registration

goangoangone

I had a Residents Permit and stayed continuously for 19 months on an X visa.

Next please.......

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Haylo

Entry (X) Visa = Can register, can stay over 180 days.

Tourist (T) Visa = Cannot register, cannot stay over 180 days.

I really don't know why this gets discussed on here again and again, it's hardly rocket science...

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namaste_cat

No it doesn't. Hence, registration is a moot point for tourist visas of any duration.

That said, when a friend of mine on a 10-year visa got sick in India close to her departure date, I accompanied her to get an extension (of her 180 day stay limit) for medical reasons. That extension of stay according to the official counted as "registration" in her case so she was allowed to exit India with no problems.

I could be wrong, but in any other context, I don't think registration applies to a tourist visa.

dzibead

Yes, you are confused, so maybe you should refrain from giving advice until you actually know what you're talking about (and it would probably help if you also read more than just the original post, since others covered the issued adequately before you chimed in).

That said, the confusion isn't entirely your fault, however, because I think it stems at least in part from the fact that the Indian Govt includes the language about registration being required if one intends to stay for more than a 180 days on all visa forms, even when the type of visa being issued does not permit a continuous stay of more than 180 days at a time. This has led many people to believe, erroneously, that if they have a longer term tourist visa, like your 10-year multiple entry tourist visa or even a one year tourist visa, they can get around the 180 day limit by registering with the FRO/FRRO, but this is not the case.

In the context of this discussion, this post is not particularly helpful and may actually increase the confusion of a couple of the posters. The fact that the Indian Govt issues types of visas other than tourist visas that allow continuous stays of more than 180 days and that therefore trigger the registration requirement is neither here nor there. The OP was asking about staying longer on a one year tourist visa. Also, it was not the residential permit that allowed you to stay continuously for 19 months; it was the fact that you had an Entry visa that allowed a longer stay, which in turn triggered the registration requirement if you chose to take advantage of that, and when you registered you got the residential permit. The residential permit isn't a "cause" of your right to stay longer; it's an "effect".

Apparently it is for some.

I think you are exactly right, 'cat. I think the case of a true emergency that prevents a person on a tourist visa from leaving by the 180 day deadline is the only circumstance under which extensions are granted, and the extension, since it has to go through the FRO/FRRO, is probably considered to constitute "registration" (but that kind of registration wouldn't result in the person being given a residential permit, which a person on some other class of long-term visa would be given upon registration).

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goangoangone

I was pointing out that there is such a thing as a Resident's Permit, not that it allows one to stay indefinitely.

Also, I believe some people have 1 year Tourist visas without the 180 day endorsement.

dzibead

Well, the point of your post was hardly clear. Anyway, several people had already pointed out that there is such a thing as a residential permit and that it doesn't allow one to stay indefinitely.

Nope. Not if by this you mean that the 180-day rule doesn't apply to such visas. The 180 limit on one stay is a universal rule for Indian tourist visas. The websites for the US and UK outsourcing firms that handle the visa applications make this unequivocally clear. In any event, there's normally no "180 day endorsement" placed on the visa itself, if by that phrase you mean a notation or warning that any one stay is limited to no more than 180 days, so the absence of such a notation does not mean that the 180 limit doesn't apply. What they do include on the visa, including tourist visas, is the business about registration, which is very misleading IMHO. The following notation is pre-printed on the visa form: "Registration required within 14 days of arrival in India for visas valid for more than 180 days". And the following language is normally printed or stamped on the form, at least on visas valid for longer than 6 months: "Registration not required, if continuous stay on a single visit does not exceed 180 days". Why they include these notations as standard wording even on tourist visas - to which registration never applies - and why they don't include a notation regarding the 180 day limit, at least on tourist visas - is beyond me.

Nick-H

I knew what he meant --- perhaps because I very nearly posted exactly the same thing

federica

The whole confusion about this registration/not registration on a tourist visa might come from the way it was dealt some years ago. Then it was indeed possible to get registered and a residence permit on a tourist visa. Maybe not everywhere and for all, but at least for some without problems. Whether it was legal or just ignorance of the local FROs is beyond my knowledge.

Fact is:
Now it's no longer possible.

dzibead

Ignorance by the local FRO's, for sure, and some of them in more remote areas are still clueless about the issue. After all, they're just the local cops and I'm sure they receive no training on the subject. It was never legally correct for people on tourist visas to get residence permits. The fact that some people have had them issued in error doesn't make it legally correct and sooner or later it catches up with people. It's really too bad the Indian Govt doesn't do a better job of making this clear and training the people who have the job of administering the law.

omnii

i was told by several indian travel agencies here in san francisco that specialize in travel to India, that once the 6 months tourist visa expires it is possible to get an extension at the local immigration office or police station. Apparently you fill out an extension form and they stamp your passport for an additional time (the timeframe i'm not sure of though).

goangoangone

Some people who go for registration are told to come back before the time is up, IF they intend to stay longer than 180 days. Others are being registered and told to come back up to a week later to pick up their documents. If you are an insider, please let us in on the secret. I am talking about real people, here and now. If you know something different, then speak up!

Nick-H

Best you sit down, take a deep breath, read this site, and listen to people that specialise in travelling and being in India.

If you want, on the other hand, to listen to the rubbish prattled by people who just want to sell you something, then please do us the favour of not repeating it here. Much of the stuff you will read on this site is First-Hand Experience not Third-Hand Bullshit.

Or are you just a troll? If so, it is a rather pathetic effort that has been done a couple of times with real flair!
Oh, poor innocent child: one day you may actually meet this "they"

dzibead

Wrong.

Sometimes if a person has a genuine emergency (e.g., medical crisis that prevents travel or something like that) shortly before the 180 days is up, he or she will be given a short extension till the person is able to travel. But you cannot simply go to some govt office in India and fill out an extension form and have it stamped and be given additional time just because you want to stay longer. You cannot "extend" a tourist visa (other than for the kind of exigent circumstances I describe above). When (actually, before) your visa expires you have to leave and apply for a completely new visa. If you have a long-term tourist visa that's still valid but your 180 days is up, you have to leave the country. You can return immediately if your visa is still valid, but you still have to leave, and absent exigent circumstances there's no way to get an extension of the 180 day period.

omnii

i was told this information by "insiders" who work with immigration. that a tourist visa can be extended beyond it's 6 months period. I happen to know some indian nationals in Goa who can get this extension process done for you. You may have to grease some palms in the process but i heard it can be done if you know the right people. i'm not sure if it's done through immigration or the police station but these "insiders" assure me it can be done.

Nick-H

Like I said, one day, you might actually meet this "they".

What you are describing is illegal, and I'm not going to try to deny that it may happen, but you will be a criminal if you try to become an illegal immigrant that way. You had better watch out, too, when the guy who is looking after you gets transferred. Or caught.