Govt climbs down a notch on two-month visa cooling off Thu, Dec 24 06:24 AM The government has softened its newfound toughness on visa rules. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), which controls India's visa policy, has communicated to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) that foreign visitors may be allowed to return within two months of leaving the country — as long as they make a "full disclosure" of their travel plans to the immigration officer while on their way out. In the aftermath of the Headley-Rana case, the MHA had wanted all foreign nationals with multiple-entry long-term (usually 5-10 years) tourist visas to re-enter only after the passage of a two-month "cooling off" period. The move had sparked fierce protests by several countries, including the US and UK. The British High Commission and US Embassy raised the issue with the government, and yesterday, British Trade Secretary Peter Mandelson took it up with Home minister P Chidambaram. Top sources told The Indian Express that MHA officials have now told the MEA that tourists can simply show their confirmed tickets and other travel details to Immigration, so that the officer doesn't stamp their visas barring re-entry for two months. The MHA's logic, as conveyed to the MEA, is that genuine tourists will not have problems in sharing their travel details. The two-month rule had provoked the US Embassy to put up a "warden information" for all US passport holders, saying the mission had received reports about "inconsistent implementation of the new (visa) rules, which have not been widely publicized and are subject to change". It then cited several examples of the inconvenience US citizens suffered as a result of the new rule. A British High Commission spokesperson said today, "The Indian government has every right to give or deny entry to any person they wish to. India has every right to stop prospective terrorists, but such rules should not have unintended consequences and should not adversely affect genuine tourists."
And now for the e-mail on Sri Lanka which will be invaluable to many of us.
Exile out of India for 2 months – Sri Lanka Some thoughts in retrospect – Raychel Ciemma Part of the challenge leaving in January was the confusion around the possibility of returning to India in a few days and not knowing quite how to plan for staying away, possibly for 2 months or just 2 days. A plane ticket for 2 days and a small suitcase or plane ticket for 2 months and a large suitcase! However, now it appears that India has refined and solidified its rules, and so staying out for the 2 months is pretty much an assured item. So, being optimistic, we bought a ticket for a couple of days, which later we couldn’t use the return part and had to repurchase another ticket – some wasted money there. We stayed in a hotel, rather than getting an apartment, because there was always the carrot dangling there, that we would be able to return sooner, rather than later. Getting an apartment is committing a certain length of time to the renter – didn’t want to do that. To do it again or to plan for next time – that is if one can plan for anything! If I am choosing to go to Sri Lanka, I would purchase a ticket for 2 months and stay in the Silver Sands Hotel in Negombo (which is 20 minutes from the airport) for a few days only. If you haven’t stayed in SSH – it has a very nice friendly atmosphere and is reasonably priced. If you stayed in the hotel for a month, it would cost you $360.00/month bottom price without food. With food – double that. Silver Sands Hotel, 229 Lewis Place, Negombo. Tel: 0094-31-2222880. silversands@sltnet.lk Negombo has a strip of hotels and guest houses running along the coast with a wide range of prices. Doing it cheaper - stay in the hotel for a few days to give enough time to find an apartment to rent. I looked on the Internet for apartments for rent in Negombo/Colombo area. Two bedroom apartments were going for 10,000 r ($100.00) to 25,000r ($250.00) per month and up. For a studio apartment you would be able to get it cheaper. Buying food in the local markets will considerably reduce the food costs. Sri Lankan pineapples and their King coconuts are wonderful. Travel is very cheap in Sri Lanka if you go by bus or train. It is best to get on the bus at the beginning of the trip so that you get a seat and don’t have to stand. Ask for an air conditioned bus. What’s not cheap, generally, is accommodation and restaurant food. This info is just the basics – a jump off point. Sri Lanka is a beautiful place to go. There are lots of places to visit and enjoy. The people are friendly. Do get a copy of the Lonely Planet for Sri Lanka, which is a huge resource of places to go and stay. I bought a copy in Negombo at the Vijitha Yapa Bookstore for $29.00 (2900r) – well worth the price. That deal on the studio apartments makes it way cheaper than flying to the USA every six months.
>There is one more piece of information I would like to pass along to you coming and going people. The subject is Medicaid and Medicare.
Many of us have pensions which have allowed us to live in luxury in India but now, here in the States or even Europe, we are paupers. Fortunately the government agrees that we are now very poor and they are willing to give us money and health care. We only have to apply which I have done. Within ten days I received a reply asking for a copy of birth certificate, proof of Floridian residency and identification. My sweet sister was the driving force behind my application. “Susie we are going to get you new teeth and clear up your sinuses.” She offered me a bowl of raisins with one hand and words of criticism with the other. I took both. It has been 30 years since anyone offered me raisins and I have decided that she is right, I should be more independent. I have taken care of myself for the past 30 years but maybe not so well. | 
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