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India visa holders must now wait two months before returning to India?

Even though I have a multiple entry visa I can't re-enter without waiting two months to return?

14 years ago, April 7th 2010 No: 21 Msg: #108202 Delete Edit

Pwyll
P. Woods

N Posts: 5

Hi Rachel,

P.S. on my last post.

Everything I said is predicated upon the fact that the last time you were in India, you were in the country for less than 180 days, and you had not already re-entered the country more than a couple of times on your last trip in and out.

Also, you have to be careful how you handle these types of things and do it properly according to their current laws, rules and procedures, if you wish to continue coming to India -- because the Indian government does permanently ban people from coming back to India, when they do things in violation of their rules and laws.

For examples:

A friend of mine knows a guy who came to India on a tourist visa and while he was in India, he did some scholarly research. The Indian government found out about it and deported this fellow, plus put him on a list banning him from ever coming to India again. Reply to this

14 years ago, April 7th 2010 No: 22 Msg: #108204 Delete Edit

Pwyll
P. Woods

N Posts: 5

Hi Rachel,

P.S. on my last post.

Everything I said is predicated upon the fact that the last time you were in India, you were in the country for less than 180 days, and you had not already re-entered the country more than a couple of times on your last trips in and out.

Also, you have to be careful how you handle these types of things and do it properly according to their current laws, rules and procedures, if you wish to continue coming to India -- because the Indian government does permanently ban people from coming back to India, when they do things in violation of their rules and laws.

For examples:

A friend of mine knows a guy who came to India on a tourist visa and while he was in India, he did some scholarly research. The Indian government found out about it and deported this fellow, plus put him on a list banning him from ever coming to India again.

A friend of mine knows a woman who came to India on a tourist visa, and while she was in India, she shot some footage for some kind of film she was making. The Indian government found out about it and deported her, plus banned her from ever returning to India in the future.

Reply to this

14 years ago, April 10th 2010 No: 23 Msg: #108415 Delete Edit

sdb61
Scott Butler

N Posts: 1

I was reading the re-entry rules into India when I saw John and Sylvia posting. I was interrupting the rule the same way that John and Sylvia are I think. If you don’t mind me asking you a question I could use some advice. I am have a hard time getting an answer to this.

I am heading over to India at the end of this month for work on a Business Visa. I will be there for 1 month this trip. I just received a 5 year multi entry visa. When I applied for the visa I did not ask for any other countries to be add due to this was going through work. Mid next month my wife is coming over for 10 days on vacation on a tourist visa. I did not tell her to get Nepal on her visa so she did not. The question is can we wait until we are there to get permission to go to Nepal or do we need to get it done here before she goes and do I need to get re-entry permission also even though I am on a business visa.

I appreciate any help you might have.
Reply to this

14 years ago, April 10th 2010 No: 24 Msg: #108424 Delete Edit

Pwyll
P. Woods

N Posts: 5

Hi Scott,

I recommend the India and Nepal guide books by Lonely Planet.

As I understand it, officially and legally, the new tourist visa policy does not apply to business visa holders, although there have been one or more cases where some immigration officer did try to apply the policy to business visa holders.

You and your wife can obtain Nepal visas before you leave at your nearest Nepal embassy or consulate (www.nepalembassyusa.org and www.nepembassy.org.uk). Or, get it at the Nepal embassy in India.

You have to enter the country within 3 or 6 months of the issue date of your visa.

Also, you can get a single entry 15/30/90 day visa for $25/40/100 at the Nepal Kathmandu airport payable in any major currency, when you land -- or at any of their land border crossings, but, in which case, you will need to pay the visa fee in U.S. currency notes.

You can download a visa-on-arrival form at: www.treks.com.np/visa

You can change your single entry visa to a multiple entry for $20 at Kathmandu's Central Immigration office.

You can extend your visa at the Kathmandu or Pokhara immigration offices for up to 120 days - and even probably another 30 days past that, if you show your onward air ticket. Tourists are not allowed to stay in Nepal more than 150 days per year. Extensions cost $30 for 15 days, then $2 per day thereafter.

All the above visas and extensions require your passport, passport photos, application form, cash payment, etc.

Up to date info on Nepal visas is available at www.immi.gov.np.

