Applying for an Indian Visa in the UK: Your Questions and Experiences

gw5458

I'm sorry if you read my post as snapping at you - that's not what I meant at all, I appreciated your reply and I apologise for being unclear in the tone of what I wrote. I only meant to point out how much more complicated it is when you have to rely on postal services a long way from home.

The story so far: I had an email from VFS last night with a tracking number. Unfortunately it's the wrong one - in fact the one on the application which I sent on 4th June and which Royal Mail confirms they delivered to Hayes on 5th June. So it can't be the one for a package supposedly posted to me on the 9th. Sounds like a mix-up somewhere along the line.

tommohawk

As I found this thread useful when preparing my application thought I'd give an update as to what happened for me.

1) Sunday evening - I filled out application online and booked appointment at Victoria office for tueday (time automatically given to me, 9.30am)

2) Tuesday - arrived at office on wilton st/victoria/london at 8.45 (45mins early). Just at top of stairs I picked up a token, which gave me my place in the queue of people waiting(appointment time only actually a guide, worked well for me turning up early). There were about 20 odd people there and I was called up about 15 mins after getting my token. Spent 4or5 minutes at counter where I paid in cash and was given reciept.

I was finished by about 9.05am. Less than 20 mins once finding the building.

3) Friday a.m. my passport with 6 month visa arrived via recorded post. From application to receipt of passport it took 3 days.

Overall stress free and easy process.

Shame you cant get it on the day like in the past though. And also a shame that visa costs £30, but due to fees etc you pay £46.

d'Artis88

Or can I just print out the 'offline application' and go without an appointment? PLease someone who knows for certain please say. I don't want to be turned away.

Point is I don't understand how to book an appontment unless I complete an online application - everything I do online seems to go wrong so I now avoid it, or is this one simpler than it looks?

(why is their helpline the most expensive I've ever seen short of those premium rate chat line things!)

I have less than two weeks to sort it out. Please advise!

Haylo

Yes, definitely. This time of year you won't have a long wait, even without an appointment.

You can't. Look at it this way, the appointment is your reward for filling in the form online and saving VFS from a lot of time and effort.

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The world is mud-luscious and puddle-wonderful - E.E. Cummings, poet (1894-1962)

HollyPea

Just thought I'd post a quick update on our Visa applications - passports submitted on 16th and received back in our pre-paid SDE envelope this morning, each with a 6 month Visa.

Very impressed with the service and I'm sure it wouldn't have gone so smoothly without all the help from IMers so thanks to everyone here too!

Good luck to everyone else applying soon

Mike Cork

Nice news... good luck with your trip..

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Only you can make it a good day...

asmithee

Yo dudes...how's things?

Very, very different on the Schengen side of the operation. Challenging, to say the least.

6 Embassies...one very small office...

One bright note...I may be getting my first visit to India next month, courtesy of the company. Really looking forward to it, if it happens. Not confirmed yet.

Take care friends!

A

johnny five

Good to hear from you!

If you end up in 'orrible Goa, contact me via the forum, there's a bed and a welcome waiting for you!

Haylo

Hey, good to hear from you, and fingers crossed that you make it over here.

It's a shame you don't know anywhere you could get travel advice about India...

patti123

Nice to hear from you asmithee.

a_f_d

Where did you see that?

AndyD 8-)#

Nick-H

Glad you are still here

---and hope that trip materialises

old man

Going to try for Visa next month - anybody else had a five year x.

augustwolf

Hello all

I've recently moved to London and have applied for a one-year business visa to go to India on behalf of my company. I have had several previous visas to India, both for business and tourism, but these were all processed in my home country (the Philippines)

There's conflicting information on how long it takes to process visas for non-UK passport holders who've been in the UK for less than a year. The processing times I've seen range from five to ten working days.

Does anyone have any feedback of how long this takes based on personal experience?

Thanks

AW

Haylo

Those processing times are correct, some non UK residents on here have reported a three day turnaround, others have reported two weeks.

It depends on how quickly the authorities in your country of residence take to respond to the Indian High Commission's enquiry.

At this time of year, not many people are applying to India for tourist visas, so at least that side of the operation will be quick.