Visa panic

monnicat · Dec 26th, 2006, 12:24

Has anyone (Canadian or American) even been to India without a visa? What happened? Were you sent back??

Sama · Dec 26th, 2006, 12:27

I would think they would not even let you in since they check your passport for a visa when you arrive. You wouldn't even leave the airport!

docgirl2005 · Dec 26th, 2006, 12:32

Oh boy, would you mind telling us some more details, we might be able to give more insight..

My friend recently went to India for her sisters wedding. She didnt even get past the check-in counter at JFK in New York. Staff told her she wasnt permitted to fly out without a visa to India. She went home, got up early, got the visa at the consulate in NY, and made the next night's flight!

Exciting and stressful is what she felt...ahh but at least she didn't miss the wedding.

My guess is a person without a visa to India, would probably be denied a boarding pass.

Visas to India are easy to get, paperwork abounds, but if you live close to a major city then it will take a day or two tops.

Sama · Dec 26th, 2006, 12:35

hey, docgirl, I forgot about that! your visa is checked even before you get on the plane in the US, forget about when you arrive in India!

monnicat · Dec 26th, 2006, 12:39

I'm a US citizen living in Montreal. Our family was invited to a wedding in Surat, and I am meeting up with some of my family members en route to Mumbai. (My dad and his gf, I'm traveling with my son.) My ticket goes from Montreal to Detroit to Amsterdam to Mumbai. I didn't know I needed a visa since I have a valid US passport.

I'm supposed to be flying out around 4pm, and the nearest consulate (in Ottawa) is closed for boxing day. :-(

Nick-H · Dec 26th, 2006, 12:50

That is tough, and I'm sorry.

But how can you think for a moment of travelling without checking the visa situation? Especially as USA is one of the toughest countries for foreigners to get into.

Check out this news item for what can happen

If an airline takes you to a country that refuses you admittance the airline has to take you back again. So they check your visa before you get on the plane.

But they make mistakes --- and it must be a million times worse to be sent home by Indian Immigration than by the airline boarding staff

. Two stories on IndiaMike over the past months of people being refused entry to India.

Everybody makes mistakes. Hope you somehow manage to make it for the wedding. I'm sure this is a mistake you'll never, ever make again....

docgirl2005 · Dec 26th, 2006, 12:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by monnicat

I'm a US citizen living in Montreal. Our family was invited to a wedding in Surat, and I am meeting up with some of my family members en route to Mumbai. (My dad and his gf, I'm traveling with my son.) My ticket goes from Montreal to Detroit to Amsterdam to Mumbai. I didn't know I needed a visa since I have a valid US passport.

I'm supposed to be flying out around 4pm, and the nearest consulate (in Ottawa) is closed for boxing day. :-(

Hmm...is there anyway to get to Chicago (take the earliest flight out of Ottawa maybe...Air Canada has a flight out at 6 am 650 dollars, non-stop to Chicago and you are there by 8 am) Once you are there taxi over to the consulate in downtown Chicago. You being one of the first people will get your visa by 3 ish. Maybe then you can transfer out from Chicago to Amsterdam and then make your Mumbai connection?

Yes its a hair-brained and expensive scheme but it can be done if you HAVE to get on that Amsterdam-Mumbai flight. Also if you pay 35 dollars more they have emergency visa services but you must go in person. Hope this helps a bit..

www.itasoftware.com every flight all the time! awesome website..I got no affiliations..me a low tech doc hehe!

http://chicago.indianconsulate.com/

Good luck! once you get on the flight you can relax...

oops..i am sorry I just re-read your post..you are flying out of Montreal..I am sure they have direct service from Montreal to Chicago too..early this morning.

edwardseco · Dec 26th, 2006, 12:59

Good call Doc as for sure the OP is screwed otherwise. I saw an account of someone who made it on the plane without a visa. Straight into detention and out the next flight. I liked the supposition that a US passport superseded a visa requirement, hoy vey. Let us know the ending OP..

monnicat · Dec 26th, 2006, 13:29

Well, I feel pretty stupid, that's for sure. I guess I've never had to get a tourist visa before cuz the only places I go are Canada, Mexico, and Germany, and I went to Prague once and didn't need one there either.

