I actually know someone who has been refused

Hope it was not you Mike and that things worked OK since we meet in Mumbai airport

No worries Meagain, i wish someone would clarify these so called rules then we could all move on and i mean MOVE on.

Thanks to the MODS for putting this back on a thread of it's own and off the Visa info site.

Mike

When we checked in for our March Qatar Airways flight from Manchester our VISA and previous visits were checked to make sure we hadn't breached the rules. We were told by the check in operator that they had refused quite a few people at Manchester as they said that it was the carriers responsibility to make sure they had correct documentation to fly and if they arrived in India and were refused entry then Qatar had to take them back and they were not prepared to take that chance.
I presume that unless things have changed that might still be the case.

Seems to be the same but they have not confirmed that it has been passed as law !!!!!!!!!!! law in India lol

Mike

its a shambles..
chilly

I thought this stupid 60 day rule was being stopped but I take it its still in place at the moment?

Yes Gemma and if you go to the embassy in Birmingham (not the VFS) they have the rules on the notice board and it says it has now been passed by the Indian government but it only applies to British and Americans !!!!!!!!!!!!!!.

Mike

your kidding me thats awful (silly question here BUT what if you hold an Irish passport how does it go then does any one know ....colleen

We are allowed into the USA without a VISA and vice versa but Indian citizens not allowed in either without one. To come to Britain for an holiday they have to go through hoops to get one too, answering all sorts of questions that we don't have to to go to India.
Maybe as a rising world economic power they are flexing their muscles

I for one will never back down to a regime that replaces so much restrictions on having holidays, retirement etc, I think 100s of other expats have now left Goa to pastures new and many where happy to spend their remaining days there, to bring in visa rules to deter terrorist's is one thing but to deter holidaymakers and retirees is another why not bring in a retirement visa as Mexico, Tunisia and Morocco to name a few have to get people living long term and putting money into their economie's, I would have happily paid extra to obtain say a 5 year visa and come and go as I pleased and spend a decent sum during the lax monsoon, but hey if thats what Goa and India want what will be will be, but I will spend my time and money in another country that will happily accomodate me without the hassles and worries now enforced in India.

So what will happen with the long termers/people who stay in Goa for most of the year will they need to keep leaving for 2 months at a time. Its pathetic to be honest and they wonder why tourism is down

Yes Gemma, but to be honest most of them have already started making their exit to other countries who actually want us there as long as we can support ourselves and that's what the Indian government seem to overlook. I have certainly had enogh of it all and most of the people i know feel the same and i think now the quicker it is all over the better.

A real shame as i know there are a lot of people who really love the place despite all it's failures.

Mike

I have a mate who went to Bangkok with his Indian girl freind to renew his visa, so he could return to India for their wedding but he was told he could not renew the visa until he had been out of India for two months.

There Thai visa's were only valid for a month so they had move on and get the visa's in another country,
they have not been in connect for a month so don't know what has happend them.

It appears that in reality it's not just India that is making life difficult for foreigners. Those most affected are those who have got used to a system that has now changed. It's all very well saying other countries don't refuse those who are prepared to inject cash into their economies but the reality is the cost of living is much higher in many of them... Australia for example will quite happily let you retire there if you provide for yourself. On the other hand you can buy and live in property in the USA but only for a limited number of months per year. Thailand will let you in but there is a minimum requirement of cash that has to arrive in your Thai bank every month or a minimum openening balance set.
The 60 day rule is an odd one which most of us cannot see the sense in, it's not well thought out, but it's intention is to prevent those who are bending current Indian VISA rules to suit their own needs, for example living permaenently in India and nipping over to Thailand once a year to renew your VISA.
It's their country I guess and, like the UK , they are free to introduce whatever steps they think appropriate to curb the flow of incomers.
What would make this post interesting would be to hear of the experiences HT'ers have had of other places as an alternative to Goa for spending the majority of one's time either on a more permanent basis or simply avoiding the misery of another British winter. Pros and cons anybody ???

Some people do have enough money to live the rest of their life abroad and wish to spend it in a hot country, I do not see the problem with wanting to live somewhere when you can provide for yourself ?? i am under the understanding that the 60 day rule only came into force when you went back to your country of origin and not to somewhere like Thailand unless of course you are trying to renew your visa in Thailand. I do agree with having to renew your visa in your country of origin but i can't see why they can't judge you individually and give tourist visa's on entry, and then do a 6 month visa a 12 month visa and a 5 year visa working on each persons reasons for wanting their visa, hey ho only my opinion and that means nothing to the Indian government.

Mike

Oh well its Goa/Indias lose, not ours.
Are you going to leave as well Mike

It is looking like it Gemma.

Mike

Oh Mike! That is so sad!