Sonntag, 23. März 2008

Leaving Chennai - The exit visa

If you leave for good the country as we will on Saturday, the exit visa procedure has to be followed. There is not too many documents, which have to be collected the only interesting thing again is, that nobody really knows what is required. Let me therefore summarize here, what is required to exit India from a legally acceptable perspective.

First of all a Non Objection Certificate from the Tax Authorities is required, which states that you have been a good tax payer in India. With this NOC plus a letter from your employer, that your time is over, you need to go for an appointment to the Foreign Registration Office (FRRO) with these documents plus your passport. Once there they will tell you, that they will send a letter to the airport authorities anticipating, that you leave the country.

At the time the last exit on the basis of the residence permit you have to just hand over your residence permit to the officer at the immigration counter. This piece of information we still have to verify, because it will only happen next week, but I am sure, they let us go one way or another.

31/3/2008

We have safely reached our next destination. The exit was not spectacular at all. I just mentioned to the immigration officer at the usual airport counters, that I am now leaving for good the country and we don't need our visas anymore. The only thing he did was collecting all the visas we gave to him and put more stamps than usual into our passports. The later could just be my imagination :)

Freitag, 29. Februar 2008

Chennai map for expats

I have started to create a map with places of interest for expats. You find places on the map with shopping, restaurants, food shopping, party places, pubs, beaches, hospital and all other ammenities expats need in the town of Chennai.



View Larger Map

If you want to contribute with places drop me a mail.

Samstag, 23. Februar 2008

Party in Chennai

Last week was definitely the best party of the year. The British Council in Chennai organizes on a yearly basis a Valentine's day party and interestingly enough I did not know about it last year. In the beautiful made up garden of the British Council we had lots of great food from The Park hotel, the usual Kingfisher beer and Gin Tonics, incredible good music from the 70ies to 90ies (this must have been a handpicked selection) and lots of fun as all the expats in the city, whom you come across regularly were there. It was really great fun, therefore watch out for next year!