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

But if they are allowing UK citizens to have visas that are long enough to need a 180 day maximum, that would be actually loosening up the visa rules for us!

(at the moment, our maximum tourist visa is only 180 days long anyway)

I'd basically just go by your own or other reliable first-hand reports on it.

Relying on your own wishful interpretations of whatever website's meager stipulations I wouldn't advise, for all the obvious reasons.

Just because the web says it's so doesn't mean it has to be so, kind of thing. Certainly not with the more middlemen that get thrown in in the process.

Yep... every indication is that India's attitude towards visas and the amount of time that it allows visitors to spend in the country is hardening.

They have never particularly stuck to their own 'rules' on visa types: the 'X' visa has always been a bit of a miscellaneous catch all, whilst they have always published "for persons of Indian Origin".

I have no idea where any ultimate Indian reference on this can be found (other than the MHA site, the Immigration bureau site, and the Embassy sites), but even if such a thing can be found, there is always policy --- and policy can be changed daily!

Totally agree....i think they were once pretty flexible with visas until it started to become counter productive and tourists started manipulating the system for their own gain....its inevitable that the rules were going to be tightened...just as the UK constantly monitors and ammends its immigration rules so will India and at the end of the day who can blame them.

Its not a loosening up because they appear to have done away with the unrestricted 5 year x visa that many FNs had somehow managed to obtain in the past.

Ok, my review of the new service, was left hanging on a ringing phone for 5 minutes before someone answered, as was previously stated the visa is now approximately 30% more expensive and rather than receiving a same day visa it now takes 48 hours. I think this is because the VF services only receive and deliver the visa, the processing is still done by the IHC, so day 1 drop off your visa, day 2 some guy (or girl, not to be prejudiced) goes to India House and hands it in (something i was perfectly capable of doing), IHC then turn it round in their usual few hours and guy/girl then takes it back to VF ready for you to collect on day 3.
So if more costs and 45 hours worth of middle men is more professional, then give me unprofessional anyday.

Sorry if this seems to be a bit of a rant but I had no problems getting my visa last year, and if its not broke then why fix it.

So what is the point of involving middle man, charging extra, and still process VISA at IHC? What's to gain for IHC?

I'm not entirely sure, though http://www.hcilondon.net/visa/visa-advisory-notice.html
gives the official reason.

Great. it has a list of counties covered by the Birmingham area, but it does not include Worcestershire. It does however list "West Midlands" which Worcestershire could be said to be in, but it is not a County.

If they cannot get simple stuff like that right, I'm not hugely confident...

Just thought I would add this, I am sure it has been covered throughly by others but I have just returned from a fun day at the Birmingham Embassy trying to get my work visa. As from friday it will be outsourced and will take a min 4 WORKING DAYS to complete visa application (this came from the lady behind the glass window) I only write this as there were many people trying to get visas today for their holidays that begin on sat or more so a business trip that they left for this evening. I can't imagine many people would leave their visa till such late notice but it would be awful if you were to rush to Birmingham in the hope of getting same day service to discover it takes 4 days.

was told 48 hours today, though know someone who applied on monday and still has not received it.
Out of interest, how long did you have to wait? I was there for about 3 hours. Has only taken a maximum of 2 when I went to the IHC previously, so yet another area where the new system is worse than the old

Well thats it for surgeries too...until last week I could get onto the surgeries list but now the link sends me direct to the outsource site...

I have a friend who was going to one next week and has been told by the Temple/Comunity Centre that it has been cancelled.

PaulB - It may be only 48 hours but they are probably covering their backs by saying 4 days. I queued yesterday in the embassy from about 8.30 till 10.45 with a ticket to apply for my visa and then for another two hours in the afternoon to collect. This was for a working visa, which they created more fuss than necessary over! Alot of people there yesterday had come from London as they were not aware that they could not get their visas in a day anymore. You also now have to pay an extra £6.90 for the service they are providing you with! I am not sure the situation on emergency visas, but I think you have to have a pretty good reason for applying for emergency. The process yesterday was very fraught, lots of people shouting and not getting anywhere with it. I really felt for the staff there as I am not sure I could work in that department. I guess the new system is to take away the tension created with waiting around all day and to deal with larger numbers applying for visas. My advice, get it through an agency and make sure you have all the right paperwork! All in all the whole process has aged me and I am thankful I don't have to do it again!

I have read through the posts, and am unclear as to whether I can still go direct to the Embassy and apply personally. Urgent advice would be appreciated as a trip is imminent !!
Thanks , Aiexile

If you could, where would that leave VFS, charging more money for taking longer to perform the same service!

No, I don't think you can.