Slightly sticky specific visa question (re: the 6-month stay)

jonnybardo · Dec 15th, 2003, 15:17

My wife and I arrived in India October 2 and fly out of Delhi on April 16. Originally we had planned on going to Nepal in March and early April but are now planning on Dharamsala/Mcleod Ganj during that time. Anyways, this presents problem with the 6-month stay law. We have 1-year visas good through next August, but would need to leave the country by April 2. As far as I can tell, we have the following options in order of preference and from least to most hassle:
[list=1][*]Somehow skirt around the 6-month stay law: Is there anyway to do this, especially considering that we would only be over-staying it by 2 weeks? Who would we contact about this?[*]Change our flight to April 2: This would avoid the visa stay problem, but might cost a few bucks, although the travel agent that booked our tickets said it would be pretty easy (but cheap?). It would also mean we'd probably have to change our return to the U.S. flight from Europe, where we'll be for six weeks after India, as we have six weeks budgeted for Europe and not eight...the difference being another $1,000 or so, which we'd like to avoid.[*]Step out of India for a minute or two: Probably in Amritsar to Pakistan, which would be closest for us. How is doing this in Pakistan and how much would it cost? Would we have to pay for Pakistan visas even if we're literally just stepping over the border to have our passports stamped and then back again?[/list=1]

I'd greatly appreciate any tips you can give!

namaste,
jonathan

Alan D · Dec 15th, 2003, 18:59

I would say option 1 would be your best bet. The Foreigners Registration Offices in the main cities are usually willing to give an extension of up to two weeks if you have a good reason. The problem with this is, that I think they won't give these very much in advance. Your 6 month visa has to be almost finished. They would probably ask to see your flight tickets.

If you could work it, you could get the extension and head up to Dharamsala and then back to Delhi for your flight out.

If this didn't work you could fall back on option 2.

Sorry, I have no idea whether option 3 is possible or not.

jonnybardo · Dec 16th, 2003, 16:56

Alan D, that sounds like it might be our plan at this point. The Pakistan deal sounds like way too much hassle, and if we are going all the way east to Nepal just for visa purposes we might as well hang out in Nepal...but that would add more time and travel. So either we see if we can extend our stay for two weeks or we change our plane tickets, both of which could be done with a month or so to go.

One clarification: when you say extension, are you referring to the STAY or the visa itself? Our visa is a year, but we want to extend our actual stay by two weeks from six months.

Alan D · Dec 16th, 2003, 17:41

It sounds like US Indian visas are slightly different from UK ones. We only get a 6 month tourist visa valid for 6 months from the date of issue, but the principle seems the same - you have to be in and out in 6 months. In your case what you will be looking for is an extension of your stay in India.

I found the guys at the FRO in Delhi fairly understanding - they didn't even want to see our air tickets out but they made it clear that we had no hope of being given a further extension. There was no charge for this.

Hopefully some US citizens on the forum can add to this.

Oliver · Dec 16th, 2003, 19:29

I have been in the Indian High Commission in Islamabad getting an Indian visa in July 2000 (I was coming from Iran). While there I was able to see western travellers who had come from India in order to get an new Indian visa essentially being abused by High Commission staff. The message given was "Don't come to Pakistan to renew your Indian visa." If you had used your 6-month stay in India within the last twelve months, they were NOT going to give you a new visa.

Good luck!

jonnybardo · Dec 18th, 2003, 17:17

OK, it definitely sounds like the Pakistan option is out. My choices are to inquire to see if I can extend my stay by two weeks, if not either change my tickets or jump over to Nepal for a bit.

mountaingirl · Dec 18th, 2003, 17:34

I would vouch for Option 3.

Option 1: All the best!
Option 2: too much hassle as you need to change your entire plan - meaning spending money for changes (if you have cheap tickets), rearranging flights is a pain too.

Option 3: is simplest. If in Mysore, why not go to Sri Lanka?

jonnybardo · Dec 19th, 2003, 13:46

Why not Sri Lanka? It would probably be more expensive than option 2, for two roundtrip plane tickets.

NonIndianResident · Jan 9th, 2004, 15:02

I have had that 1-year visa with the 6-month maximum stay before. "Visa extensions" are really that, ie they extend your VISA, and only for two weeks. But your visa is good for a year. You can dodge over any border, provided you have a visa for the other country (Nepal has visas on arrival, and I think Sri Lanka doesn't require them), and then return to India "refreshed" for another 6-month stay. You DO NOT have to get (actually cannot get) a new Indian visa in the second country if you still have that one year visa ticking away.

I knew someone who went to FRRO in Delhi near the beginning of one of those 1-year visas and successfully begged about being not able to travel at the 6-month mark due to being in Ladakh over the winter and roads being closed, etc. They waived the 6-month max stay thing for her. But I don't know if it was a standard procedure or a whim on the part of the officials. Worth a try.

