X Visa instead of employment visa

Margot · Feb 2nd, 2008, 12:38

Hi,

I've been living in India for a bit over a year on an employment visa. I recently got a new job at a different copmany in India and returned to the US where I was granted a one-year X visa. This visa contains the endorsement of my new company although it does not require me to register as long as I spend no more than 180 days at a time in India.

What I'm wondering, do they think I am of Indian origin or the spouse of an Indian? And am I allowed to work on this visa (I asume I am, as I applied for an E visa and I gave all the documentation, etc.

I asked the people at the outsourcing company that processes visas in the US, and they seem to think it could be because I work in the media field. Any insight? Thanks.

Darwish · Feb 2nd, 2008, 13:49

No your not allowed to work or to business on this visa. x visa is actually almost the same as a tourist visa. So please get it changed before going to India.

Aishah · Feb 2nd, 2008, 14:00

As I understand it, but am not fully sure of all rules re x category it can also be issued for other than a spouse of Indian National and it looks like your circumstances come in here. What I am not sure about however is re the work - if your income is coming from outside India this may be o.k. But if you are being paid in rupees from the Indian company then you should check this out - is it allowable or not? I think not - as Darwish says it is similar to a Tourist Visa but it enables you to stay longer than 6 months so long as you are registered with FRO.

shere · Feb 2nd, 2008, 14:34

The 5 year visa issued in the UK for people of Indian origin comes in the form of an X-Visa.

I got one a few years ago, never found out what advantages it held over the normal tourist visa.

(With this post I have now made 1000 posts, it is like joining the mile high club

)

Aishah · Feb 2nd, 2008, 15:12

Congrats, Shere! you could also have either a PIO card (15 years) or OCI card (lifetime) which gives you all rights of an Indian citizen except for voting. Might be worth looking into if you intend coming here many times over your lifetime?

Margot · Feb 4th, 2008, 21:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darwish

No your not allowed to work or to business on this visa. x visa is actually almost the same as a tourist visa. So please get it changed before going to India.

So if I can't work then why would they have put my company name on the visa and given it to me after I gave them my contract and appointment letter (and applied for an E visa)> Do you think it was just a mistake? And can't PIOs on these 5 year visas work?

Aishah · Feb 4th, 2008, 21:50

I would check it out with issuing authority - it may be possible for you to work on it. I'm not clear re all rules for x category.
Because your company name is on it it is probably o.k. Rules have been changing in the last year or so in regard to x category so this might be what they are using instead of E visa??
Maybe a website where you can find out rules for x category? I don't know where myself but others here might.

Feb 2nd, 2008, 12:38	#1
Margot Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Gurgaon, Haryana Posts: 31	X Visa instead of employment visa Hi, I've been living in India for a bit over a year on an employment visa. I recently got a new job at a different copmany in India and returned to the US where I was granted a one-year X visa. This visa contains the endorsement of my new company although it does not require me to register as long as I spend no more than 180 days at a time in India. What I'm wondering, do they think I am of Indian origin or the spouse of an Indian? And am I allowed to work on this visa (I asume I am, as I applied for an E visa and I gave all the documentation, etc. I asked the people at the outsourcing company that processes visas in the US, and they seem to think it could be because I work in the media field. Any insight? Thanks.

Feb 2nd, 2008, 14:00	#3
Aishah She-who-must-be-obeyed! Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Jaisalmer Posts: 3,662	As I understand it, but am not fully sure of all rules re x category it can also be issued for other than a spouse of Indian National and it looks like your circumstances come in here. What I am not sure about however is re the work - if your income is coming from outside India this may be o.k. But if you are being paid in rupees from the Indian company then you should check this out - is it allowable or not? I think not - as Darwish says it is similar to a Tourist Visa but it enables you to stay longer than 6 months so long as you are registered with FRO. __________________ "Life can only be understood backwards, but it must be lived forwards."

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Feb 2nd, 2008, 13:49	#2
Darwish Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: India Posts: 89	No your not allowed to work or to business on this visa. x visa is actually almost the same as a tourist visa. So please get it changed before going to India.

Feb 2nd, 2008, 14:34	#4
shere Maha Guru Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: England Posts: 1,093	The 5 year visa issued in the UK for people of Indian origin comes in the form of an X-Visa. I got one a few years ago, never found out what advantages it held over the normal tourist visa. (With this post I have now made 1000 posts, it is like joining the mile high club )

Feb 2nd, 2008, 15:12	#5
Aishah She-who-must-be-obeyed! Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Jaisalmer Posts: 3,662	Congrats, Shere! you could also have either a PIO card (15 years) or OCI card (lifetime) which gives you all rights of an Indian citizen except for voting. Might be worth looking into if you intend coming here many times over your lifetime?

Feb 4th, 2008, 21:50	#7
Aishah She-who-must-be-obeyed! Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Jaisalmer Posts: 3,662	I would check it out with issuing authority - it may be possible for you to work on it. I'm not clear re all rules for x category. Because your company name is on it it is probably o.k. Rules have been changing in the last year or so in regard to x category so this might be what they are using instead of E visa?? Maybe a website where you can find out rules for x category? I don't know where myself but others here might.

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