Long term visa - stupid question?

Vazza · Dec 3rd, 2008, 22:00

I'm due to go to India with my family over Christmas and am applying for a long term visa (5 year, multiple entry), as I tend to visit India every couple of years to see relatives...previously, I've applied for tourist visas. I currently hold a UK passport, however, both of my parents were born in India and have dual UK/Indian nationality. Will I experience any problems getting the long term visa, as I was born in Jamaica and have never held an Indian passport?

Apologies if this has been answered elsewhere and thanks

machadinha · Dec 3rd, 2008, 23:16

Those British long-term visas and their stipulations are beyond me.

You might want to check if you don't qualify for PIO or OCI status, which would give you even more benefits. See for instance here: http://moia.gov.in/showsublink.asp?sublinkid=259 & elsewhere on that site (check their "site map"), such as here: http://moia.gov.in/showsublink.asp?sublinkid=151 .

AprilFlower · Dec 3rd, 2008, 23:51

I don't think you will have any problem getting the visa. As machadinha mentioned to look into getting an even longer term solution PIO/OCI may be worth while for you. Wouldn't it be nice to not worry for 15 years

.

Nick-H · Dec 4th, 2008, 00:30

OCI is for life! Even better!

Points arising, but not strictly relevant... You say that you parents have dual UK/Indian nationality; that is actually not allowed under Indian law. But hey, it's nothing to do with us...

pontesnm · Dec 6th, 2008, 09:36

If your parents have a UK passport and an Indian passport they are violating Indian law. I have heard that a person was fined $1,000 because they used an Indian passport to enter India after they became a US citizen. If you parents are Indian citizens but British residents then of course everything is fine. OCI is the best bet.

In the US, the Indian consulate in NYC took a photocopy of parents passport as proof of parents citizenship and a photocopy of US birth certificate as proof of family relationship. But it could be different in Britain

Nick-H · Dec 6th, 2008, 13:45

Quote:

If you parents are Indian citizens but British residents then of course everything is fine. OCI is the best bet.

I think you got confused on this one: Indian Citizen would mean Indian passport.

I suspect you mean to type If you parents are Indian origin but British residents then of course everything is fine. OCI is the best bet.

Saintjai · Jan 16th, 2009, 11:42

You can get a dual citizenship. Rules have changed. This was launched by the Govt of India in Jan 2006 at the International Convention Centre in Hyderabad. How ever there are a few strings like voting rights which you cannot excercise.

Quote:

Originally Posted by pontesnm

If your parents have a UK passport and an Indian passport they are violating Indian law. I have heard that a person was fined $1,000 because they used an Indian passport to enter India after they became a US citizen. If you parents are Indian citizens but British residents then of course everything is fine. OCI is the best bet.

In the US, the Indian consulate in NYC took a photocopy of parents passport as proof of parents citizenship and a photocopy of US birth certificate as proof of family relationship. But it could be different in Britain

Dual pasports are allowed form Jan 2006, launched by the Govt. of India at the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas. In fact the first such pasport was issued at that function.

indiaprof · Jan 16th, 2009, 12:14

Saintjai,

I think I remember reading about this. Wasn't it part of a package that the Government had been working on, for years, to make travel (and business) easier for NRI's? I believe the origins of the reforms go back well before 2004. I didn't realize anything had actually been accomplished, though.

I've met people here in the U.S., who aren't Indian at all, who also have multiple year visas, but you usually need to demonstrate some compelling (usually job-related) need if you're not NRI/PIO.

edwardseco · Jan 16th, 2009, 13:45

By multiple year visas do you mean for that length of single stay.?

Nick-H · Jan 16th, 2009, 13:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by Saintjai

You can get a dual citizenship. Rules have changed. ...

You cannot have dual citizenship of another country along with Indian citizenship; rules have not changed on this.

You are thinking of the Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) scheme. This is not true dual citizenship, and does not grant an Indian passport to the holder.

indiaprof · Jan 16th, 2009, 13:53

By "multiple year visas" I meant a 5-year or 10-year visa with multiple entry privileges. Some professors claim to have them - usually older guys who were mission kids born in India.

I bet you can guess who they are.

AprilFlower · Jan 16th, 2009, 15:16

+1 to what Nick said. No dual citizenship here.

machadinha · Jan 16th, 2009, 16:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by indiaprof

I've met people here in the U.S., who aren't Indian at all, who also have multiple year visas, but you usually need to demonstrate some compelling (usually job-related) need if you're not NRI/PIO.

Quote:

Originally Posted by edwardseco

By multiple year visas do you mean for that length of single stay.?

Quote:

Originally Posted by indiaprof

By "multiple year visas" I meant a 5-year or 10-year visa with multiple entry privileges. Some professors claim to have them - usually older guys who were mission kids born in India.

? From all I've read here, this would appear to be pretty readily available to US citizens anyway, at a higher fee. I think that's what Ed was getting at too with his query.

