Re: Visa help.
 

I`m off to Sri Lanka but don`t need to get a visa fortunately but there they are now issuing 6 month visa or your highly likely to get a 6 month in Thailand as a one off....but dont try and get 6 months there after that.

Re: Visa help.
 

thanks for the info. if you leave goa for anywhere, you have to stay out for two months, or, has it changed.

Re: Visa help.
 

Hello Andy

Yes thats true, but its not just the proof of old passports that is necessary, its also possible to submit some other 'proof' of their (i.e. ancestors') birth and/or residence anywhere in (erstwhile, pre-1947, undivided) India.

These links may be useful :

http://www.immihelp.com/nri/overseas...an-origin.html for eligibility

http://www.immihelp.com/nri/overseascitizenshipindia/ overview of rules

For visa, and other info of foreigners' registration etc. check the Ministry of Home Affairs links http://www.mha.nic.in/home.asp and http://passport.gov.in/vfc/frro_rpt.html

A word of caution... since everything can be done online, best not to avail services of dubious agents/middlemen. And if anyone still needs some assistance, can approach a reliable established firm of legal consultants. Their charges may be a bit higher but things will be done in a proper way, above board.

The regulars here on BE forum may already have this info but I do hope this helps new members.

Cheers

Re: Visa help.
 

Two months out is still in place but Prime Minister of India has stated (22 Jan) that a solution to the 2 months would be found in the next ONE month...so hopeful!!:fingerscrossed:

Re: Visa help.
 

N.B. (Also reported in today's ToI).

Visa Facilitation center of the Foreigners Division has shifted from Jaiselmer House to NDCC-II Building, JAI SINGH Road, OFF Parliament Street, Near Jantar Mantar, NEW DELHI - 110001, with effective from 04/04/2012.

Check here..

<Moderators - maybe this should be a Sticky?>

AndyD 8-)#

Re: Visa help.
 

We flew out on Tuesday, scheduled flight out of Dabolim.
Immigration immediately spotted the RP stamp next to our visas and asked for the Residence Permits - I said we might be coming back, they replied that unless we were definitely coming back within two months we must surrender rhe RP's but they told us to make a note of the RP number and if we did return on the same visa to quote it to the FRO at Panjim.
We did have exit stamps but I couldn't see whether they checked for them.

AndyD 8-)#

Re: Visa help.
 

Pleased to say i have just picked up a 6 month X visa. I tried applying for a year but VFS would only let me apply for 6 months , but i`m not complaining.

:thumbsup::thumbsup:

Re: Visa help.
 

Wow! Fantastic! Perhaps they will let you go for a year next time.

Congratulations. When do you get back?

Re: Visa help.
 

WELL DONE. Jill. Could be the visa rules & regs are relaxing just a little? :thumbsup:

Rgds
Iain

Re: Visa help.
 

Good news msj5 - pleased for you

Dread - x

Re: Visa help.
 

Thanks. I`ll be home on friday.

Sadly Iain not a relaxation of rules but a case of having the "balls" to ask for
what you are entitled to ,to make your residing in India legal!!

It was being told personally by The High Commissioner of India in Sri Lanka that I was breaking the law by residing in India on a tourist visa that made me apply for an X visa even though I still had 4 months left on a T visa.

Re: Visa help.
 

Good on ya Jill.

Mind you I can see some total confusion at immigration when they see you have two different visas - how will they cope ? :lol:

Dread - x:lol:

Re: Visa help.
 

The old visa will I presume have "CANCELLED WITHOUT PREJUDICE" stamped across it. I have had this before when applying early and got a T instead of X there were no problems.

Re: Visa help.
 

Exactly the case.

I had to write a letter asking them to cancel T visa on issuance of X visa.

Re: Visa help.
 

Joke Bipat - hence the LOL smiley !!!!!!!!!

Dread - x

Re: Visa help.
 

Excellent news - what documents did you submit?

AndyD 8-)₹

Re: Visa help.
 

msj5 - am i correct, you got a 6 month X in Sri Lanka to return home to Goa in less than 2 months out?

The advantages of this are

1) you might be able to extend the 6 month X at Panjim without having to leave again?

2) you register at FRO Panjim and get a Resident Permit which helps if you are getting a landline phone, registering a vehicle, transfering electricity or PWD accounts into your name

Other than that, except for the fact that you individually will have less hassle, why the big celebration everybody?

Re: Visa help.
 

The big celebration is because we have not been able to get X visas for several years now so people have had to leave India every six months and not go back for two months. Leaving India to renew a visa is not a problem, it is the two months we have to stay out that is. This does not apply to an X visa.

Re: Visa help.
 

Only 'long-term' visas are extendable, so a 6-month X would not qualify. In theory a 1-year X would qualify but I have been refused twice (and I have not heard of anyone who succeeded). A 5-year X should certainly qualify but 'Douglas' was famously refused back around 2007 at the start of all the FN problems.
It seems X visas are extendable for PIO's / spouses.

AndyD 8-)₹

Re: Visa help.
 

