An Increase in India Visa Fees for UK Nationals as of Jan 2013

I would have used the same thread title, but just a thought......

I had time to kill today, so looked at this thread, on most other days I wouldn't have looked, but if the title said HUGE increase, I would have looked.

Steven for heavens sake read it properly............ there is no mention of retrospective add-ons, once you have your visa, that's it.

The news is bad enough without trying to make it seem worse.......... even the chaotic Indianm visa system has not tried to make it worse after you have actually paid for and received your visa?

On the subject of huge/slight increase............ mea culpa, it was so outrageous that a degree of irony crept in.

Just wait for the gloating colonials when they eventually wake up , lol

I did read it properly, and just because there's no mention, it doesn't mean everything is OK.

The Indian Railway circular (explaining the rail fare increases) made no mention of paying the increase on the train if a ticket had already been purchased, but we have to pay the extra, even though we've already paid for and are holding the tickets.

The rail fare and visa increases are happening within days of each other, I wonder if there's any connection.

Some Indian Immigration officials have pulled a few scams in their time, I just want to be sure so I'm not scammed when I arrive in India on the 27th.

This seriously sucks!

Oh well, there goes my plan for a 1 year multi entry .

Does anyone know if that has any effect on UK nationals obtaining Visa's in other countries?

My new plan will be to get a standard 6 month visa and then re-apply for another standard 6 month from Nepal, Bangkok or Kuala Lumpur.

NB

Hi there,

Just heard about the new increase, was about to apply for travel for next month.

Lets say I sumbit my application in person before the 17th, and I receive the Visa back after the 17th, will I be charged the increased fee?
What if I pay in advance online?

Or is your guess as good as mine..?

I just had a look at the website of the Indian Embassy in Dublin.

A 6 month tourist visa for Irish nationals is EUR 50.

A 6 month visa for citizens of most other countries is EUR 63.

A 6 month tourist visa for Americans is EUR 88.

A 6 month tourist visa for UK passport holders is a whopping EUR 152 !!!



http://www.indianembassy.ie/consular...vices#visa-151

I'd be keen to understand why we're being penalised? I'm sure UK nationals/passport holders must make up a fair percentage of vistors to India?

NB

see #14

AndyD 8-)₹

Still gonna cost you the best part of £100 a pop Boo, bastard innit?

Yes, it is

That's what it looks like at a first glance but most UK passport-holders visiting India are OCIs and PIOs.

I know

Still, with a 1 year visa I'd only get a few months the second visit as it would expire next February. At least this way, provided I actually get granted a 6 month visa abroad, I can likely stay Nov-March and get a bit more value out of it.

None the less, its going to cost close to £400 for my wife and I for two visas - thats a huge chunk of money from our RTW travels. I almost feel like not going to India out of protest but unfortunately I love her too much, no matter how bad she treats me .

NB

Would be interested to see the statistics your are basing that statement of fact on?

Bit of a pain. I was going for a 1 year this time as well.
It certainly knocks a hole in the budget of a family of four.
Presumably they'll try to counter the fall in the numbers by giving Visa On Arrival.

Let's hope that VOA is in the pipeline....... At a reasonable fee....

Before everyone gets too excited about VOA, here are a few points to consider....

A list of additional countries was released and reported in the Times of India on May 12th 2012, and is still pending. This included France and Russia, but not the UK.

Dabolim airport in Goa, the point of entry for up to 100,000 charter tourists from UK, and far more from Russia and other countries, does not offer VOA, in spite of regular assurances of its introduction.

VOA is only valid for a maximum of 30 days, can only be used twice in a 12 month period, and seems to still have the 60 day gap attached to it, so of little use to travellers.

It also carries the following conditions
Available to a person.....
Whose sole objective of visiting India is recreation, sight seeing, casual visit to meet friends or relatives etc and no other purpose/ activity;
Who does not have a residence or occupation in India;
Who holds a passport with minimum six months validity, and a re-entry .permit if that is required under the law of the country of nationality of the applicant;
Who is a person of assured financial standing ( the production of a return ticket and availability of sufficient money to spend during his stay in India may be considered sufficient for this purpose).
Who is not a person-non-grata to the Government of India;
Who is not considered an undesirable person and is not the subject of a black list or any warning circular or other restrictive list

And is only available at a handful of Indian airports