Banyan

Only the tip of the iceberg?

It is likely their intention to eventually use the "visa on arrival" for many countries, including Britain.

They can then use the visa as a tool to prevent tourists living in India/Go for more than 30 days with the 2 month out rule. One could only visit twice in one year with this type of visa.

Any longer duration then one would likely need to apply to IHC with good reason or show an officail travel itinerary with travel tickets.


The writing's on the wall!

Banyan.

a_f_d

... just heard from VFS - the Consulate have returned our passports and informed us that we are eligible for 1-year Tourist visas.

AndyD 8-)#

johnny five

Which proves they really do make it up as they go along, with absolutely no regard to what the Indian Government publish in black & white.....


Well done Andy, a potentially risky strategy, but an amazingly (suspiciously?) fast response.


.

noni

Congratulations - glad it worked out for you

Banyan

Reply to fpbutler under the GOA Beware thread number 3164.

Hi,

Sorry to disagree but there has been a massive fat money making scam taken place here.

You will need to read an article in "About.com: India Travel advising (outside) PIO's to apply for X entry visas.

http://goindia.about.com/od/visas/tp...visa-Types.htm

In terms of the several countries being allowed visa on arrival with the possibility of 16 others to follow. Should the UK be added to this list would the normal visa application stay in force or not or would the goal posts be moved?

Banyan.

Banyan

So glad it's worked out for you.

Banyan.

Bipat

[/Quote]

Sorry to disagree but there has been a massive fat money making scam taken place here.

You will need to read an article in "About.com: India Travel advising (outside) PIO's to apply for X entry visas.

http://goindia.about.com/od/visas/tp...visa-Types.htm

In terms of the several countries being allowed visa on arrival with the possibility of 16 others to follow. Should the UK be added to this list would the normal visa application stay in force or not or would the goal posts be moved?

Banyan.[/QUOTE]

The 'visa on arrival' is optional, I would have thought it will stay that way. It would be too difficult for immigration to deal with a large percentage of tourists getting their 'on arrival visa' also the practical difficulties with the 'refusals'.
Also your other point about NRI's; you are correct the term is used loosely to describe PIO's. Many of these apply for visas the advice given was to explain the option they have of the 5 year x type visa, but as I have previously said, the documentation rules for this have become recently very strict and specific. I am a PIO spouse but at Birmingham in August (won't go over the details again) I was refused a 5 year (in spite of previously always having this) and given a 1 year tourist. This type of ruling will apply to NRI's regardless of property owned. It seems if any doubts give a 1 year tourist!!

Banyan

Sorry to disagree but there has been a massive fat money making scam taken place here.

You will need to read an article in "About.com: India Travel advising (outside) PIO's to apply for X entry visas.

http://goindia.about.com/od/visas/tp...visa-Types.htm

In terms of the several countries being allowed visa on arrival with the possibility of 16 others to follow. Should the UK be added to this list would the normal visa application stay in force or not or would the goal posts be moved?

Banyan.[/QUOTE]

The 'visa on arrival' is optional, I would have thought it will stay that way. It would be too difficult for immigration to deal with a large percentage of tourists getting their 'on arrival visa' also the practical difficulties with the 'refusals'.
Also your other point about NRI's; you are correct the term is used loosely to describe PIO's. Many of these apply for visas the advice given was to explain the option they have of the 5 year x type visa, but as I have previously said, the documentation rules for this have become recently very strict and specific. I am a PIO spouse but at Birmingham in August (won't go over the details again) I was refused a 5 year (in spite of previously always having this) and given a 1 year tourist. This type of ruling will apply to NRI's regardless of property owned. It seems if any doubts give a 1 year tourist!![/QUOTE]


The visa on arrival will be great for the package tourists. After all this is what they want with a quick turn over of mass tourists. But as far as anyone wishing to stay any longer than 30 days it will be a nightmare. Is this not what it is all about to prevent long term tourist staying/living in India/Goa?

Sorry to disagree, but it would not be too difficult at all for the Indian Immigration to deal with as they are now in the computer age and the click of a key shows all!

There seems to be a hidden agenda here. Lets face it they do not care about how many peoples they spoilt in springing in the two month out rule and more importantly without any notice. A dam disgrace!

Banyan.

erinsgirl

Andy, Well done in getting the one year tourist. Obviously they are not ready to issue an X Visa at present, despite whatever the Britih High Commissioner might say. This is what happened to us last year. We had the one year Tourist. We found the forced exit at 6 months such a hassle that we exited and did not bother go back. We saw no point in paying the airfare to go back in July to stay until September with then another forced 2 month exile. We want to make sure we are there for November/December. However this means we paid for a year and stayed for only 6 months. This is a waste of money. For this reason we are seriously thinking of just applying for a 6 month Tourist Visa this time as the 1 year Tourist was not much use ( to us anyway). Hopefully it will be more use to you.

Bipat

QUOTE] Banyan


The visa on arrival will be great for the package tourists. After all this is what they want with a quick turn over of mass tourists. But as far as anyone wishing to stay any longer than 30 days it will be a nightmare. Is this not what it is all about to prevent long term tourist staying/living in India/Goa?

Sorry to disagree, but it would not be too difficult at all for the Indian Immigration to deal with as they are now in the computer age and the click of a key shows all!

There seems to be a hidden agenda here. Lets face it they do not care about how many peoples they spoilt in springing in the two month out rule and more importantly without any notice. A dam disgrace!

Banyan.[/QUOTE]

Could you not consider that the changing of visa rules (for many countries including USA) might be, as stated, for national security. The Indian Gov. has a billion people to protect there are many ports of entry besides Mumbai. Why would the Indian Gov. change its whole visa system world wide just to cause trouble to a few thousand expats in Goa !!! Yes it will cause a great deal of trouble for some but I imagine the Gov. considers security more important. Whether they are over reacting is a matter of opinion.

Banyan

Could you not consider that the changing of visa rules (for many countries including USA) might be, as stated, for national security. The Indian Gov. has a billion people to protect there are many ports of entry besides Mumbai. Why would the Indian Gov. change its whole visa system world wide just to cause trouble to a few thousand expats in Goa !!! Yes it will cause a great deal of trouble for some but I imagine the Gov. considers security more important. Whether they are over reacting is a matter of opinion.[/QUOTE]


Hi,

One does fully respect the national security and expect it to come first and foremost. However, why won't they allow people to sell up and open the transfer property register? This saga has gone on since 2006.

ARE THEY WAITING FOR US TO DIE OFF OR WHAT?

We are reading about confications which are now taking place. This is very alarming and worrying for people who have put their live savings in to retirement homes in Goa.

Banyan.

k800mer

They do not want foreigners to be able to sell up because they want to confiscate the properties, no doubt someone in the goa parliament will benefit from the confiscation.

Bipat

Hi K800mer and Banyan

With respect, the discussion was originally about recent visa changes and the Central Indian government's reasons.

dreadsoc

Unfortunately the visa issues an the property issues go hand in hand, one affects the other every step of the way.

Dread - x

Banyan

Hi Bipat,


Shall we transfer to GOA Buyer Beware Thread and we await your comments if any Bipat?


Banyan.