Amazed! I thought tourist visas were non-extendable, full stop?


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I don't think so - chapter & verse please (yes I remember your previous discussion - but it ain't documented anywhere).
???????

spouses of Indian citizens can get PIO cards! - and what new registration rules?

And afaik T visas are still not extendable - even for PIO's or their spouses!!

AndyD 8-)#

My thoughts exactly Andy! married to a PIO or Indian National they are entitled to apply for PIO !

Andy, it is documented on the visas; how many times to tell you. If I could scan mine on I would show you.

This is new: previous 5 year visas (which I have always had) since visas were first needed were over-stamped with the 180 day rule for registration. As I said above such visas are also being issued in USA: I have seen one issued to the son of Indian born nephew. We were told at Pune it is because we are "dependents".

The Pune office told us we could have asked at application for the old endorsement, I don't know if this is true, but they are a senior office. They can do extensions etc. I will find out in UK.

I think I have seen a reference to this immediate registration rule on one of the web sites and will try to find it again for you.

What did you mean by chapter and verse? I will try to reply.

As for PIO cards they are not that easy to get for older British Indians who had their passports taken at naturalisation and not returned (in 70s). In those days photocopying did not spring to mind. My OH could not get one previously as no copy of his Indian passport although now with an appropriate affidavit we may apply.

My question about husband spouses meant those married to British Indian women and whether they were also getting the new style visas.

How very backward - just shows how women are still second class in India

Having spoken to a number of Kashmir folks, they have to pay quite a lot of 'extra' to get a passport.

India certainly has a long way to go in the equality stakes me thinks !

Dread - x

I thought this was the case as well - in fcat on every visa I have had it is actually printed (in very small letters) on the actual visa itself.
I would love to know exactly how this person manges to get their T visa extended...... spill the beans please

Dread - x

Well I did scan (part of) mine and showed it at #1003 in this thread, you never replied as to whether the 'fine print' lines are the same on yours (as I and many others have pointed out these lines have been there for years and years). Everyones visa is different since they included photo id - I linked to the image on the VFS 'know your visa' page - admittedly that has the section with the fine print blurred out for some reason - but apart from that is your visa different from everyone else's?
I presume you mean the green "No registration required if..." stamp, which was just repeating the regulations and is also on the Landing Permit.

I agree that at first glance the latest MHA website (see #997) is ambiguous in that it isn't immediately clear that only those long-term visa types listed are liable to the 14 day rule, but this is made perfectly clear in part I marked in bold
That would obviously help to remove confusion in Pune officers' minds, but so should the rules on the MHA website.
If you found the 'above' website that would be 'Chapter and Verse' - as are my link & quote in #997
... and my comment about PIO cards holds up - if spouses can get X visas by virtue of marriage then their OH's are being recognised as NRI/ PIO - in which case the spouses can get PIO cards instead of X visas.

AndyD 8-)#

Andy I did reply, pg 68--10008

yes my lines of print are different, they are different from those on OH's visa which has 2 years to run.
It is the same as that of young relative from USA who told he must have an entry visa and not his usual tourist.

Andy, whatever you have read about PIO cards have you personally actually tried to get one ???

Previously it was possible to get long term X visas with documents such as school certificates, place of birth on passport etc. etc, but not PIO cards a copy of old passport or affidavit was essential.

Then came the Headley affair when for a year even long term visas were not possible without the above docs. I had a year tourist even though OH still had his X, I had provided a photocopy of this and was told it was not adequate and that he also would not have got an entry at that time without the now essential docs.

2010 rules eased and I got back a 5 year and was told the affidavit, which we now had, was not necessary, I practically forced them to take a copy of the bl***y thing.
When the new visa arrived it had the 3 lines of print stating that registration within 2 weeks was required.
Andy whatever you have read, personal experience is what it is.

BiPat - re-read your #1008, it does not answer the question!
OK it's only three lines of print - how about typing them in if you can't scan your passport; just skip any that are the same as #1003. (fwiw you should always have scans of your pp and visa pages somewhere e.g. emailed to self - in case you lose your pp).

There was an enormous fuss in the US about a year ago when they started insisting that PIO's get X visas not T's - it was justified by saying they should get PIO cards!!!

... and personal experience is what it is, for you, this time, at this place; just that; which is fine so long as no-one reading your post assumes it should also apply to them, in a different place at a different time. In such circumstances the MHA website is a more trustworthy authority.

AndyD 8-)#

Passport is in safekeeping in rels. house I will type in tomorrow. I have multiple copies of passport and other certificates in various places in India ---I don't always have access to a laptop.

The requirements for PIO card are quite specific (this is not personal) I presume you have read them. OH did not have birth cert or old passport so could not get one.

We have always had long term entry visas (except for 2009) are you saying this is not true??? I presume there are many others in the same position as there have been others on this forum asking for advice as to how to get PIO cards when they have no birth cert. etc.

It was because of K800's friends experience (old post) that I registered, I was not going to bother.

Unable to access a scanner.
Visa has following print:

Registration required within 14 days of arrival in India for Visas Valid for more than 180 days.
Tourist Visa Non-Extendable etc.
Not Valid for Prohibited Areas etc

There is no stamp regarding visits less than 180 days.

After quick search I found the following link, it is a USA site and re Bangalore office, I have not read it in detail so if not applicable appologies.
But it mentions "any visa valid for more than 180 days".

http://totallyexpat.com/global-immig...ent-authority/

OK so the good news is that you have the same photo visa as everyone else. The bad news is that the badly worded MHA site has confused a lot of people including PUNE FRO officers and Fragomen Global Immigration Services - but I still reckon 'my mha.nic.in trumps your totallyexpat.com'.
N.B. There is what seems to me a new PDF on Foreigners' Registration - it avoids the confusing wording of the FAQ page but still goes all around the houses: http://mha.nic.in/foreigDiv/pdfs/RegForeigners-11.pdf
(and before anyone asks, I did get to it from the main page).

AndyD 8-)#

The point I was making is that the over- stamp re 180 days and "no need to register" is no longer there, this is new, this is different.

I was planning to ignore the instructions, but the previous poster who said their friend was refused exit when they did not register meant I did not wish to take risks.
OH who has the old style visa had it confirmed that he did not need to register, I had to. The over-stamp is obviously the key. Is it a mistake that it is omitted?? I will find out on return.

Relative from USA had identical visa without an over-stamp.

I assume you accept now that it is possible to get long term entry visas even when a PIO card is not possible???

Despite tourist visas not being extendable my friend now has her extension. She entered the country in September and can now stay until May. Why she should be able to I do not know although this time her husband is not well and has been in hospital a couple of times but she had an extended stay last year also.

Can you find out who she bribes at the FRO in Panjim!!!i`d like to meet them.