Renewing one's visa

Andreas · Feb 1st, 2004, 03:23

Is it possible to renew one's visa in India, or must one travel to another country and apply there?

Once I leave my visa will be valid for three weeks only until it expires, which is pitty. I was hoping it would be possible to renew it within India.

Andreas

Ben · Feb 1st, 2004, 06:56

You have to leave India to renew your visa. Nepal is a good place.
You can catch a bus from Sonauli to Kathmandu or fly from Delhi or Kolkata.

Andreas · Feb 1st, 2004, 19:35

Thank you Ben for your answer.

That's a pitty.

Would it be possible to renew it, despite the fact it yet hasn't expired, in my home country before I leave for India?

wonderwomanusa · Feb 2nd, 2004, 03:57

>>Would it be possible to renew it, despite the fact it yet hasn't expired, in my home country before I leave for India?<<

You'd have to apply for a new visa.

Feb 2nd, 2004, 10:32

i read in lp indian himalaya guide in the shop yesterday nepal was a poor place to renew visa. fyi.

Andreas · Feb 3rd, 2004, 23:37

But I would rather not leave the country since I will be there with very little money. I might apply for a fresh visa in my home country before I leave.

What happens if I haven't left the country when my visa experies?

Merchant · Feb 3rd, 2004, 23:53

"What happens if I haven't left the country when my visa experies?"

You will have become an illegal immigrant. In our post 9/11 era, when governments are inflexible and short-sighted, I wouldn't mess around with a visa issue. The US incarcerates people who have overstayed their visas. We also fingerprint some newcomers now. The Brazilian government decided to impose a huge paperwork burden and require photographs of American tourist arrivals--this in response to how poorly we are treating Brazilians.

In short, once you place yourself in a legal gray era (such as overstaying a visa), you are at the mercy of a government official. Policies can be arbitrary, and they can change in response to what other governments do.

renedu · Feb 4th, 2004, 03:29

what is the difference between renewal and visa extension. I was under the impression that you could extend your visa at a 'visa extension office' in major cities.

Merchant · Feb 4th, 2004, 03:45

Tourist visas are not usually extendable or renewable in India, though it seems you can get an emergency two-week reprieve after waiting in line and jumping through hoops at one of the offices.

Feb 4th, 2004, 10:06

dude. you gotta leave the country before you can start a new visa, are you wacked?! this is standard travel 101. if you dont, you must apply for extention. if you dont -your illegal. my hunch is a two week extention is no way worth it unless you cant get a flight out, then you must. wishing it so does not make it that way...

hoshii2000 · May 12th, 2006, 10:46

I was told that when you renew your visa you have to do it in the country you received it in... I think this is total BS. But I thought I would ask the experts here at IM. If this is true it will be a pain for me since I received my visa in NZ. By the way, it's an employment visa... just in case that makes a difference.

kirpichik · May 13th, 2006, 00:00

I feel such threads as this one, involving legal matters, are often misleading and erroneous. Not intentionally, but each nationality/citizenship seem to be treated differently by Indian authorities...And I remember well, that I got nearly linched by some IMers, and accused of everything from lying to having no right to give "legal advise," when I tried to relate my EXPERIENCE as an american citizen recieving a ten-year tourist visa from Chicago Indian Consulate (a priviledge given to the americans only,- you see?), and being thoroughly surprised to be handed a 10-year RESIDENCY permit from Police FRO in Goa, when I went there to register it! Some IMers even said , police made a mistake!!!
Since from Nepal and Sri Lanka I recieved only 3 mos visas, I suggest it's best of all for you to go back to your home land... And if it's an employment visa,
shouldn't your employer solicit a new visa, or a sizable extension one for you ,
from Indian authorities here?

hoshii2000 · Sep 19th, 2006, 17:51

Is there any official website (In the US there is the INS) that has information on renewing employment visas? I can't seem to find information on this.

I am the only expat working at my company so I am getting little or no help from HR here.

Nick-H · Sep 19th, 2006, 18:06

You can see http://immigrationindia.nic.in/

2. FRRO can extend the VISA for three months in case of Employment & Business VISAs and forward the case for further extension upto 1 year, to MHA. After obtaining approval from MHA, FRRO can extend that VISA for further four years on year-to-year basis.

hoshii2000 · Sep 19th, 2006, 18:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick-H

You can see http://immigrationindia.nic.in/

2. FRRO can extend the VISA for three months in case of Employment & Business VISAs and forward the case for further extension upto 1 year, to MHA. After obtaining approval from MHA, FRRO can extend that VISA for further four years on year-to-year basis.

Wow thanks Nick! I am in awe of your googling power!!

