Applying for visa in Mathura
The expiration date of my Indian visa was drawing closer, so I set out to find out how to get a new one. At first I thought I’d head for South India for the remaining time on my vise and then cross to Sri Lanka to get a new one. I had to turn down this option as I found out it’s not possible to cross to Sri lanka overland because of the conflict in the northern parts of the island. Other options were going to Nepal or Bangladesh for getting another visa and I didn’t feel like going to Nepal again so shortly. Another thing to worry about were the rumors I heard that I might just not get another tourist visa to India as the iIndian authorities aren’t too happy about poor hippies hanging out in India forever and ever, going back and forth over the border to Nepal to renew their visas.
At first I tried to map my options through the internet, looking through different traveller sites and forums about India for peoples’ experiences and advice on staying in India for longer times. After some time and finding no conclusive answer I thought I’ll give the local travel agencies a try - and things got sorted out much easier and faster than I expected! The man at the travel agecny enlightened me that if you have a 3 month tourist visa, it’s possible to get an extension within India, up to a total of 6 months - even if it says “tourist visa non-extendable” on the visa sticker. All I had to do was to go to the FRO (foreign registration office) at Mathura and apply for another 3 months in there.
I was very happy to hear this as getting an extension in Mathura (only 20km away from Vrindavan) would allow me to stay in Vrindavan for all of the very auspicious Kartik month. As it was still pretty early I could still reach the office on the same day and I set out on my way to Mathura right away. After a rickshaw to the Mathura road, an autorickshaw to Mathura and a few autorickshaws taking me here and there in Mathura looking for the office, I finally found it, quite a few hours later, but still in time to submit my application. After filling out a couple of forms and a small walking excursion to get photocopies of my passport and to find an ATM to get enough cash for the application fee (both of wich I would’ve had at my ashram at Vrindavan but didn’t take with me!) I finally submitted the application and was told to come back in one week.
So, if the Lord is willing, I’ll be able to stay in India for another 3 months and will need to think of the return trip only next year. I’m super happy about this, now I don’t have to go back and forth to Bangladesh for a stupid paper (and risking I don’t get it and end up stuck in Bangladesh!), I can stay here in Vrindavan for the entire Kartik, I’ll be able to meet many of the spiritual teachers of Iskcon (as they will be coming here during Kartik) and I can go on a japa retreat with Sacinandana Swami, a spiritual teacher I have particular interest in. On the more material side of things, this also means I’ll be celebrating my birthday and also the new year here in India, maybe at Goa (as I’ve heard the new year is a big party at Goa).
