India Visa Update
 

Dogster brought the changes to the India visas to our attention a couple of weeks ago. Today I got an email from the outsourcing agent that takes care of issing Indian visas in the US. Here is the info from the email........................... .....In December 2009, India introduced a new rule that prevents Tourist visa holders from re-visiting India within 2 months after last leaving. That rule has been updated recently to include the following:

All Tourist visa holders, including 6 Month visa holders, and Non US citizens holding a Tourist visa are impacted by the new rule.
Some exceptions can be made on a case by case basis as decided on by the local Consulates. Exception reasons include sick family members in India.

More details are available here: https://indiavisa.travisaoutsourcing...t_Visa_FAQ.pdf

Just thought I would pass it along.

Happy travels

J

I just called out Indian Consulate, in Vancouver Canada, and was told that this does not affect Canadians on a six month tourist visa. If I read it correctly, then going off to Nepal for a couple of days and returning to India would not be possible any longer for US citizens. Is that how you read it?

I don't really know since it says " and Non US citizens holding a tourist visa"

Permit to re-enter India within two months. We received this info today:

https://indiavisa.travisaoutsourcing...idelines?id=16

Yep connette that is the same link I showed above

well no not exactly the same link sorry!!! But it gets you there!! Sorry about that

The link that connette gave is only for people for which subparagraph V in reply to question 2 (in the first link) applies.

The statement listed in the OP: <i>"All Tourist visa holders, including 6 Month visa holders, and Non US citizens holding a Tourist visa are impacted by the new rule."</i> logically implies that non-US citizens holding 6 month visas are NOT impacted by the new rule, but non-US holders of "tourist visas" are. (this is talking about two kinds of visas: "tourist visas" and "6 month visas")

The FAQ in the first link only mentions "tourist visas".

The rules permit any tourist visa holder (US or non-US) to re-enter two or three times as long as they can show that they are "genuine tourists". See subparagraphs I and II of the reply to question 2.

Subparagraph I says that if the tourist is outside of India then they can get an endorsement from an Indian mission that would permit 2 or 3 entries.

Subparagraph II says that tourist visa holders that didn't get the endorsement from a mission outside of India can still be admitted to India by the immigration authorities when they enter (re-enter) India.

In both cases, the tourist has to show their tourist itinerary and bookings - to prove they are "genuine tourists".

I don't know how subpara II works, maybe one of these two scenarios:
1) you fly to India from Canada and on arrival you show them your itinerary and booking for Nepal. At that time you receive a stamp on your visa allowing re-entry. You enter India, travel to Nepal and back to India, showing that stamp you received on first arrival.

or maybe:
2) your fly to India from Canada and enter India. Go to Nepal and back to India. On second arrival in India show your tourist bookings to the immigration officer and get the ok. Enter India.

live42day, the short answer to your question is: no, reread subparagraphs I and II of the reply to question 2 (as well as the bit, before sub para I, that mentions "genuine tourists".

I can tell you, I have a 10 year multi entry visa with stay up to 6 months. I went to India for a family wedding and tried to return in a month with out my child and got sent back(to USA) by immigration in India. So please check with the Indian
Consulate before trying to return to India in less than 60 days. I can tell you, they are strict with this rule. They sent 10 people home on my AA flight with this problem that had 10 year visas. I am not kidding. Hope this helps.

If you are Indian and travel there alot like me, I now am looking into a PIO or POI card.

Will a PIO (Person of Indian Origin) card override the 60 restriction?

For a bonafide tourist re-entry into India is no problem. All you need to do is carry the folder that contains, your Tour itinerary, Hotel exchange vouchers (or copies thereof), Inland air or rail tickets, if any, etc. and hand it over to the airport officials on demand.
Visa regulations have now been further revised and foreign tourists can now re-visit India after visiting the neighbouring countries.
A copy of Circular No. 379 dated 26th April, 2010 issued by the Govt. of India , Ministry of Home Affairs (Foreigners Division) has been placed on IATO website www.iato.in
Happy travels!

Thanks VP. I was hoping the government would revise the policy sooner rather than later. This is good news.

It's a little more complicated than vp_singh's post suggests. You need to read the complete circular - http://www.iato.in/Revised_Guideline...ist_Visa_1.pdf

good sleuthing thursday; just what I needed...

Sounds like good news for kimmyejones lol...

Thursdays that is the same circular that is linked from the site VP posted. Or am I missing something?

Femi - no, I just linked to the circular directly, and pointed out that you need to read it carefully - you still can't just come and go as you like as often as you like.

Thanks.

I'm also trying to make up my mind on the 10 yr visa.