How can I move to Varanasi?

indiajesse

Hello everyone!

I am a 31 year old American (single) female. In 2007 I traveled to India by myself and fell particularly in love with Varanasi. I would love to move there and live there for a few years, but have no idea how to go about this. I wouldn't feel comfortable actually moving until I had a job set up, but I have no idea how to find one! I have a BA in French and Classics (Latin and Roman History) and extended experience working as a retail manager. I also have a certificate in web programming. I lived for 2 years in Guyana as a Peace Corps volunteer (English teacher), so I know I am able to feel comfortable in a developing country situation. I would be willing to do any work that allowed me to live there relatively safely.

Does anyone have any ideas or leads?

Thanks!
--Jesse

dzibead

I think it's extremely unlikely that you'll be able to find a job in Varanasi that would qualify you for an employment visa - unless you have sufficient qualifications to get some sort of teaching position at Benares Hindu University or something like that (which is probably less likely than getting a position at Harvard).

To get an employment visa you must already have a job lined up with an Indian company and the Govt of India isn't going to issue an employment visa to a foreigner unless the company shows that the job couldn't be done by an Indian national. You're certainly not going to get an employment visa on the basis of your retail background. I simply don't see Varanasi as a place with a lot of employment opportunities for foreigners. You might have better luck looking for something elsewhere, but again, it's hard to say, based on your post, whether you have skills or experience that would be in demand in India, particularly in recessionary times.

The only way you are likely to be able to do an extended stay is to have sufficient savings to be able to stay there without working and go there as a tourist on a ten-year multiple entry tourist visa (available only to Americans). Even with a ten-year tourist visa, you will still have to leave the country every 180 days, but at least you won't have to apply for a new visa and you can re-enter immediately.

I see from your other posts that you actually have very limited experience in India. I think your idea of moving there for a few years is a bit of a pipe dream, given that India is not an "immigration friendly" place, although it's a pipe dream a lot of people have after their first visit (at least the ones who don't run screaming from the place and vow never to return). But I think you'd be well advised to do some more extended trips as a tourist or possibly volunteering with an NGO before thinking that you'd like to try "move" there.

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livinhimalayas

I think Dzibead has given sage advice, Varanashi is not a place where you can find employment easily, and there are the visa hassles too if you want to work here. You could give English speaking classes and volunteer for an NGO but that is about all you can do there and this won't provide you with a very good income.

life_is_journey

welcome jess to india. well if you want to work in varanasi you will get NGO works or else you do some business in a partnership with a local indian.or you may work in a different city for some time and stay some time at varanasi and again go back to work. or else you save some money working at your country and you can have a good business here in india with a local with partnership and you can stay in varanasi and will be in touch with your indian partner who will take care of your business. well there are many business options in india. and if you are interested i may suggest you few.
Take care and feel free to ask anything.
CHEERS
Ash

jyotirmoy

dzibead as usual has given you the facts however hard they may be.