Thanks for all your suggestions so far. I wonder if I can get one of those collective visas for foreign tourists in groups of four or more, since there are 4 of us, all taking the same flight in (if they let me on the plane, of course.)

docgirl2005 · Dec 26th, 2006, 13:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by monnicat

Thanks for all your suggestions so far. I wonder if I can get one of those collective visas for foreign tourists in groups of four or more, since there are 4 of us, all taking the same flight in (if they let me on the plane, of course.)

You are welcome. I don't know much about group visas, but that still requires someone to visit a consulate and that's not going to happen in Canada on Boxing Day, so the consulates here in the US are the only option.
In any case, good luck to you!

Nick-H · Dec 26th, 2006, 13:38

They won't, unless you already have a valid visa.

I'm not sure about the tourist group thing: I think it has to be done through a recognised agent.

It is a long (very, very long

) shot but does your local consulate have an emergency number? OK, it is a hopeless idea, but even if you just spend a few minutes listening to a dialling tone, you can't loose by trying.

memoulder@comcast.ne · Dec 26th, 2006, 18:30

used Travel Document Systems, Inc 212-223-1735 - offices in major cities. Fedexed overnight, they did it that day and I had it back the next. Small fee. I wanted someone to walk it thru the process.

docgirl2005 · Dec 26th, 2006, 23:35

Would love to know what happened, please tell us OP? Me just curious..

monnicat · Dec 27th, 2006, 04:23

Well, I called the Indian consulate in Ottawa (which is about 1.5-2 hours away) hoping to get a recorded message about how to get an emergency visa. This was at 2 am because I couldn't sleep being all stressed about the situation. But then a guy answered the phone, and sleepy and not real happy about being awakened; he said come by at 9 am on the 27th then hung up. I called again this morning at 9 am and the same guy said the same thing, and hung up before I could even explain that my flight was for TODAY (the 26th).

I went to the airport with my bags packed, and sure enough, they wouldn't let me through without the visa. I have been on the phone with Northwest Air for the last 45 minutes, and they say that they can put me on a flight for tomorrow, but I have to pay the difference in price and a change fee, for both myself and my son. ($$!)

The new flight leaves at 1:30 am, which is cutting it close considering I have to drive to Ottawa and back to be on time for the flight. I might try it, I dunno. I'm going to call my travel agent first.

Sama · Dec 27th, 2006, 04:27

wow. I'm surprised someone even answered the phone at the consulate on a closed day!

Dec 26th, 2006, 12:24	#1
monnicat Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Montreal, QC Posts: 4	Visa panic Has anyone (Canadian or American) even been to India without a visa? What happened? Were you sent back??

Dec 26th, 2006, 12:27	#2
Sama a pain in the asana Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: the India inside my heart Posts: 5,459	I would think they would not even let you in since they check your passport for a visa when you arrive. You wouldn't even leave the airport! __________________ *My India, 2005-2008* BE THE REVOLUTION

Dec 26th, 2006, 12:50	#6
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 27,763	That is tough, and I'm sorry. But how can you think for a moment of travelling without checking the visa situation? Especially as USA is one of the toughest countries for foreigners to get into. Check out this news item for what can happen If an airline takes you to a country that refuses you admittance the airline has to take you back again. So they check your visa before you get on the plane. But they make mistakes --- and it must be a million times worse to be sent home by Indian Immigration than by the airline boarding staff . Two stories on IndiaMike over the past months of people being refused entry to India. Everybody makes mistakes. Hope you somehow manage to make it for the wedding. I'm sure this is a mistake you'll never, ever make again.... __________________ . Just one member of the IndiaMike Mod Team

Dec 26th, 2006, 13:29	#9
monnicat Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Montreal, QC Posts: 4	Doh! Well, I feel pretty stupid, that's for sure. I guess I've never had to get a tourist visa before cuz the only places I go are Canada, Mexico, and Germany, and I went to Prague once and didn't need one there either. Thanks for all your suggestions so far. I wonder if I can get one of those collective visas for foreign tourists in groups of four or more, since there are 4 of us, all taking the same flight in (if they let me on the plane, of course.) Last edited by monnicat : Dec 27th, 2006 at 10:54.

