Visa Renewal - Sense Check

Familyonthemove

I've been doing some research on this site, and now I have what I hope is the best plan to get our visas renewed. It would be great if anyone could add their views before I jump on the plane. Does this look like a workable approach?

The Situation:
I have an Employment Visa for one year and my wife has an 'accompanied spouse' visa. My 8 year old daughter has a one year visa. We've been in India over 10 Months.

My wife and I have residents certificates and have registered with the FFRO

I have a Tax PAN card and Sect 16 record of Tax payment

I have a three year contract with 2 years remaining.

On 31st Oct we will all be travelling to Australia for a two week holiday. While away - all our visas will expire.

The office team say they may be able to extend the visa - but this will take months and will only result in a limited extension. The Indian Gov sites seem to support this view?

The office team also says they can get a 'Temporary Visa' for the trip - but the last person to try this approach got deported at the airport!

So I plan to fly back to London for a few days, with mine and my wife and daughter's passports, my contract, FFRO registration, tax info and apply for another 12 month visa at the High Commission.

Can you see any problems with the plan?

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Nick-H

No, but I'm surprised that there is any problem renewing employment, visas for a long term employment, in India.

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Tapestry

The thing about the employment visa is that for your first renewal what happens is that relatively easily you can get a 3 month renewal. During that period you have to submit your tax documents and they also review your case and decide if they want to give you the remaining 9 months of your 1 year employment visa. So you could probably get the 3 months pretty easily, but that won't help your wife or your daughter.

cool blue

i think your plan is porbably the wisest one. I am giving an account of my visa story to back this up!

I came on a six month employment visa and my contract was extended by six months. I applied for an extension in May - a month before it was due to expire, submitted all the papers (many many more than are required in your home country) and am STILL waiting for the decision from Chennai FRRO. I got a three month extension easily and have visited FRRO to get updates. They consistently assure me that my receipt applying for a visa extension is valid until the expiry date of the visa aplied for. I finally went to MHA in Delhi and they were actually really helpful - and gave me a letter to confirm that my visa extension is approved until Jan 6 (the last day of my contract which is fine. I took the letter to chennai FRRO and they told me they will write to me and advise me of the decision. So in short I am still waiting - my registration docs and visa stamp expire at the end of this month...... Every time i go to FRRO they tell me not to worry and that my letter will come "one fine day". the irony is that i am eligible for PIO card but need to have a year long visa in my passport for it to be processed in a regional FRO, but that is a whole other story!!

Good luck

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Familyonthemove

Thanks all for the good advice.

I'm off to London next week - but have a nagging doubt ....
- Although I applied for our visas at the same time, I ended up with a 12 month employment visa, my wife with a 'spouse' visa and my daughter got a 12 month tourist visa!

So my daughter's visa says "cannot be extended" - hence the trip to London. But the London High Commission says that employment visas can only be extended in India. So will I be able to sort mine and my wife's visas at the same time by getting a new 12 month employment visa?

They don't make it simple do they!

Valini

Hello Family on the move,

I have to say, your plan sounds like a sound one. I'm not sure about the differences in London, but you appear to have a good idea of how it works. I'm actually going through what can only be pure agony and hellish bureaucracy with my business visa renewal. I know the rules aren't quite the same as for the employment, but you are very right: it isn't made easy!
At least I only have myself to worry about, not a family in tow. Just to briefly outline the problems: after a 6 month business visa (which was a pure fluke since the Indian Embassy in Paris made a mistake by giving me a tourist visa then stamped it as a business one, hence the 6 m and not 3). I applied via MHA in Delhi for an extension which was granted to me for 2months after begging and pleading. My local FRO told me that after an initial extension from MHA he then has the right to give me an extension for one year business visa. He assured me this would be fine and encouraged me to stay and not return as the expiry date for my visa aproached. My visa has since run out and I am still waiting on my local FRO to stamp my passport with the extension. I have a resident permit and have done exactly as asked and followed instructions.
I know it's ilegal to be here without a valid visa and that really disturbs me but I have been assured it is only due to a change in SSP.

The local fRO is very supportive despite the slow procedure and I know that a gift is expected very soon...

It's all a hassle for sure and to be honest, if i didnt have to go through it all in order to complete my mission here I would have gone home a long time ago!!!!!!
(not that i dont love India, but there are moments and days when i hate it too!)

Victoria