Traveling To India Without Transit Visa

[pmpforgc]

Hi

I am trying to book ticket for my summer travel to India and frusteted with knowledge of travel agents and airline peoples. My story is like this:

I have EXPIRED F-1 VISA STAMP, VALID H-1 APPROVAL , NO H-1 STAMPING IN PASSPORT, HAVE ADVANCE PAROL FOR REENTRY ( My family is also traverling with me with H-4 approval and AP)

I want your guidance : For going to India ( and coming back also !!)

(1) Which CITIES I can TRAVEL Through WIthout requiring TRANSIT VISA?

(2) Which AIR LINE OPERATES flights through these cities?

(3) what are the non-stop flight options available between US and India?

(4) Non-stop flights are cheap or costly compare to other one stop flights?

( I dont want to apply for TRANSIT VISA, I had already sent too much money on H-1 and GC process and traveling with my family so if I go for Transit visa it will cost me atleast 1000 $ extra !!!)

I want to go to AMD ( Direct or through BOMBAY if possible)

Also let me know any good knowledgable travel agents who knows rule and give good deal for India.

thanks for your help.

[aj_jadeja]

waht is ur origination airport ?
and AMD means Ahmedabad ? or amsterdam ?

[wahab_be]

UK requires an advance parole while coming back to the US. We recently travelled to India on an expired H1 and H4 visa (I have H1 extention approved but the passport has the old expired visa) via London. We did not had any issues. But while coming back we were re-routed to Frankfurt as we did not had the transit visa.

I recommend going via Frankfurt. You can double check the transit visa requirements with German Embassy as well.

[pmpforgc]

Here is some more info

I am traveling from

From GSP ( Greenville Spartanburg) to Ahmedabad
or from ATLANTA to Ahmedabad

thanks

[aj_jadeja]

Originally Posted by pmpforgc

Here is some more info

I am traveling from

From GSP ( Greenville Spartanburg) to Ahmedabad
or from ATLANTA to Ahmedabad

thanks

my opinion what ever route u go u will have minimum 2 stops . IF u take direct flights like ny/chicago to delhi then u will have to fly from delhi to ahd.

what ever route u fly cost will be from $1300 to $1500

so my take would be this.

Atlanta - LA - singapore - ahmedabad (via singapore airlines).

no transist visa needed

service and food/drinks of singapore airline just superb.

singapore airport is also superb. nice entertainment area / food court. btw it has desi fast food place so you can enjoy good food there too.

last thing singapore to ahd direct flight

aj

[rb_248]

I am travelling Delta JFK - Bombay direct flight next week. No worries about transit. Actually I am more worried about delays and missing connecting flight in Europe.
I think Continental flies direct to New Delhi from U.S. (not sure from Chicago or New York).

[krishna.ahd]

Originally Posted by aj_jadeja

my opinion what ever route u go u will have minimum 2 stops . IF u take direct flights like ny/chicago to delhi then u will have to fly from delhi to ahd.

what ever route u fly cost will be from $1300 to $1500

so my take would be this.

Atlanta - LA - singapore - ahmedabad (via singapore airlines).

no transist visa needed

service and food/drinks of singapore airline just superb.

singapore airport is also superb. nice entertainment area / food court. btw it has desi fast food place so you can enjoy good food there too.

last thing singapore to ahd direct flight

aj

Yes , your best bet is via LA , singapore or something like that
Or
Delta non stop to JFK - BOM
or
Any other non stop to Delhi/Bom

[indio0617]

Yes. Travelling through Europe has become a big hassle these days. Avoid the London route. It is the worst. I have travelled via Frankfurt (Lufthansa) several times. But Lufthansa is getting troublesome too these days.

The South Asian route via Singapore is the best. SIA In- flight service is excellent and you will notice a marked difference in their "attitudes". I have heard about China Airlines too. You might want to check that out as well.

[Waitingnvain]

I will be in transit through Amsterdam, do I need a transit visa and are there any problems with travelling on Advance Parole.

Thanks

[krishna.ahd]

Originally Posted by pmpforgc

Hi

I am trying to book ticket for my summer travel to India and frusteted with knowledge of travel agents and airline peoples. My story is like this:

I have EXPIRED F-1 VISA STAMP, VALID H-1 APPROVAL , NO H-1 STAMPING IN PASSPORT, HAVE ADVANCE PAROL FOR REENTRY ( My family is also traverling with me with H-4 approval and AP)

I want your guidance : For going to India ( and coming back also !!)

(1) Which CITIES I can TRAVEL Through WIthout requiring TRANSIT VISA?

(2) Which AIR LINE OPERATES flights through these cities?

(3) what are the non-stop flight options available between US and India?

(4) Non-stop flights are cheap or costly compare to other one stop flights?

( I dont want to apply for TRANSIT VISA, I had already sent too much money on H-1 and GC process and traveling with my family so if I go for Transit visa it will cost me atleast 1000 $ extra !!!)

I want to go to AMD ( Direct or through BOMBAY if possible)

Also let me know any good knowledgable travel agents who knows rule and give good deal for India.

thanks for your help.

I was checking LAX (Los angeles) to AMD (Ahmedabad) via SIN (singapore) , you are taliking about 30 to 36 hours of travel time, top of GSP/ATL to LAX.
I suggest , if you dont have any time constraint ( like unpaid vacation/timeoff) , that is the best what i searched so far.

[pmpforgc]

Thanks for your responses

I will check for Singapour Airlines deals.

Mean while I sent email to German Consulate in Atlanta, their reply was that if you have AP you dont need transit visa.

Also as I understand AMSTREDAM does not require transit visa? is it true?

[nozerd]

Does anyone know if Transit visa is needed while travelling with Air India via London.
Asking since you dont change planes in London... you continue on same flight.

[krishna.ahd]

Originally Posted by pmpforgc

Thanks for your responses

I will check for Singapour Airlines deals.

Mean while I sent email to German Consulate in Atlanta, their reply was that if you have AP you dont need transit visa.

Also as I understand AMSTREDAM does not require transit visa? is it true?

Do you have any tentative dates for travelling ?? How flexible the dates are ??

BTW - i am not an travel agent nor related to any travel agency

[aj_jadeja]

Originally Posted by pmpforgc

Also as I understand AMSTREDAM does not require transit visa? is it true?

TRUE

[Munna Bhai]

Originally Posted by nozerd

Does anyone know if Transit visa is needed while travelling with Air India via London.
Asking since you dont change planes in London... you continue on same flight.

As far as I know, you don't need any transit visa but contact the following:

a)British embassy.
b)Airlines.
c)Directly goto airport and check at the counter ( a week ahead).

Hope this helps.