I'm helping my son (U.S. citizen) fill out a visa application for India. He's leaving soon on a RTW make-it-up-as-you-go type trip. He's planning to get to India in January, but at this point doesn't know what date he'll arrive, where he'll enter, or where he'll stay when he gets there (all things he's supposed to provide on the visa application)..

The application requires that he provide (1) a date and point of entry and (2) either a personal reference in India or hotel information. We don't know anyone in India.

We could obviously fill in some guesstimates, but since they can decline the visa and keep the application money, we would like to know if they're going to check up on this info?

He can put what he most likely thinks his arrival date and port will be (ie pick Delhi or Mumbai) and an approximate date in January. Don't sweat over it. I have had to get Indian visas for trips I knew I'd be making, but didn't know when. Just approximate. They're not going to question him on it when he does arrive in India. They just want a general idea.

estimate and just use some major hotel as a reference

Thanks - just didn't want to get him into hot water if they really cared.

My son is doing something similar. He will be in India in December and January, part with friends, part with family and the rest solo. He will head off to other SE Asian countries for a few months after wards. American Airlines said you should have a return ticket, otherwise they might not let you in the country. I bought a yr tourist visa for him and I just listed a few cities and one hotel even though he doesn't know actually where he visiting/dates/etc. I think your son should be okay. Is he traveling on his own? Don't they have a great life?

Oh BTW, I listed the hotel as the reference since he really doesn't know anyone there.

Artsnletters, I just picked up your other thread so now I understand your situation better. I think this will be a wonderful experience for both our sons, but I know I will age with worry.

Please keep us up to date on his travels. Is your son considering Thailand, Cambodia or Vietnam? My son is also hoping to hit So Africa, but he is doubtful his money will last. He is going to do some volunteer work while traveling but his real focus is traveling.

Hi lisasiegel,

My son would definitely like to go to Thailand, but I have doubts how his money's going to hold up given he wants to go to Africa. By the time he wends his way from London to Copenhagen through various stops in Europe to Turkey and then to India, he may be too financially drained to head off to Africa. I think there'll be a watershed when he finishes up in India and Nepal about which direction he can afford to go. If money is low, I suggested coming home through Thailand and SE Asia as a less expensive option. We've heard Thailand is ridiculously cheap, and I imagine that's true of most of SE Asia.

I think the return ticket from India is going to be difficult given that choice. He's planning on traveling from Goa to Kathmandu, or from Kathmandu to Goa - which direction probably depends on whether Thailand is in the picture at that point. I hope the obvious length of the trip and various ports of call will convince them that he's in transit rather than looking to settle in for an extended period.