Wow!

[chri'stina 190]

I know Wacken recently had a thread about flight costs and the added expenses of having a child to travel with too. We are in the same boat with wanting to go to India the end of this year with Kavi. I haven't even been there since I went in 2003. (Still haven't met the family there face to face!)

Another cost besides plane tickets---Passports, and visas!!

I still have to change my passport to my married name....that costs $75!

Kavi's passport will be $85...for adults first time is now $100! I think it was $60-something in 2003 when I first got mine.

Visas for India have shot up in price! And in effect yesterday the prices almost doubled. For a 6 month tourist visa it's around $170!! For a 5 year visa it's around $250-270(would be more valuable for us to get that one), can't remember the exact prices. I was stunned to see it almost double as of June 30th. So before even paying for flights is several hundred dollars for these things. Man.... This international family stuff is not easy nor cheap. And having family all the way in India makes it so hard.

Edited July 1, 2008 by Parivar CSK

[chri'stina 190]

Well I found some other info that may be useful for the future regarding visas and something called PIO for India.

[Saddle Bronc 124]

Stina, I would suggest OCI over PIO; the cost of OCI is one-time of $275.00.

http://www.indianembassy.org/newsite/oci.asp

[chri'stina 190]

But is the OCI only for those who have naturalized here? Sujeet hasn't and is not sure when he is going to. It's not in our immediate plans.

[Saddle Bronc 124]

But is the OCI only for those who have naturalized here? Sujeet hasn't and is not sure when he is going to. It's not in our immediate plans.

, OCI can also be applied for Kavi as one parent (you) are not an Indian citizen.

[chri'stina 190]

Thanks for the info. I'll check it out!

[chri'stina 190]

Sri---

I am confused by the terminology in the eligibility for the OCI. It looks as if I had to have been an Indian citizen at some time in my life before becoming a US citizen in order for Kavi to qualify. One parent must be a US citizen but it seems like they also had to have been an Indian citizen in the past. Am I wrong?

Edited July 1, 2008 by Parivar CSK

[chri'stina 190]

I got some help with understanding the terms so I think I get it now.

http://www.***removed***/nri/pio-vs-oci.html

^^^This helped.

[churipu 4]

Oh I know what you mean...and wait until your son turns 2 like mine and they pay FULL PRICE for pretty much almost everything

[chri'stina 190]

Oh I know what you mean...and wait until your son turns 2 like mine and they pay FULL PRICE for pretty much almost everything

Yeah! We are going to tough it out and not buy Kavi a seat on the plane. I know we might be crazy! Well I still need to calculate the difference between him having his own seat or sitting on our laps, though I know the lap will be cheaper. If we take similar flights that my husband has the past 2 years, they fly direct from NYC to Mumbai, about 14 hours! And a 2 or so hour flight from here to NYC. I hope and pray Kavi will sleep a lot on the flight since they usually leave NYC at night to fly to India so it will be his sleeping time.

[churipu 4]

Oh I know what you mean...and wait until your son turns 2 like mine and they pay FULL PRICE for pretty much almost everything

Yeah! We are going to tough it out and not buy Kavi a seat on the plane. I know we might be crazy! Well I still need to calculate the difference between him having his own seat or sitting on our laps, though I know the lap will be cheaper. If we take similar flights that my husband has the past 2 years, they fly direct from NYC to Mumbai, about 14 hours! And a 2 or so hour flight from here to NYC. I hope and pray Kavi will sleep a lot on the flight since they usually leave NYC at night to fly to India so it will be his sleeping time.

You're not crazy at all, almost everyone keeps children in lap when they are under 2. I flew to Europe 5 times with him sitting on my lap, first time he was 7 months old the last time it was a week before he turned 2. It is a little tiring for the parents but I think they do way better than having their own seat, they eventually want out and fuss about it. There was this couple behind us who had an infant (probably a little under a year old) who was in her car seat and they ended up having to keep her on their lap the entire flight anyway. Her mom was telling me what waste of money it was to get her a seat. It is really not that bad, esp if they don't walk yet, they just kinda sit in your lap and hang out or sleep. At least that was my experience. If you have a happy baby who is not colicky, eats well with no particular probs etc. you won't have any problems whatsoever. BTW if the flights aren't full, they usually try to give you 3 seats anyway when you have a child, so that you have more room, with us they even kept the row next to us (we were in the 3 seats in the middle section) free so that we would have room for all the baby stuff, or to change him etc. since the plane was half empty.

Edited July 1, 2008 by churipu

[chri'stina 190]

Thanks! That does make me feel better. Only thing is these flights are usually full. But we'll manage.

[churipu 4]

Thanks! That does make me feel better. Only thing is these flights are usually full. But we'll manage.

I did fly on a full flight as well occasionally, but they still managed to give us at least the 3rd seat next to us every time (maybe we were just lucky not sure). You will be fine though, it sounds harder than it actually is. Trouble start when they walk or they are about to...and they are in the stage of "all I want to do is on the floor" Then you have to be prepared to walk the aisles back and forth a few times lol

[Dr. Obvious 49]

Ah yes, passports.

My husband can't renew his German passport by mail anymore. He has to drive up to Chicago and do it there in person. So, something like $70 in gas + 72 euros for the passport (thank ye gods we actually have this in cash euros. $117 otherwise)+ I don't know where this is, I assume parking + tolls + fast food stops + a whole day of travel.

I'd say the next person who will need a renewal is my daughter for her US passport in 2011, then mine in 2013, but my husband plans to apply for naturalization in 2010 so... $$$$$

I hope you are able to find some good options for Kavi. Passports can be a pain when the time comes around.

Oh I know what you mean...and wait until your son turns 2 like mine and they pay FULL PRICE for pretty much almost everything

The airline that I am looking at gives no discount for any children exept lap children under 12 months. :/

[chri'stina 190]

What a pain for your husband!

I don't remember when Sujeet has to renew his...mine was good until 2013 but I have to do the name change.