To other readers, the holder is still limited to 180-day stays, the big difference being they don't need to apply for a new visa, and the process is said to be a mere formality of leaving and re-entering the country indeed.

chAos · Jan 16th, 2009, 17:14

Yep, mach is right; 10 year visas (tourist) easy to get for US citizens, 180-day limit to stay in the country at a stretch.

The OP should definitely go for OCI; you're eligible if your parents ever had an Indian passport, they don't have to have one now.

pontesnm · Jan 18th, 2009, 01:12

In the US. 10 year visas are automatically give. You fill the form online, apply for 10 year visa, pay the fee, print out form and send it it with passport. There is no place where you are required to state reasons for 10 year visa.

Now if you were an Indian applying for a 10 year US visa ...

Dec 3rd, 2008, 22:00	#1
Vazza Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: UK Posts: 2	Long term visa - stupid question? I'm due to go to India with my family over Christmas and am applying for a long term visa (5 year, multiple entry), as I tend to visit India every couple of years to see relatives...previously, I've applied for tourist visas. I currently hold a UK passport, however, both of my parents were born in India and have dual UK/Indian nationality. Will I experience any problems getting the long term visa, as I was born in Jamaica and have never held an Indian passport? Apologies if this has been answered elsewhere and thanks

Dec 3rd, 2008, 23:16	#2
machadinha brother my cup is empty member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: yörp Posts: 14,400	Those British long-term visas and their stipulations are beyond me. You might want to check if you don't qualify for PIO or OCI status, which would give you even more benefits. See for instance here: http://moia.gov.in/showsublink.asp?sublinkid=259 & elsewhere on that site (check their "site map"), such as here: http://moia.gov.in/showsublink.asp?sublinkid=151 . __________________ Reading tips, all picked up at IndiaMike : INDAX's A Comprehensive Guide To India / Dinoj Surendran's Desi Humor / ITHVC on Culture Shock & Travel Health / JetLag Travel Guides For the Undiscerning Traveller / India Travel Links

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Dec 3rd, 2008, 23:51	#3
AprilFlower Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Surat, India Posts: 325	I don't think you will have any problem getting the visa. As machadinha mentioned to look into getting an even longer term solution PIO/OCI may be worth while for you. Wouldn't it be nice to not worry for 15 years .

Dec 4th, 2008, 00:30	#4
Nick-H This is just a cameo appearance Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 36,225	OCI is for life! Even better! Points arising, but not strictly relevant... You say that you parents have dual UK/Indian nationality; that is actually not allowed under Indian law. But hey, it's nothing to do with us...

Dec 6th, 2008, 09:36	#5
pontesnm Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Bardez/Mumbai/New Jersey (USA) Posts: 418	If your parents have a UK passport and an Indian passport they are violating Indian law. I have heard that a person was fined $1,000 because they used an Indian passport to enter India after they became a US citizen. If you parents are Indian citizens but British residents then of course everything is fine. OCI is the best bet. In the US, the Indian consulate in NYC took a photocopy of parents passport as proof of parents citizenship and a photocopy of US birth certificate as proof of family relationship. But it could be different in Britain

Jan 16th, 2009, 12:14	#8
indiaprof Account Closed Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: In the past, most of the time Posts: 820	Saintjai, I think I remember reading about this. Wasn't it part of a package that the Government had been working on, for years, to make travel (and business) easier for NRI's? I believe the origins of the reforms go back well before 2004. I didn't realize anything had actually been accomplished, though. I've met people here in the U.S., who aren't Indian at all, who also have multiple year visas, but you usually need to demonstrate some compelling (usually job-related) need if you're not NRI/PIO.

Jan 16th, 2009, 13:45	#9
edwardseco Maha Guru Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Land that shakes and bakes. Posts: 5,845	By multiple year visas do you mean for that length of single stay.?

Jan 16th, 2009, 13:53	#11
indiaprof Account Closed Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: In the past, most of the time Posts: 820	By "multiple year visas" I meant a 5-year or 10-year visa with multiple entry privileges. Some professors claim to have them - usually older guys who were mission kids born in India. I bet you can guess who they are.

Jan 16th, 2009, 15:16	#12
AprilFlower Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Surat, India Posts: 325	+1 to what Nick said. No dual citizenship here.

Jan 16th, 2009, 17:14	#14
chAos I have a theory... Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: dakshin Posts: 1,334	Yep, mach is right; 10 year visas (tourist) easy to get for US citizens, 180-day limit to stay in the country at a stretch. The OP should definitely go for OCI; you're eligible if your parents ever had an Indian passport, they don't have to have one now.

Jan 18th, 2009, 01:12	#15
pontesnm Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Bardez/Mumbai/New Jersey (USA) Posts: 418	In the US. 10 year visas are automatically give. You fill the form online, apply for 10 year visa, pay the fee, print out form and send it it with passport. There is no place where you are required to state reasons for 10 year visa. Now if you were an Indian applying for a 10 year US visa ...