Understanding the Process of Indian Visa Extension
Indian Visa Extension is issued by the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) in India.
FRRO Visa Extension needs to be applied over the E-FRRO portal. Indian Visa Issued by the MHA to foreigners who are Traveling to India. All Indian Visas have their stay validity. Some Indian Visa holders, as per their visa type, need to register their Indian visa with the FRRO within 14 days of arrival in India.
Some Indian Visa holders need to register their visa with the concerned FRRO if they want to stay more than 180 days in India. Sometimes you have to visit the FRRO office for a meeting request during the visa registration process in India.
As per the FRRO guidelines, a person availing of FRRO Services cannot travel outside the country during the visa process in India. If someone travels outside the country, the FRRO will cancel their application immediately.
To apply for FRRO registration and visa extension, the applicant needs to file an online application for either visa registration or visa extension over the FRRO portal with all the required documents like Passport, visa, residence proof, etc.
Tourist visa is non-convertible and extendable in India. Only an Indian origin and a person who is married to an Indian/OCI card holder can convert it into an Entry (X) visa in India.
Don’t Delay in FRRO Registration and Visa Extension Process
If a foreigner is delayed in the registration and extension process in India, it is considered an overstay. To avoid these issues, always apply 2 weeks before your Indian visa expiry and apply for visa registration within 14 days of arrival in India.
If you delay in these processes, the applicant will face a lot of difficulties in India and must pay a penalty to the FRRO. Here we have shared the fines for delay in FRRO registration and extension process in India.
Overstay Fines in India Depend on the Overstay Period As Follows:
- A visa Overstay in India of less than 15 days attracts a fine of around 5,000 INR.
- A visa overstay in India from 16 days to 30 days incurs a fine of around 10,000 INR.
- A visa overstay in India from 31 days to 90 days will incur a fine of around 20,000 INR.
- Visa overstays in India above 90 days will incur a fine of around 50,000 INR.
Register Your Indian With the FRRO within 14 days of arrival in India
Register your Indian Visa with the concerned FRRO before your stay expires. Please check your visa stay permission in India; it depends on your visa validity.
- Any foreign national visiting India for more than 180 days must register with the concerned FRRO within 14 days of arrival in India or before 180 days of stay in India, as per your visa requirement.
- Pakistani nationals travelling to India on any visa must register with the concerned FRRO within 24 hours.
“Indian Visa Registration is not required if the foreign national is not staying for 180 consecutive days in India.”
Delay in FRRO Visa Extension
Foreigners staying in India and looking to extend their Indian visa must do this process at least 15 days before their visa expiry.
Waiting until the last minute to renew or extend is not a good idea. Due to this, you may face a lot of difficulties in India. Sometimes, the FRRO can take longer to process your visa extension than the normal processing time, or the FRRO can cancel your extension request if you are not eligible or unable to provide important or required documents for an extension in India.
If your Indian visa has expired and you are still in India, your stay will be considered an overstay. immigration at the airport will not allow you to leave the country unless you obtain an Exit Permit Certificate from the concerned FRRO. To obtain an Exit Visa Permit, you need to pay a huge penalty based on your duration of stay in India.
Before applying for an Indian Visa Extension, please make sure that you have all the required documents as per FRRO requirements before applying for a Visa Extension in India.
If you are traveling in India alone or with your family and friends and you are not aware of immigration laws, then you can consult with an Immigration Consultant or FRRO officer for immigration laws in India. We, the team at Fargoworldwide, provide immigration assistance across the country. If you need any assistance, please feel free to connect with us.