Visa Dilemma

jwitt · Oct 2nd, 2006, 07:35

Hello everyone,

I'm a US citizen planning a trip to India for the first half of next year. I will be in NYC on Dec. 20, 2007 at which point I plan to get my tourist Visa. The problem is that I would like to stay in India until the last week in June or first week in July. I will buy my flight tickets soon and am wondering if staying a couple of weeks past my 6 month visa is a bad idea or not. Does anyone here have an opinion on this or a work around? Thanks.

Pheta Ande · Oct 2nd, 2006, 07:49

Not sure about overstaying your visa, but last year when I went to the city to get my visa it took a while, prob six to seven hrs in all. I now have a 10 year visa but if I had to do it all again I would have just done it by mail. You still have enough time for this. This gives you more time to enjoy the city. In saying that it was a pretty interesting experience, a reality show in the making!!!

jwitt · Oct 2nd, 2006, 07:54

Yeah, I thought about just mailing it in but I don't feel very comfortable mailing my passport like that. Is this a typical option that others have done with no problems?

Merchant · Oct 2nd, 2006, 07:54

Don't overstay. Just get your visa by mail closer to the time you depart. You can only stay in India for six months at a time, even with a ten-year visa. There are no workarounds. Don't forget that these are immigration issues, and you know how difficult things are here in the US. Overstaying a visa turns you into an illegal alien.

You can FedEx your PP so it can be tracked. It's not a problem to get a visa by mail. I've done it, even though I live in New York, just so I don't have to stand in line.

dzibead · Oct 2nd, 2006, 07:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by jwitt

Hello everyone,

I'm a US citizen planning a trip to India for the first half of next year. I will be in NYC on Dec. 20, 2007 at which point I plan to get my tourist Visa. The problem is that I would like to stay in India until the last week in June or first week in July. I will buy my flight tickets soon and am wondering if staying a couple of weeks past my 6 month visa is a bad idea or not. Does anyone here have an opinion on this or a work around? Thanks.

It is a very bad idea. You can be fined or even arrested when you try to leave the country, and you can even be deported and barred from ever entering India again. Don't take this lightly. This question has come up before. You could search in the Passport and Visa forum to check for other replies where others have asked the same question.

jwitt · Oct 2nd, 2006, 08:10

OK, I'm convinced, I'll Fedex my passport in. The issue is that I'll be in France for most of Jan, then straight to India from there. If there is a hold up with the post office I could get left without my passport in time.

Pheta Ande · Oct 2nd, 2006, 08:29

How about getting your visa at the India Embassy in Paris. It may be possible. I have gotten Visas outside my country of residence before. You should probable check first though.

jwitt · Oct 2nd, 2006, 08:39

Pheta Ande - Yes, I have considered that but a friend of mine tried with another country and a different visa and had trouble. How would I check, email the India embassy in Paris?

Pheta Ande · Oct 2nd, 2006, 09:17

Probably e-mail is the best, but may also be good just to call them. Buy one of those phone cards if you dont have an international plan as you may be on the phone for a while.
Good Luck

jwitt · Oct 2nd, 2006, 10:45

Another question, how would I time my visa if I were to mail it in. I know they suggest 3 weeks for processing but how do I know when the visa is issued? I'm leaving for France on Jan 8 so I'd have to mail the app before I'd actually be in NYC to receive it before I flew. The date might even be earlier than if I get it in person.

I don't think I'm comfortable waiting to get the visa in Paris. Since I need the visa to get to France I guess the only safe option is to shorten my stay in India by a week or two.

Merchant · Oct 2nd, 2006, 10:53

You have no control over the date of issue of your visa unless you walk it to the consulate for same-day service. Really, on your trip you shouldn't bump up against the deadline of your visa. If your flight gets cancelled or you have wreck on the way to the airport or some "security" things shuts down air travel, you can find yourself facing a lot of additional hassles (besides just getting home). India will grant a brief (two weeks or so) emergency extension on a tourist visa for just such contingencies--but it is just enough time for you to leave the country. If you end up overstaying, for whatever reason, legitimate or not, you are placing yourself at the mercy of the Indian bureaucracy, which no sane person would do. These things really aren't to be messed with. You should plan your trip around the validity of your visa--not the other way around.

jwitt · Oct 2nd, 2006, 11:13

Point well taken Merchant. Thanks.

Nick-H · Oct 2nd, 2006, 11:19

Overstaying your visa is a crime.

Do you want to miss your plane home because they've detained you in a cell?

Do you want to risk being refused a visa to visit India ever again?

Extensions to tourist visas are for real emergencies eg medical only.

Without a doubt this is the most stupid question that gets asked on IndiaMike regularly. Sorry: but it does and it is.

So Why not just forget the idea and we'll forget you asked, OK?

Nick-H · Oct 2nd, 2006, 11:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by jwitt

Point well taken Merchant. Thanks.

Sorry: didn't see your last post. I think you got the idea

I'll let my previous post stand for anyone else who's wondering

jwitt · Oct 2nd, 2006, 11:28

Nick-H, the reason I asked was because i have a friend who did the same with an Italian visa and it didn't seem like a big deal. I have a decent amount of experience traveling in the West but none in the East or with visas and I didn't know how serious the issue was.

It's really a shame that the visa begins from the time of issue since I'm sure that there are plenty of people like me who would like to make stops along the way.

