Maximum 90 day stay for Some European Tourists

Dilliwala

After reading this thread and exchanging msgs on the same subject in the Landour thread with ploink, I've finally worked out the reason for the 90-day rule - GOI is using the reciprocal principle. Of course! (duh, I shud have figured this out earlier) - last year I applied for and got visas for Switzerland, and Germany/Schengen (not EU), and now I recall neither tourist visa regime allows continuous stay more than 90 days at a stretch, even if the actual visa validity is longer (1 or 2 years even). In fact, maybe becos it was my 1st time in CH, the Swiss embassy didn't give me more than 15 days continuous stay on a multiple-entry visa. Wasn't a problem for me becos I crossed into Austria and back to CH/FL regularly anyway, but wud have been if I had not, since my total stay was to exceed, and did, 15 days in all.
Even then I had a problem with a dumbass immigration officer at ZRH on final exit becos he had a different interpretation of The Law than the Swiss govt's official websites, the embassy in Delhi, or even his colleagues at the border check-posts. Had to let me go when he realised that his interpretation, which he insisted was correct, might cause more problems for them.
Anyway, back to topic - if there are different interpretations at different Indian embassies/consulates, (and BTW I checked y'day after ploink's heads-up - NONE of GOI's websites concerning immigration have been updated), it's becos the classic trickle-down effect is in operation for the GIB (Great Indian Bureaucracy). Some know about the new law, and some don't. Those of u who are still getting 180-day stays stamped into your PPs (Italy, Belgium and Netherlands?), keep quiet about it and be happy! - soon that will change too, if it hasn't by now.

And those Schengeners and other countries' citizens who are affected by the new 90-day rule and unhappy/complaining about it - altho u have a right to be annoyed about the confusion going on, blame Schengen or your own govts for the reduction in max stay. GOI is only doing to u what is being done to Indian citizens for a while already. And they are late as usual!
Nick is right when he says that govts have a sovereign right to do what they want (in accordance with their constitution/laws of course), unless they sign it away as part of an international treaty. Also, the principle of reciprocity is a standard tool in international relations, as in the case under discussion.

For the record, Schengen countries (15 at present) are - 13 of the first 15 EU countries (minus Britain and Rep. of Ireland), and the 2 members of the Nordic Passport Union - Norway and Iceland.

FOR THOSE IN DOUBT ABOUT WHETHER THE 90-DAY RULE APPLIES TO U OR NOT: Call and check with the Indian embassy or consulate nearest to u in your country of residence.

Dilliwala

Hi Mods,

Can I suggest a sticky for this thread, as it seems specially relevant for visa applicants right now, i.e, until all concerned embassies and GOI websites are up-to-date?

Nick-H

Sure. I'm thinking to change the thread name in that case

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incitatus

Consulate General of India - Edinburgh webpage says-as it always has- Tourist Visa,
UP TO SIX MONTHS. Multiple entry.

and a proviso...Please note that the duration for which a particular visa is issued will depend on the circumstances of the applicant.
For tourist visas they only seem to use the one stamp -6 months.
There is no mmention of a maximum 90 day stay.
http://www.cgiedinburgh.org/VisaServices.shtml

Dilliwala

Please read what I've said about the GIB above. If u're intending to apply, best is that u call the HC or consulate and check. If u're a British citizen, u're not covered by the Schengen reciprocal anyway. There may or may not be a different rule for Britons.

vistet

The online visa form for Swedish visa applicants says " Tourist Visa - up to six months " . Got six months in -05 ,and am sending in a new visa application tomorrow.Will update.

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Dilliwala

Nick, please change it again to "90 days STAY...."
There is still confusion reigning re VALIDITY vs. STAY.

Nick-H

Done that.

ALPHABAR

the visa form for the india embassy in stockholm says "up to six months" as there are applicants from outside eu applying at the embassy (as at all the rest).

this does not mean that if you are swedish you will not a get a six month visa.

Varma

sorry the language but more easy. try the finnish traslator

Hankalaa. Pitää siis matkustella turhaan ja tuhota resursseja.

Sulla tulee siis mieleen mennä Nepaliin. Sitä olen kuullut aiemmin käytettävän 180 päivän keskeytystapana. En vain silloin pitänyt korviani riittävän auki, kun luulin ettei se koskisi mua.

Hengaan ihan etelässä ja sieltä on pitkä matka pohjoiseen, mutten viitsisi lentää Bangkokiin, Kuala Lumpuriin, Singaporeen, Maleen tai Colomboon.

On siis matkustettava junilla johonkin pohjoiseen. Meneekö lähelle Nepalin rajaa joku rautatie mukavasti. Amritsarista pääsisi helposti Pakistanin rajalle, mutta se vaatinee Pakistanin viisumin. Onks sulla mitään tietoa käytännöistä, miten on helpointa tehdä tämä luontoakin rasittava temppu.?

uligaen

"but more easy"..

machadinha

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ploink

Varma has also started an English thread on the same topic, 90 day visa run, you may be able to help Varma there.

Varma refers to my plan to visit Nepal (because I'll be in the north); Varma is in the south - far from the north and Nepal - and would not want to fly (to Bangkok, for example). What would be a convenient train to take from the south to the north and towards Nepal or towards Pakistan (via Amritsar, for example) - but for Pakistan, no visa available at the border? (For Nepal, yes.) I have to admit I don't really know. I've been thinking about a train to Gorakhpur... and by bus to Nepal? But I'm not certain whether it's a good idea. My "start" towards Nepal will be Landour/Mussoorie, Uttarakhand.

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Dilliwala

It's NOT a good idea to travel by road into Nepal, except as I mentioned in another thread, to do a cross-over and cross-back. Pls keep in mind that things are still not hunky-dory between the Maoists and the Nepal Govt. If talks break down again u hardly want to be travelling thru Maoist controlled territory by road, wud u? And at the southern border with UP the Madhesis are up in arms, opposing everybody else.
And Pakistan is not a good idea either, unless u get a visa in advance.
Folks, pls do not rely on getting visas at border crossings. Maybe u've heard there's talk of an Emergency being declared in Pakistan? Stay safe, go to Sri Lanka or Bangladesh or Kathmandu, Nepal (by air), but get your visas in advance.

Varma

So have to use this difficult language

cross-over cross-back maybe means that just a few seconds in a foreign land and back to India. Anyway that was in my mind after bad news from Embassy.
No visa to Pakistan or Bangladesh.