Travel Visa Extensions? (i'm there for 183 days!!!)

caitanya · Aug 25th, 2007, 01:08

Hello,

I am one of those stupid people who bought my ticket before arranging my visa. I am Canadian and can only get a travel visa for 180 days. But based on my ticket, I'm going to be there for 183 days, plus the fact that the visa STARTS from when you get it and not when you are in India...

I could change my ticket, but thats an extra $200, and I'm hoping that there is a cheaper option.

Any suggestions on what I can do? From what I've read, I can leave India and then come back with a new visa, but that does not really fit with my plans. I'm not sure if a one year visa is available for Canadians, but from what I've read from other posts, I'll still have to leave India before the 180 days is up then come back. I also read on the Bureau of Immigration, India, that if I have proof of a confirmed departure ticket, I can get a 15 day extension. Has anyone else ever heard of this or done this? This seems to be the easiest thing to do, or so it seems (I can't believe all of this stupidity over 3 days.... lesson to others: visa first, than ticket...)

thank you!
(all the other info on visas and everything have been very helpful! great site!

)

Nick-H · Aug 25th, 2007, 02:06

Welcome to IndiaMike, glad you like the site

But on the visa issue...

You'll find people who'll say they've know people who've done it, and even the occasional person who has --- but, frankly, if it was easy, there'd be queues of people getting their extra days, weeks and months extensions, and that doesn't happen.

No tourist visa will give you more than 180 days in India; some (depending on your nationality, origin, etc) will give you even less.

Tourist visa extensions are available in case of medical emergencies, or other genuine emergencies --- not, I'm afraid, just because you want to stay a little longer.

Yes, it is an expensive lesson --- but, for three days, it'd be better to change that ticket than to leave and re-enter India. Unless you really want a side trip to, eg Nepal or Sri Lanka. That could be an interesting thing to do!

But, financially, the cheap option is to change that ticket. Look on the bright side: you might have bought a ticket that didn't allow any changes. That could have been a heap more expensive!

GoanCanuck · Aug 25th, 2007, 03:07

As Nick pointed out, tourist visas are not easy to extend except in the case of a medical emergency. Even then you may have to pay a bribe. Most airline tickets allow one change without a fee except those which have special restrictions.

Mickey S · Aug 25th, 2007, 03:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by caitanya

...plus the fact that the visa STARTS from when you get it and not when you are in India...

As far as I am aware, the period of validity of the visa starts on the day it is issued but you are permitted to stay in India for 180 days from the date of entry into the country.

That, of course, doesn't really help you when your itinerary gives you 183 days in India... But 200 Canadian dollars isn't a huge amount of money, is it? Just change the ticket and enjoy the holiday.

incitatus · Aug 25th, 2007, 04:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mickey S

As far as I am aware, the period of validity of the visa starts on the day it is issued but you are permitted to stay in India for 180 days from the date of entry into the country.

from the webpage of the Consulate here in Edinburgh.....

PLEASE NOTE THAT VALIDITY OF VISA STARTS FROM THE DATE OF ISSUE AND NOT FROM THE DATE OF TRAVEL TO INDIA.

I'm afraid you'll have to change your tickets or incorporate a trip to Nepal or Bangladesh.(which would cost-in accumulated visa fees- more than the $200!!!)

caitanya · Sep 8th, 2007, 06:24

sigh, i had a feeling that i'd have to change my ticket... i was just hoping that there was some other option. a trip to india in the end is priceless anyways! thanks for the info!

caitanya · Oct 11th, 2007, 20:14

Ok, now that i've decided that there's no escaping that $200 flight change, I have another worry. When I arrive in India, will there be any problems due to the fact that my return ticket is passed the date that my visa expires? I'm not sure if this is something they check or not, but I want things to go as smooooothly as possible. I would like to avoid bribes...

atala · Oct 11th, 2007, 20:20

Nobody will check your ticket

Mickey S · Oct 11th, 2007, 20:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by caitanya

Ok, now that i've decided that there's no escaping that $200 flight change, I have another worry. When I arrive in India, will there be any problems due to the fact that my return ticket is passed the date that my visa expires? I'm not sure if this is something they check or not, but I want things to go as smooooothly as possible. I would like to avoid bribes...

No-one ever checks your return ticket.

But the fact that your visa expires while you are in India is irrelevant. The visa affords you entry to India, and as long as you enter the country during its period of validity you can stay for 180 days from date of entry.

pundabee · Oct 11th, 2007, 22:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mickey S

But the fact that your visa expires while you are in India is irrelevant. The visa affords you entry to India, and as long as you enter the country during its period of validity you can stay for 180 days from date of entry.

Giving bad advice once is bad enough, but repeating it, when it could land people in serious trouble if followed, is, to phrase it gently, very irresponsible.

It is very simple: You are only allowed to be in India during the period for which your visa is valid. The dates are on the visa.

Mickey S · Oct 11th, 2007, 23:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by pundabee

Giving bad advice once is bad enough, but repeating it, when it could land people in serious trouble if followed, is, to phrase it gently, very irresponsible.

It is very simple: You are only allowed to be in India during the period for which your visa is valid. The dates are on the visa.

I'm simply repeating what the clerk at the indian High Commission told me - and he was quite clear about it - but if you have a link that states otherwise then I shall, of course, accept that I was misinformed.

pundabee · Oct 11th, 2007, 23:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mickey S

I'm simply repeating what the clerk at the indian High Commission told me - and he was quite clear about it - but if you have a link that states otherwise then I shall, of course, accept that I was misinformed.

