Visa Extension

gummibear55 · Jan 6th, 2009, 13:22

I am a Canadian. I have been traveling in India for 4 months now. I would like to extend my visa from a 6 month to a 1 year visa. I heard that it is possible to do this from Chennai and someone told me yesterday that it may be possible to do from Bangalore.

Wondering if anyone has any experience with this.

machadinha · Jan 6th, 2009, 14:20

I don't know what people have told you, but visas are non-convertible and non-extendable as such.

The subject has been covered a lot on this site. You'll find a listing of "similar threads" at bottom of this page; opening any of those they will feature a similar list at bottom, etc.

Check these folks who you'll need to speak to: http://immigrationindia.nic.in/ .

edwardseco · Jan 6th, 2009, 15:48

If its a tourist visa its only extendable under hardship cases like illness with documentation or delayed flights and it often involves hassles for a maximum of 15 days and with fees. An alternative is to marry an Indian resident. But, of course that takes 30 days notice. Do you know someone.?

palerider · Jan 6th, 2009, 16:27

I went with a friend from the ashram in Bangalore who wanted to extend her visa to 5 years.
They gave her a 1 month extension, and it was a bloody nightmare. A lot of red tape. 3 visits to the office, papers etc.etc.
It would, in hindsight, have been far easier to go to Sri lanka for a week or two and get another 6 month visa there, and it would have cost the same.

Haylo · Jan 6th, 2009, 20:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by gummibear55

someone told me yesterday that it may be possible to do from Bangalore.

As the other guys say, you cannot extend a visa for that long, or without a very good reason. You need a new one. New tourist visas cannot be obtained within India.

Whoever told you that it was possible, treat the rest of their advice with great caution!

gummibear55 · Jan 6th, 2009, 21:24

Originally when I applied for my visa I could have gotten a one year visa but I honestly thought I would move on to southeast asia after India so I went for the cheaper 6 month. So even though the possibilty exsisted for me to have a one year, this fact doesn't really matter?

I am not horrible opposed to taking a 2 week trip to sri lanka. I will be involved with a traineeship program so I was trying to avoid having to leave in the middle of it.

Is it best for me wait until my original visa expires then?

machadinha · Jan 7th, 2009, 00:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by gummibear55

So even though the possibilty exsisted for me to have a one year, this fact doesn't really matter?

That is correct, it doesn't matter now.

Quote:

I am not horrible opposed to taking a 2 week trip to sri lanka.

Yes. Just bear in mind this so-called visa run (applying for a new one abroad, to thereby extend one's total stay) isn't said to be all that straightforward anymore either, the Indian authorities are clamping down on it. People report being issued with a 3-month visa; not receiving a new one at all; or not having any trouble with it. So it's a chance you're taking. See also this thread, and note it doesn't get more optimistic towards the end of it: My stay in Kathmandu for Visa 25.12.06 - 3.12.06 .

Quote:

Is it best for me wait until my original visa expires then?

No, this shouldn't technically matter. The first one will be rendered obsolete, and you'll be traveling on the new one.

palerider · Jan 7th, 2009, 01:44

Yep Mach. I looked at the attachment you put there. Looks about normal.
This friend of mine has done this about 12 times or so. She's from denmark.
It's a bloody rigmarole, but it has to be done.
Five or so years ago, it was easier to just extend.
You had to go to Commissioner of Police and plead your case. If he was in a good mood all was well.
It was just a stamp on the visa.

edwardseco · Jan 7th, 2009, 01:50

Yes, but palerider, what is her exact visa status? If she has a student or ashram visa that is a different beast altogether than a tourist visa. I have extended research visas but it isn't the same thing as a tourist visa.

Of course, we are assuming the OP had a tourist visa in the first place alas the detail not available. The OP mentioned the possibility of getting a one year visa. I wonder if that was for validity or length of stay? If it was a tourist visa it would have required a border hop at 6 months anyway in the normal case since the stay is limited to 180 days like my tenner..

gummibear55 · Jan 7th, 2009, 15:15

I am traveling on a tourist visa that was issued in Canada.

