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

Haylo · Jul 20th, 2009, 16:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by catpat123

You can do the whole thing by post.

As Catpat123 says, it can be done by post.

A word of warning - you really do need to read the information on the VFS website. All this is clearly set out, but if you try and apply without carefully following the instructions, your chances of having a successful and prompt visa application are approximately zero!

scottd · Jul 21st, 2009, 00:51

Just a wee tip, if submitting your visa application in person in Edinburgh dont go to the indian consulate in Edinburgh (Rutland Square) as I did, go to 56 Rose Street as thats where the processing center is and the (very rude) woman behind the desk at rutland square will send you away lol

(Mod note: Hi scottd - moved your post here - where it seems to belong

)

Saharalass · Jul 21st, 2009, 20:31

Hello everyone...I'm new on here although I've been reading the forum for a few weeks now and have finally got around to joining! It's a great site!

Just thought I'd contribute by saying I've just applied for two visas by post to Hayes and they were turned around most efficiently in a week. It cost £85.12 for the two including the return postage and £4.95 to send them special delivery which is not bad and way cheaper than using a visa agent. I found filling in the forms online took a fair bit of concentration as a lot of the entries refreshed the screen and left you wondering what had happened! It would be much easier if you could just print the form and fill it in by hand. I also found I couldn't be divorced and a Miss, clearly a shameful combination! Be careful if you are applying for more than one person at more than one address as it takes the first application as the lead application and subsequently addresses everything to them - I put my address as the return address which worked but the envelope was addressed to the person whose visa I had completed first - it took a bit of explaining at the post office - I had to have their ID to confirm their name and my ID for the address!

Haylo · Jul 21st, 2009, 23:01

Hi Saharalass, and welcome to the site.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Saharalass

I also found I couldn't be divorced and a Miss, clearly a shameful combination!

Ha! Yes, welcome to India...

Quote:

Be careful if you are applying for more than one person at more than one address as it takes the first application as the lead application and subsequently addresses everything to them

Thanks for the warning about that one, especially as documents are returned by special delivery, and not all post offices are as flexible as yours!

If anyone's worried about falling foul of this, you can purchase your own prepaid Special Delivery Envelope to send off with your application, and you can fill in the address yourself to avoid confusion. It's also cheaper than paying VFS to arrange the return postage, and it gives you the opportunity to make a note of the tracking number.

towildhoney · Jul 22nd, 2009, 01:44

Hi some advice wanted!
I put my passport into the office in Victoria on Monday. I have been checking the website but it just says application submited. The people at vfs said it should be ready on Wednesday or Thursady. I want to fly to Germany on Thursday so really need the passport back tommorow. Wondered if there is any chance that the passport will be there on Wednesday if the website does not say its at vfs.
Thanks

Haylo · Jul 22nd, 2009, 02:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by towildhoney

The people at vfs said it should be ready on Wednesday or Thursady. I want to fly to Germany on Thursday so really need the passport back tommorow. Wondered if there is any chance that the passport will be there on Wednesday if the website does not say its at vfs.

Well, there is a chance that your passport will be at the VFS office if the website has not been updated, but the online tracking is pretty accurate these days.

However, it is only Tuesday today, so there is no chance of your passport being back at VFS already, and if it's there tomorrow, the chances are that the website will be updated with that information.

As time is so tight for you, why not go to the VFS office anyway, at the specified time for passport collection. This time of year it's 90% certain to be there on Wednesday.

If it's not, there's absolutely nothing you can do to get your passport back. To withdraw an application takes two working days, and you have to complete a withdrawal form in person at the VFS office.

towildhoney · Jul 22nd, 2009, 03:03

Thanks for that advice

Travel an awful lot so its been a real pain trying to get my Visa.
I will make the journey tommorow and hope it is there.

