What happens if you overstay your visa in India
India has tough rules and procedures for visa overstays, so check your dates and leave in time.
I normally travel on a budget, staying at hostels and not searching for luxury. But when all goes wrong, we tend to look out for something that can soothe us, like a “little treat”, an overprised coffee, or… an airconditioned hotel lobby.
Getting stuck in the least backpacker-friendly city on the Indian East Coast was not how I expected to end of my visit to the country. I was lucky I could stay with ✨granny✨ (my friend’s grandmother who is now also my Indian grandma), but I needed a place to work from. Since hip coffee shops were quite expensive if I’d go every day, I had to find a better solution. And I stumbled upon it while looking for help during my captivity (the time I was waiting for permission to leave the country, with a dramatic touch).
India has tough rules and procedures for visa overstays, so check your dates and leave in time.
10 questions answered about safety, customs, and comfort for women in India.
When you meet people who make you feel safe, you know you’ve found your friends.
When the Immigration Office did not provide me with any solutions after 3 days of struggling, I thought rich and powerful people might be able to help. So I looked up the closest by fancy hotel and headed that way. It was the 5-star Taj Coromandel, a total palace of a hotel with ferrari’s parked up front. I explained my situation to a staff member, said my family always stayed there on their trips to India (lol), and asked if the hotel could possibly help me.
This staff member, Raj, was one of the most helpful people on my entire trip. He was kind, patient, and proactive in searching for solutions. He ended up making a few calls and passed me the number of someone at the Immigration Office, so I could get my documents processed directly. Thank you, Raj!
In the meantime, I was hanging out in the lobby, making calls and working. I enjoyed the classy environment and the simple fact of not being stared at, and I thought: I should do this more often.
Hotel lobbies are semi-pubic spaces where people wait, have a drink, or work. So even when you’re not staying at the hotel, they can’t really expel you from their public area. And if you don’t misbehave they quite honestly don’t care that you’re there.
So, if you feel the need for a little escape, just dress up decently and walk into the fanciest hotel you find. If they ask you anything, just ask if you can sit and work, or where you can wait for your friend. And if they seem hesitant, say that your family always comes there (and give a very generic name). But usually, you’ll be just fine. The staff will either leave you alone or give you a nice spot to sit. Buying a drink is optional.
Hi there! I'm Masha, the creator of this blog. I travel the world and share my best finds and experiences from all around the globe with you!
India has tough rules and procedures for visa overstays, so check your dates and leave in time.
10 questions answered about safety, customs, and comfort for women in India.
Turn off your home-mindset and think in terms of “If I was at *destination*, what would I wear?”
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