Transit Travel

A transit visa is a document that shows a traveler has government permission to pass through a country—but the traveler cannot stay.

Generally, Transit Travel is provided to a citizen of a foreign country who desires to enter India. The applicant should obtain this visa for only transit purposes for a temporary duration, if you are a permanent residence. However, nonimmigrant (a foreign citizen) can also apply for a transit visa or immigrant travel, if the applicant is not a permanent resident.

In easy words, a travel visa is nonimmigrant visa for those who do continuous transit or immediate travel from 160 eligible countries en route to India. Continuous transit or immediate traveling is considered a reasonably very expensive departure of the traveler as compared to a normal travel fee. This is an urgent visa facility provided to travelers with permit and prearranged itinerary without unreasonable layover privileges.

However, if the traveler wishes for layover privileges for purposes other than transit in India such as visiting friends, enjoying sightseeing, traveling through the country, then the traveler should have to apply for other types of travel so that the traveler can fulfill the purpose of Travelling India.

Eligibility and conditions

A transit visa is granted to a foreigner for the sole purpose of traveling throughout India. And, a person who wishes to make two entries into the country during the same journey can be offered a transit travel. The visa is valid for two entries. The transit visa holder is not allowed to continuous stay for more than 3 days for each entry.

Validity

The government of India made a transit visa for a single journey for entry in India within 15 days issue. The visa holder should visit during this period; if the journey is not completed within the same period; then the applicant require a new transit travel. It is a visa that is valid for direct transit, which cannot be exceeding more than 3 days for each visit. The period of temporary stay in India will not be extendable except, if you stuck in an emergency such as strike, illness, traffic disruption, bad cyclone, etc.

Direct Transit through India

With this travel, a traveler is not specifically required to travel by airport. The transit visa holder can also transit through ships while traveling, the travel should have permit to enter Indian seaport. However, if a foreigner does not leave the ship while it halts, then the transit visa is not required in that situation.

Travel purpose which requires Transit Travel

• A foreign citizen traveling to countries should have brief documentation of layover of visiting into India for transit purposes.
• A traveler who belongs from a foreign country travels on a cruise ship or any other container which is going to another county other than India. However, during this journey, the traveler should not have any intention of landing in India can avail of this travel.
• A crewmember traveling to India as a passenger from other countries to join a ship or aircraft, to offer his or her services can avail this transit travel. For that, you also need to have a crewmember D travel. This is issued to the crewmember as a combination of a C-1/ D travel.

Travel purposes not permitted on Transit Travel

• A foreign citizen whose layover (stop between the flights) in India is rather than the transit, for example visiting relatives, friends, sightseeing, etc. are not permitted. To travel or enjoying destinations in India, you need an Indian e-tourist travel.
• If you are a coasting officer of 160 eligible countries and you are seeking to enter India to have some good time, then you require a visitor travel. However, the coasting officers are employed temporarily when a foreign ship stays in the port for more than 29 days; in this situation, an officer is granted home leave. The coastline officers can repeat the process with another ship for the same foreign line.
• A crewmember doing his duty on a private yacht out of a foreign port which is cruising in India waters for more than 29 days required to have a visitor travel.
• An employee or officer of a designated international organization assigned to the India port may pass continuous transit through India on a G-4 visa (an International Organization).

How to Apply

If you want to be granted with a transit travel, then you need to take several steps. First, you must visit the embassy or Consulate website where you can apply and complete online visa application:

• If you are applying for a Nonimmigrant travel, then you must fill the Form DS-160:
  1) Complete the online visa application and
  2) print your application form (confirmation page) so that you can bring it to your interview.
• While completing the form, don’t forget to upload your photo (should match all the criteria such as size, background color, duration of the photo, shadow, and so on).

Schedule your Interview

For this travel, interviews are generally not required for a certain age. However, consular officers have the discretion required details for an interview of any applicant.

Age	Interview
13 and younger	Interview not required
14-79	Interview required (for renewals)
80 and older	Interview not required

Once you applied for a transit travel, then the next step is to scheduling an appointment for your visa interview, at the nearby Embassy or Consulate in the country where you live. However, you also need to be aware that if you are from another place, then you may face some difficulties in qualifying.

Appoint wait time

Before you visit the embassy for your interview, you should appoint your wait time by selecting a location, visa category, and time and so on at the embassy website.

Prepare for Interview

Preparing for an Interview is important, and you must do this before you head up to the embassy.

• Pay the non-refundable visa application fee: if the Interview needs payment before it actually takes up, then you must do that. However, when your visa is approved by the authority, you may then pay a visa issuance fee.

Required Documents

Collect all the important documents which are necessary to bring while going for visa interview:

• Passport: you should bring your valid passport with you. The passport must be valid at least six months before your arrival to any eligible country. However, if the application contains more than one person’s name, then each person should bring their own passport. And, every individual needs to submit a separate application.
• For Nonimmigrant visa application: you must bring your Form DS-160 confirmation page.
• Application payment receipt: bring your payment receipt print copy while you visit for your interview.
• Photo: carry your printed photo with you in a format as requested.

Additional documents to bring

• Before you go for a visa interview, bring your required documents.
• Bring your travel proof; arrangements or permission documents to enter India.
• Also, bring sufficient evidence that you’re sole purpose for entering India and any other country in transit.
• You must also bring your employment documents that show that your purpose is just transit and show your intent to return to your country.
• Show your income document so that you can assure them of your costing of transit.

Attend your visa interview at the embassy

While you are going for your visa interview, a consular officer will check whether you are qualified to receive this visa or not. If not, then you need to select your visa category based on your purpose of travel. You need to show all the documents that can establish confidence that you are able to meet all the requirements under the law of the embassy.

Then, the authority will take your digital fingerprint which is a part of your application process. They usually take this during the interview; however, it depends on the location you choose.

After your visa interview, your application may take little time for further administrative processing. You will be informed by the consular officer if further activity or processing is necessary for your visa application.

Once your visa is approved by the authority, you then need to pay a visa issuance fee, if it is mandatory for your nationality.

And, at last, you will be informed with details that when your visa and passport delivered to you through courier.