Visa
 

Hi All

The worrying is over, just to let you all know that we have just been granted a 1 year tourist visa with (180 days max stay), we are so relieved!:) We can now set off long term for Goa on Tuesday with no worries and be able to enjoy our apartment and friends.

ps Can anyone tell me when their financial year starts, seem to think it is April?

See you all at the Christmas Bash in December if not before.;)

Regards

Kinrara

Re: Visa
 

Congratulations, I thought it was tomorrow you were going, I was going to send more lucky karma but glad you didn't need it. :thumbsup: I think the financial year does start in April.

Himself booked our flights today and we are going out on 10th November, me for a week and him for 2 weeks (had to use a week's holiday for family stuff so got no more days left). We couldn't get anything reasonably priced in October which is when I wanted. So, we go 10 weeks on Saturday then back for 4 weeks then back out again on Christmas Day. Can't wait. :thumbup:

Re: Visa
 

Hi Kinrara

Congrats on your visa....you can relax now and look forward to next week. What time do you fly? Just wondering if you will be at Heathrow at the same time as us. We fly at 9.30pm.

kind regards
Indiapurple

Re: Visa - Thanks
 

Hi Catpat 123

Thanks very much. You were right, we were originally going to Birmingham tomorrow, but after some bad feedback decided to go today and to London, really over the moon. :D

Great, look forward to seeing you in November, do pop round. We are off on Tuesday, can't wait to see the site, wonder if we have any gates yet? Exciting, feel much better now we have the year visa, who knows what will be happening in another years time, will worry about that later!

All the best:wub:

Re: Visa
 

Congratulations Kinrara!:thumbsup: that must be a big relief that you won't need to return to the UK after 6 mths but can just hop over the border & return the same day if you want!

Btw, what documents etc did they ask to see to get the 1 year T visa? Cuz i'm trying to work out if i should apply for that or the regular 6 mth visa (just incase they reduce to 90 days or something).

According to a lawyer i visited in Goa the Indian tax year runs from 1st April to 31st March.

Kind regards
TDK

Re: Visa
 

Hi TDK

We were offered a one year tourist as 'compensation' for not being given an x visa. They didnt ask for any docs...just an extra £20 :lol:

kind regards
Indiapurple

Re: Visa
 

Thanks;)

We fly at 21.25, so we will be there at the same time, we could meet up to say "Hello"? Not sure what terminal we are at, just looked at tickets and it doesn't say, flying Jet Airways. Getting very excited now!

Regards

Re: Visa
 

Hi indiapurple & thanks for that. I think i might as well opt for a 1 year 'compensation' visa too for the sake of an extra £20!:lol:
Btw, the info i have is that Jet Airways flies from Heathrow Terminal 3.
I hope you have a good flight & all the Best

TDK:)

Re: Visa
 

Thanks TDK;)

We went there armed with sale agreement, certificate of remittance plus the usual visa forms/photos. Counter staff asked if we owned a property in Goa? Answer "yes". Then counter staff sent us to speak to the man at the door, saying "tell him you have a property", which we did. Like indiapurple said it seemed like compensation for not being able to give out any x visas. They didn't even look at the sale agreement etc.

Good luck with your visa:thumbsup:, see you in Goa.

Re: Visa
 

Thanks Kinrara, and at least they're co-operating with giving 1 year 'consolation' visas!:D

Have a great trip and i wish you all the best with your move to Goa & hope we can catch up out there.

Kind regards
TDK:)

Re: Visa
 

Hi Kinrara

congratulations on your 1 year visa!!! :thumbsup:

I thought I might as well add the Indian twist to the when does "the year start" thing.
TDK is right the official financial year is from 1 April to 31 March, but then in India one cannot do with anything in singular. :) Many businessmen begin their non official personal financial year from the day of the Diwali, and open new tax books - after praying to Lakshmi or as the goans spell it Laxmi - the goddess of prosperity and wellbeing. Of course they maintain separate offical year tax books ;)


KKK

Re: Visa
 

Hi KKK

Thanks for the good wishes;)

The reason I wanted to know the dates of the financial year is for the 183 day residency. I am under impression that you can't do the 183 days residency on a tourist visa, but as I am going to be there from 5th Sept to end of June 08, it will mean that I will be there for 209 days before the official year ends in March 08, I know that I will have to leave Goa and cross the border before the 180 days but I will be able to do that and still complete the 183 days in the official year. Just thought it might help my case when investigated re foreigners buying, as the only choice I have is to do the 183 days on a tourist visa! There does seem some confusion regarding this, some say you can do the 183 days for residency on a tourist visa and some say you can't! Any factual help on this matter would be appreciated. I know I can't register for my deeds but just thought it might be a possible help in the future, and we need all the help we can get!

