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India expected to announce Visa on Arrival for US citizens

 
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PostPosted: Sun Sep 21, 2014 5:05 pm    Post subject: India expected to announce Visa on Arrival for US citizens Reply with quote

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Visa-on-arrival-facility-on-the-anvil-for-US-tourists/articleshow/43071289.cms

Visa on arrival facility on the anvil for US tourists

Sep 21, 2014

India is working on a proposal for visa on arrival (VoA) facility for US tourists, one of the big-ticket announcements expected to be made during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's high-profile visit to the US beginning September 26.

The ministry of home affairs is working overtime to finish the work on the VoA proposal to finalize it in time for the Prime Minister's visit, according to government sources.

MHA in consultation with the tourism ministry is working on the tourist VoA under which visa can be granted to US citizens who do not have a residence or occupation in India and whose sole objective of visiting India would be recreation, sightseeing, casual visit to meet friends and relatives, etc, the sources said.

Under the new proposal, which is still being worked out, the stay limit is expected to be 30 days.

Initially, in January 2010 TvoA scheme was introduced for citizens of five countries and now, the facility is available for citizens of 11 countries — Finland, Japan, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Singapore, Cambodia, Vietnam, Philippines, Laos, Myanmar, Indonesia and South Korea.

However, even despite being strategic partners, there is no TVoA facility for the citizens of India and the US in each other's country. As per some estimates, the annual flow of US tourists stand around 10 lakh, currently.

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Nimish
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PostPosted: Sun Sep 21, 2014 10:41 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Good move, much needed. Let's bring in the moolah!
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PostPosted: Sun Sep 21, 2014 11:48 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Nimish wrote:
Good move, much needed. Let's bring in the moolah!


It certainly is, but how long will it be before some BJP cranks derail this by demanding reciprocal VoA for Indians in the US? Rolling Eyes
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PostPosted: Sun Sep 21, 2014 11:59 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Jeh wrote:
It certainly is, but how long will it be before some BJP cranks derail this by demanding reciprocal VoA for Indians in the US? Rolling Eyes


There are idiots everywhere, but so long as the leader is not one, I think we're in a better position. Witness the buffoon who's having wet dreams about reclaiming Kashmir!
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PostPosted: Thu Sep 25, 2014 10:20 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Jeh wrote:
Nimish wrote:
Good move, much needed. Let's bring in the moolah!


It certainly is, but how long will it be before some BJP cranks derail this by demanding reciprocal VoA for Indians in the US? Rolling Eyes


But seriously, what is wrong with having reciprocal VoA arrangement for Indians ? Why should Indian tourists have to undergo all kinds of queries and inspections while American ones are serenaded ? I'd go for mutual respect over some few tourist dollars , thank you.
And kindly keep the "I knew it! " responses/comments to the minimum Rolling Eyes
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PostPosted: Thu Sep 25, 2014 12:19 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

ssbmat wrote:
Jeh wrote:
Nimish wrote:
Good move, much needed. Let's bring in the moolah!


It certainly is, but how long will it be before some BJP cranks derail this by demanding reciprocal VoA for Indians in the US? Rolling Eyes


But seriously, what is wrong with having reciprocal VoA arrangement for Indians ? Why should Indian tourists have to undergo all kinds of queries and inspections while American ones are serenaded ? I'd go for mutual respect over some few tourist dollars , thank you.
And kindly keep the "I knew it! " responses/comments to the minimum Rolling Eyes


It's the desis who beg, plead, boirrow, steal, murder and do what not to get a US visa and not the other way round.

So this tit for tat maynot work.
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PostPosted: Thu Sep 25, 2014 12:35 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

avbuff wrote:
ssbmat wrote:
Jeh wrote:
Nimish wrote:
Good move, much needed. Let's bring in the moolah!


It certainly is, but how long will it be before some BJP cranks derail this by demanding reciprocal VoA for Indians in the US? Rolling Eyes


But seriously, what is wrong with having reciprocal VoA arrangement for Indians ? Why should Indian tourists have to undergo all kinds of queries and inspections while American ones are serenaded ? I'd go for mutual respect over some few tourist dollars , thank you.
And kindly keep the "I knew it! " responses/comments to the minimum Rolling Eyes


It's the desis who beg, plead, boirrow, steal, murder and do what not to get a US visa and not the other way round.

So this tit for tat maynot work.

