visa re-application question

Hii am desperate to find an answer to a visa problem.i applied for a 6 month tourist visa for my son and i.We have been given 6 months multiple entry visas for india for the last 5 years and for myself the last 16!!!BUT we have just got our passport returned with only a 3 month visa..it is not enough for a 5 month trip...Vf services say it is at the dissgression of the high commission!!BUT my question is can i reapply with a covering letter..would that work?,can i reapply and what past visa number do i put,last seasons or the one just issued?Has this been done before.my son is half Indian and will go to a small school over there...The thought of being in uk for half of the winter is making me very depressed...thanks in advance for any replies.

Me again!!One more thing...my friend said that they may blacklist me for re-applying..i think this is perhaps a bit strong but what are the chances....

I haven't heard that. But, you may spend your money to get nothing in return. I think its worth a shot compared to wintering in England. Make sure you include a full if fancible itinerary nice & official looking..

Thanks for your fast reply..i agree and have all the paperwork and letter ready..BUT do i put last seasons visa number or the 3 month one they just issued?I will try and if it fails...re-apply again in December!!!

If your son is half Indian why dont you go for a PIO for him? Then you wouldnt face this hassle.

That is not possible as his father is no where to be found!!I have to write a letter every year to go with our visa to say this, as you would normally need a letter from the father for permission to travel,even if you were visiting him.India.All very complicated.So i have to try to re apply.have many friends who go to india every year and they all get and have got 6 month multiple even if they are only going for two weeks!!So i do not understand why they have given us only three.

Hi,
you say you go every year - do you have a lease / rent agreement for property in India? If so you can apply for an X visa.
As you say the 6-month multi is the default visa so it's likely that there is some specific reason why they didn't give you that - it's worth trying to contact the HCI and ask them - try email.

AndyD 8-)₹

Hi..thanks for reply..have had some info form guy who works in visa area.Said that because i applied for a 6 month single entry visa that is what they gave me,ie;a 3 month visa...which does not make sense as my friend who has been going since 1978 got a 6 month visa on single entry...if you put multiple they want to know why!!!Confused!!!Anyway have re-applied with a letter of our itinerary..so crossing fingers...i will not get a refund if they refuse either.....

I do not have a rental agreement...just go for holiday and rent somewhere different every season.As this guy said they do not want long term stayers in India...We go for holiday and travel around..have a love affair with India...

.....

I would try emailing them first with full explanation. See where that leads. My husband recently applied for single entry 6 month and was issued multiple entry 6 mos. Go figure. Good luck, though!

Not true: 6-month multi is the default in the UK - and they only want an itinerary if you want a double/triple entry (= side trips pre-approved) OR you apply for a 12-month multi.
Looks like you just confused 'em.
As a rule of thumb - say as little as absolutely necessary; do not deviate from the norm!

AndyD 8-)₹

thanks a_f_d i am sure your right!!Although alot of people have been applying for a 6 month single entry and automatically getting 6 month multiple!!!But things change all the time..Lets see