Regards

Re: Visa
 

Hi Kinrara,

Well done on your 1 year visa.:thumbsup:
209 days in Goa........you lucky thing.
As far as i am aware reference residency doing the 183 days isnt really the issue now, its this 'proving intention to stay' in Goa that is the big stumbling block in obtaining residency now. To the best of my knowledge they will no longer permit residency on the 183 day rule alone any longer.

Kind Regards,
Remy

Re: Visa
 

Hi Remy

Thanks for your reply.

What do you have to do for this 'proving intention to stay in Goa'. We have taken early retirement, so can stay as long as our visas permit us. We are staying this year from 5th Sept till maybe end of June 08, haven't quite decided yet when we will come home! Getting really excited now, looking forward to finishing off furnishing apartment and living there :D.

Regards

Re: Visa
 

Hi Kinrara,

Your not suppose to own property anywhere else outside India and are suppose to be a 'full time Indian' not a 'back and forward tourist'.
However having said that, Douglas met all this criteria and was still excluded from Goa....he was told he had to return to his own country to retire???:confused: This one puzzles me too.

You do stand a good chance to prove intention to stay if you are really living in Goa on a full time basis. It does give them loads of scope though to exclude if you are found wanting.

Anyway dont worry about this at the moment......go and enjoy your 209 days in Goa and have a good time.
Hopefully we will all meet up sometime for a drink and a chat.:thumbsup:

Kind Regards,
Remy

Re: Visa
 

Hi Remy

Thanks for reply.

And you're right "don't worry about this at the moment..." We are stuck in this mess, you never know with India how the wind will be blowing next year! We will take your advice and enjoy our apartment and our friends.

Definitely be there for the Christmas Bash:thumbsup:

Kinrara

Re: Visa
 

Kinrara said
fwiw FEMA doesn't mention visas at all.
As regards intention, being retired is a good start (same for me in a couple of weeks time).
We have also 'turned around' our flights so this year we will be going out on the return half (so no flight pre-booked to UK).
And as I have said before, you can reasonably argue that buying property is a de facto indication of an intention to stay for an indefinite period.

cheers - AndyD 8-)#

Re: Visa
 

Hi Andy

Thanks for your reply, interesting.

Good luck for your retirement;), will we see you at the Christmas Bash?

Regards

Re: Visa
 

> will we see you at the Christmas Bash?

definately, inshallah! <g>

Re: Visa
 

Hi Andy,

How do you explain what happened to Douglas then?
He had no property anywhere else, retired, resident, adhered to FEMA and on renewal of his x-visa was excluded and given 14days to leave the country.....and was told he had to go to his own country to retire.:confused::confused:

Also so many people have 'bought' property but are using it for a few weeks in the year......buying property definately doesnt constitute 'intention to stay'. I have property in Goa but cannot prove 'intention to stay' as i am not going to be living there for an indefinate period.

Dont think youll get away with this one Andy.

Regards,
Remy

PS have a good retiement and see you at the Christmas Bash.....we can argue about it over a kingfisher.:D

Re: Visa
 

Hi Andy,

Have a long and happy retirement :eek: You can now join the Saga louts :rofl::rofl:

:wub: Noni

Re: Visa
 

Remy said "How do you explain what happened to Douglas then?"
I can't explain what happened to Douglas but then I don't know all of the details.
I have heard of one similar case, on that occasion I think the person had gone to the FRO to try and eXtend their X visa.
I wasn't suggesting I had the answer - just my suggestions for 'best efforts' to do it properly.

AndyD 8-)#

Re: Visa
 

... and thanks to Remy & noni for the good wishes - see y'all at the bash

cheers (_)? AndyD 8-)#

Re: Visa
 

Hi Andy,
How did the retirement party go?

What is "to do it properly" - does anybody know?

Noni

Re: Visa
 

Hi Andy and Noni,

Do you know what i think the answer is going to be?

Paying a hefty bribe to the right official.:curse:
This is sickening i know.......but it seems to be the way to get results in India.:eek:

Regards,
Remy

Re: Visa
 

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Re: Visa
 

Sorry about the above hit the wrong keys!

Re: Visa
 

I have read about Douglas from his postings but does anybody know the real truth? I am not casting aspersions but what is the real story - does anybody know?

Re: Visa
 

:ohmy:
Hi Emsirrah,

Douglas has told us all his account of what has happened to him, he is under no obligation to do this.
What he has said months ago is more aparent everyday in Goa.