Do desi tourists beg,plead, borrow, steal to get a visa for Thailand ? Or Singapore ? Please remember, we are talking Tourists here,not job seekers.
So therefore , the Visa process should be completely reciprocal.
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Jeh
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PostPosted: Thu Sep 25, 2014 12:59 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

ssbmat wrote:
But seriously, what is wrong with having reciprocal VoA arrangement for Indians ? Why should Indian tourists have to undergo all kinds of queries and inspections while American ones are serenaded ? I'd go for mutual respect over some few tourist dollars , thank you.
And kindly keep the "I knew it! " responses/comments to the minimum Rolling Eyes


India is keen to do all it can to encourage tourism given the sector accounted for 11.5 per cent of all employment in the 2012 fiscal year, according to the latest government estimates ... As India battles with an unsustainable current account deficit the tourism industry has also become important as a source of foreign currency too. The most recent records show the sector earned foreign exchange worth Rs104.29bn in November, up 7.3 per cent year-on-year. (link: http://blogs.ft.com/beyond-brics/2014/02/06/india-tourism-set-for-visa-on-arrival-big-boost/ )

But I'm sure all those who receive extra employment and income as a result of this, and the government that gets much-needed tax revenue and foreign exchange, would all be happy to forgo it just so that America 'respects' us? Come on, there's pointless jingoism and there's knowing your country's place in the world. We are, diplomatically, not in a position to demand reciprocal VoA in the US. The world does not owe us any favours, and if we're going to have to pull ourselves up by our bootstraps, we will have to swallow our pride for it.

Besides, this is pretty basic economics of supply and demand. Access to the United States is desperately sought by millions of people - access to India, isn't. Ergo, we have to make the running, not them.
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PostPosted: Thu Sep 25, 2014 1:10 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

^^ Spot on. Ssbmat is clearly out of sync with the whole demand-supply equation - the USA does not have an issue with waiving visas to say Canada, yet do not for Mexico - both are immediate neighbors. There's no conspiracy, nor is there an intention to denigrate India here...
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PostPosted: Thu Sep 25, 2014 4:48 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Jeh wrote:
ssbmat wrote:
But seriously, what is wrong with having reciprocal VoA arrangement for Indians ? Why should Indian tourists have to undergo all kinds of queries and inspections while American ones are serenaded ? I'd go for mutual respect over some few tourist dollars , thank you.
And kindly keep the "I knew it! " responses/comments to the minimum Rolling Eyes


India is keen to do all it can to encourage tourism given the sector accounted for 11.5 per cent of all employment in the 2012 fiscal year, according to the latest government estimates ... As India battles with an unsustainable current account deficit the tourism industry has also become important as a source of foreign currency too. The most recent records show the sector earned foreign exchange worth Rs104.29bn in November, up 7.3 per cent year-on-year. (link: http://blogs.ft.com/beyond-brics/2014/02/06/india-tourism-set-for-visa-on-arrival-big-boost/ )

But I'm sure all those who receive extra employment and income as a result of this, and the government that gets much-needed tax revenue and foreign exchange, would all be happy to forgo it just so that America 'respects' us? Come on, there's pointless jingoism and there's knowing your country's place in the world. We are, diplomatically, not in a position to demand reciprocal VoA in the US. The world does not owe us any favours, and if we're going to have to pull ourselves up by our bootstraps, we will have to swallow our pride for it.

Besides, this is pretty basic economics of supply and demand. Access to the United States is desperately sought by millions of people - access to India, isn't. Ergo, we have to make the running, not them.

You are actually making my point here. India is not in demand- exactly why we need not run desperately after tourist dollars. By making a VoA for US, it isnt exactly going to open floodgates for Americans brandishing greenbacks.
India's tourism industry can grow securely only after adequate infrastructure of the industrial and social kind is established and maintained. At this point, India is nowhere close to even doing it. So why hanker after them Americans ? At the very least, providing reciprocal arrangement will ease things for Indian tourists.
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PostPosted: Thu Sep 25, 2014 6:00 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

ssbmat wrote:

You are actually making my point here. India is not in demand- exactly why we need not run desperately after tourist dollars. By making a VoA for US, it isnt exactly going to open floodgates for Americans brandishing greenbacks.


India may not be in the top ten in the list of the most visited countries but with 6.8 million tourist arrivals in 2013, it is not all that bad.

and there are certain types of tourists, ie, the adventure seeking, rough and ready, back packing types among whom India is extremely popular. The economy of places like Dharamshala, Goa, Rajasthan and Kerala pretty much relies on this type of tourist.

India may not be a popular place for the really rich tourist, but adequate number of the low budget ones can also bring in crucial revenue for the tourism sector.

Introducing a VoA will definitely increase the numbers.

ssbmat wrote:

India's tourism industry can grow securely only after adequate infrastructure of the industrial and social kind is established and maintained. At this point, India is nowhere close to even doing it. So why hanker after them Americans ? At the very least, providing reciprocal arrangement will ease things for Indian tourists.


and where will the money for establishing that infrastructure come from, if not from the visiting tourists?

And Americans are a good market. Like for the Israelis, India is one place where they can travel to in relative safety.