I have met a man that I will be doing a traineeship program with that has a contact to extend my visa for one year. The fee is a bit high but its no more that I would pay to fly to Nepal for 2 weeks and fly back.

Hopefully this all works out or else I will be off to Nepal in March.

Nick-H · Jan 7th, 2009, 15:33

"the fee" --- also known as 'bribe'.

It might work out for you: hope it does.

Saulteaux_woman · Jan 7th, 2009, 15:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by gummibear55

I am traveling on a tourist visa that was issued in Canada.

I have met a man that I will be doing a traineeship program with that has a contact to extend my visa for one year. The fee is a bit high but its no more that I would pay to fly to Nepal for 2 weeks and fly back.

Hopefully this all works out or else I will be off to Nepal in March.

Hi, I'm Canadian and have been traveling on a tourist visa in the past in India, each time I had to go to Nepal, which is ok, but the last time I had to do it, it ended up taking 3 weeks. So weigh your options, holiday in Nepal with accomidation, flights, etc. Or pay whatever the price the guy says he can do that for. You should call to see if it can be done in Delhi?

gummibear55 · Jan 7th, 2009, 15:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by Saulteaux_woman

Hi, I'm Canadian and have been traveling on a tourist visa in the past in India, each time I had to go to Nepal, which is ok, but the last time I had to do it, it ended up taking 3 weeks. So weigh your options, holiday in Nepal with accomidation, flights, etc. Or pay whatever the price the guy says he can do that for. You should call to see if it can be done in Delhi?

I know a trip to Nepal would be awesome and I will go there eventually but I will be in the middle of a traineeship program when the visa expires and I don't want to leave in the middle of it. otherwise I would have no issues with a trip to Nepal. and I really don't want to go back to Delhi at this point.

I realize the "fee" is a bribe but this is India and everything works like this. Its not right at all but I am a visitor to this country. I can't change the way things are and if for once, me paying bhagsheesh will benefit me instead of a police man insisting I pay him money for no reason then oh well.

nayan · Jan 7th, 2009, 15:53

extending a tourist visa for 1 year sounds highly unlikely. Be careful that this man is not promising you something unrealistic to get you in his traineeship program.

palerider · Jan 7th, 2009, 16:11

The visa for my friend was a normal european tourist visa.
The trouble with paying someone to extend it for you,(bribe), is that it's not always what you want. She (my friend) was told everything would be okay. She shmoozed for ages, ended up paying quite a bit in fares, "presents", "incentives", etc.
That's the point I was getting at, it was easier in the long run to go out of the country and then come back.
I know it's a pain. If Gummi is studying on a tourist visa, that's the rules.
This Danish girl was told it would all work out, she paid all the right people, and then got screwed.
I feel the one big benefit of going outside India to renew a visa is that it's all above board. Doing all the "alternative negotiations" makes you vulnerable to whatever is the whim of the people involved, with the added uncertainty of no recourse whatsoever.
Just please think about it?.

Jan 6th, 2009, 13:22	#1
gummibear55 Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Edmonton Posts: 12	Visa Extension I am a Canadian. I have been traveling in India for 4 months now. I would like to extend my visa from a 6 month to a 1 year visa. I heard that it is possible to do this from Chennai and someone told me yesterday that it may be possible to do from Bangalore. Wondering if anyone has any experience with this.

Jan 6th, 2009, 14:20	#2
machadinha brother my cup is empty member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: yörp Posts: 14,369	I don't know what people have told you, but visas are non-convertible and non-extendable as such. The subject has been covered a lot on this site. You'll find a listing of "similar threads" at bottom of this page; opening any of those they will feature a similar list at bottom, etc. Check these folks who you'll need to speak to: http://immigrationindia.nic.in/ . __________________ Reading tips, all picked up at IndiaMike : INDAX's A Comprehensive Guide To India / Dinoj Surendran's Desi Humor / ITHVC on Culture Shock & Travel Health / JetLag Travel Guides For the Undiscerning Traveller / India Travel Links

Jan 6th, 2009, 16:27	#4
palerider this is Brad. He's cute Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Armidale, N.S.W., Australia Posts: 2,226	I went with a friend from the ashram in Bangalore who wanted to extend her visa to 5 years. They gave her a 1 month extension, and it was a bloody nightmare. A lot of red tape. 3 visits to the office, papers etc.etc. It would, in hindsight, have been far easier to go to Sri lanka for a week or two and get another 6 month visa there, and it would have cost the same. __________________ I always wanted to be someone when I grew up, I realise now that I should have been more specific.

