German Aufenthaltstitel. So not just a US F1.

It's funny that the Americans usually don't want to see a 'need' before issuing a 10yr visa. They are also now starting to waive interviews for low risk applicants who apply within 48 months of their old visa expiring.

If only that a couple of you stated above were the reasons or even if those reasons were an actual problem in the grand scheme of things.

The whole business resulted from construction companies bringing in Chinese labourers under tourist visas. Surely there are other, more sensible ways to address that problem than to stick the same restrictions on everyone. It's silly enough that we demand a visa of everyone in the first place, but to then add this additional impediment (that's still not 100% clear and is not applied consistently) is just dumb.

Let's face it, we really can't afford to turn away a single tourist.

On the contrary, I am all for eliminating visa restrictions completely for a big chunk of the world (all of Europe, nearly all of East and Southeast Asia, the whole Western Hemisphere, all the littla Pacific islands...)

See, you got an Aufenthaltstitel when you needed one for the period you needed it.

It's a need-based system they use. If you need a visitor visa for two years, you will get it.

Very few countries give long-validity blanket visas anyway. Is that easier on the traveller? Of course. But that's the way it is.

The visa application process helps not just screen visa applicants but also serves as a source of revenue for MEA.

I don't really think we are turning back many tourists. Most people who want to visit India really want to visit it and are willing to get an Indian visa. This is atleast the case in N America, western Europe. I'm not that familiar with SE Asia and the Orient - I admit things could be different for visitors from those countries.

I think the only visitors we are losing with this visa requirement are those who choose not to transit for a couple of days through India. While it does suck to lose these visitors, I think these losses are outweighed by the monetary and other benefits we get from having a visa system.

Actually, no I didn't. My Aufenthaltstitel lasted for one whole year longer than I needed it. I almost got denied entry at MUC once because of their 'mistake' in giving a longer visa than I needed but that's another story. Even after that 'almost denied entry', I used that residence permit three times to enter Schengen through Germany without any issues.

I've also been issued Schengen visas in the US for longer duration than I 'needed'.

Think about it another way. The reason countries require visas is so that people don't come and stay over illegaly. Now think about a person who overstays - they are likely to do it the first time they go, correct? By giving people a short-term one-time visa instead of a long-term visa makes no sense, regardless of need. The person who is going to illegally immigrate is most likely to do it the first time irrespective of whether he has a multiple entry or a single entry visa. So by corollary, if they think the person is 'good enough' to let in once, the person is most likely 'good enough' to be given a long term multiple entry visa.

To put it yet another way, the US Consulates and DoS grant a non-immigrant visa only if a person doesn't display immigration intent (legal or illegal, but in the case of a tourist visa, this normally implies illegal). So if they issue a visa, they think the person is kosher for a long time. If they aren't the slightest bit sure, they simply don't issue any visa - short-term or long-term. They don't hedge - "oh, let's give a three month visa instead of a 5 yr visa, maybe the person won't overstay in the three months."

The Schengen zone is also crazy about not issuing long-term visas to people who have had multiple Schengens in the past. The Europeans too need every tourist they can get these days.

Also not true. Visa waiver programs that are in place for most First World are effectively 'long-validity blanket visas'. But you are correct I guess in that the only countries that issue long-term visas that I know of are the UK and the US. And the 10 yr UK visa is now prohibitively expensive for anyone not being reimbursed for it. I consider myself fortunate to have one issued in 2006 that is still valid for another 4 years.

Not to mention the feeling of righteousness by having reciprocity!

This is simply not true. People's circumstances change. A periodic review (every 2-5 years for example) of circumstances prior to issuing a new visa is not unreasonable.

Stupid Indian government rule. Most foreign-terrorist type people don't need a visa to get into India. They cross by land or over water without even using a formal port of entry. I truly cannot understand why educated people anywhere agree with stupid rules that are so blatantly ineffective via-a-vis the excuse of a concern given for instituting the re-entry restriction.

+1 for German .. I got in 24hours at Bangalore .. One need to appear in person and they need papers in strict order and for first timer, they stamp it single entry only. (Even though I had invite for multiple entry during year along with Hotels and Itenaries)

I have taken with Sweden embassy in Delhi as well but it takes 4-5 days and mostly they are liberal with multiple entries VISA.

Which means for trips to germany try to fly into somewhere they're more liberal with visas (france etc) - and work in two or three days holiday in paris as well into the itinerary.

And try to stick to the same schengen embassy for all your european trips. You have a better chance of getting a multiple entry visa that way.

Which Countries Embassy/ Consulate out of the Schenghen is going to be most liberal with giving a longer term multiple entry TOURIST visa?

I've had Multiple Visas and have lived in the US 7+ years, visited Europe several times.
F1, H1, UK Tourist, Schenghen Tourist (Netherlands, France, Spain, Germany), Canada, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand.

I'd like to apply to those who give the longest visa multiple entry as I am planning several months travel across Europe, then US & then back through Europe again.

PS: My family home is Bombay.