Need help asap-Daughter overstayed her Visa
Sep 3, 2017, 3:00 pm
#17
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
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Posts: 48,168
Go to the FRRO a d be humble, play the 'I'm a stupid student' card. Showing up with a lawyer aggravates matters at this first stage. Some FRROs are corrupt and may ask for money, but only after you are made to meet the DC after a long wait. I would not pay anything just admit what she did and stay humble, eventually they will let her go. I recall my one visit to the FRRO about 10 uears ago for my mother: the DC told me point blank 'as a foreigner you are a guest with no rights'. Keep that in mind. Lawyers can't help much only real legal challenges to FRRO/MHA can be done at the High Court level, but only for deportation issues.
Sep 3, 2017, 10:57 pm
#18
Join Date: Oct 2010
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The LA Times had a horror story about a visa overstay in India. After reading it I never want to overstay a visa.
http://www.latimes.com/travel/deals/...nap-story.html
http://www.latimes.com/travel/deals/...nap-story.html
Sep 4, 2017, 5:50 am
#19
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Chevy Chase, MD 20815
Posts: 1,148
Hi everyone,
Oliver2002, this is EXACTLY what she did today and it took all day. Thank you! She was told that it may take up to one month to get the exit visa.
FRRO said that they need to verify her form Cs (where she has been staying during her overstay) and that they would "call her".
She is going to the US Embassy tomorrow (they were closed over the weekend and Labor Day) to ask for help. She now has extra letters from the Fellowship and will try to go back to the FRRO after the Embassy.
Oliver2002, this is EXACTLY what she did today and it took all day. Thank you! She was told that it may take up to one month to get the exit visa.
FRRO said that they need to verify her form Cs (where she has been staying during her overstay) and that they would "call her".
She is going to the US Embassy tomorrow (they were closed over the weekend and Labor Day) to ask for help. She now has extra letters from the Fellowship and will try to go back to the FRRO after the Embassy.
Sep 17, 2017, 6:54 am
#21
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Chevy Chase, MD 20815
Posts: 1,148
Daughter is home safely after 13 nights.
Here are her notes.
1. Applied online through the FRRO website for an exit permit: required documents which I scanned and uploaded included a passport size photo, 2 forms of ID proof, and C forms documenting all stays in hotels and private residences during my time in India; recommended documents which I scanned and uploaded included my plane tickets for the missed flight, plane tickets for the rescheduled flight, fellowship grant letter and email correspondence with my university, correspondence with the studio I was working at, and addition forms of ID proof. Site was difficult to navigate and had very specific requirements for file type and size of uploaded documents. After submitting, I received a confirmation email with date and time of in-person appointment at the FRRO.
2. Applied in person at the FRRO for an exit permit. I submitted hard copies of all the documents above and a hard copy of the application form. I also kept a hard copy of all of the above for my records; this was also useful later. First showed all documents outside, was approved and given a number, waited inside, submitted all documents inside. ~4 hours total. Given a slip proving I had applied. Was told processing would take up to 1 month.
3. Called the US Embassy to ask if they could help or accelerate processing; they said not much.
4. Returned daily to the FRRO to ask if any other documents were required or if I could do anything to accelerate processing.
5. Began reaching out to friends, family, and university for personal contacts at the FRRO. Hotel concierge knew FRRO officer, so he organized an appointment for me. Met FRRO officer and gave verbal explanation for overstay (simple mistake), officer told me permit would be ready the next day.
6. Not ready the next day. Kept returning daily to the FRRO to ask if any other documents were required or if I could do anything to accelerate processing.
7. 11 days after submitting initial application in person, discovered processing was complete aside from one signature.
8. 12 days after submitting, discovered processing was complete (FRRO did not call as they had initially told me). I paid a fine of 1850 INR (about $30) and received a stamp in my passport as well as a separate Exit Permit on paper. No other fines, restrictions or penalties.
Advice and conclusions: If you have overstayed any kind of visa in India or stayed past the 180-day limit with a still-valid visa (as I did), be ready for a long wait for permission to leave the country.
Make copies and scans of all documents you submit. Only submit required documents, but keep a folder with anything else that you think might be helpful in case an officer wants further evidence.
Tell a clear, concise, perhaps somewhat simplified explanation of your trip and reasons for overstay (making it as straightforward as possible for officer to help you). Stay in as few different places as possible after discovering you have overstayed (same as above).
Act politely and confidently; try not to lose your cool when interacting with officers and while waiting at the FRRO as I suspect officers have considerable discretion in granting exit permission. Personal contacts within the FRRO may or may not be helpful.
Here are her notes.
1. Applied online through the FRRO website for an exit permit: required documents which I scanned and uploaded included a passport size photo, 2 forms of ID proof, and C forms documenting all stays in hotels and private residences during my time in India; recommended documents which I scanned and uploaded included my plane tickets for the missed flight, plane tickets for the rescheduled flight, fellowship grant letter and email correspondence with my university, correspondence with the studio I was working at, and addition forms of ID proof. Site was difficult to navigate and had very specific requirements for file type and size of uploaded documents. After submitting, I received a confirmation email with date and time of in-person appointment at the FRRO.
2. Applied in person at the FRRO for an exit permit. I submitted hard copies of all the documents above and a hard copy of the application form. I also kept a hard copy of all of the above for my records; this was also useful later. First showed all documents outside, was approved and given a number, waited inside, submitted all documents inside. ~4 hours total. Given a slip proving I had applied. Was told processing would take up to 1 month.
3. Called the US Embassy to ask if they could help or accelerate processing; they said not much.
4. Returned daily to the FRRO to ask if any other documents were required or if I could do anything to accelerate processing.
5. Began reaching out to friends, family, and university for personal contacts at the FRRO. Hotel concierge knew FRRO officer, so he organized an appointment for me. Met FRRO officer and gave verbal explanation for overstay (simple mistake), officer told me permit would be ready the next day.
6. Not ready the next day. Kept returning daily to the FRRO to ask if any other documents were required or if I could do anything to accelerate processing.
7. 11 days after submitting initial application in person, discovered processing was complete aside from one signature.
8. 12 days after submitting, discovered processing was complete (FRRO did not call as they had initially told me). I paid a fine of 1850 INR (about $30) and received a stamp in my passport as well as a separate Exit Permit on paper. No other fines, restrictions or penalties.
Advice and conclusions: If you have overstayed any kind of visa in India or stayed past the 180-day limit with a still-valid visa (as I did), be ready for a long wait for permission to leave the country.
Make copies and scans of all documents you submit. Only submit required documents, but keep a folder with anything else that you think might be helpful in case an officer wants further evidence.
Tell a clear, concise, perhaps somewhat simplified explanation of your trip and reasons for overstay (making it as straightforward as possible for officer to help you). Stay in as few different places as possible after discovering you have overstayed (same as above).
Act politely and confidently; try not to lose your cool when interacting with officers and while waiting at the FRRO as I suspect officers have considerable discretion in granting exit permission. Personal contacts within the FRRO may or may not be helpful.
Sep 17, 2017, 6:59 pm
#22
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Sep 18, 2017, 12:25 am
#23
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Sep 18, 2017, 1:49 am
#25
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The exit permit is sometimes way faster to get than to get a entry visa renewal/extension while in India, but the time frames for that too vary.
Sep 21, 2017, 7:07 am
#26
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Posts: 14,405
Totally agree. The writer of the story stuffed up, but it's everyone else's fault but her own.