Oct 2nd, 2006, 07:35	#1
jwitt Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: New Mexico, USA Posts: 52	Visa Dilemma Hello everyone, I'm a US citizen planning a trip to India for the first half of next year. I will be in NYC on Dec. 20, 2007 at which point I plan to get my tourist Visa. The problem is that I would like to stay in India until the last week in June or first week in July. I will buy my flight tickets soon and am wondering if staying a couple of weeks past my 6 month visa is a bad idea or not. Does anyone here have an opinion on this or a work around? Thanks.

Oct 2nd, 2006, 11:19	#13
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 25,861	Overstaying your visa is a crime. Do you want to miss your plane home because they've detained you in a cell? Do you want to risk being refused a visa to visit India ever again? Extensions to tourist visas are for real emergencies eg medical only. Without a doubt this is the most stupid question that gets asked on IndiaMike regularly. Sorry: but it does and it is. So Why not just forget the idea and we'll forget you asked, OK? __________________ . Just one member of the IndiaMike Mod Team

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Love Dilemma	Daal_face	Chai and Chat	58	Dec 24th, 2005 01:29
Mumbai Dilemma	Martinasia	Mumbai (Bombay)	25	Aug 5th, 2005 18:55
Dilemma	Richmar	India Expat Area	3	Jan 3rd, 2005 19:48
laptop dilemma	anjunaangel	Electronics in India	5	Oct 24th, 2004 13:39
Shoe dilemma... what do you take?	Celtic_Queen	Packing Tips for India travel	23	Oct 15th, 2003 10:53

Oct 2nd, 2006, 07:49	#2
Pheta Ande Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: US and A Posts: 107	Not sure about overstaying your visa, but last year when I went to the city to get my visa it took a while, prob six to seven hrs in all. I now have a 10 year visa but if I had to do it all again I would have just done it by mail. You still have enough time for this. This gives you more time to enjoy the city. In saying that it was a pretty interesting experience, a reality show in the making!!!

Oct 2nd, 2006, 07:54	#3
jwitt Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: New Mexico, USA Posts: 52	Yeah, I thought about just mailing it in but I don't feel very comfortable mailing my passport like that. Is this a typical option that others have done with no problems?

Oct 2nd, 2006, 07:54	#4
Merchant Maha Guru Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: New York Posts: 2,079	Don't overstay. Just get your visa by mail closer to the time you depart. You can only stay in India for six months at a time, even with a ten-year visa. There are no workarounds. Don't forget that these are immigration issues, and you know how difficult things are here in the US. Overstaying a visa turns you into an illegal alien. You can FedEx your PP so it can be tracked. It's not a problem to get a visa by mail. I've done it, even though I live in New York, just so I don't have to stand in line.

Oct 2nd, 2006, 08:10	#6
jwitt Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: New Mexico, USA Posts: 52	OK, I'm convinced, I'll Fedex my passport in. The issue is that I'll be in France for most of Jan, then straight to India from there. If there is a hold up with the post office I could get left without my passport in time.

Oct 2nd, 2006, 08:29	#7
Pheta Ande Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: US and A Posts: 107	How about getting your visa at the India Embassy in Paris. It may be possible. I have gotten Visas outside my country of residence before. You should probable check first though.

Oct 2nd, 2006, 08:39	#8
jwitt Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: New Mexico, USA Posts: 52	Pheta Ande - Yes, I have considered that but a friend of mine tried with another country and a different visa and had trouble. How would I check, email the India embassy in Paris?

Oct 2nd, 2006, 09:17	#9
Pheta Ande Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: US and A Posts: 107	Probably e-mail is the best, but may also be good just to call them. Buy one of those phone cards if you dont have an international plan as you may be on the phone for a while. Good Luck

Oct 2nd, 2006, 10:45	#10
jwitt Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: New Mexico, USA Posts: 52	Another question, how would I time my visa if I were to mail it in. I know they suggest 3 weeks for processing but how do I know when the visa is issued? I'm leaving for France on Jan 8 so I'd have to mail the app before I'd actually be in NYC to receive it before I flew. The date might even be earlier than if I get it in person. I don't think I'm comfortable waiting to get the visa in Paris. Since I need the visa to get to France I guess the only safe option is to shorten my stay in India by a week or two.

Oct 2nd, 2006, 10:53	#11
Merchant Maha Guru Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: New York Posts: 2,079	You have no control over the date of issue of your visa unless you walk it to the consulate for same-day service. Really, on your trip you shouldn't bump up against the deadline of your visa. If your flight gets cancelled or you have wreck on the way to the airport or some "security" things shuts down air travel, you can find yourself facing a lot of additional hassles (besides just getting home). India will grant a brief (two weeks or so) emergency extension on a tourist visa for just such contingencies--but it is just enough time for you to leave the country. If you end up overstaying, for whatever reason, legitimate or not, you are placing yourself at the mercy of the Indian bureaucracy, which no sane person would do. These things really aren't to be messed with. You should plan your trip around the validity of your visa--not the other way around.

Oct 2nd, 2006, 11:13	#12
jwitt Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: New Mexico, USA Posts: 52	Point well taken Merchant. Thanks.

User Name		Remember Me?
Password

Oct 2nd, 2006, 11:28	#15
jwitt Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: New Mexico, USA Posts: 52	Nick-H, the reason I asked was because i have a friend who did the same with an Italian visa and it didn't seem like a big deal. I have a decent amount of experience traveling in the West but none in the East or with visas and I didn't know how serious the issue was. It's really a shame that the visa begins from the time of issue since I'm sure that there are plenty of people like me who would like to make stops along the way.