Living in india on a tourist visa, doing "visa runs" every 6 months..

Hi,
I am in the same boat as you. I can't even get to India.  I can't seem to get a straight answer from anyone.  I am so confused and stressed with the paperwork...etc....work Visa, taking my dog with me....I have had to cancel 4 airline's reservations since Jan of this year.  All because I was misinformed about a Tourist Visa.  I will not leave my dog behind. He is all I have left since losing my husband and several family members in short period of time.
If anyone can help, I would very much appreciate.
Thank you.

They do have a category of giving 5 year visa for foreigners who own property in India..

I suppose that since the category exists, so there should be similar renewal also possible for another 5 years & such..  (5 year being a sort of "checking in" with authorities that there's an alien residing & that he/she is above board)

I write this because I have seen numerous similar queries on this site but none talks of this category.

Further &  IMPORTANT:-

1. If one is planning on buying property in India, once you have identified what to buy, then Please please ensure that your money is routed the right way as per Reserve Bank of India regulations & as per FEMA (the act governing such purchase by non -Indians &  NRIs)

2. When you come here to execute the purchase (the sale deed etc) at that time you have to be on Business Visa AND NOT ON A TOURIST VISA otherwise your documents become invalid !
.
Hope that helps you or some other persons who are looking for a way.


Good Luck !

Incase there's an ambiguity regarding the correct route for the money transfer being more expensive than a non-correct convenient way of simply paying money anyhow (cash or such), then let me make it clear that its not more expensive to go the correct way !

Its exactly the same amount ! Albeit following the correct route & filling in some forms. That's it .

I would not recommend to anyone trying to live here on a tourist visa. You will not be able to rent an apartment in most states since that needs to be cleared though the Police Commissioner of the city you live in. You could probably share an apartment with someone else who has already filed the paperwork for the lease. You won't be able to register a SIM card or internet connection as a tourist. Well, not true. You can get a SIM card, but once your visa is up, it will expire. You will need to reapply to get your service turned back on. For me, I have sometimes had to wait six weeks for them to turn them back on. You won't be able to get a driver's license, buy a car or buy any property on a tourist visa. Even on an employment visa. I have been here nearly ten years and still have to register every year at the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO). Most expats call it the Foreigner's Rectal Reaming Office, or the fifth circle of hell. You are always missing a new piece of paper or they now want all your bank statements, or something else. Everything is up to whomever you are speaking to on that day. The next day you go back, you offer your papers and now that missing paper was not required but the date is wrong on another document. <sigh>

Another poster was worried about her dog. You CAN bring a dog. I brought both a dog and a cat with me from the US on an Employment visa. You need the USDA health certification or whatever agricultural paperwork your country provides for international domestic animals. You will need to find a vet who has experience doing this as everything has to be timed carefully. The shots given to the dog need to be a couple of weeks earlier, but not more than four weeks (or something like that - this was nearly ten years ago). I know people who have visited on tourist visas with dogs, but they typically have an "emotional therapy dog" certification. I don't know anyone who has stayed on a tourist visa and repeatedly come in and out with their dog. All you need is one customs guard who wants to make your life miserable and says you're missing some piece of paper no one has ever told you about. Trust me. This happens all the time.

Once you're here in India, most landlords seem fine with animals compared to landlords in the US. We had three dogs at one point (we've rescued two from the streets here) and never had a problem finding suitable housing (although neighbors can have a problem).

I will also say that there have been some limitations put on tourist visas a few years ago. Once you leave, you need to be out of the country for a period of time. I'm not sure how long, but I believe it was either 30 or 90 days. That could get expensive moving in and out every 90 days for a month.

Good luck!

hey
do know anyone in here something about to come by tourist visa for one year? its also an option I had heard. am planning to come for living in india for at least one year, so dont know about which visa will be the best. also am looking for a job in kerala but nobody would like to hire me, because am a foreigner? or there is nothing in my vocational education logistics. anyone can support me?
greetings
steph

the 5 years duration VISA has stopped existing 2011