Obtaining a volunteer visa, traveling from Canada

Paleface

At the moment, for a few days anyway slightly busy, but i will talk with Nani and see what the score is as well as with GPH Manager Swami. The thing is there is no problem getting yourself a Tourist visa in Canada, just that you would like to stay the whole stretch and not leave in between according to the 180 day limits, which is another difficulty (category of visa) to overcome?

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Only a mediocre person is always at his best. Somerset Maugham.

Glandith

I was thinking of applying for an entry visa for volunteering. Tourist visas cannot be extended, and I remember reading a thread here where people were discussing whether the simple act of helping prepare a meal constituted volunteer work or not, and if this was allowed with a tourist visa. I expect I'll be doing a lot more than that, and I don't want to get into any sort of trouble.

I was unaware of the 180-day limit, although I've seen it talked over here and there on the forum. Does this only apply to tourist visas? It says nothing about this on the site I linked in my first post. And take the time you need, Paleface. I am very patient.

Glandith

Haylo

If you are on a tourist visa, the maximum length of any one stay is 180 days. If you are on an entry visa, which is the correct one for volunteering by they way, you don't have to leave after 180 days, but you MUST register with your local FRO / FRRO if you intend to stay in India for longer than 180 days.

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The world is mud-luscious and puddle-wonderful - E.E. Cummings, poet (1894-1962)

Paleface

Look on that one - Doing some volunteering for free, is really not going to get you in any kind of trouble whatsoever - Anyway the state Director General of Police is a firm contact so we've have any 'trouble' covered. Only thing is he can't get you a visa unfortunately!!!

Haylo

Probably not, but it IS against the terms of the visa, and Glandith should be made aware of that. There is a huge difference between helping out for a bit while you are in India on holiday and using a tourist visa as a back door way to live full time in India for five years.

That is something that the Indian authorities are clamping down on, certainly people who have clearly been living in India on tourist visas are finding it increasingly difficult to persuade the authorities to give them new visas. As a Canadian who I think has not visited India before, the longest tourist visa that Glandith could get is almost certainly only 6 months, 12 months at the very most.

Plus, of course, on a tourist visa Glandith would have to leave India every 180 days, which involves getting past Indian immigration every 180 days on return. That won't be an issue at first, but after a time it will become increasingly obvious that Glandith is not a tourist at all, and if an immigration officer chooses to deny entry, contacts with the local police won't be any help at all.

The other advantage of having an entry visa is that it will allow registration as an Indian resident; this is useful because it enables people to do things that are not permitted for tourists, things like buying a car, getting a driving license and so on.

Paleface

I haven't said what type of visa, i mean i don't know what can or can't be done in Canada, just that whatever unfolds is not going to be any trouble for him in Uttaranchal.

Haylo

Ah, let me explain. When Glandith mentioned trouble, that was in the context of getting into trouble through working in a voluntary capacity on a tourist visa. Obviously, that is not permitted, though I'll freely admit that many Indian visitors on tourist visas do voluntary work on a short term basis without being found out.

When you replied "No you won't get into trouble" that could be read as "No you won't get into trouble if you work on a tourist visa" - while it's great that Glandith has the benefit of your local contacts, at the end of the day it's Glandith who would have to "face the music" if things went wrong.

Paleface

Absolutely - i just know folks get what visa is appropriate for them.

Glandith

Paleface,

Any news from your side of the world? I've written to Nanimaji but have yet to receive a reply. I have been sent photos of the Shilanyasa in Rishikesh, and it seems to have been a great success. Were you able to attend?

Glandith

Paleface

No didn't attend that, long way from me. But i called Swami Madhwanand in Rishikesh, manager of GPH. Frankly he didn't know about you, then again i don't have your real name etc. Still he was very happy to hear about it. He suggested writing asap to Pooja in Delhi, she is a volunteer trainee, of what i don't know, but she's with Dr.Dewan - so this seems positive development and i'm sure we can get there now... will PM her email etc.

Glandith

I have been in contact with Pooja. Nanimaji referred me to her some time ago as I contributed to GPH's souvenir brochure which was released on the 11th. She was the one who sent me the pictures I mentioned. I'll give her a shot and see what comes up.

Glandith

Paleface

Yeah give a solid nudge, even write the letter you would like to receive and send it for consideration/rubber stamping ??

Glandith

Which brings me back to why I started this thread.

Glandith

Paleface

Well i know, and so it goes. Gives one plenty of time to reconsider things, and even get over any romantic notions that one may have been under the illusion of.. come out of that affirmatively and the rest usually collapses into shape, not necessarily how it was envisaged though.

Glandith

The thing is, I don't have any expectations, good or bad. I don't know what I'm looking for, and I don't know what I'll find. Someone once told me, and I doubt that he came up with this, that "to have no expectations is to be free." I try, with difficulty, to live by that. All I know is that I want to do this, heart and soul. It doesn't guarantee that I'll be happy when I finally get to where I want to go. It might the total opposite, actually. But what is the point to living if one doesn't follow his heart?

Glandith