Indian Visa

[moonsi til]

I have done a new thread as the way to get your visa has changed. I usually have a local Indian travel place do it for me. I found out today that the Indian Embassy in Brum and L'dn have outsourced visa applications so I was given the website address.

I logged on but the site was soo slow. I'm wondering how long the visa takes to process ? and what exactly I need to do ? Place I normally get if from can still do for £65 which is a hike of £15 (i think) since I got a visa in Dec 2006.

 

[purves grundy]

Are you going there directly? If not, and perhaps going via Bangkok or summink, it makes sense to do it out there rather than here.

 

[moonsi til]

Going directly from London. The site is soo slow to load that I can't even get it to load the basics such as price.

 

[Juice Terry]

There's a whole load of info here, including the latest about the new outsourcing deal:-

http://www.indiamike.com/india/indian-visa-and-passport-questions-f9/

 

[Sunray]

Are you going there directly? If not, and perhaps going via Bangkok or summink, it makes sense to do it out there rather than here.

Getting an Indian Visa in Bangkok takes 9 days.

 

[moonsi til]

I have just completed it online and it's easy enough once you realise what they want you put. I was putting N/A for the parts that were not relevant to me such as having a sponsor or visiting a restricted area and kept getting rejected. It required me to put 'none'. It cost nearly £44 plus the cost of me to send it special delivery and my photos.

It takes 15 working days to process, I'm posting it tomorrow and going on Nov 1st so plenty of time...but I will still silently fret...

 

[Thimble Queen]

cant you do it in person anymore?

 

[moonsi til]

yes you can still do it in person but you still need to fill out the form.

 

[phildwyer]

I did it in person last year and it was a major hassle--huge lines around the block at India House, bedlam inside etc. Best avoided if you can.

 

[Belushi]

The good thing is one person can go to India House with a bunch of forms and passports and get the visas for everyone.

 

[moonsi til]

fuckfuckfuckfuck...ARGH...got my passport back today and visa was refused as my application signature does not match my passport. My signature has become a diluted bastard version as I sign it so much every day that it has turned into a scawl and not the twee neatness of my 8 year old passport.

I fly out on Nov 1st so I have time to sort it out but it's a hassle and will be tight. I have had to change my shift at work on Thursday to attend in person. It's already cost me £10 in postal charges.

I was so flipping excited when I came home to a Royal Mail card that I dashed to get it in stupid traffic.

I have had to modify my application to include 2 UK referees. My passport has 3 used Indian visas ....still it's a learning experience and I have never been in person before.

lots of these... and hefty dose of

 

[Dr Jon]

Yeah, the new system is fucked up. Got my visa recently: usually I go to the consulate in the morning, queue up, hand in my passport, application & payment and collect in the afternoon.

Now I can book to make an appointment with the visa agency online. I was seen exactly on time, but couldn't get my visaed passport back for 2-3 days. This makes going in person pretty much a waste of time unless you live nearby.

Of course, they didn't bother to tell anyone the system had changed...

 

[moonsi til]

I'm going to Birmingham tomorrow though I didn't seem to be able to get a time just the day. I will go back and investigate.

 

[Thimble Queen]

Can you still just turn up without booking an appointment? I was planning to do this on friday...

Good luck in brimingham moonsi!

 

[moonsi til]

That was pain free... Took me about 45 minutes to drive there and only took a few wrong turns trying to find side streets. I booked an appointment online for today but you don't get given a time just a numbered ticket when you arrive. I was in and out in 10 minutes. Other folk had just turned up with no pre-booked slot and things were moving fast though I suggest making an appointment and filling out your form online and printing it off first.

I was informed my visa would arrive in the post by Wednesday...

 

[Thimble Queen]

I turned up at the Visa application centre in Victoria. The wait was two hours which wasnt all that bad... I went to get some food and had a walk so the time passed easily.

Apparently mine'll be ready for collection by wednesday at the latest

 

[Thimble Queen]

Visa was picked up today at the centre in Victoria... not even that much of a cue

Seems a better way of doing it than cueing up for a million years at India House

 

[moonsi til]

Yay for getting a stress free visa.

I picked mine up from the P.O yesterday and really can't fault the service despite my rant when it was first refused.

 

[Thimble Queen]

Glad you got it sorted

When you off/ Where you off to?

 

[moonsi til]

I fly out to Delhi from Heathrow next Saturday at 10pm arriving next day about 11am ish. I'm going with a girlfriend for 3 weeks. Our plan is 2 weeks Rajesthan then a flight down to Goa from Jaipur then fly back to Heathrow.

I have been looking forward to this since booking it in March but now I don't feel organised and feel a bit about being in a bikini without the exercise I planned.

I wish you both a safe and happy adventure...