Mumbai: The US Mission in India wishes to inform US citizens that the Government of India is implementing new regulations that affect visa holders, periods of authorized stay, and registration in India. The US Embassy and Consulates in India have received reports from individuals about inconsistent implementation of the new rules, which have not been widely publicized and are subject to change.
The revised regulations primarily affect travelers, who wish to enter India within two months of their last departure from India. To date, these changes have mostly affected tourist (T) visa holders, but the US Mission has also received reports pertaining to other visa types. Initial information from the Government of India indicated that revised visa regulations would primarily affect travelers with tourist visas, who had been in India for more than 90 days before travel abroad or more than 180 days in the past year. However, the US Mission has received confirmation that foreign passports are now stamped on exit to indicate that the bearer cannot re-enter India within two months of exit unless special permission is obtained from an Indian Embassy, Consulate, or High Commission abroad, regardless of the validity of visa or length of stay in India. Travelers have reported being denied re-entry after exiting India for business or family emergencies, or for tourist travel to nearby countries, even if their initial visit to India was for only a few days. Prior guidance and procedures that allowed re-entry to India after stays of up to 180 days are no longer in effect.
Some Americans entering or re-entering India on tourist visas have been instructed at the port of entry to register with the local Foreigners Registration Office (FRO). The procedures and requirements for registration can be complex. Travelers are advised to follow directions as stipulated on their visas regarding registration procedures, irrespective of their visa category.
Here are some examples of problems Americans have had trying to navigate the recent visa changes:
One American family, visiting India on ten-year, multiple entry tourist visas for several weeks, had to return briefly to the US to attend a funeral. They were not permitted to re-enter India. Another American family, taking a side trip to Sri Lanka from India, was told that they needed to apply for permission to re-enter India at the Indian High Commission in Colombo. An American on a business visa had plans for his children, who are attending a university in the US to visit him in India during their school holiday. His children entered on tourist visas, stayed three days in India, and were informed upon their departure for a side trip to Thailand that they would not be allowed to re-enter to continue the rest of their planned vacation with their family. One American in India on a business visa was informed that she would not be allowed to depart India until she had registered with the Foreign Registration Office (FRO), even though she had only been in India for seven days and her passport was stamped "Registration not required if stay is less than 14 days."
These new visa and registration regulations are being implemented inconsistently and are not finalized. American citizens traveling to, or departing from India are urged to review travel plans in light of these changing procedures and to contact the nearest Indian Embassy, High Commission or Consulate overseas (http://goidirectory. nic.in/missions.htm) or the nearest Foreigners Registra-tion Office in India (http://www.immigrationindia.nic.in/) to determine proper procedures to follow.
US citizens living or traveling abroad are encouraged to register with the nearest US Embassy or Consulate through the State Department’s travel registration Web site at https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs/ui/ so that they can obtain updated information on travel and security. Americans without Internet access may register directly with the nearest US Embassy or Consulate. By registering, American citizens make it easier for the Embassy or Consulate to contact them in case of emergency. For additional information, please refer to "A Safe Trip Abroad" found at http://travel.state .gov.
For the latest security information, Americans traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Department’s Internet Web site at http://travel. state.gov where the current Worldwide Caution, Travel Warnings, and Travel Alerts can be found. Up-to-date information on security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the United States and Canada or, for callers outside the United States and Canada, a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except US federal holidays). Americans are also encouraged to read the Country Specific Information for India, available on the Embassy’s Web site at
http://newdelhi.usembassy .gov, and also at http://travel .state.gov.
US citizens may contact the American Citizens Services Unit of the Embassy or the Consulates General for further information:
— The US Embassy in New Delhi is located at Shanti Path, Chanakya Puri 110021; telephone +91-11-2419-8000; fax +91-11-2419-8407. The Embassy’s Internet home page address is http://newdelhi.usembassy.gov.
— The US Consulate General in Mumbai (Bombay) is located at Lincoln House, 78 Bhulabhai Desai Road, 400026, telephone +91-22-2363-3611; fax +91-22-2363-0350. The Internet home page address is http://mumbai.usconsulate.gov.
— The US Consulate General in Chennai (Madras) is at 220 Anna Salai, Gemini Circle, 600006, telephone +91-44-2857-4000; fax +91-44-2811-2027. The Internet home page address is http://chennai.usconsulate .gov.
— The US Consulate General in Kolkata (Calcutta) is at 5/1 Ho Chi Minh Sarani, 700071; telephone +91-33-3984-2400; fax +91-33-2282-2335. The Internet home page address is http://kolkata .usconsulate.gov.
— The US Consulate General in Hyderabad is at Paigah Palace, 1-8-323, Chiran Fort Lane, Begumpet, Secunderabad 500 003; telephone: +91 (40) 4033-8300. The Internet home page address is http://hyderabad .usconsulate.gov.
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