Has anyone heard of the new Visa rules? If I was flying to New York VIA Paris FROM Bombay, I need to get a french as well as american visa... i need the french visa even though I am not gonna leave the air craft... extremely stupid i think... do any other countries have the same problem?

uuhh, are you sure about that? If so it's insane. I don't use VISA, but my mastercard can be used the world over (in fact I've gotten cash out at ATM's in 4 countries while travelling).

My fiancee has a secondary card on my account and regularly uses it on the other side of the world with no problems at all.

So if this is a VISA thing they've put in a seriously backward policy given the state of world travel. Is it just an Indian thing? You mentioned to me before about some 'oddities' with your banks there...

Greg Moore

Originally posted by akashik
uuhh, are you sure about that? If so it's insane. I don't use VISA, but my mastercard can be used the world over (in fact I've gotten cash out at ATM's in 4 countries while travelling).

My fiancee has a secondary card on my account and regularly uses it on the other side of the world with no problems at all.

So if this is a VISA thing they've put in a seriously backward policy given the state of world travel. Is it just an Indian thing? You mentioned to me before about some 'oddities' with your banks there...

Greg Moore

Hahaha...

Uhm... no, a visa as in a document saying they can travel/work in a particular country.

Oh, ok I get it. That'll teach me for thinking about billing while reading the forum *sheepish grin*

That's still pretty odd. A recent trip between Australia and the US didn't require me to do that even though it was via Canada. The only thing I can think of is that you're coming in from India, which is kind of close to that whole ker-fuffle that's going on at the moment. I know India's not involved at all but it might be just some odd security thing they're doing.

I went through Taiwan a few years ago and they didn't require a Visa, though I was off the plane for 14 hours or so, and staying in a hotel between flights.

Actually thinking about it, flying during December last year didn't involve any real differences at all for me other than more security checks.

Still, who knows what the french are ever thinking, with their skinny fries and extra long bread rolls... :)

Greg Moore

hey... hehe.. yeah, i meant the traveling visa :) supposedly the rule has been implemented since the 1st of april of 2002... very odd i must say :(

Kunal,

I think you have to get a transit visa...

http://www.namasthenri.com/Visas/francevisa.html#French%20Visa

I hope this helps a little.

Mrs. Amazon

Originally posted by Mrs. Amazon
Kunal,

I think you have to get a transit visa...

http://www.namasthenri.com/Visas/francevisa.html#French%20Visa

I hope this helps a little.

Mrs. Amazon

Hey,
I would need a transit Visa only if I was going to stay in france for a couple of days. But I am only going to land in france, and take off. I wont even leave the air craft.

Kunal,

Not necessarily... Transit visas are required for most airports even if you don't leave the airport. They are usually good for up to 5 days. I had a friend going through Germany to U.S. (Germany falls under the Schengen countries ad does France). She only got off the plane and got onto another but they still required a transit visa.

I did some more searching and found this:
http://www.consulfrance-bombay.org/visas.htm

One part says:
"Kindly note that from 19th March 2002, Indian nationals willbe required to hold airport transit visa, if their flight makes a stopover in France. "

There were some other stuff and exceptions which you may want to look at, who knows you might fall under one of those exceptions.

This site has the phone number and email where you can call/email them to ask more specific questions:
http://www.france-in-india.org/emb/emb-frame.html

Good Luck,

Mrs. Amazon

Originally posted by Mrs. Amazon
Kunal,

Not necessarily... Transit visas are required for most airports even if you don't leave the airport. They are usually good for up to 5 days. I had a friend going through Germany to U.S. (Germany falls under the Schengen countries ad does France). She only got off the plane and got onto another but they still required a transit visa.

I did some more searching and found this:
http://www.consulfrance-bombay.org/visas.htm

One part says:
"Kindly note that from 19th March 2002, Indian nationals willbe required to hold airport transit visa, if their flight makes a stopover in France. "

There were some other stuff and exceptions which you may want to look at, who knows you might fall under one of those exceptions.

This site has the phone number and email where you can call/email them to ask more specific questions:
http://www.france-in-india.org/emb/emb-frame.html

Good Luck,

Mrs. Amazon

ah.. interesting... thanks for the links :)