I returned to the UK to apply for X visa as HCI in Sri Lanka pointed out that it is "illegal" to live in India on a tourist visa.
The big celebration, as others have said is that we have NOT been able to get X visas .
I have been told by Vfs that I can extend it in India but not sure how easy it would be.
I have also heard through the grape vine that a new Visa office is to open in Panjim during the monsoon.

Re: Visa help.
 

When i asked to extend (in Panjim FRRO)MY LAST 5 YEAR X, iwas told go back to your own country.:confused:

Re: Visa help.
 

I thought you only got your 5 year X a couple of years ago ?

Dread - x

Re: Visa help.
 

Yes my second 5 year x, still 2 more years on this one.:thumbsup:

Re: Visa help.
 

When I tried to extend a 1-year X at Panjim FRO they were extremely helpful, there was extensive paperwork and two interviews (one with the CID at Mapusa who assured me there should be no problem). After all that the Home Dept. (Goa) refused the application on a technicality (as far as I can find out they always do that).
Note: although you can apply at a FR[R]O they will then - if you are lucky - forward it to Delhi, giving you a temporary 3-month extension while Delhi Dither; if Delhi give you this first extension then subsequent ones can be done at the FRO.
- As msj5 reports "I have also heard through the grape vine that a new Visa office is to open in Panjim during the monsoon" - this sounds as if the MHA take-over of immigration in Goa is going ahead and an FRRO is opening - since the last couple of years considerably more authority has been delegated to FRRO's.

AndyD 8-)₹

Re: Visa help.
 

Once you have a PIO YOU DO NOT REQUIRE A VISA period; you only requirement is a valid passport (your home country)

You only other requirement (one time only) is to register with the FFRO when you exceed the 180 days.

Re: Visa help.
 

Regarding the extension of "tourist visas" and as far as I am aware. You can stay as long as you like within the validity of the visa. Only the conditions are you must register if you plan to stay longer than 180 days. If you leave for whatever reason it is 60 days before you can return. You cannot apply for an extension on a tourist visa and if you plan to convert it to another type you should do so at the earliest and have a) solid reasons b) the necessary paperwork to back up those reasons.

Personally I applied for my PIO in the UK (less hassle, treat it as a holiday) arrive UK submit application and paperwork on arrival and one month later pick up your PIO card.

Re: Visa help.
 

Oh and PIO's have 180 days plus an additional 30 days grace which = 210 days in which to register their extended stay (you do not need to do it within the 180) .. I took 208 days and the clerk was busy using her fingers to count to see if they could issue a fine/penalty for late registration.

Re: Visa help.
 

Wrong on both counts.

a) One year tourist visas are available to UK citizens in the UK, but maximum stay is still 180 days, followed by 60 days out. So much for staying for the full validity of the visa.

b) Conversion of a tourist visa is not possible, period (as you would say)


.

Re: Visa help.
 

As far as I am aware PIO`s are not normally bound to 180 day restriction!

Can anyone back me up on this?

Re: Visa help.
 

Sorry I seem to have confused you - I meant PIO= Person of Indian origin, not PIO card.

AndyD 8-)₹

Re: Visa help.
 

People with PIO cards can stay more or less indefinitely but have to register if they stay more than 180 days.

AndyD 8-)₹

Re: Visa help.
 

http://goindia.about.com/od/gettingm...a-Marriage.htm

As per the procedure (in link above) it is possible to extend tourist visa and convert to X visa if you are married to a local resident Indian and have proof of residence.

Re: Visa help.
 

Sorry I was only referring to the 'requirement to register' any stay that exceeds 180 days.

PIO card holders are not bound to any restriction on the length of their stay but they must register the 'first stay' that exceeds 180 days.

As far as I am aware any subsequent 180 day + stay need not be be registered however any change of your residential address must be notified to the clerk/officer in charge of your file. (We also confirmed this with the clerk when we registered).

PIO card holders also have an additional grace period in which to register, which is 30 days after the original 180 have passed.

Re: Visa help.
 

My mistake on a) .. simply looked at an old 1yr visa which was stamped "any stay over 180 days must be registered" assumed it was okay to stay longer. I am glad that I had to return to the UK prior to 180 days elapsing. :ohmy::eek: (wonder what the consequences would have been??)

However on b) anyone who marries a local resident Indian may apply to convert their tourist visa to an X visa (unless this rule has been changed) so definitely not 'period' as I would say

http://goindia.about.com/od/gettingm...a-Marriage.htm

Re: Visa help.
 

Tourist visas not always given for one year in the UK, sometimes yes, sometimes no, good luck.

Re: Visa help.
 

Not sure why you would be denied a 1 yr multiple entry visa in the UK?
Both times I was successful and no questions asked ...

Re: Visa help.
 

A friend of mine tried in Birmingham, wrote a letter etc, but they only gave him a 6 month multi entry, oh well.:nod:

Re: Visa help.
 

VFS tell you that 1 yr T visas are only given to Indians!!
if you write a convincing enough letter you (or I have) may manage to get a 1 yr.

Re: Visa help.
 

And for people in certain occupations eg Armed forces, Police, media, photography - they will only get a 3 month single entry tourist visa

Dread - x

Re: Visa help.
 

Curious - not very long ago PIO's (mostly in USA) were complaing because they were being refused T visas and told to get X visas or PIO cards.

AndyD 8-)₹