India visa flexibility

In the letter titled “India (and Asia) Travel Tips” (June ’07, pg. 14), Jane Holt wrote, regarding an upcoming trip to India, “Since our current passports will expire before our visas, we’ll just travel with both old and new passports rather than each pay the $25 fee to transfer the visas to our new passports.”

A requirement for entry into most countries is that a passport be valid for six months after entry into the country. Mrs. Holt’s way of thinking (valid visa and valid passport but not one in the same) might make sense to her, but having a valid visa in an invalid passport and no visa in a valid passport may not make sense to Immigration in India. Arriving in India without a valid visa/passport means instant deportation back to the U.S. There are no facilities for visa on arrival and no appeals.

Also, she should consider that invalidation of her U.S. passport may be accompanied by some unsightly holes, which may go through her Indian visa.

For the sake of $25, why ruin an expensive trip (worth far more than $25) and waste round-trip airfare that can indeed be instantly round trip?

By the way, I just received my visa for Nepal and in it is the statement, “Visa remains valid if passport remains valid.”

RONALD S. COOPERMAN

Bel Air, California

At Dr. Cooperman’s request, ITN forwarded a copy of his letter to Jane Holt. Her reply included information copied from the website of the Consulate General of India in New York, as follows: “Transfer of Visa to New Passport — Visa holders, whose passport has expired and who have obtained new passports can travel to India with both old and new passports so long as the old passport contains valid visas. They can also transfer the old visa to the new passport. This can be done by fi lling the prescribed application form for visa.”