A word of warning to anyone applying for a Visa with a non British passport in England I got my Visa no problems with my Irish passport last summer. This year they want loads of paper work old and brand new bank statements. (cautionary note bank statements printed from your online banking are not accepted or mobile phone bills)

Haylo · Jul 22nd, 2009, 03:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by towildhoney

A word of warning to anyone applying for a Visa with a non British passport in England

If you have provided sufficient evidence, the acceptable documents for which are now clearly laid out on the VFS website, of one year's residency in the UK, visa applications will take no longer than they would take for British passport holders.

Non UK residents now have to complete a separate form and pay an additional fee, and of course their visas are delayed until the visa officer has received a response from the authorities in the applicant's usual country of residence.

Indiluv · Jul 22nd, 2009, 17:25

[quote=towildhoney;773847

A word of warning to anyone applying for a Visa with a non British passport in England I got my Visa no problems with my Irish passport last summer. This year they want loads of paper work old and brand new bank statements)[/QUOTE]

I also have an Irish passport and obtaining my visa last year was hassle free. The only difference I can see this time, as well as wanting utility bills/bank statements of at least one year old, they will want one for the current month.

caiuss · Jul 24th, 2009, 04:48

Hi,
I'm a Portuguese citizen, I'm currently in the UK but not formally residing here.
How much time do you think it would take to obtain a tourist Indian visa if I go in person to the Visa application centre?
Anyone with a similar experience?
Cheers

Haylo · Jul 24th, 2009, 13:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by caiuss

How much time do you think it would take to obtain a tourist Indian visa if I go in person to the Visa application centre?

If you apply in person, it takes the usual 2-3 working days PLUS however long it takes for the authorities in you home country to respond to enquiries.

This varies, it can be a total of as little as five working days, but on average from my recollection of what people have reported on here, and given how quiet they are at this time of year, I'd say that it would most likely be around eight to ten working days. No guarantees though!

Check instructions carefully, non residents have an additional fee & form to complete.

altec1000 · Jul 24th, 2009, 20:52

Hello everyone..

Has anyone here used to new visa processing company VFS Global in London recently?.

The company that works for the Indian embassy has two buildings, one in Wilton Road SW1 and another in Goswell Rd EC1. Does anyone have good or bad experiences of these two places?..

ive got to take my passport to one of these two buildings and want it back as soon as possible and was wondering if one of them was faster or more organised than the other..

also if i logged onto the VFS site today and asked for the nearest appointment to drop off my documents what sort of wait
am i looking at? ..thanks in advance..A

Nick-H · Jul 24th, 2009, 21:05

Does it not occur to you that there might be a reason that your question is the Two thousand two hundred and seventy-seventh in this thread?

altec1000 · Jul 24th, 2009, 21:23

Hi Nick..

Yes youre right its a long thread..but as you must know the situation with regards to visas can change week by week
depending on demand and holidays changes in policy etc

I wanted a reply from someone with Recent experience of the london office to help me and others who may be attempting to get
a visa in the near future.

I did look back through the last few pages of the thread before posting..but as i said im looking for up to the minute information so felt that it was worth putting the question ouy there.

regards..A

Nick-H · Jul 24th, 2009, 23:25

th thread is too long. I can really appreciate that puts people off. It dates back to when VFS first started and the whole experience was, indeed new.

Jul 21st, 2009, 00:51	#2267
scottd Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Edinburgh Posts: 13	Applying for Visa in Edinburgh Just a wee tip, if submitting your visa application in person in Edinburgh dont go to the indian consulate in Edinburgh (Rutland Square) as I did, go to 56 Rose Street as thats where the processing center is and the (very rude) woman behind the desk at rutland square will send you away lol (Mod note: Hi scottd - moved your post here - where it seems to belong ) Last edited by Kingstonian : Jul 22nd, 2009 at 00:39.

