[Cheap 'n' Best]

Namaste and greetings, I'm not really used to all this cyber chat and stuff hence the title. I have been living, travelling and working in India for the past three years. I am totally in love with the place, people and culture. I have a whole heap of questions in my head for you all. Not sure if I really have the energy to go into it all now, it's a big story! Basically I would like info about long term visas and PIO cards. First I will have a trawl through the site to see what I can see and after I will post a more specific thread.

[seventies'hippy]

Hi Cheap 'n' Best, welcome to Indiamike.com,
Start firing those questions you won't be a virgin for long,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

[Cheap 'n' Best]

I have recently married in India to an Indian citizen. For the past three years I have been in and out of India on a tourist visa. I am currently in UK and will be applying for a new tourist visa and will return to India at the end of the month. Is it possible to extend my tourist visa or exchange it for a long term visa of some sort which will then enable me to apply for the PIO card? Do I have to wait a specific amount of time before applying for a PIO card? Is it maybe best to apply for some other sort of visa before going back to India? The problem is that our marriage is not yet registered. Please can someone point me in the right direction.

[crvlvr]

Welcome.. thew search function works pretty well and there have been a number of discussions on the topics you are interested in.

[seventies'hippy]

Originally Posted by crvlvr

Welcome.. thew search function works pretty well and there have been a number of discussions on the topics you are interested in.

Heres a good place to start

[Cheap 'n' Best]

I have been searching through the site and am finding it very helpful but also like Indian burraucracy a little confusing. Different people saying different things and different people with the same situation but having different outcomes. I guess it's down to how it goes on the day.

[sudheer poppa]

Where did you get married and where did you register your marriage.. Our top poster (nick) has recently got a PIO card and hence, you may check with him on more...

[Nick-H]

...'fraid not

What I did get was an Entry visa valid for one year --- which is better than a Tourist 6-monther

This at the London High Commision last week:

The Visa guy said I could only have one year, as I'd been married less than a year. Told me they would give a 5-year after two years of marriage. The one-yearer, however, was relatively easy and required only taking wife's Indian passport and our marriage cert. Took wife as well, but they didn't ask to see her. No interview, no questions, just over-the-counter.

The PIO Enquiry Lady said.... "does your wife have an Indian passport?". "yes". Then come back in one year and you may be entitled...".

Note the may. However, people here have got them after one year marriage, and some have got them straight away --- partly perhaps due to different application of the rules in different countries.

I would advise (although just my personal experience/opinion).... whatever you go for, do it in London. I have had nothing but headache and no result trying to get a tourist visa converted to an entry visa here. Wish I'd flown home the week after the wedding!

[Cheap 'n' Best]

Many thanks for the advice, and please keep me posted in the future with regards to the PIO card.
I am off tomorrow for another tourist visa. My wife does yet have a passport so I will have to to try for a long term visa when I get back to India. Then I will think about the PIO card.