Hi all

Okay I realize that coming to FT for Visa questions isn't the best practice but many of you have hands on experience

I am currently a US citizen with a 10 year tourist visa for India.

My work is sending me to Bangalore to interact with some subcontracters, just ensure that they understand the requirements of the product they are creating etc etc for a couple weeks.

Do I reapply for a 10 year business visa? Does that include tourist? I'm a bit confused, and reading the Indian embassasy site just inspires confusion.

Also anyone know what the going rate for car rental+driver is for ~8 hours in BLR to stay within the city? Thanks!

Any thoughs would be appreciated.

Thanks.

I would rather not discuss this in an open fiorum so you have opm

duplicate

Whether your tourist visa will get you in or not, if you are going to India for business purposes, I suggest a business visa -- particularly if you are entering into contractual relationships.

Upon entering India for business purposes, being a tourist on non-business days is generally without issue.

anaggie: thanks for your PM

GUWonder: Right for everything to be on the 'up and up' I should have a business visa, even tho all the contracts would have already been created before I arrived in India, and my name wouldn't be on any of the contracts.

I'd suggest getting your subcontractor company to arrange the car+driver for you and you just settle the bills.

Updated: A friend said a Tata Indica+driver (slightly larger than a Honda Fit), 8 hrs/80kms used to be 800 INR. If you happen to drive more than 80kms in those 8 hrs, there are charges per km.

Depending on the type of car, how long and how much distance you plan to drive, rates vary.

With in city (8 hours / 80 kms) -
Tata Indica A/C - 800-1000 INR (50 INR / extra HR and 6 INR / extra kms)
Toyota Qualis A/C - 1000-1400 INR (50-60 INR / extra HR and 7-8 INR / extra kms)
Chevy Tavera A/C - 1000-1400 INR 50-60 INR / extra HR and 7-8 INR / extra kms)

Long trips such as out side city is per kms basis (minimum billing 300 kms)

Tata Indica A/C - 10-12 INR / kms
Toyota Qualis A/C - 15-16 INR / kms
Chevy Tavera A/C - 15-16 INR / km

Make sure you tell them in advance that you will be going for a long trip and charge should on per kms basis, else they will charge you a flat charge for 8HR/80km and then / km which will can sometimes leave a high bill for you.

Ask a local guy to hook up a taxi for you as they can get you a better deal.

You can save some money if you use a non A/C taxi but I am not sure if you wanna do it.

AA25 thanks for the details it is much appreciate and would be a useful reference for others who search the forums for such details.

How'd you find those rough rates?

If you are going ojn business, I advise a Business Visa even if you have a tourist Visa. Also I don't see any secrecy here. If someone advises you in a PM about ways to circumvent this is not giving you a good advice.

Visa for visits to India are usually absolutely no problem. Just fill the forms and apply for a business visa. I assume your business will pay for the cost, so why risk anything?

BTW, I've yet to see any immigration official question you about what you are planning to do in India.

Right, I was just asking, it's more the fact that they 'take away' the tourist visa and I'm left with just a business visa which isn't tourist? It's all very confusing.

Part of the issue is the trip is less then a week away and even with express mail in both directions it'd be a disaster if I didn't have the passport back in time.

Then just go as usual. There must be plenty of indian immigrations stamps in your passport already and you must have the 10yr visa because of some affilations to India, so I don't see any issues conducting business on a tourist visit. Just check both categories in the entry form.

That's the plan, just go for a 'social' visit like every other visit. It's not like I'm enterting into contracts or taking up employment or anything so no biggy. Next visit (if any) get things taken care of well in advance.

I would not check both categories if my passport only had one visa. In the case of only one visa, it would be better to just mark the category for which the visa is for.

Also, while they almost never ask questions of US nationals on entry -- well a few have asked me what my relationship was with persons at a few Delhi addresses I put down (i.e., well-known addresses in Delhi I guess) -- if I was flying into BLR for work and looking like I was there for work, I'd not gamble on it if I had to make the meetings.

Tourist visa is strictly for tourism. You may not conuct or enter into any business transactions while on a tourist visa. You might not get caught, but you are breaking the law if you conduct some aspect of business on a tourist visa.

If you are on a buisness visa, you are still allowed to do anything you would on a tourist visa. I would get a tourist visa even though I have an unexpired tourist visa.