X (entry) visa extension possible?

Thanks again everyone.. i would imagine even the indian visa officials use this website to figure out what to do ;-)! lol
Yes i was also thinking that a business visa would be the way to go rather than employment visa.. I read that you can get a 5 yr business visa. I am quite happy to leave the country within 180 days.. and return fairly promptly.. but i am trying to avoid having to go back to London every year which is a complete nightmare for various reasons.. including dealing with the VFS folks who are totally unable to deal with these unusual cases. Im also trying to avoid having to leave at the end of a one year period at a certain time since the build process will most likely not coincide with the visa expiration. Im much happier to leave when im ready and then come back to continue and NOT to have to go to UK is a big bonus.

So i THINK that consensus is a business visa! WHich as i read does inlcude joint ventures, which is what i will be doing next. It will be contracted rather than salaried so that also fits... and im not restricted to being in one location which the employment visa requires. I want to play it totally by the book as i cant afford to have some official kick me out because i happen to be in the wrong part of india!!

Beurocracy is always a nightmare when you are inbetween the gap of the rules. Wouldnt it be nice if you could still go into the indian embassy and just talk to someone when you have a genuine case! Last time in UK i spent about 100 pounds on their premium rate telephone line.. NO one had any clue even what they were talking about which seems a bit weird. Youd think if they charged that much to talk to someone they would connect you to someone who knew something!

ok so business visa i guess i best then! anyone thing differnetly? I'm having to ditch the extension of the X visa in India idea since i will be almost surely doing business in the near future and so my X visa will be totally innapropriate.

thanks again y'all

Yes in theory, but in practice first business visas tend to be given for a shorter duration - most likely a year, or maybe two. Of course, there's no harm in asking, along with a "business plan" that shows the long term nature of your ongoing project.

If only they did!

As already said, business visas are often given for a shorter duration at first. Employment visas can be extended within India, but so can your existing entry visa, so that might be a start.

Do bear in mind that the only visa that requires you to leave India after 180 days in every case is a tourist visa - you'd only have to leave after 180 days on a business visa if you want to avoid registering at the FRO/FRRO which may not be as inconvenient as leaving the country.

Layla7 - if <1 yr since marriage, then yes extend x-visa, and 1 yr post-marriage apply for PIO.

aleeor - hate to say it, but I'd wager you've almost certainly lost your resident status in the U.S. if you did not get a re-entry permit (two years validity) prior to leaving the country. They also have an income tax return clause. Might want to give this a read re SB-1 visa http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigra...info_1333.html

I hope you can get a business visa. That does make the most sense in your situation. Your project sounds really awesome. My husband and I are hoping to build an earth ship in Taos, New Mexico and retire there. All the best to you!

thanks cat! yes i spoke to US official today.. I better NOT go to usa!!! Ill get in big trouble and might even get sent right back! Im MUCH worse of than a tourist even though i was given a green card. They REALLY dont like peoople to leave USA huh.. weeeird..

good luck for your retirement!! ;-)

Yes, I have seen a 3-Month Business visa - for a perfectly proper business.
It seems to me that India is obliged by various treaties to be 'open' for business, but has no intention of actually doing it!

AndyD 8-)#

Hey everyone,
I am a British passport holder by birth and have been living in India for the past year. I was originally on a 6 month tourist visa and have converted this to a 1 year x visa obtained from Ministry Home Affairs in Delhi. I plan on visiting UK in August but I was wondering if I would encounter getting any problems whilst coming back to Delhi airport. I only plan on visiting uk for 2 weeks and even after that time would still have 5 months left on my 1 year x visa. Can anyone help me.
Manveen

You wont have any problems when returning back.

The answer will hinge on how did you manage to convert a T visa to X ? sans marriage to an Indian national. Second, is this a conversion or a X visa issued with multiple entry ?

The devil is in the detail - and that detail resides in your visa page(s).

This is not true. You can reside in a different country and get an employment visa. While Haylo may have some special knowledge that Thailand is an exception, I obtained an employment visa in China as an American citizen. I have 2 co-workers currently in Korea that have obtained their employment visas to India. So please look to see if you may obtain an employment visa before just assuming you cannot do so from another country. Albeit you may need to actually reside in said country in order for it to work.....

That post by Haylo was made in 07/13/2010

The decision to grant a non resident a.k.a person holding a passport not native to the country where the application is submitted, is discretion of the Indian Mission in that particular country.

It changes often, and follows the logic of indian astrology or so it would seem

OP has a X visa due to his marriage to an Indian as posted here: PIO Card and new passport

Oops Barring extranous issues, the poster can enter back as long as the Visa is valid.