Q ??? for all Indians on Immigration Portal

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Raju in Philly

Registered Users (C)
Hello Friends,
Well just in 10 days I am leaving for Bombay, India My question is regarding Indian customs. I am planning on taking my laptop. Now would I have to pay duty on it? After all I am coming back to the US. How do I prove that I will be taking the laptop back to the US? A return ticket proves I am leaving does not mean laptop leaves with me am I right? Can anyone please tell me how to handle this situation? Also since I will be in Bombay for 55 days how do I recharge the battery on laptop? Do I need a special adapter? The electricity system and plugs are different in India. Any ideas friends. As always thank you so much for your advice and help.

Raju
Ps: Also can you guys please advise what to take and what not to take to avoid harassment by the Indian customs agents in Bombay. Please share your experience. Thanks
 
Raju in Philly said:
Hello Friends,
Well just in 10 days I am leaving for Bombay, India My question is regarding Indian customs. I am planning on taking my laptop. Now would I have to pay duty on it? After all I am coming back to the US. How do I prove that I will be taking the laptop back to the US? A return ticket proves I am leaving does not mean laptop leaves with me am I right? Can anyone please tell me how to handle this situation? Also since I will be in Bombay for 55 days how do I recharge the battery on laptop? Do I need a special adapter? The electricity system and plugs are different in India. Any ideas friends. As always thank you so much for your advice and help.

Raju
Ps: Also can you guys please advise what to take and what not to take to avoid harassment by the Indian customs agents in Bombay. Please share your experience. Thanks
Click to expand...


Hi Raju,

I have experience with Indian customs.

On arrival you declare with them that you have this laptop and will carry it back with you and they will write on the last page of your pasport TBRE (to be re-exported) and describe the item in detail.

When you are turning to US then they will see this remark and will ask you to show the product physically to them otherwise they may detain you for questioning, even if you say that you have product in your suitcase: they will get your suitcase and open it too.

Regarding recharging: get a step up transformer from 110v to 220 or 240v (the other way is called step up transformer) for charging your laptop in India. You can get one from any Radio Shack or a good electronic store in your city. You can also buy a universal plug system with Radio Shack etc.

Indian customs is the badest in the world! Just be aware! Just mind the 'rhiswat' word... but it's common anyway!

Make sure you carry your purchase receipt with you to avoid further questioning...

Have a wonderful trip...

Piyalove
 
Along this line, I have Q too.
My husband will be traveling to India on AP. Can anybody tell me which Airline he can use to avoid transit visa??
Thanks,
 
I went to India Last feb and was concerned the same way you are. I had my laptop and few other items. To my surprise, nodbdy asked for anythng.

India has changed a lot in last couple of years and you'll notice the difference if you haven't been there for a while. :)
You can get adapter from any elctric shop in India. I got it for 15 /- in delhi.
 
amishah said:
Along this line, I have Q too.
My husband will be traveling to India on AP. Can anybody tell me which Airline he can use to avoid transit visa??
Thanks,
Click to expand...

I went through Paris (air India) and didn't need any transit visa.
 
L1_AOS said:
I went through Paris (air India) and didn't need any transit visa.
Click to expand...
Really? When did you fly? Because we really wants to travel using AIR India but some agent told me yesterday that going through Paris needs transit visa too. The law might have changed recently.
I appriciate your help.
 
I went through Kuwait Air ways from NY to Kuwait Non stop No transit visa required. I was on AP


amishah said:
Along this line, I have Q too.
My husband will be traveling to India on AP. Can anybody tell me which Airline he can use to avoid transit visa??
Thanks,
Click to expand...
 
Need your help and advise

Hello Priyalove,
First of all thank you so much for replying to my posting. Wow you know so much about the electricity in Bombay and Indian customs. I went on radioshack.com and I was so confused as there so many transformers on there. If possible can you please help me find one. What I did was I put in “step up transformer from 110 to 220 or 240v” in search and a whole bunch of stuff came up most were 120v I did not see any 110v (I don’t want my laptop to fry you know what I mean) If possible can you please look at the radioshack website and guide me what Item # you want me to buy or recommend and how much it cost? so I can order the same as soon as possible I only have 10 days before my trip. I saw some for $25 and some for $100 I just need your recommendation. Some transformers come with Indian style plugs (round plugs) and they are only 25 bucks(with adapter) but there are some which are just way to expensive. I really hope you can help me. Once again thanks a lot.

Raju

Ps Oh yeah I know the wide spread corruption in India and hence I needed help from people such as you who have travelled recently and know how to deal with such people. Once again I am really sorry to ask you so many questions. But I really hope you can advise me on this issue.
 
Raju in Philly said:
Hello Friends,
Also since I will be in Bombay for 55 days how do I recharge the battery on laptop? Do I need a special adapter? The electricity system and plugs are different in India.
Click to expand...

All laptops now support 110-220V. You can look at your laptop charger/adaptor to confirm. If it does support, then all you need is this. Plug Adaptor
You can find it in radioshack for like 3 bucks.
 
amishah said:
Really? When did you fly? Because we really wants to travel using AIR India but some agent told me yesterday that going through Paris needs transit visa too. The law might have changed recently.
I appriciate your help.
Click to expand...


