India is Getting Tough with Visas
In what seems like a knee-jerk reaction to terrorism, India has just come out with two new visa requirements that affect all travelers to India:
New Requirement #1: Additional Documentation Now Required for All Visa types
As of January 15, 2010, travelers of all nationalities who are applying for any type of Indian visa will be required to submit either a photocopy of their original birth certificate or photocopies of their most recent education certification (i.e. high school diploma or college degree) with their visa application.
New Requirement #2: Tourist Visas – Re-Entry Permit Requirements
The Indian Government has introduced a new policy which requires frequent travelers to obtain a ‘Re-Entry Permit.’
Cruise or Tour Group Travelers
Cruise or tour passengers making frequent entries into India as part of their overall cruise/tour experience do not need to obtain the re-entry permit but must show a round trip ticket or booking back to their country of residence. (Re-entry into India each time is at the discretion of the Indian Immigration officials).
Non-Cruise or Tour Group Travelers
If you intend to travel from the US to India more than once within a two month period, special approval in the form of a ‘re-entry permit’ is required from the Consulate. In this situation, you will need to complete and submit two documents, in addition to your visa application: the Reentry Permission Form and the Permit Support Letter. Please see details on these two forms below:
1. Re-entry Permission Form
One copy of the reentry permission form. This form will generate automatically as a part of the application process. After printing, answer the questions not covered by the online application form, and then sign. A blank form is available here: https://www.indian-visa.com/pdf/Permit_Form.pdf
2. Permit Support Letter
A letter is needed to support two points:
- The letter must highlight the urgency of the visit and the purpose of the visit must be for recreation/sightseeing, casual visit to meet friends and relatives/others (to be specified).
- The applicant may not be engaged in Business Activities/Employment or pursuing studies/research, etc. In such cases, registration would be required within 14 days of arrival. Sample Letter available here: https://www.indian-visa.com/pdf/Permit_Letter.pdf