And there is no way the US is going to agree to give Indians a reciprocal VoA. Given the numbers of Indians who have faked documents to get US visas and the number of shady Indian companies who have misused H1-Bs visas , it is understandable that the Americans are wary of anyone with an Indian passport.
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Last edited by The_Goat on Thu Sep 25, 2014 6:09 pm; edited 2 times in total
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PostPosted: Thu Sep 25, 2014 6:03 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

ssbmat wrote:
You are actually making my point here. India is not in demand- exactly why we need not run desperately after tourist dollars. By making a VoA for US, it isnt exactly going to open floodgates for Americans brandishing greenbacks.
India's tourism industry can grow securely only after adequate infrastructure of the industrial and social kind is established and maintained. At this point, India is nowhere close to even doing it. So why hanker after them Americans ? At the very least, providing reciprocal arrangement will ease things for Indian tourists.


Fair point - hardly any Americans head to India for tourism. I guess this is a back door to increase business traffic - under the head of tourism.
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PostPosted: Thu Sep 25, 2014 6:38 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Nimish wrote:
ssbmat wrote:
You are actually making my point here. India is not in demand- exactly why we need not run desperately after tourist dollars. By making a VoA for US, it isnt exactly going to open floodgates for Americans brandishing greenbacks.
India's tourism industry can grow securely only after adequate infrastructure of the industrial and social kind is established and maintained. At this point, India is nowhere close to even doing it. So why hanker after them Americans ? At the very least, providing reciprocal arrangement will ease things for Indian tourists.


Fair point - hardly any Americans head to India for tourism. I guess this is a back door to increase business traffic - under the head of tourism.

When Americans come to India on business, they really mean business. At the moment, India needs FDI in infrastructure - roads, railways, airports , power. Simultaneously, we need to upgrade the civic amenities at most of our tourist destinations. Need policy changes as well as quick implementation of land And last but not the least, infact the most difficult- bring about culture changes in the Indian mindset that will improve the image of safety. All this will take a number of years. So why the rush ?
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PostPosted: Thu Sep 25, 2014 6:58 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

A lot of them come in large groups. Call these trips mission trips, of the religious kind.
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PostPosted: Thu Sep 25, 2014 7:01 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

[quote="avbuff"][quote="ssbmat"][quote="Jeh"][quote="Nimish"]Good move, much needed. Let's bring in the moolah![/quote]

It certainly is, but how long will it be before some BJP cranks derail this by demanding reciprocal VoA for Indians in the US? Rolling Eyes[/quote]

But seriously, what is wrong with having reciprocal VoA arrangement for Indians ? Why should Indian tourists have to undergo all kinds of queries and inspections while American ones are serenaded ? I'd go for mutual respect over some few tourist dollars , thank you.
And kindly keep the "I knew it! " responses/comments to the minimum Rolling Eyes[/quote]

It's the desis who beg, plead, boirrow, steal, murder and do what not to get a US visa and not the other way round.

So this tit for tat maynot work.[/quote]

Everyone in south India seems to have a US tourist visa, so they do seem to be pretty generous.
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PostPosted: Fri Sep 26, 2014 7:16 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Americans don't go to India because they don't want to go through the hassle of dealing with the horrendous Indian consulates in the US. Why would a family of four go through the hassle of obtaining visas for everyone when they can just go to Europe without any advance paperwork? Even countries like Egypt, Thailand, UAE, etc recognize the value of tourism without demanding reciprocal benefits.

The US won't be granting reciprocal benefits to Indians for a long time, at least not until development in India begins to resemble that of the developed world. The risk of someone overstaying is simply too high. Besides, the US has no VoA facility to speak of. They have the VWP, which requires travelers to complete ESTA before departing.

Slightly OT, I couldn't help but notice just how many people insisted on seeing my visa on my most recent trip. Everyone from the person at the currency exchange counter, to the receptionist at the Hyatt in BOM, to the 6E check in agent. On no other trip was I required to show my visa so many times. Interestingly, with 6E I was only required to show my visa in BOM and not HYD or BLR.
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PostPosted: Sat Sep 27, 2014 7:10 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

ssbmat wrote:
But seriously, what is wrong with having reciprocal VoA arrangement for Indians ? Why should Indian tourists have to undergo all kinds of queries and inspections while American ones are serenaded ? I'd go for mutual respect over some few tourist dollars , thank you.
And kindly keep the "I knew it! " responses/comments to the minimum Rolling Eyes

Minimum enough?


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PostPosted: Sat Sep 27, 2014 9:04 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

India should introduce VoA for all EU nations and other countries in Europe. Far more Europeans travel to India than Americans do.

Most of the Americans who travel to India are NRI's who would travel regardless of VoA. But these NRIs however spend lots of money though and the previous Govt should be commended that they introduced PIO and OCI cards.

US does not even have VWP or VoA for Isreal and Poland or even Hong Kong where hardly anyone would overstay in US.
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PostPosted: Sun Sep 28, 2014 10:55 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Announced today:

Visa on Arrival for US Citizens
PIO cardholders get lifetime visa
PIO & OCI to be combined
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PostPosted: Tue Sep 30, 2014 6:14 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

This infographic had me surprised!



Source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2014/09/29/as-modi-takes-manhattan-heres-how-the-u-s-economy-is-increasingly-tied-to-india/
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