy enough to issue for people working in bpos and all the rest... but ngos are a different ball game)?? Or have experience of all this?? Please tell...

Thanks a mill for all the advice folks.

Nick-H

There's quite a lot of appriate threads and information here (it's not an odd question at all!) not least my own story.

which, in a nutshell, is that I pissed around by an agent for months when he said it would take 3 weeks --- in the end I got my X visa in London in 5 minutes.

As I understand (partly from peoples posts here) the process...

You can apply here for your Tourist visa to be changed to an X (Entry) Visa on the basis of your marriage,and to be issued with a Resident's Permit. Your spouse will have to write, on stamp paper, that he takes responsibility for you etc etc etc and you will have to fill in some more forms. They will investigate to be sure that your marriage is genuine and then do whatever they think they should do.

OR...

You can take your marriage certificate and proof of your spouse's Indian citizenship (eg passport) and just apply for an X visa in your home country.

In London this took me ten minutes. They did not ask to see Mrs N (or even interview me) although she was there. If you are not taking your spouse home, it might be a good idea to take a letter from him, along with marriage pics etc etc. ...just in case.

For newly-weds they probably won't give more than one year (in UK at least), but that should be extendable in India, whereas trying to convert a Tourist visa is a pain in the neck.

There is no such thing as a "dependent" visa. Just your marriage is grounds for getting an X visa.

After one year of marriage you can apply for a PIO card. That will keep you going for 15 years.

Working here is a whole other topic. You certainly can when you get PIO, but I think not on an X visa.

If you are staying more than 180 days you have to register as a foreigner and get a Resident's Permit, which is valid one year.

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Just one member of the IndiaMike Mod Team

Brigit

Nick, when I spoke to the high consulate in London they told me I didn't need anything but the wedding certificate, even they said it was ok that it was just the state one (in hindi) and not the international one. Oh dear you've got me all worried now. Did they want your wife's passport or would a copy have been ok?
Muse
I can't tell you much more than nick has, but I would say have a word with both your and the indian emberseys, in person, before you go ahead. If your there they can give you lots of helpful infomation.
I only realised that once I had to go there in person, as they were always so useless in the phone.
I've got to love popping in and out of the diffrent offices in dehli, talking to all the diffrent people and finding out other ways that things can happen.

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dani

mise, why don't you send an email to the indian consulate in your home country and ask what the procedure is and what documents you have to produce?
Only this way you can be sure of what is fact and what is just rumor..

Nick-H

Brigit... I just gave them Mrs N's passport along with our certificate and my application form. They didn't ask for it, but they did take a look at it.

It was very simple, and completely non-confrontational.

Don't worry.

But keep any document you think mught help in your bag, just in case!

miranda3123

Hi! I am an American lady married for over 4 yrs to an Indian gentleman, and I am wondering if a PIO card is the best route? An PM's would be welcomed, hint, hint.

mise

hey folks,

Thanks a mill for all the wise words and reassurance on this. Had read through various posts on this topic but still wanted to ask the question myself, you know how it is, and get the most recent info. Thanks Nick for your comprehensive reply. I will get on it and make some enquiries also from the officials here and at home, but you make it sound like an (almost suspiciously!!) painless procedure if carried out in the home country!!!

Just one thing, you don't think it would/will be an issue that my husband would be intending to go, and live, out of India for maybe a year or so soon after I apply for/get the x visa? I suppose they don't have to know such things, and may not check. That was my concern, but as you describe it they don't ask for proof of future plans or any of that.

I will keep you all updated as to developments. All further stories and experiences would be appreciated.

thanks a mill

Nick-H

well, it was. For me. On that particular day. Nothing can be guaranteed of Indian beaurocrasy: not even consistency

Why indeed would they know what is in either of your minds, or how your plans might change?

Equally, who knows what investigations they may do into your marital status when you go back after a year for a new X visa or a PIO card?

My application was made on the basis that my wife and I live together. I don't know if it mattered to them that we live together in India ---I put my Indian (and only) address on the application form.

Best route depends on the destination! If your intention is to visit regularly, perhaps even work in India, stay for periods exceding 6 months, or even just avoid the necessity of renewing Tourist visas, then I would guess that it is the best route!

anar

are same-sex marriages recognised in india? do pigs fly?

mise

yes well of course, i have been here long enough (14 months plus)to know that, thus my wonder at your tale of a painless procedure. But who knows, one can but hope and try in any situation right

and the bureaucrats are many things, but not mind readers its true, thankfully !!

anyway, thanks again Nick and everyone for all the advice, will keep you all updated re developments and discoveries...

Nick-H

Thanks, and yes, please do keep us all informed.

It is very easy for us to look up the requirements and quote them, but the only thing that really counts is real experience, and to understand the system we need to know the esxperiences of as many people as possible.

Not that that is any guarantee of anybody else having same experience!

Dilliwala

Old thread and my post is not really relevant to the topic, but I cudn't resist this one:

Yes, there is something that can be guaranteed about the Great Indian Bureaucracy - that they are consistently inconsistent.



EDIT: Just noticed it's exactly a year since the previous post. HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, thread!

gregschmitt

Hi,

Does anybody have any information on British nationals obtaining PIO cards?

I have been married to my Indian partner for 3 years and wanted to know if this is sufficient time to obtain a PIO card in the UK.

Currently i am on an employment visa which i renew each year but when i asked the FRO - Bangalore they told me i would need to be married for 5 years before applying.
I have looked for information on this but cannot seem to find any?

Help!

Greg

Dilliwala

Nick has posted somewhere that he was able to apply for PIO after one year, so don't see why it shud not apply to u. We have discussed this inconsistency in approach by different FRROs too. I can suggest that u email the MHA in Delhi for a clarification, and if u get a positive reply, approach the FRRO armed with that reply. That's if u get any reply from MHA!
Do a search for posts by Nick on the subject.

EDIT: Just found the post I was looking for. I wonder if it was simpler becos he applied in London.

Nick-H

Nope... I got my PIO in Chennai, but in both places they told me to apply after one year. After three you should have no problems.