overstayed visa, delhi, please help

palais

My apologies if this information has been posted in this Visa forum. A really slow and random internet connection, and seeking some speedy help.

I was sick, could not move, and got a two week extension for my visa, which expired on the 7th of January.

I head to Delhi tomorrow night, (the 13th) and from there, will book my flight home. I have a notice from the police, a doctor's note, what do I need to do in Delhi before I go to the airport?

Thank you, kindly, I am worried.

capt_mahajan

Till somebody better informed comes along, maybe you could read this thread

http://www.indiamike.com/india/india...y-visa-t22350/

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Nick-H

No experience, I've never done such a thing, but it sounds like you have a good reason (possibly the only good reason).

Certainly you should go straight to the FRRO.

You're aware that you've done something wrong --- they'll like that approach.

What's you situation re flight ticket?

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palais

thanks Nick and Capt. So it seems I must go to the FRRO before boarding at the airport. Can someone tell me what FRRO stands for? (Sorry,due to slow internet connection, forum searches are arduous and very slow.)


My flight ticket situation: I had booked for the 1st Jan, but had to cancel because I was too sick for the journey. The airline said that I can reschedule when feeling well enough. Each time I re-book it costs 200 dollors, although with a doctors note, I may be able to waive that fee.

Thank you so much
palais

machadinha

FR(R)O: Foreigners (Regional) Registration Office.

Can't tell you if this is correct: http://www.immigrationindia.nic.in/f...hi_address.htm. I suspect it would/should be; if you backtrack on that link, it's the Bureau of Immigration, who I think you'll be dealing with anyway.

I, too, have no direct experience with this, but with a police report and a doctor's note, and the right approach, I should hope you'll get through without too much hassle, other than the regular bureaucratic nonsense (which you'd probably be well-advised to more-or-les accept in good humor). Let us know how it works out, as this will be helpful to others. But good luck to you first of all.

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edwardseco

They may impose a fine so keep money handy. However, I think the medical note will ease it through the FRO..

Nick-H

Yes, just to reinforce this, you must go to the FRRO to get permission to leave the country. This will be endorsed on you passport/visa.

palais

Thank you, everyone. Being sick and navigating all of this has been intense, even getting the Doctor's note was an experience.

I will head straight to the FRRO when I get to Delhi tomorrow, and hope to be able to get on a flight home the same night, and most assuredly will post the details later.

Nick-H

All the best. Let us know what happens.

... And sorry about the sickness.

palais

Hi friends;

It turns out that my panic was unnecessary; the 'police' office I had been to in my district was actually an FRRO! And the signature I had obtained there was sufficient for the airport, but I did not learn that till after running around Delhi all day in a panic.

(Heads up to anyone going to the FRRO in a big city, expect long lines and the usual queue chaos. Get there early, and plan to spend a good chunk of time if you have to go to the FRRO.)

In overstaying a visa because of a medical emergency, the FRRO requires that you go to a Government Doctor, and the doctor required that I be registered in a Government hospital. None of this was as easy to do as it sounds, it just took longer and more explaining and many trips back and forth between towns to procur it all.

With my airline, I showed them the documentation from the doctor, and was able to waive the extra fee for rescheduling the flight. Also, I was able to get a seat on the plane that night, very lucky, as the rest of the week the flights were completely full.

So I made it out, easily in one piece. However, when I got home, I found I had contracted a nasty stomach bug: mustuv picked it up on the 14 hour flight home, as I had not encounted the stomach bug in India. So I spent another week knocked out in bed!

All is well now. The moral of the story is to not overstay a visa, because even with a legitimate reason (illness), it takes some doing and if I had overstayed, I may have lost the priveledge of ever getting another Indian Visa!

If you do have a medical emergency, get help and be prepared to go to doctors and FRRO's, which can be very draining when you are sick.

Thanks , Indiamike, for being there when I really needed the help.

here's to your health
palais

Nick-H

Should have thought have that!

Sorry

Glad you got sorted ok

machadinha

Glad you made it home well, Palais. Planning next trips yet?

palais

You betcha machadinda! My better half lives there, and I hope to be back before October!

machadinha

Aha! Well, get your lesser half over there!