You get to stay 90 days in schengen states without visa, if you are one of the following:

1. EU/EEA nationals
2. Non-EU nationals of 42 countries which include US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan etc.
3. Holder of residence permit issued by a schengen member country.

Keep in mind that if you are staying more than 90 days, you must register with authorities and apply for residence permit of longer stays more than 90 days.

There is no limitation for the number of times you may enter the Schengen area if the total number of days you stayed in the Schengen-area in the six month period does not exceed 90 days.

Points to Remember about 90/180 rule:

1. The 180 day clock starts ticking, from the date of first entry into schengen.

2. No limitations on number of times, to enter schengen and all the accumulated days will be added up.

3. Stays exceeding 90 days spent, is considered “overstay” and if that happens, you might likely be questioned at passport control. Be careful that never exceed your stay and plan well ahead to leave schengen before the 90 day elapses.

4. Stays in countries UK, Ireland, Romania, Bulgaria do not count as these countries are not not part of schengen zone.

For example if Mr. David has planned for vacation in Italy and Spain. He enters Italy(member state) on Jan 10, then as per the 90/180 rule, then 180 day clock starts from Jan 10 and ends on Jul 10. Mr. David, spends 60 days in Italy and 30 days in Spain and departs on approx April 10 back home. This means he already has consumed his allowed 90 day limit and he will not be able to visit any schengen country not before July 10.

If you are non EU national, always have the following additional documents during entry/exit in passport control:

• Return flight tickets for further journeys  (return tickets);
• Evidence of sufficient funds and money
• Hotel reservation or proof of accommodation,
• Invitation letter in case of business visits, conferences.
• The passport validity should be at least three months at the intended time of departure from the Schengen Area.

My case is passport reissue of my expiring passport which was expiring within a year. No change in address everything same as per old passport. I got police clearance certificate PCC six months ago and despite this I was told today post police verification would be done after granting passport. I remember last time at the local police station they took me fingerprints and other documentation. I am disappointed that I have to go through the same verification again. I thought they would issue me passport with no police verification but the passport granting officer granted me the passport subjected to post police verification.

After my experience in passport Kendra I must say that TCS guys are doing a remarkable job there and they are so friendly. The passport officers at B and C counters are bit rude I should say.

Oh! You won’t be needing a photo nowdays. You will be fingerprinted and captured photo there itself.

One of the most common questions asked about renewing passport is – will my passport number change when i reissue or renew passport? The answer is yes, you will get a new passport number. They will stamp cancelled in your old passport and return you back at the counter. If you have doubts or have any valid visas in your old passport, carry both old and new passports whenever you travel.

Police verification by the authorities have been nowdays mandatory, and nobody can escape that. Even tatkal, reissue and fresh passports, go through the same verification. You will be verified at your present address. if you are staying/working other than your permanent address, the verification will happen at both the places. Please note that the Granting Officer (GO) will take the decision whether you have to undergo verification or not.

1. Pre Police verification (first verification happens, then if clear, passport will be sent)
2. Post police verification (passport will be issued first, then verification happen)
3. No verification

When you go for passport Kendra for reissue/renew/fresh, be sure to carry as many identification documents you can in original and you will be asked for atleast 2 address proof and 1 for proof of date of birth. + one proof for ECNR. For reissue of passport within 1 year of expiry the passportindia.gov.in says that just original passport is required but I was was asked for 2 address proofs and 1 proof for birth.

Documents for address proof

1. Ration card
2. Driving license
3. Voter ID
4. Telephone bill landline or postpaid (1 bill for last year and 1 latest bill)
5. 1 year bank statement with bankers certificate photo attested by bank manager. If you are taking bank passbook issued by nationalised banks be sure to get sign and seal of bank manager in your passbook. Mere passbook printouts not accepted
6. Registered land deeds
7. Income tax assessment order with 3 year return acknowledgment showing address and IT dept stamp.

For full list of documents, please http://passportindia.gov.in

Proof for date of birth:

PAN card
SSLC/+2 certificate

ECNR change:
Just take your 10th marksheet in original or PAN card.

Caution: when I stepped in the seva Kendra I noticed a board saying this:

“Since most countries take biometric information, especially gulf countries Any suppression of information in personal particulars could lead to prosecution or problems with foreign immigration. “

So do not suppress any information such as change of name, work place, age etc. If you are working in bangalore but your permanent address is Delhi, be sure to submit all relevant information on where you have stayed for the past years. Police verification will be done in places you have stayed previously.

Passport seva complaints:

• Getting an appointment is a predicament as most of the time servers are busy or no slots available from passportindia.gov.in
• I have noticed lots of technical problems in seva Kendra such as token not working, server problems causing resorting to manual mode.
• Photos captured in seva kendras are poor in quality and not clear often. Never liked my photo in the passport.

I personally feel that our govt should set up more kendras as the number of people seeking passports skyrocketed to 200%. Not to mention people requesting additional services such as addition of spouse name, address change, minors, PCC (Police clearance certificate) has been at very high numbers.

Update: I applied for passport reissue in PSK, under normal, paid Rs.1000 and i was surprised that they dispatched, the passport the same day and i received on next day by speed post. Never heard of passport sent on same day and i guess i was very lucky!!!! I had to be physically present to sign to receive the passport from the postman. It seems rules have become strict, and they give passport only to the passport holder not even to my parents.

So be careful hiring taxis in Budapest where there are popular destinations. The best is to call a taxi to hire and in that way you dont give any chance to ripoffs.

Besides this, be sure to avoid blacklisted places, announced by US embassy for Budapest. The Ferihegy international airport has been recently renamed as “List Fernc International airport”.

http://hungary.usembassy.gov/tourist_advisory.html

Hope you be careful when you travel to budapest next time.

if(empty($_SERVER["HTTPS"])) {
header("Location: https://example.com/application.htm");
exit;
}

1. Create a php file named “login-protect.php” in your current theme folder.

2. Place the following code in this file

<?php /*   Template Name:  Login Protect Template */ ?>
<?php get_header() ; ?>
<?php auth_redirect(); // checks to see if logged in else redirect ?>
<!-- HERE GOES HTML AND CSS DEPENDING ON YOUR THEME -->

<?php get_footer(); ?>

3. Go create a post, set the template to “Login Protected Template”  (will show up)

4. Directly write the content and publish it.

There is one more alternative to check logins is use

if (!is_user_logged_in()) {
wp_redirect("/wp-login.php");
}

Thats it! Your login protected page is ready.

Having spent whole day banging my head on the wall, i found this simple code, does the job. Put this code in your theme function.php file or create your own plugin.

My users are set on “contributor” role by default.

keep in mind the hook edit_posts, runs, when a user submits a post for review (pending). This is for contributor role. For author role, the hook publish_posts runs when authors submit posts for review.

I created a separate payment page, which i had links for paypal and 2checkout. The code checks to make sure only those users under “contributor” role (not admins) will get redirected to payment page, upon submitting a post for review.

add_action('edit_post','payment_redirect');

function payment_redirect($post_id) {
global $wpdb;
if ( current_user_can('contributor') ) {
wp_redirect("http://example.com/paypal/");
exit;
}
return $post_id;
}

Hope this helps!