Feb 1st, 2004, 03:23	#1
Andreas ¿Bailamos? Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Suecia Posts: 123	Renewing one's visa Is it possible to renew one's visa in India, or must one travel to another country and apply there? Once I leave my visa will be valid for three weeks only until it expires, which is pitty. I was hoping it would be possible to renew it within India. Andreas

Feb 2nd, 2004, 03:57	#4
wonderwomanusa Maha Guru Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Northern California Posts: 3,535	>>Would it be possible to renew it, despite the fact it yet hasn't expired, in my home country before I leave for India?<< You'd have to apply for a new visa. __________________ The map is not the territory. --Alfred Korzybski

Sep 19th, 2006, 18:06	#14
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 26,924	You can see http://immigrationindia.nic.in/ 2. FRRO can extend the VISA for three months in case of Employment & Business VISAs and forward the case for further extension upto 1 year, to MHA. After obtaining approval from MHA, FRRO can extend that VISA for further four years on year-to-year basis. __________________ . Just one member of the IndiaMike Mod Team

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Feb 1st, 2004, 06:56	#2
Ben Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Australia Posts: 28	You have to leave India to renew your visa. Nepal is a good place. You can catch a bus from Sonauli to Kathmandu or fly from Delhi or Kolkata.

Feb 1st, 2004, 19:35	#3
Andreas ¿Bailamos? Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Suecia Posts: 123	Thank you Ben for your answer. That's a pitty. Would it be possible to renew it, despite the fact it yet hasn't expired, in my home country before I leave for India?

Feb 2nd, 2004, 10:32	#5
republicofcharas Posts: n/a	i read in lp indian himalaya guide in the shop yesterday nepal was a poor place to renew visa. fyi.

Feb 3rd, 2004, 23:37	#6
Andreas ¿Bailamos? Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Suecia Posts: 123	But I would rather not leave the country since I will be there with very little money. I might apply for a fresh visa in my home country before I leave. What happens if I haven't left the country when my visa experies?

Feb 3rd, 2004, 23:53	#7
Merchant Maha Guru Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: New York Posts: 2,096	"What happens if I haven't left the country when my visa experies?" You will have become an illegal immigrant. In our post 9/11 era, when governments are inflexible and short-sighted, I wouldn't mess around with a visa issue. The US incarcerates people who have overstayed their visas. We also fingerprint some newcomers now. The Brazilian government decided to impose a huge paperwork burden and require photographs of American tourist arrivals--this in response to how poorly we are treating Brazilians. In short, once you place yourself in a legal gray era (such as overstaying a visa), you are at the mercy of a government official. Policies can be arbitrary, and they can change in response to what other governments do.

Feb 4th, 2004, 03:29	#8
renedu Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Florence, Italy Posts: 112	what is the difference between renewal and visa extension. I was under the impression that you could extend your visa at a 'visa extension office' in major cities.

Feb 4th, 2004, 03:45	#9
Merchant Maha Guru Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: New York Posts: 2,096	Tourist visas are not usually extendable or renewable in India, though it seems you can get an emergency two-week reprieve after waiting in line and jumping through hoops at one of the offices.

Feb 4th, 2004, 10:06	#10
republicofcharas Posts: n/a	dude. you gotta leave the country before you can start a new visa, are you wacked?! this is standard travel 101. if you dont, you must apply for extention. if you dont -your illegal. my hunch is a two week extention is no way worth it unless you cant get a flight out, then you must. wishing it so does not make it that way...

May 12th, 2006, 10:46	#11
hoshii2000 Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Bangalore Posts: 83	I was told that when you renew your visa you have to do it in the country you received it in... I think this is total BS. But I thought I would ask the experts here at IM. If this is true it will be a pain for me since I received my visa in NZ. By the way, it's an employment visa... just in case that makes a difference.

May 13th, 2006, 00:00	#12
kirpichik Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: India Posts: 48	I feel such threads as this one, involving legal matters, are often misleading and erroneous. Not intentionally, but each nationality/citizenship seem to be treated differently by Indian authorities...And I remember well, that I got nearly linched by some IMers, and accused of everything from lying to having no right to give "legal advise," when I tried to relate my EXPERIENCE as an american citizen recieving a ten-year tourist visa from Chicago Indian Consulate (a priviledge given to the americans only,- you see?), and being thoroughly surprised to be handed a 10-year RESIDENCY permit from Police FRO in Goa, when I went there to register it! Some IMers even said , police made a mistake!!! Since from Nepal and Sri Lanka I recieved only 3 mos visas, I suggest it's best of all for you to go back to your home land... And if it's an employment visa, shouldn't your employer solicit a new visa, or a sizable extension one for you , from Indian authorities here?

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Sep 19th, 2006, 17:51	#13
hoshii2000 Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Bangalore Posts: 83	Is there any official website (In the US there is the INS) that has information on renewing employment visas? I can't seem to find information on this. I am the only expat working at my company so I am getting little or no help from HR here.