urgent help needed...

salima

hi everyone at indiamike...
those of you who remember, i was told i was granted a pio card in june and the file was 'out' and i should call back etc etc...in july i finally came to delhi and they said the file was here but some documents have to be verified in bangalore, which will be mailed back to delhi.

in the meantime my three month residential permit issued after the expiration of my visa will be invalid as of august 11...the delhi office told me there was nothing they could do that would allow me to stay.

i assume i have to now leave the country and get a new visa. i dont want to go the wrong way, and i cant remember the rules about tourist visas.

the details are this. i had a one year multiple entry visa for india. in the meantime i applied for a pio card (which may or may not show intention to immigrate). after that i went to register at the police in bhopal where i was living and they said a person with a tourist visa cannot register. i went to delhi and they gave me an envelope to bring back to bhopal that directed the police to register me, remove my visa violation (because i had stayed past 180 days at that point) and issue a residential permit for three months.

now they tell me all options are finished.

i have so little time now...i have tried searching the site but not found the most applicable information. i plan to try and call a lawyer today, but if anyone out there has any ideas for me please post on this thread.

thanks...
salima

mountaingirl

I guess somebody wants money!

Get back to Delhi - contact your embassy for help, also get in touch with Foreigners Registration Office near Hyatt Regency. That should help u extending your present visa etc...and give you a diplomatic protection (through the embassy). I mean diplomatic pressure on the indian govt to extend ur visa. Otherwise, take a trip to Thailand/ Sri Lanka to get a new visa and return and push for your PIO. Also try to pay some 'service charge' to the people concerned. if you have indian relatives, take them along - sometimes it is easier to 'communicate'....

salima

thanks mountaingirl...i am going to bangkok on tuesday, and hope they give me a new visa right away...when i get back i will follow up on the pio card. it wont be easy because now there are papers in bangalore that have to be verified and returned to delhi...i hope i can get a five year visa from bangkok!

Bryan

Baksheesh to the right official should clear the log jam

__________________
Then let us pray that come it may
(As come it will for a' that),
That Sense and Worth o'er a' the earth,
Shall bear the gree an a' that.
For a' that, an a' that,
It's coming yet for a' that,
That man to man, the world, o'er
Shall brithers be for a' that.
- Burns

Samsara

Good luck, Salima! Keep us posted.

salima

that has me worried...
how do i know who the right official is and how much? if they would just ask me i would give them the money gladly for the darn visa...

people are telling me bangkok is safe and not to worry about what hotel, just get in a cab and tell them to take me to a hotel on khao san road if i want a cheap one, or i could go to the same road the embassy is on but they will be more expensive. if i only have to stay one night it doesnt matter, but if longer it will be difficult for me...

also, someone suggested to me that a travel agent could get the visa for me-anyone ever hear of that?

Bryan

Get yourself down to Pune immigration office and ask if there is a special payment
That shoudl see you right

In bangkok ...there is a bus which will drop you off right at Ko Sarn road ...100 bhat i think
The taxi should be 350 ...there is a pre pay ...where the bus is, outside arrivals

There is a cheaper option it will cost you 8 baht
Walk across the bridge from the arrivals to the railway station ...buy ticket to Bangkok 5 baht
then come out of the railways station turn left
there is a bus stop ...Number 57 bus costs 3 baht and ask for Banglamphu Ko sarn road
and they will tell you when to get off and its a 2 minute walk to the hotels behind the temple

To be honest with you i've heard of people ahving problems gettinga repeat visa in bangkok though this was at the time of talk of war between Pak and Ind Nepal is always a good bet for the visa run and is a cheaper option as is Sri Lanka

If you;re flying to Bangkok go to Calcutta and buy your ticket there its much cheaper
should be in the region of 6500 rupees OW

Enjoy! ...

Bryan

eater

: visa service from travel agent does not generally work...speaking from experience and from loss of cash !