It is very difficult to find anywhere stating that you are only allowed to be in India in the period printed in the visa, or that you are allowed to be in India outside this period. The reason is that it is deemed to be so obvious that it is not necessary to explicitly state this. If you read the FAQ on the homepage of the Edinburg consulate's homepage it is implicit in the advice that you can't be in India without a valid visa (defined as being from the date of issue plus, usually, six months); this is why the consulate recommends getting a visa close to the departure date since the risk of it running out whilst you are in India is minimised.

The person you spoke to is most definitely wrong.

anonymous · Oct 12th, 2007, 01:24

Am I correct in observing that none of the people who have replied to this thread have any direct experience or definite knowledge concerning visa extensions? Yet they still rush to volunteer their opinions.

Actually this question has been discussed already. Years ago. Do a search of the archives.

mairangi_vice · Oct 12th, 2007, 12:01

I do have direct knowledge of visa extensions. I went to the FRRO in Mumbai to try and extend my 6 month tourist visa, and was told, in no uncertain terms, by more than one person, that it was not possible.

Also, if you look at your indian visa, it has an expiry date on it, which for a tourist visa is generally 3 or 6 months from the date of issue. Note that this is expicitly an expiry date, at which point the visa becomes invalid and you have to leave, it is not the end of an entry validity period as with some visas.

Aug 25th, 2007, 01:08	#1
caitanya Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Canada Posts: 4	Travel Visa Extensions? (i'm there for 183 days!!!) Hello, I am one of those stupid people who bought my ticket before arranging my visa. I am Canadian and can only get a travel visa for 180 days. But based on my ticket, I'm going to be there for 183 days, plus the fact that the visa STARTS from when you get it and not when you are in India... I could change my ticket, but thats an extra $200, and I'm hoping that there is a cheaper option. Any suggestions on what I can do? From what I've read, I can leave India and then come back with a new visa, but that does not really fit with my plans. I'm not sure if a one year visa is available for Canadians, but from what I've read from other posts, I'll still have to leave India before the 180 days is up then come back. I also read on the Bureau of Immigration, India, that if I have proof of a confirmed departure ticket, I can get a 15 day extension. Has anyone else ever heard of this or done this? This seems to be the easiest thing to do, or so it seems (I can't believe all of this stupidity over 3 days.... lesson to others: visa first, than ticket...) thank you! (all the other info on visas and everything have been very helpful! great site! )

Aug 25th, 2007, 02:06	#2
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 26,887	Welcome to IndiaMike, glad you like the site But on the visa issue... You'll find people who'll say they've know people who've done it, and even the occasional person who has --- but, frankly, if it was easy, there'd be queues of people getting their extra days, weeks and months extensions, and that doesn't happen. No tourist visa will give you more than 180 days in India; some (depending on your nationality, origin, etc) will give you even less. Tourist visa extensions are available in case of medical emergencies, or other genuine emergencies --- not, I'm afraid, just because you want to stay a little longer. Yes, it is an expensive lesson --- but, for three days, it'd be better to change that ticket than to leave and re-enter India. Unless you really want a side trip to, eg Nepal or Sri Lanka. That could be an interesting thing to do! But, financially, the cheap option is to change that ticket. Look on the bright side: you might have bought a ticket that didn't allow any changes. That could have been a heap more expensive! __________________ . Just one member of the IndiaMike Mod Team

Oct 12th, 2007, 01:24	#13
anonymous Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: - Posts: 162	Visa Extension Am I correct in observing that none of the people who have replied to this thread have any direct experience or definite knowledge concerning visa extensions? Yet they still rush to volunteer their opinions. Actually this question has been discussed already. Years ago. Do a search of the archives.

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Aug 25th, 2007, 03:07	#3
GoanCanuck Maha Guru Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Vancouver Posts: 2,974	As Nick pointed out, tourist visas are not easy to extend except in the case of a medical emergency. Even then you may have to pay a bribe. Most airline tickets allow one change without a fee except those which have special restrictions.

Sep 8th, 2007, 06:24	#6
caitanya Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Canada Posts: 4	sigh, i had a feeling that i'd have to change my ticket... i was just hoping that there was some other option. a trip to india in the end is priceless anyways! thanks for the info!

Oct 11th, 2007, 20:14	#7
caitanya Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Canada Posts: 4	Ok, now that i've decided that there's no escaping that $200 flight change, I have another worry. When I arrive in India, will there be any problems due to the fact that my return ticket is passed the date that my visa expires? I'm not sure if this is something they check or not, but I want things to go as smooooothly as possible. I would like to avoid bribes...

Oct 11th, 2007, 20:20	#8
atala Senior Member, 8 yrs in India Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Switzerland, just back from India 2008 Posts: 691	Nobody will check your ticket

Oct 12th, 2007, 12:01	#14
mairangi_vice Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Mumbai Posts: 284	I do have direct knowledge of visa extensions. I went to the FRRO in Mumbai to try and extend my 6 month tourist visa, and was told, in no uncertain terms, by more than one person, that it was not possible. Also, if you look at your indian visa, it has an expiry date on it, which for a tourist visa is generally 3 or 6 months from the date of issue. Note that this is expicitly an expiry date, at which point the visa becomes invalid and you have to leave, it is not the end of an entry validity period as with some visas.

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