US citizens MUST get a 10 year visa???

Hey peeps,
Last year I enjoyed a summer in South Asia on an easy, breezy 6-month multi-entry visa.

Things are less obvious this year. I am a US citizen and went to the official Indian visa office here in Montreal, Canada. They told me that the rules recently changed and now ALL US citizens must now get 10 year, multi-entry visas for $250. I was surprised, but realized that its not such a bad deal -- I'll save money in the long run, so went for it.

But... I cant find anything information on this alleged rule change online. Have I been misled?

Also, I still can't figure this out, will I be able to make a brief week visit to Nepal this summer and then return to India on my multi-entry passport, or will additional paperwork be needed?

Thanks,
Pete

Nah, this is unreported here. Unless this is some radical new shift of unexpected nature this is an example of how information gets screwed up through the bureaucracy. You could ask of other officials but I think its just an individual quirk. What do others think, Haylo.?

The $250 fee appears to apply to US Nationals applying in Canada, according to this from the Toronto Consulate Website:

http://www.cgitoronto.ca/Visa/VisaFeesNonCan.html

If you are a US Citizen and apply through the US, it looks like you only pay about 75 bucks for a 6 month.

This is really odd, because I have heard that U.S. citizens trying to get 10-year visas while in countries outside the U.S. have been turned down and told they could only get shorter visas and in order to get one for ten years, they would have to apply from within the U.S.. Anyway, the VFS website for Canada, which is the outsourcing outfit that handles Indian visa applications still lists 6-month, 1-year, and 5-year visas on its fee chart, as well as 10-year visas. http://in.vfsglobal.ca/images/VisaFeeList.pdf So which "official Indian visa office" did you go to? VFS?

Also, in order to do a brief side trip to Nepal and return before two months has elapsed, you should get advance clearance from an Indian consulate, either in the U.S. or Canada, before you enter India. In theory, Indian immigration officials are not enforcing the two-month gap rule after such side trips, but sometimes they're inconsistent and if you are flying back from Nepal, sometimes airlines have also denied boarding to people who haven't been out of India for two months.

Quite strange. News to me. You, as a U.S. citizen, can apply for any type tourist visa you want from within the U.S. 6 mo. 1 yr. 5yr & 10 yr. The best one to get is the 10 year but you certainly don't have to from the U.S. visa outsourcing service.

Can't imagine why they would tell you that you must get a 10 year? Definitely not true here in the U.S.

... In any case, if you already got that visa, realize there's no question of you getting a refund on it. So, stick with what you have got, unless you care to pay again to replace it by a shorter-term one.

Otherwise, odd story, indeed. Bureaucrats %^&.

Yes there could have been a "recent rule change" but if so it's the first time it has been reported. We hear about a lot of "new rules" on here, and 99% of them turn out to be total rubbish.

Their own fee chart still gives fees for US Citizens applying for visas for durations between 6 months and 10 years.

I think where the confusion has arisen is that on the "US Applicant - 10 Years" line, the fee chart states "10 Years (only for Ottawa / Montreal) $250" which anyone with half a brain would realise means that if you want a 10 Year visa you have to apply in Ottawa or Montreal and not one of the minor offices like Brampton or Surrey. Unfortunately expecting people to have half a brain seems too much to ask.

Go back with a printout of the visa fees list and ask to speak to a supervisor.

Theoretically you can, but it is random and some people are being prevented from boarding their flights to Nepal because there has not been two months between visits.

You can get a re-entry permit from any Indian mission abroad which will save you any hassle, though if you do have to re-enter India sooner than two months you do have to register at your local FRO/FRRO which can be inconvenient.

That rule is a farce. India has agreement with USA for 10 year visa for US nationals as USA gives 10 year to Indian nationals BUT india picks and chooses which one to grant 10 year visa even if you apply for one, NOT like USA which openly gives 10 year visas regardless of how much duration you write on your visa application for ONE fees.
Indian FM is the best in staining India's image in outside world by having hypocritical policies like these.

Not true. US has given people I know, 5 year visa, and a 1 year visa in the past couple of months out of Mumbai consulate.

As i have said you earlier in the other thread, India is not going to give visa to Pakistani national in US easily. You can whine as much as you can.

And also India does not have a separate line at airport from these countries like USA

Afghanistan, Algeria, Iraq, Lebanon, Libya, Nigeria, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Somalia and Yemen

See Pakistani enjoy special behaviour from Transportation Security Administration of USA
http://www.usatoday.com/news/washing...creening_N.htm

Md Noman, comment on a few of your few posts thus far: are you sure of your facts before you distort them? or are you just a troll for whom the bell trolls?

Looks like Indian visa officers are doing their work properly. Otherwise why certain American are so much desperate to travel India?

Md. Noman:

Number of terrorist attacks by Indian in USA=0
Number of terrorist attacks by certain type of American in India=2

So definitely you will be under more scrutiny.

Another one to quote you on!


One that is not at all original, but still neat;

Look, I've made up my mind: don't bother me with facts!

I wish.

It is Twain, or Wilde. (Or better still, Wilde Twain.?)

"Young man, get your facts straight, then you can distort them as you please", ( if I remember correctly)

Never the twain shall wilde?