Re: Visa help.
 

Thanks Iain.
Anything is worth a try.
J

Re: Visa help.
 

Ø Please note that there should be a gap of at least 2 months between two visits to India on a Tourist Visa. This ruling applies to short term Tourist visas i.e. 6 Months and 1 year and does not apply to the long term entry visa for 5 yrs or any other visa category.



Ø The applicants who have travelled to India in the past two months can not apply for a fresh Tourist Visa until their two month GAP is not over. The applicant can apply for a different visa category with supporting document but not again for Tourist Visa. (For e.g. If the applicant is of Indian Origin travelled to India in past two months on a Tourist Visa, the same applicant can apply for an ENTRY VISA without a gap of two month with the supporting documents of Indian origin as specified on the website, but will not be able to re-apply for Tourist visa without a GAP of two months).

This is the reply I am getting from VFS help desk!
Sadly the mail addressed to Pooja Joshi was answered by someone else.

J

Re: Visa help.
 

This must be something new Jill - it didn't apply when my parents got theirs in June?! Has something changed??

Re: Visa help.
 

Wish I knew Heidi. Nothing on the web site.

Re: Visa help.
 

The MHA site does not say that - what it does say is worse!:
I don't know to what extent this has been enforced before (I thought it had been dropped), but if enforced it is going to impact all the property owners who, like me, previously had X visas but were given 1-year T visas last year.
The 180 day limit together with the 2-months out rule mean that the only real use of 1-year T visas is to get a full 6-month stay. If they also mean that there has to be a 13 month gap between visa applications they are completely bl**dy useless!!!

btw: The reply from VFS is badly phrased - what does 'travelled to India in the past two months' mean? The OP had travelled from India in the past two months.

AndyD 8-)#

Re: Visa help.
 

CORRECTION

The one-month rule has been deleted - I fell into the usual trap, old versions of the FAQ are still up on the MHA website but if you navigate from the home page you get to the latest version (march 2011) which does not have the one-month rule. (Neither does it have anything like the rule being quoted to the OP!).

AndyD 8-)#

Re: Visa help.
 

And what does "until their 2 month gap is not over" mean.:eek:
A confused J.

Re: Visa help.
 

No wonder people are confused. Some friends recently got 1 year tourist visas without any problem but they had only been given 6month visas last season despite asking for 1 year. Its a lottery.

Re: Visa help.
 

There are recent arrivals in Goa at the moment on 1 year Tourist Visas without the compulsory exit after 180 days

However, these are Single Entry Visas. If you exit India, the 2 month stay out rule applies. It seems it is technically possible to stay in India for 1 year as a tourist so long as you don't go out for a holiday and are only in India to enjoy the wonderment and magnificence of the place.

Also, you must register at the FRO within 14 days of arrival, just like we all had to do on the X Visas.

There appears to still be no category of visa for foreign nationals who wish to travel to India to maintain and enjoy their properties, the same properties that the Government of India were happy to accept tax payments at time of registration of the Deeds.

Re: Visa help.
 

VFS are not budging on the HCI action .But they have agreed to submit it on the 19th for issuance on Tuesday 23rd as office closed on 22nd.
Flight cancelled!Not booking another until I actually have visa.:frown:
When I have my visa in my hand I will then ask to see where this NEW rule is written!:thumbdown:

Re: Visa help.
 

Immigration will scrutinise your visa and dates of exit/entry etc. Don't think you can pull a fast one. I have 1 year, 180 days and no return 60 days. He had a good look and a count up on exit at Chennai and entry at Mumbai. They have the last word.

Re: Visa help.
 

I was not trying to pull a fast one. I was returning on day 63 after leaving India as I have done for all the 3 lots of 2 months out i`ve done and I`m well aware of immigration counting the days up on their fingers.
I have had 2 x 1 year visas as you describe.
My issue has been not being allowed to even apply for the visa within the 2 month gap -I did a year ago and Heidi`s parents did in June!

Re: Visa help.
 

All visas say, in the small print, that Tourist visas are valid for a maximum visit of 180 days. The 1 year T visas I have seen also have an overstamp which says the same thing.

AndyD 8-)#

Re: Visa help.
 

Then the Brits out here at the moment must be taking some kind of perverse pleasure in spreading the word otherwise. Likewise, those people who have confirmed reading these visas are either lying or have not inspected the said visas correctly.

I will not add to the confusion until I see one of these 1 Year Tourist (no 180 day restriction) Visa myself.

In the event that it is one of these malicious urban myths and there has not been any change, the 1 Year Tourist Visa is as useless as it ever was since you will have to leave India after 180 days from visa issue and stay out for 2 months before you can use up the remaining months.

Meanwhile, the Goans, having read the reports in the Herald, etc are of the belief that long term visas will not be a problem for Brits in the coming season. They are building their extra rooms and apartments in the expectation of a return to higher numbers of British tourists and are convinced everything has been sorted.

Re: Visa help.
 

My mother and father obtained Tourist Visas in June. Both for one year with multiple entries. Dad's however did not have the 'must leave after 160 days' on it but mum's did. They were told at Panjim that dad didn't have to leave but to just register. Obviously dad is going to go out at 160 days with mum but the lady in Panjim told then to go straight to the embassy in Sri Lanka and show them that they obtain their visas together and they are likely to let them return straight away. We'll see.