I fly in Feb 2005 through Paris. I guess you need transit visa only through few countries (Like UK). So take Air India flight that goes through Paris (and not through UK) and u won't need transit visa.
 
Raju in Philly said:
Hello Priyalove,
First of all thank you so much for replying to my posting. Wow you know so much about the electricity in Bombay and Indian customs. I went on radioshack.com and I was so confused as there so many transformers on there. If possible can you please help me find one. What I did was I put in “step up transformer from 110 to 220 or 240v” in search and a whole bunch of stuff came up most were 120v I did not see any 110v (I don’t want my laptop to fry you know what I mean) If possible can you please look at the radioshack website and guide me what Item # you want me to buy or recommend and how much it cost? so I can order the same as soon as possible I only have 10 days before my trip. I saw some for $25 and some for $100 I just need your recommendation. Some transformers come with Indian style plugs (round plugs) and they are only 25 bucks(with adapter) but there are some which are just way to expensive. I really hope you can help me. Once again thanks a lot.

Raju

Ps Oh yeah I know the wide spread corruption in India and hence I needed help from people such as you who have travelled recently and know how to deal with such people. Once again I am really sorry to ask you so many questions. But I really hope you can advise me on this issue.
Click to expand...

Hi Raju,
i just travelled to india (mumbai) last month and had no problems with the customs, they didn't even bother to ask about it.Also some of my other friends travelling to mumbai, had similar experience.nowdays they are cool.
Common electronics like digital camera, camcorder, mp3 players etc are also no problem to carry.If you find some, crazy custom officer, bothering you, just ask him to endorse it on the passport and will take back on return journey.
Regarding laptops , most laptops, do support 120-240 volts, written on battery compartment. you could find the adapter in any electrical/electronics store in mumbai .
Wish u a happy & safe journey.
sai
 
Please Help and Advise. Thanks a lot.

Hello ari4u,
Thank you so much for your reply. Well I looked at my adapter and here is the specification : It is a HP AC Adapter and it says 65W
Input: 100-240v 50-60Hz Output: 18.5V Level 3 Power-supply. Do you think my laptop will be fine in Bombay? If this is fine then all I need is a Round pin plug and I am all set I guess. Please reply. Once again thank you so much.
Raju

Hello Sai 73,
I am very happy to know that you had a great time in Bombay and without any problems. I am hoping and praying my trip is great too. I am just worried about those corrupt Indian customs agents you know how they ask for money. Anyway thank you for your tips I will remember to endorse laptop on the passport if I meet a jerk. Okay as far as my laptop is concerned what do you think about the specifications of my AC Adapter ? I am hoping I just need the round pin plug right? I look forward to your reply. Once again thank you so much. By the way I was in Bombay in 2001 and was just wondering do they still have that RED /GREEN channel thing? Please advise.

Raju
 
Raju in Philly said:
Hello ari4u,
Thank you so much for your reply. Well I looked at my adapter and here is the specification : It is a HP AC Adapter and it says 65W
Input: 100-240v 50-60Hz Output: 18.5V Level 3 Power-supply. Do you think my laptop will be fine in Bombay? If this is fine then all I need is a Round pin plug and I am all set I guess. Please reply. Once again thank you so much.
Raju

Raju
Click to expand...

Look here for a list of countries and their voltages.
http://kropla.com/electric2.htm

Your adaptor should work anywhere in the world without the use of a voltage convertor. Just carry the plug adaptor specific to the country you are travelling to. All you have to worry about are power surges and fluctuations.
 
Laptop & customs

Raju in Philly said:
Hello ari4u,
Thank you so much for your reply. Well I looked at my adapter and here is the specification : It is a HP AC Adapter and it says 65W
Input: 100-240v 50-60Hz Output: 18.5V Level 3 Power-supply. Do you think my laptop will be fine in Bombay? If this is fine then all I need is a Round pin plug and I am all set I guess. Please reply. Once again thank you so much.
Raju

Hello Sai 73,
I am very happy to know that you had a great time in Bombay and without any problems. I am hoping and praying my trip is great too. I am just worried about those corrupt Indian customs agents you know how they ask for money. Anyway thank you for your tips I will remember to endorse laptop on the passport if I meet a jerk. Okay as far as my laptop is concerned what do you think about the specifications of my AC Adapter ? I am hoping I just need the round pin plug right? I look forward to your reply. Once again thank you so much. By the way I was in Bombay in 2001 and was just wondering do they still have that RED /GREEN channel thing? Please advise.

Raju
Click to expand...

Hi Raju,
your laptop should work fine in india, u just need the pin plug.And they still do have green and red channel thing, and most of them walk thru the green channels without any problems.
Wish u a Happy journey.
sai
 
sai73 said:
Hi Raju,
your laptop should work fine in india, u just need the pin plug.And they still do have green and red channel thing, and most of them walk thru the green channels without any problems.
Wish u a Happy journey.
sai
Click to expand...


All laptops will works in india, as there operating range are @ 100-240V & 50-60 Hz Frequency. All you need is pin converter(in india we have round pin plugs & here flat), which is $0.50 if you go to any indian bazaar.
 
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