Extending stay in India

[tribalboy]

Hi Guys,

I am currently in India for the first time after getting my British Passport on a tourist visa. I was trying to apply for a long term entry visa when coming here but was told that I would require the surrender certificate of the Indian passport for the same. I was surrendering my Indian passport and applying for the visa at the same time and was under the assumption that it would be okay since the high commission would be aware of this. As this was not the case I was told to apply for a tourist visa and found that I had been issued a surrender certificate soon after my tourist visa which I have with me now

I would like to know if it is possible to extend my stay beyond the 6 month period in India and the options available to me. I had also heard that taking out PIO/OCI would mean there would be no diplomatic support while in India. Is this true

Thanks in advance

[1664]

Hi Guys,

I am currently in India for the first time after getting my British Passport on a tourist visa. I was trying to apply for a long term entry visa when coming here but was told that I would require the surrender certificate of the Indian passport for the same. I was surrendering my Indian passport and applying for the visa at the same time and was under the assumption that it would be okay since the high commission would be aware of this. As this was not the case I was told to apply for a tourist visa and found that I had been issued a surrender certificate soon after my tourist visa which I have with me now

I would like to know if it is possible to extend my stay beyond the 6 month period in India and the options available to me. I had also heard that taking out PIO/OCI would mean there would be no diplomatic support while in India. Is this true

Thanks in advance

I am not sure of how you can extend your stay in india... but i know if you live for over 180 days you have to comply with the registeration formalities.

in terms of PIO and OCI that's not true, you'll still be provided with diplimatic assistance if required!

[tribalboy]

Does anyone know if it is possible to get an extension from the FRRO in my city or do I have to approach the Ministry of Home Affairs in Delhi

[geriatrix]

As per MHA website, you cannot apply for extension of "tourist" visa from within India.

AIUI, you cannot apply for OCI/PIO from within India either when there on a tourist visa. Don't take my word for it, so do check. If you can, I believe you'll need to apply to either FRRO (Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkota, Amritsar or Chennai) or to the Under Secretary, OCI Cell, MHA, Delhi.

I stand to be corrected but I believe you can only apply for OCI Miscellaneous Services within India and that too only if you have already been issued an OCI (i.e. - are in India as an overseas citizen).

[tribalboy]

I have called up my local FRRO and they have told me that I need to approach the MHA in Delhi in person to get the conversion done. It is indeed possible to convert a tourist visa to an entry visa if you are a Person of Indian Origin and from what I have been told it is a single day process.

Has anyone ever had it done at their local FRRO. Can the local FRRO not forward it to the MHA and save us the hassle of going over to delhi just for the visa conversion

[gidoc]

Has anyone ever had it done at their local FRRO. Can the local FRRO not forward it to the MHA and save us the hassle of going over to delhi just for the visa conversion

I would not give this to FRR0. Best to sort it out by going to the MHA, of course if youre really far from Delhi, do check with your FRRO.

[tribalboy]

Yes New Delhi is too far for me. I dont understand why these powers are not vested with the FRRO since they have local presence in all the major zones of the country. This is quite inconvenient