Re: Visa help.
 

They're making it up as they go along Jill!!!! I think it just depends who is processing your visa. Outrageous.

Hx

Re: Visa help.
 

Just to add to the confusion......on the Monarch Flights website it advises about the two month out rule - but then also goes on to say that travellers must allow 30 days between the expiry of one visa before applying for another!

I emailed VFS about this and they confirmed that new visas cannot be applied for until expiry of a current visa - nothing about having to wait a further 30 days after expiry.
But you're right - it doesn't say anywhere on visa info about not being able to apply until expiry date.
I mistakenly applied for a 3 month last November, so had to apply for a further one to return in April and they wouldn't let me reapply until the day after my first one expired.
Mad!

Re: Visa help.
 

From the VFS website
http://in.vfsglobal.co.uk/images/kno...a_clip_new.jpg
Looks as if the fine print has gone on the new format visas, but in this sample at least the 180 day limit is still there.
Who knows!!!

AndyD 8-)#

Re: Visa help.
 

would be interested to see one myself as tourist visas are normally valid for a max of 180 days .

Re: Visa help.
 

Well dad is in Goa and there is no way he would be able to post a picture of it on here!! But I can absolutely assure you, the 12 month tourist visa he go in June this year does NOT have the max 180 days on. Mum's does though. It's madness. When I go over in Jan I will be happy to post the said visa on here.

Re: Visa help.
 

My german neighbour has a 1 yr tourist without the 180 day exclusion on it and I`ve seen it!
But she does have the 2 month rule on it if she leaves the country.

Re: Visa help.
 

But at least you only have the the hassle once a year of applying for a visa and you can choose where in the world you want to go for 2 months and no worry about visas!Plus it is also cheaper-even wasting 2 months out it!£40 + for six months and £60+ for a year.Personally i like going to Malaysia for my 2 months but they now only issue Indian visas to Nationals of their country.
5 months in- 2 months out-5 months in suits me nicely thankyou. It would be better without the 2 months in the middle but at least it makes you go different places .

Re: Visa help.
 

nice to see you take something positive out of this bothersome 2 month out rule

Re: Visa help.
 

#Any positive news = good luck.

Re: Visa help.
 

Application was resubmitted by VFS to HCI on friday.
Today was an Indian holiday so "should" be processed tomorrow
and maybe ready for collection on Weds if i`m very lucky!
When checked on line it says "This application may take longer than
stated time".
:ohmy:

Re: Visa help.
 

All the best let us know when you get your visa.:wub:

Re: Visa help.
 

Despite being told that only Indians get a 1 year Tourist visa ,I have today picked up a lovely new 1 yr T visa.

:thumbsup::thumbsup:

Re: Visa help.
 

Excellent news :thumbup:

Re: Visa help.
 

Brilliant Jill!!!!!! Does it have the out after 160 days on?

H x

Re: Visa help.
 

I guess you mean 180 days!Sadly yes Heidi. I`d be quite happy staying in India for 12 months.
Such a relief after having to wait for 14 days since I originally applied.

Re: Visa help.
 

Congratulations, so very very happy for you.........


.

Re: Visa help.
 

Very good, no doubt you will be flying off as soon as possible. Wish I was too but I can't for another couple of months. Enjoy.

Re: Visa help.
 

This time tomorrow I`ll be on my way.Only 1 day of visa wasted.
:D:p

Re: Visa help.
 

sitting here feeling jealous, still, I've trips to France, Austria, Belgium (beer fest) and Ireland to look forward to before Goa but I think I'd rather be in Goa.

Re: Visa help.
 

Safe journey - update us with news from Goa. :thumbup:

Re: Visa help.
 

On a more serious thread - instead of saying "there must be a gap of 2 months" it now says 60 days.

I have emailed the very helpful nice gentleman at Hayes who has been a shoulder of strength through the past 2 weeks to ask him to copy me the section of rules that states that you cannot apply for a visa within the 60 day gap!Lets see if and what he comes up with!

Re: Visa help.
 

So pleased all went well for you.

I have just been to VFS Birmingham, hoping to regain a 5yr entry. The staff seem far more relaxed about the rules than last year.
The pleasant young man at the counter asked me why I had a T visa last year. I explained an entry visa had been refused as not enough documents and that I now had the required affidavit re husband's birth place.
"We don't need that" he said!!!!
Anyway I paid the money so hopefully should get the visa next week.
Main aim is to cut down on these visits to Birm.

The photo booth was working, saw someone use it.

Re: Visa help.
 

Hope all goes well for you Bipat.

Crazy thing about the 2" x2" photos is that they shrink it to 1"x1" for the visa.
The guy from VFS replied to my e-mail but just referred me to the "Restrictions on Tourist Visa" section about the 2 month gap.!!!!!

J

Re: Visa help.
 

Good luck Bipat - let us know if you are lucky with your 5 year visa. :fingerscrossed:

Re: Visa help.
 

Good luck with it Bipat and nice result Msj5.

Could this be a sign of hope for the future? Now that would be sooooo good.

Dread - x