Well the 60 day rule certainly stopped me spending my money in Goa in November (as I am also going in December )
so I am booked for Thailand.

Thailand 1

India 0

I am so sorry to hear that Mike. Any ideas where you might go to?
Why stay in a place where we are not wanted and not welcome

I think it is a stupid rule, there is a man who lives in our town , he owns a house in Candolim, he likes to visit frequently during the winter , sometimes only leaving 3 weeks between visits, I have heard he is very upset about this rule as he cannot vist as much as he would like, such a shame.
Sorry to hear that you may leave Mike, have you anywhere else in mind yet ?

I have been to look at Cambodia as friends of mine from Goa have moved there but first impressions were not good for me although i shall give it another look otherwise i do like Thailand so i will be looking there.

Watch this space!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! it's just one crazy rule which doesn't benefit the Indian government or the traveller.

Mike

Mike , Cambodia is maybe not to everyone's taste but I love it the people are fantastic

Hi Shirley

I must have gone to the wrong place but i shall be looking at it again.

Mike

Where in Cambodia did you go to Mike ?

Shinoukeville ( spelling ) lol

Not keen then Mike ?? I haven't been there, I was almost going to change my Thai trip to there when the recent troubles were on but changed my mind now everything seems calm.
I have only visited the cities Pnomh Penh and Siem Reap and they were amazing, will definitely go back again, I guess to actually live somewhere though then you will be looking at somewhere more coastal?

Mike , Cambodia is maybe not to everyone's taste but I love it the people are fantastic

100% agree with you Shirley.

I know what you mean about Sihanoukville Mike...we stayed there for several days having got the bus (4hours) from Phnom Penh. We wanted a 'beach' holiday in the middle of Siem Reap and Phnom Penh and Sihanoukville seems to be the only place to go. There WERE some lovely areas and beaches there but not a lot else. Everything was very scattered and far more basic than even Goa Do you particularly want to be by the sea? Siem Reap is WONDERFUL!

Hi B B

yes want to be near the coast where every i live and Shinoukeville is very spaced out.

Mike

Have you thought about Koh Chang Mike...which is on the Cambodia border? I could quite happily live there!!! We went there and Koh Mak earlier this year. I've pics if you want to see BEAUTIFUL beaches! Check out Klong Prao beach.

Hi BB

I have sent you a PM

Mike

Hi Everyone

well after being refused entry at Mumbai the first time and told to get a special re-entry stamp on my passport from the UK embassy I returned to the embassy in Birmingham to acquire the emergency re-entry stamp and after 3 visits they finally issued me with one due to my circumstance of having to come back because my daughter had been taken into hospital in the UK, anyway visa stamped i booked my flight with Kingfisher and again went though the questions of have you been to India within the last 60 days, i then showed them the re-entry stamp and they boarded me, on arrival in Mumbai passport control looked at my passport and told me to follow them into immigration where they told me to turn around and go back to the UK on the same plane as i had arrived on and they would give no reason as to why, they just said "you go back and see the Indian embassy in the UK" when i asked the kingfisher ground staff that i wanted to see the British consulate he told me there was no point as they had made there decision and they will not change it, they would not even give him a reason for their decision.

I have emailed the Indian embassy and faxed them for the last three weeks and had NO REPLY, I am now trying to get an interview at the embassy but there automated telephone service does not give an option for that so i shall be going to Birmingham tomorrow and make an arrangement for an interview with the consulate general, watch this space

Is there any sense in all this as i no people are returning within the 60 days.

Mike

Best of luck Mike!! This is a nightmare! XX

Thanks GG

Even though i know i am not on my own in this situation, I still can't work out why they are still letting certain people back in before their 60 days are up ?????? and then not others !!!!!.

Mike

Terrible news Mike, best bet if you get no joy in embassy is to use the 2 months out looking for somewhere else to retire to that wants your money and go back to goa to pack up and leave as last time I asked immigration about the 2 month rule, they told me it is here to stay and 1 month visas on entry will be introduced once the online system is fully functionable so imagine the future could be 1 month india 2 months out etc etc, so would only be in India for 4 monnths out of 12, great for 2 weekers but no good for long termers..

Mike
I'm so sorry to read about your problems with re-entry.

It sounds like you jumped through all the hoops and yet still fell foul of Indian beaurocracy at Mumbai airport.

I can understand your frustration at being refused entry if, as you say, other people are being allowed in within the 2 months.
No wonder you are getting disillusioned with Goa.

Best wishes

Don't envy your situation Mike and can understand your frustration. If I read your post correctly, you travelled to Mumbai twice, once in clear breach of the 60 day rule, the second time with the necessary paperwork ? Maybe that's why someone decided to get awkward with you on the second attempt , however, if you had the necessary stamps that should not happen as it's grossly unfair.You say some people have got back in to India in breach of the 60 day rule but that could well have been because of the doubt and confusion when it first came out without any prior warning. It certainly appears as if it's here to stay now though.
As I have said before though , India can do what they want in terms of who, and for how long they let people in for. Likewise we can vote with our feet/wallets and choose to go elsewhere too. The issue of VISA's, particularly for tourism is contentious. When does a tourist cease to be just that, and becomes a resident ? Maybe the Indian government should look at allowing long stay people to apply for a special VISA that allows them to live in India on a more permaenent basis provided they can prove total financial independance just as other countries do. On the other hand do they need foreigners who have upset the status quo in terms of property prices, wage expectations, lifestyle behaviour, ( in the tourist zones) etc etc.
As it seems apparent with David Cameron's visit to India, we need them more than they need us nowadays.
Hope you get sorted ASAP, and good luck in your future planning.