📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
International
German mother and daughter stranded in Bhopal after tourist visa expires
✍️ Amar Ujala · Bhopal
🗓 12 Sep 2026, 10:02 PM
👁 15
A German woman who arrived in India with her daughter through a decade‑long Facebook friendship is now stuck in Bhopal after her 180‑day tourist visa lapsed and she lacks funds to return.
Jessica, a German national, traveled to India with her daughter after a ten‑year friendship developed on Facebook. The pair entered the country on a standard 180‑day tourist visa, which has now expired. With no financial resources to purchase a return ticket, they were unable to leave the country.
Local authorities in Madhya Pradesh placed the mother‑daughter duo at the Gauravi Center in Bhopal, a facility that provides temporary shelter for individuals in distress. Officials said the centre will continue to support them while consular assistance is arranged.
The German embassy in New Delhi has been notified of the situation and is expected to coordinate repatriation, though no definitive timeline has been announced. This case highlights the challenges faced by foreign visitors who overstay their visas without adequate support.
The incident has drawn attention to the need for clearer guidance on visa extensions and financial safeguards for tourists, especially those traveling with family members under informal arrangements such as online friendships.
Local authorities in Madhya Pradesh placed the mother‑daughter duo at the Gauravi Center in Bhopal, a facility that provides temporary shelter for individuals in distress. Officials said the centre will continue to support them while consular assistance is arranged.
The German embassy in New Delhi has been notified of the situation and is expected to coordinate repatriation, though no definitive timeline has been announced. This case highlights the challenges faced by foreign visitors who overstay their visas without adequate support.
The incident has drawn attention to the need for clearer guidance on visa extensions and financial safeguards for tourists, especially those traveling with family members under informal arrangements such as online friendships.