Dec 27th, 2006, 04:23	#14
monnicat Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Montreal, QC Posts: 4	what happened... Well, I called the Indian consulate in Ottawa (which is about 1.5-2 hours away) hoping to get a recorded message about how to get an emergency visa. This was at 2 am because I couldn't sleep being all stressed about the situation. But then a guy answered the phone, and sleepy and not real happy about being awakened; he said come by at 9 am on the 27th then hung up. I called again this morning at 9 am and the same guy said the same thing, and hung up before I could even explain that my flight was for TODAY (the 26th). I went to the airport with my bags packed, and sure enough, they wouldn't let me through without the visa. I have been on the phone with Northwest Air for the last 45 minutes, and they say that they can put me on a flight for tomorrow, but I have to pay the difference in price and a change fee, for both myself and my son. ($$!) The new flight leaves at 1:30 am, which is cutting it close considering I have to drive to Ottawa and back to be on time for the flight. I might try it, I dunno. I'm going to call my travel agent first.

Dec 26th, 2006, 12:32	#3
docgirl2005 Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: usa Posts: 443	Oh boy, would you mind telling us some more details, we might be able to give more insight.. My friend recently went to India for her sisters wedding. She didnt even get past the check-in counter at JFK in New York. Staff told her she wasnt permitted to fly out without a visa to India. She went home, got up early, got the visa at the consulate in NY, and made the next night's flight! Exciting and stressful is what she felt...ahh but at least she didn't miss the wedding. My guess is a person without a visa to India, would probably be denied a boarding pass. Visas to India are easy to get, paperwork abounds, but if you live close to a major city then it will take a day or two tops.

Dec 26th, 2006, 12:35	#4
Sama a pain in the asana Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: the India inside my heart Posts: 5,459	hey, docgirl, I forgot about that! your visa is checked even before you get on the plane in the US, forget about when you arrive in India!

Dec 26th, 2006, 12:39	#5
monnicat Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Montreal, QC Posts: 4	I'm a US citizen living in Montreal. Our family was invited to a wedding in Surat, and I am meeting up with some of my family members en route to Mumbai. (My dad and his gf, I'm traveling with my son.) My ticket goes from Montreal to Detroit to Amsterdam to Mumbai. I didn't know I needed a visa since I have a valid US passport. I'm supposed to be flying out around 4pm, and the nearest consulate (in Ottawa) is closed for boxing day. :-(

Dec 26th, 2006, 12:59	#8
edwardseco Maha Guru Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Land that shakes and bakes. Posts: 4,223	Good call Doc as for sure the OP is screwed otherwise. I saw an account of someone who made it on the plane without a visa. Straight into detention and out the next flight. I liked the supposition that a US passport superseded a visa requirement, hoy vey. Let us know the ending OP..

Dec 26th, 2006, 13:38	#11
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 27,763	They won't, unless you already have a valid visa. I'm not sure about the tourist group thing: I think it has to be done through a recognised agent. It is a long (very, very long ) shot but does your local consulate have an emergency number? OK, it is a hopeless idea, but even if you just spend a few minutes listening to a dialling tone, you can't loose by trying.

Dec 26th, 2006, 18:30	#12
memoulder@comcast.ne grendel Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: brick, nj Posts: 12	used Travel Document Systems, Inc 212-223-1735 - offices in major cities. Fedexed overnight, they did it that day and I had it back the next. Small fee. I wanted someone to walk it thru the process.

Dec 26th, 2006, 23:35	#13
docgirl2005 Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: usa Posts: 443	Would love to know what happened, please tell us OP? Me just curious..

Dec 27th, 2006, 04:27	#15
Sama a pain in the asana Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: the India inside my heart Posts: 5,459	wow. I'm surprised someone even answered the phone at the consulate on a closed day!

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
Wrong visa info given in London visa office	Aquaman	Indian Visa and Passport Questions	2	Nov 5th, 2005 22:08
Indonesian visa- For nationals not on the Visa-on-Arrival List?	Adriane&Salvador	India Expat Area	6	Oct 18th, 2005 00:27
panic on tsunami hitting mumbai	sadhuji	India Travel News and Commentary	0	Jul 29th, 2005 09:42
Strong aftershock sparks panic in Aceh	machadinha	India Travel News and Commentary	0	May 9th, 2005 21:18
Need a hotel in Delhi for this Sat (slight panic!)	a1dude	Lodging and Hotels in India	15	Oct 19th, 2004 06:14

User Name		Remember Me?
Password