Rise in tourist visa fee

[DJKeefy]

I think the post was made by the consulate guy for Hurghada on their facebook page and copied to the Visa regulations facebook group, I'm not a member no more so can not check, it stated something about over 60s not needing a visa unless they wanted to travel within Egypt, this was at least 2 years ago and like most posts on social media left the reader more confused

[newcastle]

Yes...I remember that post. It followed a conversation between the honorary consul and the senior captain at the visa office. He seemed to be saying that an over 60 would not need a visa unless they tried to travel.

The post in question :

“This was from John Kenny Feb 2017....hurghada Passport & Visa Office
I met with Maj. Islam this morning to clarify a few points about visa eligibility for the over 60's.

He explained that the over 60's who stay here for around 3-6 months and do not venture very far from their residence will be OK. When you return to the UK you will not be subject to a penalty. However, if you are in this category and venture out in a bus, taxi or as a passenger in a car and were stopped at a checkpoint and asked to produce your passport you could be arrested for not having a valid visa. In other words you would be considered to be here illegally and subject to a penalty. The penalty would be at the discretion of the court if it went that far.”

Unfortunately, the captain’s comments were not backed by any official notice and, with regard to arresting at checkpoints, are not in line with day to day practice. I’ve never heard of an over 60 being treated in this way. Of course even over 60’s need a visa when entering....and it only lasts for a month (if purchased at the airport).

[hatusu]

I had my 're-entry visa, plus the visa purchased 6 mths later which ran out 2 mths before my flight out again. As I wrote in my previous post, I know for certain I am not the only person this has happened to, in fact my friend travelling a week later was treated more severely than I was.
(Another reason I didn't want to get the missing visa was the fact my passport is getting too full of stamps and it's got another 2 yrs before it runs out with hardly any space left)

[newcastle]

Sorry to hear you were hassled hatusu.

It shouldn’t happen...per the Hurghada officials.

You were given a ticking off. Maybe that’ll frighten Who2 into getting a visa extension. I suspect NOT!

But...hey...this is Egypt. It depends who you meet and what side of bed they got out of that morning.

[Horus]

And there lies the rub, nothing is ever clear in Egypt when it comes visas, there are laws and then some dubious exceptions to those laws. What goes for Hurghada does not get implimented in Luxor or somewhere else, what one official says is counteracted by another. Rightly or wrongly it is all down to people not observing the visa rules as they exist, long term tourists in particular are always looking for loopholes, it is quite simply really, if you wish to visit Egypt you need a valid visa that covers the duration of your stay and if you don't have one you can expect trouble. You cannot have a flexible period for a visa, it is either valid or it is not, you were issued that visa under certain terms and conditions that you have to abide by and the main one is that it should be valid for the period of your visit. What you can have is flexible enforcement a bit like the old days in the UK with a stop for speeding. If you acted nicely and providing you were not going too much over the speed limit then the nice policeman may just have let you off with a warning, if not you got a ticket, nowadays you just get the ticket.

[newcastle]

There’s nothing there I would disagree with Horus.

And if getting an extension was straightforward we wouldn’t see people flouting the rules. The problem lies in the hoops you have to jump through to get an extension. I’m guessing it’s not an issue you have encountered.

I’ve tried a couple of times....in each case I needed about 4 weeks. On the first occasion I was told I needed to show my tenancy agreement. I was staying with friends. Apparently, that situation is not catered for! Impasse.

It’s no fun spending hours suffering Egyptian bureaucracy at the visa office!

On the second occasion, armed with a letter from my host, I met with a similar problem.....not sufficient. At this point I went to the captain who took one look at my passport, asked when I was leaving, and said “you don’t need a visa”. I assume he meant a visa extension.

I asked if I would have a problem at the airport. He said no....that they “knew the rules”.

He was right...at least as far as the airport boss was concerned.

[Horus]

Believe me I have experienced it myself although not in Egypt and I know it is no fun, but like most things in life when the rules get drafted up they rarely see the exceptions and that is where the problems lies.

[carrie]

I have never had a problem getting my visa. I leave the country once a year, get my entry visa then off to the passport office for an extension. With rental agreement, photos, and passport plus all my photo copies I go to get my second 6 month visa then I leave again and the whole procedure starts again.
I know it's a pain and I never realised how lucky we were just to go to the passport office and get a years visa, year after year. If we want to live here though it's the hoops we have to jump through.

[Who2]

So, they are saying over 60's are more likely to forget to renew.
I'll invest in a hearing aid a cane and dribble alot, if it all comes 'on-top..

Mind you, I do enjoy spending the day in the St George Sonesta....so might get round to getting another visa,
Iv'e got 3 months to mull it over...but cheers for all the advice.

I was also told if I get the visa in London like the old days, 12 months no problem and it's cheap..
Plus there's loads of antique shops around Lowndes St selling Egyptian stuff. I love Belgravia 'dead posh!...

[newcastle]

I was also told if I get the visa in London like the old days, 12 months no problem and it's cheap..
Plus there's loads of antique shops around Lowndes St selling Egyptian stuff. I love Belgravia 'dead posh!...

I don’t think so!

60 days for single entry or 90 days for multiple entry.

If you intend to stay for more than 60/90 days, then you have to apply for extension....in Egypt.

Or the Zimmer frame & dribble technique. Works for me.

[Major Thom]

I read yesterday that a regular visitor to Egypt had been put off by rises and is now not returning. I too think that any rise to the tourist, especially families will have adverse effects, however when I realised the rise was only $5 I thought Oh not too bad, but for a family of 4 adds another $20 to their holiday and to some who holiday on a budget thats quite a bit.

[hatusu]

I think if a family of 4 can't adjust to an increase of £16 total they shouldn't be going away anywhere in holiday!

[BENNU]

I realised the rise was only $5

I did not realise that there was $5 rise!

[newcastle]

I realised the rise was only $5

I did not realise that there was $5 rise!

There isn’t.

But don’t tell MT....it’ll upset him!

Going by this morning’s offerings, you have to wonder whether he’s finally succumbed to dementia. I can remember my old ma, in her dotage, inventing things and resurrecting conversations we had months before. All very sad.

[carrie]

Is it possible that the surgeon dug a little too deep when he was giving MT the hair extensions?

[Yildez]

Is it possible that the surgeon dug a little too deep when he was giving MT the hair extensions?

[HEPZIBAH]

Is it possible that the surgeon dug a little too deep when he was giving MT the hair extensions?

Carrie! I nearly choked on my apple juice reading that.

[newcastle]

Is it possible that the surgeon dug a little too deep when he was giving MT the hair extensions?

He’d have had to dig pretty deep to reach anything vulnerable.