10-year multi...will they give it to me?
 

I'm in the process of applying for yet another Indian visa (US citizen, not NRI). So far I've had three five-year multi-entries in a row, and now with a brand-new passport, I'm going to apply for a 10-year multi just to see if I can get one. The consulate website (well, Travisa's website) says that these are for businesspeople with JVs or thinking of starting JVs in India, but they don't actually ask for any documentation of that. I'll be sending in the forms next week. What are the chances that they'll give me the 10-year? If they deny me that one, will they automatically give me the 5-year (it's the same price)--or will I have to do the application all over again?

That's an example. If you are a very frequent traveler to India you can just apply for a 10 year and get it.
Might apply in person and let the travisa clerk know you want a 10 year, by the way ..

I really don't see any reason why they would deny you a 10 yr multiple entry visa.

Cool, thanks to both of you. I'll give it a whirl. It's a bit weird that the whole visa function has now been outsourced to Travisa, but hey, maybe it'll work more smoothly this way. I think the Russians are doing the same thing these days.

The visa function hasn't been outsourced. What's been outsourced are the mail room and filing clerk work .. collecting applications, seeing they're in order (all filled in, no missing photos / signatures etc) and then handing them off to the embassy consular staff, whose call it is what visa to give you, and for what duration.

Most foreign embassies in India outsource their visa paperwork collection to outfits like VFS or TT Services (US, most schengen countries, Australia, UK, etc etc) - just because there's at least a few hundred to several thousand applications a week, and it'd be a security nightmare to let that many people have access to the embassy / consulate premises.

I was granted a 10 year after 2 -year visas. Vaguely I know someone who received a 10 year as their first visa to India. Go for it.

The referenced information from the Travisa site is for the 10 year Business visa

Looking at the 10 year Tourist visa - this is only available to US citizens under a bilateral agreement, but there doesn't seem to be any other criteria.

Yes, I've applied for the business visa (that's what I go there for). Just sent the documents off today, so I'll report back with what happens.

All good--I am now the happy owner of a 10-year multi-entry business visa. If only the Russians were so easy to deal with!