Jul 24th, 2009, 20:52	#2277
altec1000 Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: uk Posts: 9	London VFS office Waiting times? Hello everyone.. Has anyone here used to new visa processing company VFS Global in London recently?. The company that works for the Indian embassy has two buildings, one in Wilton Road SW1 and another in Goswell Rd EC1. Does anyone have good or bad experiences of these two places?.. ive got to take my passport to one of these two buildings and want it back as soon as possible and was wondering if one of them was faster or more organised than the other.. also if i logged onto the VFS site today and asked for the nearest appointment to drop off my documents what sort of wait am i looking at? ..thanks in advance..A

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Jul 21st, 2009, 20:31	#2268
Saharalass Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Shropshire, England Posts: 4	Hello everyone...I'm new on here although I've been reading the forum for a few weeks now and have finally got around to joining! It's a great site! Just thought I'd contribute by saying I've just applied for two visas by post to Hayes and they were turned around most efficiently in a week. It cost £85.12 for the two including the return postage and £4.95 to send them special delivery which is not bad and way cheaper than using a visa agent. I found filling in the forms online took a fair bit of concentration as a lot of the entries refreshed the screen and left you wondering what had happened! It would be much easier if you could just print the form and fill it in by hand. I also found I couldn't be divorced and a Miss, clearly a shameful combination! Be careful if you are applying for more than one person at more than one address as it takes the first application as the lead application and subsequently addresses everything to them - I put my address as the return address which worked but the envelope was addressed to the person whose visa I had completed first - it took a bit of explaining at the post office - I had to have their ID to confirm their name and my ID for the address!

Jul 22nd, 2009, 01:44	#2270
towildhoney Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: London Posts: 2	Hi some advice wanted! I put my passport into the office in Victoria on Monday. I have been checking the website but it just says application submited. The people at vfs said it should be ready on Wednesday or Thursady. I want to fly to Germany on Thursday so really need the passport back tommorow. Wondered if there is any chance that the passport will be there on Wednesday if the website does not say its at vfs. Thanks

Jul 22nd, 2009, 03:03	#2272
towildhoney Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: London Posts: 2	Thanks for that advice Travel an awful lot so its been a real pain trying to get my Visa. I will make the journey tommorow and hope it is there. A word of warning to anyone applying for a Visa with a non British passport in England I got my Visa no problems with my Irish passport last summer. This year they want loads of paper work old and brand new bank statements. (cautionary note bank statements printed from your online banking are not accepted or mobile phone bills)

Jul 22nd, 2009, 17:25	#2274
Indiluv Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Suffolk Posts: 53	[quote=towildhoney;773847 A word of warning to anyone applying for a Visa with a non British passport in England I got my Visa no problems with my Irish passport last summer. This year they want loads of paper work old and brand new bank statements)[/QUOTE] I also have an Irish passport and obtaining my visa last year was hassle free. The only difference I can see this time, as well as wanting utility bills/bank statements of at least one year old, they will want one for the current month.

Jul 24th, 2009, 04:48	#2275
caiuss Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Oxford Posts: 4	Hi, I'm a Portuguese citizen, I'm currently in the UK but not formally residing here. How much time do you think it would take to obtain a tourist Indian visa if I go in person to the Visa application centre? Anyone with a similar experience? Cheers

Jul 24th, 2009, 21:05	#2278
Nick-H This is just a cameo appearance Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 36,213	Does it not occur to you that there might be a reason that your question is the Two thousand two hundred and seventy-seventh in this thread?

Jul 24th, 2009, 21:23	#2279
altec1000 Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: uk Posts: 9	Hi Nick.. Yes youre right its a long thread..but as you must know the situation with regards to visas can change week by week depending on demand and holidays changes in policy etc I wanted a reply from someone with Recent experience of the london office to help me and others who may be attempting to get a visa in the near future. I did look back through the last few pages of the thread before posting..but as i said im looking for up to the minute information so felt that it was worth putting the question ouy there. regards..A

Jul 24th, 2009, 23:25	#2280
Nick-H This is just a cameo appearance Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 36,213	th thread is too long. I can really appreciate that puts people off. It dates back to when VFS first started and the whole experience was, indeed new.