Internship/Employment visa difficulties

SuzanneC

Hey Everyone!

My plan was to do an internship for 6 months in Delhi. Everything was going well. I found a company, received all the necessary documents, and so I went to the Embassy to get an Employment Visa.

But that's when the problems started. I am applying for an employment visa, because my company, Evalueserve, gave me an employment contract. But in reality I am doing an internship, or that is what they always told me. But I did not get an Internship contract. Now the company claims they had told me that this is work not an internship, which they never have.

Anyhow, in the Netherlands you can't get an employment Visa if you are a student. You can get this only after you have graduated. (or so they told me) So basically I'm screwed. The company has played me around, and my graduation will be delayed by 6 months.

My company has now offered to prepare a letter for the Embassy that states the beginning and end date of my work for them. Do you think this will make any difference? They don't want to write a letter which states that this is an internship. (that is what the embassy asked for) Or has anybody been in the same sort of situation?

I know a classmate of mine did get his visa,under the same conditions, but that is probably because he would not stop pushing them for it. However, they don't even want to talk to me until I get that letter.

Anybody any tips? Surely there are more Dutch students who have gone to work or do an internship in India???

Greetz suzanne

machadinha

I'm basically just bumping this question (bringing it back to top), in the hope that someone else can answer. However,

That would be the Indian embassy's stipulations? Sounds like nonsense to me, what's your studying have to do with your working. But if some employee there has found it in themselves to give you a hard time, then

to just keep on pushing (but keeping your composure at the same time) may be necessary and your best bet yes. Maybe try asking for another employee, although at the Indian (or any) embassy I'm not so sure if this would actually up your chances, you could shoot yourself in the foot instead.

Mind you, I don't know any of this, it's just my guess. Hopefully someone else will.

As for internships, I'm not aware there exists a separate visa category for it no, so I don't think it should figure into the equation one way or the other. Unless you could apply for a student visa; presumably not, would be my guess again, after all, you're not going there to study. I don't know, I've known people (I'm in NL) who did internships there, don't ask me on what visa, but an employment visa is what you'd think indeed.

I think maybe you set the ball rolling by telling them about internships vs. employment or the other way around, if you have a stickler for paperwork and you may well have, that will put them on edge right there.

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federica

Hi Suzanne,

Try to get this letter, maybe by email. And try hard to get an interview at the embassy. Just go there and talk very politely and patiently, but persistent with them. Ask them what visa you should apply for in your case.

I think your friend did it in the right way, just follow his/her example. Be patient and strong

Good luck!