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14 years ago, April 11th 2010 No: 25 Msg: #108464 Delete Edit

deleted_158876
deleted_158876

d Posts: 1

Hi. Re-visiting the India tourist visa issue: I have a multiple entry (India) tourist visa and will be in India for 10 days mid-May. I would like to travel to Nepal for a few days but I am very concerend about the re-entry into India (my flight back to the US leaves from Hyderabad). How do I get the "permission" to re-entre India since I will not be "abiding" by the two-month re-entry rule? I hesitate to book flights/hotel, etc not knowing if India will allow me back in after only a few days in Nepal. Please advise. Thank you!

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14 years ago, April 17th 2010 No: 26 Msg: #108919 Delete Edit

Cleo10
Cleo10

N Posts: 1

Good morning everyone!!
Firstly thanks so much for all the information that you guys have posted on the blog about the tourist visa. It is most helpful!!

I just wanted to check to see if there are any restrictions on travelling to Jaipur with your tourist visa multiple entry (6 months)? I just visited India last week and want to go back as soon as possible!! I am waiting for 2 months though. If I am staying in Delhi and near to Delhi will it be ok to use my multiple entry visa or would I need to apply for another one if I plan on going to Jaipur??

Hope you get your sorted out Thomas!! (was thinking of Nepal too but after all the headaches you seem to be experiencing, think I will wait till the rules are less strict!)

Cleo : ) Reply to this

13 years ago, December 9th 2010 No: 27 Msg: #124487 Delete Edit

emjaynie
Jane Yost

N Posts: 1

Having just been in this situation while in India 2 weeks ago, i thought i'd weigh in because maybe things have changed, or maybe i just got really really lucky.

I got the tourist visa because i keyed in on "2 months" as opposed to "6 months" (for the multiple entry visa), as i would only be there for 3 weeks. So when i got my 2 month tourist visa, a stamped note was superimposed on the visa stating the thing about only one entry in the 2 month period. At that point, i had only just decided i might like to take a 3 day detour from Delhi to Kathmandu, so i called Travisa Outsourcing (the visa agency i went through ... for both visas), and they said leaving India and re-entering 3 days later shouldn't be a problem, if i show a detailed itinerary, and if i register with the mission. While in India, i was pretty busy and this "small" detail escaped my attention, but i figured i had my iron-clad itinerary all printed out so i'll be fine .... then at check-in i got a bit worried about whether they'd even let me fly to Kathmandu if i didn't have a valid visa back into India first ... but nothing was said.

Of course my real worry would be upon coming back into India, not leaving. So i thought i'll go to the Indian Consulate once in Kathmandu, since my schedule would be more relaxed there. Happened it was right around the corner from my hotel, so i paid a visit ... visa office was closed, but an officer just inside the consulate grounds looked at my visa and said it would be no problem getting back in ... after all it was a multiple entry visa. (So why, i thought, does it say multiple entry, when we're only allowed in once?)

So nothing said on check-in at Kathmandu airport, and when we got back into Delhi and passed through passport control, absolutely nothing was said again! The passport officer didn't bat an eyelid. Go figure ... did i just get someone who was half asleep? didn't care? or had the rules suddenly changed? I don't know, but i was quite relieved.

I didn't read all the entries above, but what i did read seemed to indicate everyone has/had reason to take this issue quite seriously ... but i think people should continue to do so, just in case they get the wrong passport control guy on the wrong day.

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13 years ago, December 10th 2010 No: 28 Msg: #124531 Delete Edit

scottandanny
Scott Tyrrell

B Posts: 146

We also failed to visit the Indian consulate in Kathmandu when there. We got to the border and were refused entry. However, in India everything is possible, including bribing boarder guards. I would not reccomend this approach, but neither would I say that everything is lost should you find yourself in a similar situation! Reply to this

12 years ago, March 22nd 2012 No: 29 Msg: #153580 Delete Edit

genuinetourist
anish m

N Posts: 1

In response to: Msg #105488 I have gone through the posts of john and i have reasons to believe he has a lot of misconceptions about india. The restriction of 2 months gap on tourist visa was made with some good intentions, to prevent misuse I have noted that the immigration authorities are generous and kindhearted and always allow the reentry if u have a valid purpose. unlike in UK or other western countries, they lend their ears to you-listen to you. It is not John's attitude "This is India there is always a way around things". Indians are generous and the immigration authorities are helpful. And dont think of bribing them. Pay 9 Pounds at HCI and get a permission there.John, come to India, experience the hospitality here. And spread some good advise to others. Dont go by the your personal policies.Share your experience. Not your "IDEAS" Reply to this