1.5 year x-visas are no longer being issued .
2.The register is closed to FNs.
3.Property Purchases by FNs are being investigated by the Directorate of Enforcement.
4.'Bogus' (FN) Companies are being investigated.
5. Retirees are being excluded.
6. Residency is no longer being granted on the 183 day rule alone but 'intention to stay' must be proved.
7. FN Property purchase warnings have been posted on the High Commission of India websites.

need i go on........why do you doubt Douglas' story???
We currently have many members here who are under investigation by the Directorate of Enforcement in Goa for possible illegal property purchase.........all this backs up Douglas' story 100%.

Regards,
Remy

Re: Visa
 

Hi Kinrara,

Great you have your visa, hopefully by the time we need renewing them, they will have come to their senses. :rofl::rofl: one can hope.

Keep in touch, and let us know how it is going out there. What date do you
fly?

Have you found out if the Register was open and you did you 183 days in the financial year lst April - 31st March, could you register on a Tourist Visa?

Anyway enjoy.

Re: Visa
 

1 yes
2 yes
3 yes
4 yes
5 anecdotal and or just rudeness by an official (but see below)
6 yes, but 'intention to stay for an indefinite (i.e. uncertain or not fixed) period'
7 and then amended to conform more closely to the FEMA wording

Note also that the HCI site specifically warned that there was no provision for 'settlement' in India - so the 'indefinite' clause can not mean 'forever'.

AndyD 8-)#
"just blowing bubbles in the muddied waters <g>"

N.B. in this and some other related posts I have used the phrase 'indefinite period':
the actual wording is 'uncertain period' but I still think it has the meaning I used above.

Re: Visa
 

Hi Andy,

Im glad you agree with the points above allbeit no.5 is based on two people who i now know of, to have been excluded on these grounds and as you rightly indicated this could be down to some official on a power trip.
Yes the 'uncertain period' term is very very vague.

Regards,
Remy

Re: Visa
 

Hi Noni

Thanks, yes, that's what we are hoping, in another years time, maybe things will have changed again, hopefully for the better!

Will keep you all posted, hoping to get laptop up and running as soon as we get out there via our mobile! Does anyone know, is it difficult to get a phone line in so you can run on Broadband?

We fly tomorrow, 4th, can't wait, getting really excited now.

:confused:Not sure about the 183 days!!!! just thought if we were able to complete it, which we can, might as well do it, just incase it helps us later!!!

Regards

Re: Visa
 

:thumbsup: Lucky you off tomorrow! Try the Elephant shop by the Mango grove, he seems to know everything about mobiles and phones, perhaps he can guide you. Don't get too excited about broadband. Last I heard getting a phone was as difficult ....................as life in Goa.

You will have to go to the inter Cafe and update us on things, like what is open, and has the new supermarket opposite Sea Shell opened, and all that jazz.

Safe journey

Noni :eek:

Re: Visa
 

Hi Kinrara,

Have a safe journey and a wonderful trip/holiday.:thumbsup:
Keep in touch and see you at the Christmas Bash.

:D
Regards,
Remy

Re: Visa
 

Hi Noni & Remy

Yes, looking forward to seeing you all at the Christmas Bash.

Will keep you all posted, internet permitting, hoping to be able to get online from our mobile phone!

See you all in Goa ;).

Regards

Re: Visa
 

Yes, have a good trip. I agree about the Elephant shop - I spoke to the man last year just before we came home and he said it wasn't worth setting up my laptop then but he would do it for me next (this) year. It costs a few tens of Rs a day but is not v. fast (more like dial-up than broadband).
I think you need a pan number to get a phone line, but some developers will let you put it in their name initially.

We are travelling out to India later this month (to start our uncertain period of a least 183 days <bg>) but plan to do a bit of travelling before going to Goa.

AndyD 8-)#

Re: Visa
 

Remy,
it's either very vague or possibly very legal and precise - in English law (so probably Indian also) a tenancy can be for a fixed period e.g. 3 months, which is called a 'period certain'. A 'periodic' e.g. weekly or annual tenancy that just continues until terminated is called a tenancy for a 'period uncertain'. This usage would fit in with the wording of FEMA.

AndyD 8-)#

Re: Visa
 

Hi Andy,
It is more like dial up - last year 5 rupees a day, from your mobile, whether you used it of not, under 50p a week - not bad :rofl:

Re: Visa
 

Airtel bluetooth for your laptop is now 15 rupees a day slow but gets you there, you can't register on a 1 year tourist visa, thats the reason they stipulate you have to leave after 180 days, and it's impossible to do the 183 days as it has to be straight through. Wen