Tourist Visa

Post by **WIZARD** » Thu Jul 14, 2011 1:09 pm

I too had no priblem obtaining my 1 year visa a few weeks ago from the Luxor Passport office. In fact I got it a month early in February, even though it wasn't due till March. I'm not sure that it was anything to do with the fact that I've lived here in Luxor for over 20 years and never left the country, or that I'm now well over 60 and, have a private pension, plus the state pension on it's way in a few months time, so I've no need to work.

Post by **DJKeefy** » Thu Jul 14, 2011 1:42 pm

You got it in Feb, the laws which were in place many years ago and now seem to be enforced started around March time, You should be OK:

Those of age 60 or more who have been resident in Egypt for 10 years provided that a source of income is available to them.

Post by **WIZARD** » Thu Jul 14, 2011 2:20 pm

Thankyou Keefy.

Post by **Arthur** » Thu Jul 21, 2011 12:17 pm

There's an article "Tourist visa changes could leave expats with little recourse" posted yesterday on Al-Masry Al-Youm website here:

http://www.almasryalyoum.com/en/node/478918

Not sure it adds any more certainty to the confusion, though.

Post by **Jay73** » Thu Jul 21, 2011 5:08 pm

the new article confirms that there are some changes but it also says that if you own property you are ok, doesnt it?

Post by **LivinginLuxor** » Mon Jul 25, 2011 5:23 pm

Well, I managed to get out early (for me!) at about 10.30 to get my visa for the coming year.
And, no problem whatsoever, other than that madam had no change, but wasn't allowed to keep the change anymore, despite two of us saying "no problem, madam"! Had to go back at 2 to pick up passport with new visa, so I had a pleasant couple of hours at Snacktime, as it was too hot to stay in Sindbad's!

For one, I wish that the fee of 91.25LE could be increased to 95 or 100, which is next to no increase and a nice round figure, but obviates the need for change.

Post by **DJKeefy** » Mon Jul 25, 2011 6:41 pm

I think I stated elsewhere that I did not think you will have a problem since you are over 60, it seems like its people under this age who have lived here for a long time without leaving the country who have the problem, and thats not everyone in the under 60 category, so its hard to put a finger on why some do and some dont, many Egyptians and some lawyers have said that with the country in the situation it is, that most goverment workers dont actually know what they are doing themselves to a certain degree.

Post by **Chocolate Eclair** » Tue Jul 26, 2011 8:29 am

You start to get the feeling that no one knows what is going on!!!! everything getting put off, or delayed. Its starting to get very messy!!!

Post by **Winged Isis** » Tue Jul 26, 2011 8:39 am

LivinginLuxor wrote:Well, I managed to get out early (for me!) at about 10.30 to get my visa for the coming year.
And, no problem whatsoever, other than that madam had no change, but wasn't allowed to keep the change anymore, despite two of us saying "no problem, madam"! Had to go back at 2 to pick up passport with new visa, so I had a pleasant couple of hours at Snacktime, as it was too hot to stay in Sindbad's!

For one, I wish that the fee of 91.25LE could be increased to 95 or 100, which is next to no increase and a nice round figure, but obviates the need for change.

Oh yes, I had forgotten about the small-change problem! Make sure when you go back to pick it up you take a variety of notes and any coins you can scrounge to make the EXACT amount, as they NEVER have change, despite having people coming in to pay all day! And the amount is always some weird amount, never a nice round one. Go figure! :dun:

Post by **LivinginLuxor** » Tue Jul 26, 2011 8:51 am

Choc - I wasn't delayed or put off, neither was the other European filling in forms beside me. Wiz and several others recently wrote that they had no problems either. I agree with Keefy, that the delays/refusals/shorter visas are aimed more at people of working age who have not returned to their home country for quite a while. With the tightening of rules on work permits, this could be a way of filtering people who may be working illegally in Egypt - obviously not in Keefy's case as he has a fully licenced business here.

Post by **TonyC** » Tue Jul 26, 2011 9:37 am

The passport office does do change (or it did in May!); it seems it's small change that is the problem. I handed over a LE100 note plus the 1.25, and was told "Wait for your change". The man with the ledger got a LE10 from his drawer. Shops, too, seem to appreciate odd amounts so they can give back a nice round-figure note!

Post by **Bearded Brian** » Tue Jul 26, 2011 3:31 pm

Shops, too, seem to appreciate odd amounts so they can give back a nice round-figure note!

Can't do that in the UK - it confuses the cashier

Post by **TonyC** » Tue Jul 26, 2011 3:44 pm

Bearded Brian wrote:
Shops, too, seem to appreciate odd amounts so they can give back a nice round-figure note!
Can't do that in the UK - it confuses the cashier

True! That's why I always ended with pocketfuls of shrapnel

Post by **LivinginLuxor** » Wed Jul 27, 2011 9:29 am

With so many prices ending in .99, wouldn't it be sensible to have a 99p coin?

Post by **Winged Isis** » Wed Jul 27, 2011 9:43 am

When I went in the first time, not knowing about the change situation, they were digging into their own pockets to sort it. The next time, it had been so long I had forgotten (about 2 years), and they asked me to go out to the shops and see if I could get the correct amount! They must lock it in the safe immediately and be refused access once it's in, or summat as silly!

Post by **Chocolate Eclair** » Thu Jul 28, 2011 6:14 am

Sorry L in L I was referring to things in General, went to Court yesterday again the 3rd time, and the second time the judges felt they could not be bothered to turn up, anyway its given me more time to work below the surface on other things that need to be done regarding this case.....
But in General things are getting to be a bit like a rudderless boat, going in all directions, with no end destination... This needs to be corrected not put off or delayed, its a shame really..........

Post by **Karenh** » Sat Aug 20, 2011 9:38 pm

When i went for my visa immediately after the protests in January i was only given a 6 , month one and told they wouldn't issue a longer one as things may change. I recently went back and the only tourist visa available was a further 3 month one and was told they would not issue any more so i would have to leave after that and that this was now the rule if you already have one they will only issue a 3 month one then no more......so not sure how this will affect many of us. Also work permit visas are getting very hard now for ex pats of all countries as they want egyptians employed not foriengers

Post by **Lisak** » Sat Aug 20, 2011 9:47 pm

Karen, I was wondering about you yesterday, and how you are now finding things in Cairo. I have a friend who has recently been and was attacked whilst there, she said sht on this visit she didn't feel as safe as she normally does (she used to live in Cairo and had visited a couple of times since February.)
So just wondered how you are finding things?

Post by **WIZARD** » Sun Aug 21, 2011 2:01 am

Karenh wrote:When I went for my visa immediately after the protests in January. I was only given a 6 month visa and told they wouldn't issue a longer one as things may change. I recently went back and the only tourist visa available was a further 3 month one and was told they would not issue any more, so I would have to leave after that time and that this was now the rule if you already have one they will only issue a 3 month one then no more......

May we assume Karenh you are referring to the Cairo Passport office and not to Luxor ?