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

Haylo · Jul 25th, 2009, 00:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by altec1000

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?

Reading the VFS website and following the instructions = good experiences at any of the VFS application centres.

Their staff are now well trained and generally helpful. Considering the cr*p they have to put up with on a daily basis (if you end up waiting for more than a few minutes you'll get the idea) I'm amazed they aren't rude to the point of violence!

Quote:

wondering if one of them was faster or more organised than the other..

Nope. They deal with your application while you wait, and applications from all three London centres are taken to the same Indian High Commission at the end of the day.

Quote:

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

You don't ask for the next appointment, you pick a date from the calendar and they tell you what time to come. There is no waiting time, although if it is after 4pm it MIGHT be too late to book an appointment the next day. Certainly after 4pm, you cannot change the date of a next day booking.

altec1000 · Jul 25th, 2009, 01:01

Thanks Halyo..

Its good to know that they are on the ball..

I will re-read the VFS site..as i dont want anything to go wrong, as with many others i only have three weeks spare between the 6 month visa expiring at the end of my trip and the date i want to leave the uk.

One last question..my mate is meeting me in October in India.
is there a big difference/any difference in the availability of appointment slots in October?.ie will they get a date soon after they log on to the site?..does anyone remember how it was working last year around October?..

thanks in advance..A

Haylo · Jul 25th, 2009, 01:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by altec1000

is there a big difference/any difference in the availability of appointment slots in October?

October is busy but even then you should get an appointment the next day. This is because the majority of their customers don't apply online and therefore don't get the opportunity to book an appointment.

altec1000 · Jul 25th, 2009, 02:56

thanks Haylo..

that all sounds good...

cheers for the info..

A

Haylo · Jul 25th, 2009, 03:03

If you apply online and in the unlikely event of your not being able to get an appointment as soon as you'd like, and if your application is urgent, you can just turn up at any visa application centre and wait to be seen along with everyone else who hasn't got an appointment.

Okay, you might wait for hours, but you'll definitely be seen.

Nikos · Jul 26th, 2009, 03:01

Hi Guys, is Edinburgh office still open for Scottish Residents? Need to get a new visa for India soon.

Cheers

Haylo · Jul 26th, 2009, 03:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nikos

Hi Guys, is Edinburgh office still open for Scottish Residents?

Not heard anything about it closing; there is no reason to suppose it's no longer open, unless you know something we don't!

The address is given on the VFS website:

Indian Visa Application Centre
66 Hanover Buildings
Rose Street
Edinburgh
EH2 2NN

nycank · Jul 26th, 2009, 05:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by altec1000

One last question..my mate is meeting me in October in India.
is there a big difference/any difference in the availability of appointment slots in October?.ie will they get a date soon after they log on to the site?..does anyone remember how it was working last year around October?..

Sept Oct is a big season of holidays in India. Expect it to be busy because some of these holidays are observed by the consulates in UK

According to timeanddate this more or less what Sept-Oct 2009 is for Indian holidays.

Quote:

Sep 2 Onam
Sep 16 Jamat Ul-Vida
Sep 22 Ramzan Id/Eid-ul-Fitar
Sep 25 Maha Saptami
Sep 26 Maha Ashtami
Sep 28 Dussehra/Dasara
Oct 2 Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti
Oct 17 Diwali/Deepavali
Oct 18 Govardhan Puja
Oct 19 Bhai Duj

altec1000 · Jul 27th, 2009, 23:54

thanks Nycank!

definantly worth knowing

A

Haylo · Jul 28th, 2009, 00:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by nycank

Sept Oct is a big season of holidays in India. Expect it to be busy because some of these holidays are observed by the consulates in the UK

.

There are "only" two holidays each month for the visa application centres and the Indian High Commission & Consulates in August to November. See the VFS Holiday List for details.

altec1000 · Jul 28th, 2009, 02:01

Cheers Halyo..

MartinP · Jul 28th, 2009, 04:40

I know there's a thread that may have some info on this, but it runs to over 100 pages so...

Can I get my visa in one day from the new outsourced visa centre in London?

I used to be able to at India House; in fact, often got my visa one day and flew the next.

However, from the bits I've read on other threads, it seems as if thinks might have changed...

Moderator note:
Moved to the great big long thread ...

Nick-H · Jul 28th, 2009, 04:52

Things have.

The answer is absolutely not.

Go see that big, long thread... or just check out the High Commission site, which will redirect you to the outsourcing company, VFS.

Haylo · Jul 28th, 2009, 04:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by MartinP

I know there's a thread that may have some info on this, but it runs to over 100 pages so...

Reading just the last ten or so pages will tell you a lot about what you need to know.

Quote:

Can I get my visa in one day from the new outsourced visa centre in London?

No.

The revamped VFS website is now clearly laid out and extremely helpful, even a quick look at the home page would have told you that processing time is a minimum of 2-3 working days.

I suggest you take a look at that site and then post any questions you still have.

MartinP · Jul 28th, 2009, 16:46

Thanks Nick.

Very helpful reply.

Cheers

Jul 27th, 2009, 23:54	#2289
altec1000 Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: uk Posts: 9	Cheers thanks Nycank! definantly worth knowing A

Jul 28th, 2009, 04:40	#2292
MartinP Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Penzance, UK Posts: 47	Can I get a visa in one day in London? I know there's a thread that may have some info on this, but it runs to over 100 pages so... Can I get my visa in one day from the new outsourced visa centre in London? I used to be able to at India House; in fact, often got my visa one day and flew the next. However, from the bits I've read on other threads, it seems as if thinks might have changed... Moderator note: Moved to the great big long thread ... Last edited by Kingstonian : Jul 28th, 2009 at 14:53.

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Jul 25th, 2009, 01:01	#2282
altec1000 Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: uk Posts: 9	Thanks Halyo.. Its good to know that they are on the ball.. I will re-read the VFS site..as i dont want anything to go wrong, as with many others i only have three weeks spare between the 6 month visa expiring at the end of my trip and the date i want to leave the uk. One last question..my mate is meeting me in October in India. is there a big difference/any difference in the availability of appointment slots in October?.ie will they get a date soon after they log on to the site?..does anyone remember how it was working last year around October?.. thanks in advance..A

Jul 25th, 2009, 02:56	#2284
altec1000 Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: uk Posts: 9	thanks Haylo.. that all sounds good... cheers for the info.. A

Jul 25th, 2009, 03:03	#2285
Haylo Structural Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Middle East and heading Easter Posts: 5,804	If you apply online and in the unlikely event of your not being able to get an appointment as soon as you'd like, and if your application is urgent, you can just turn up at any visa application centre and wait to be seen along with everyone else who hasn't got an appointment. Okay, you might wait for hours, but you'll definitely be seen.

Jul 26th, 2009, 03:01	#2286
Nikos Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: UK Posts: 51	Hi Guys, is Edinburgh office still open for Scottish Residents? Need to get a new visa for India soon. Cheers

Jul 28th, 2009, 02:01	#2291
altec1000 Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: uk Posts: 9	Cheers Halyo..

Jul 28th, 2009, 04:52	#2293
Nick-H This is just a cameo appearance Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 36,189	Things have. The answer is absolutely not. Go see that big, long thread... or just check out the High Commission site, which will redirect you to the outsourcing company, VFS.

Jul 28th, 2009, 16:46	#2295
MartinP Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Penzance, UK Posts: 47	Thanks Nick. Very helpful reply. Cheers