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Jan 6th, 2009, 15:48	#3
edwardseco Maha Guru Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Land that shakes and bakes. Posts: 5,833	If its a tourist visa its only extendable under hardship cases like illness with documentation or delayed flights and it often involves hassles for a maximum of 15 days and with fees. An alternative is to marry an Indian resident. But, of course that takes 30 days notice. Do you know someone.?

Jan 6th, 2009, 21:24	#6
gummibear55 Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Edmonton Posts: 12	Originally when I applied for my visa I could have gotten a one year visa but I honestly thought I would move on to southeast asia after India so I went for the cheaper 6 month. So even though the possibilty exsisted for me to have a one year, this fact doesn't really matter? I am not horrible opposed to taking a 2 week trip to sri lanka. I will be involved with a traineeship program so I was trying to avoid having to leave in the middle of it. Is it best for me wait until my original visa expires then?

Jan 7th, 2009, 01:44	#8
palerider this is Brad. He's cute Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Armidale, N.S.W., Australia Posts: 2,226	Yep Mach. I looked at the attachment you put there. Looks about normal. This friend of mine has done this about 12 times or so. She's from denmark. It's a bloody rigmarole, but it has to be done. Five or so years ago, it was easier to just extend. You had to go to Commissioner of Police and plead your case. If he was in a good mood all was well. It was just a stamp on the visa.

Jan 7th, 2009, 01:50	#9
edwardseco Maha Guru Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Land that shakes and bakes. Posts: 5,833	Yes, but palerider, what is her exact visa status? If she has a student or ashram visa that is a different beast altogether than a tourist visa. I have extended research visas but it isn't the same thing as a tourist visa. Of course, we are assuming the OP had a tourist visa in the first place alas the detail not available. The OP mentioned the possibility of getting a one year visa. I wonder if that was for validity or length of stay? If it was a tourist visa it would have required a border hop at 6 months anyway in the normal case since the stay is limited to 180 days like my tenner..

Jan 7th, 2009, 15:15	#10
gummibear55 Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Edmonton Posts: 12	I am traveling on a tourist visa that was issued in Canada. I have met a man that I will be doing a traineeship program with that has a contact to extend my visa for one year. The fee is a bit high but its no more that I would pay to fly to Nepal for 2 weeks and fly back. Hopefully this all works out or else I will be off to Nepal in March.

Jan 7th, 2009, 15:33	#11
Nick-H This is just a cameo appearance Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 36,188	"the fee" --- also known as 'bribe'. It might work out for you: hope it does.

Jan 7th, 2009, 15:53	#14
nayan Forum Leader Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: hyderabad/tokyo Posts: 1,930	extending a tourist visa for 1 year sounds highly unlikely. Be careful that this man is not promising you something unrealistic to get you in his traineeship program.

Jan 7th, 2009, 16:11	#15
palerider this is Brad. He's cute Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Armidale, N.S.W., Australia Posts: 2,226	The visa for my friend was a normal european tourist visa. The trouble with paying someone to extend it for you,(bribe), is that it's not always what you want. She (my friend) was told everything would be okay. She shmoozed for ages, ended up paying quite a bit in fares, "presents", "incentives", etc. That's the point I was getting at, it was easier in the long run to go out of the country and then come back. I know it's a pain. If Gummi is studying on a tourist visa, that's the rules. This Danish girl was told it would all work out, she paid all the right people, and then got screwed. I feel the one big benefit of going outside India to renew a visa is that it's all above board. Doing all the "alternative negotiations" makes you vulnerable to whatever is the whim of the people involved, with the added uncertainty of no recourse whatsoever. Just please think about it?.