Dec 15th, 2003, 15:17	#1
jonnybardo Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: mysore for now Posts: 78	Slightly sticky specific visa question (re: the 6-month stay) My wife and I arrived in India October 2 and fly out of Delhi on April 16. Originally we had planned on going to Nepal in March and early April but are now planning on Dharamsala/Mcleod Ganj during that time. Anyways, this presents problem with the 6-month stay law. We have 1-year visas good through next August, but would need to leave the country by April 2. As far as I can tell, we have the following options in order of preference and from least to most hassle: [list=1][]Somehow skirt around the 6-month stay law:* Is there anyway to do this, especially considering that we would only be over-staying it by 2 weeks? Who would we contact about this?[]Change our flight to April 2:* This would avoid the visa stay problem, but might cost a few bucks, although the travel agent that booked our tickets said it would be pretty easy (but cheap?). It would also mean we'd probably have to change our return to the U.S. flight from Europe, where we'll be for six weeks after India, as we have six weeks budgeted for Europe and not eight...the difference being another $1,000 or so, which we'd like to avoid.[]Step out of India for a minute or two:* Probably in Amritsar to Pakistan, which would be closest for us. How is doing this in Pakistan and how much would it cost? Would we have to pay for Pakistan visas even if we're literally just stepping over the border to have our passports stamped and then back again?[/list=1] I'd greatly appreciate any tips you can give! namaste, jonathan

Dec 16th, 2003, 17:41	#4
Alan D Maha Guru Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Southampton UK Posts: 1,866	It sounds like US Indian visas are slightly different from UK ones. We only get a 6 month tourist visa valid for 6 months from the date of issue, but the principle seems the same - you have to be in and out in 6 months. In your case what you will be looking for is an extension of your stay in India. I found the guys at the FRO in Delhi fairly understanding - they didn't even want to see our air tickets out but they made it clear that we had no hope of being given a further extension. There was no charge for this. Hopefully some US citizens on the forum can add to this. __________________ What a long strange trip it's been!

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Dec 15th, 2003, 18:59	#2
Alan D Maha Guru Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Southampton UK Posts: 1,866	I would say option 1 would be your best bet. The Foreigners Registration Offices in the main cities are usually willing to give an extension of up to two weeks if you have a good reason. The problem with this is, that I think they won't give these very much in advance. Your 6 month visa has to be almost finished. They would probably ask to see your flight tickets. If you could work it, you could get the extension and head up to Dharamsala and then back to Delhi for your flight out. If this didn't work you could fall back on option 2. Sorry, I have no idea whether option 3 is possible or not.

Dec 16th, 2003, 16:56	#3
jonnybardo Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: mysore for now Posts: 78	Alan D, that sounds like it might be our plan at this point. The Pakistan deal sounds like way too much hassle, and if we are going all the way east to Nepal just for visa purposes we might as well hang out in Nepal...but that would add more time and travel. So either we see if we can extend our stay for two weeks or we change our plane tickets, both of which could be done with a month or so to go. One clarification: when you say extension, are you referring to the STAY or the visa itself? Our visa is a year, but we want to extend our actual stay by two weeks from six months.

Dec 16th, 2003, 19:29	#5
Oliver Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Rotterdam, the Netherlands Posts: 3	I have been in the Indian High Commission in Islamabad getting an Indian visa in July 2000 (I was coming from Iran). While there I was able to see western travellers who had come from India in order to get an new Indian visa essentially being abused by High Commission staff. The message given was "Don't come to Pakistan to renew your Indian visa." If you had used your 6-month stay in India within the last twelve months, they were NOT going to give you a new visa. Good luck!

Dec 18th, 2003, 17:17	#6
jonnybardo Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: mysore for now Posts: 78	OK, it definitely sounds like the Pakistan option is out. My choices are to inquire to see if I can extend my stay by two weeks, if not either change my tickets or jump over to Nepal for a bit.

Dec 18th, 2003, 17:34	#7
mountaingirl Mother Goose Join Date: May 2003 Location: underground Posts: 441	I would vouch for Option 3. Option 1: All the best! Option 2: too much hassle as you need to change your entire plan - meaning spending money for changes (if you have cheap tickets), rearranging flights is a pain too. Option 3: is simplest. If in Mysore, why not go to Sri Lanka?

Dec 19th, 2003, 13:46	#8
jonnybardo Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: mysore for now Posts: 78	Why not Sri Lanka? It would probably be more expensive than option 2, for two roundtrip plane tickets.

Jan 9th, 2004, 15:02	#9
NonIndianResident Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: India Posts: 114	I have had that 1-year visa with the 6-month maximum stay before. "Visa extensions" are really that, ie they extend your VISA, and only for two weeks. But your visa is good for a year. You can dodge over any border, provided you have a visa for the other country (Nepal has visas on arrival, and I think Sri Lanka doesn't require them), and then return to India "refreshed" for another 6-month stay. You DO NOT have to get (actually cannot get) a new Indian visa in the second country if you still have that one year visa ticking away. I knew someone who went to FRRO in Delhi near the beginning of one of those 1-year visas and successfully begged about being not able to travel at the 6-month mark due to being in Ladakh over the winter and roads being closed, etc. They waived the 6-month max stay thing for her. But I don't know if it was a standard procedure or a whim on the part of the officials. Worth a try.