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

stevebenaulim · Jun 10th, 2008, 01:01

Dear Mickey s, great idea, give me a phone number that i can get through on, ive tried the phone number on the website and no answer.
Many thanks.

machadinha · Jun 10th, 2008, 01:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by Haylo

I have found that online communities are similar to those in real life, in that the more you contribute, the more you get out of them...

Truer words don't get spoken as often as maybe they ought to...

Steve,

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevebenaulim

just turn up at the office with my copy of my downloaded application form, photos, money etc.
Will they take these over the counter, then proceed to get my visa??.

I reckon you're best off following the stipulations on their site, which I believe has been given at the beginning of this thread. There's little reason indeed to assume we'd be in a position to tell you differently.

(Reminds me of all those malaria threads if you don't mind me saying so. Yes but I've read about all the medical advice -- I'd just somehow like to hear that I'm the exception!

)

stevebenaulim · Jun 10th, 2008, 02:36

Haylo, not much to tell you on Goa at the moment.
Plenty of rain, wind, mosquitos etc.
I will tell you more next season, as its quiet here
at the moment.
Im in South Goa, so not much going on in the monsoon.
Very few westerners, a few Indian tourists.
Let me know if you want any more info.
I will let you know if i suceed in getting my 5 year tourist visa, when i get back to the UK.(NOT FOR LONG).
Thx

Haylo · Jun 10th, 2008, 03:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevebenaulim

Let me know if you want any more info.

I didn't mean in this thread, silly!

The Goa forum is full of threads that I bet you are ideally situated to help people with. I am sure you are interested in helping others with their questions, not just in getting answers to your own questions.

Nemesis · Jun 10th, 2008, 04:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by the irish indian

Hi Peoples,

Effective from 29th May 2008
Visa Applications will be outsourced to VFS Global.

Here is their website,
http://in.vfsglobal.co.uk/

It appears at first glance to be a much more proffesional set up than before....lets live in hope.
Applications can be done online.

For more info see the HCI London link below.
http://www.hcilondon.net/visa/visa-advisory-notice.html

Regards,
Remy

I cant seem to find info there on how to renew my 5 year visa, can anyone see where ?

dmckie250 · Jun 10th, 2008, 17:45

stevebenaulim,

i went down to the birmingham office this morning, i had booked an appointment online but when i went down there they just gave me a ticket and i got in line. sorry i couldnt remember what your other question was (how long is a long term visa) but they said that if you fill in the application online and take it down to the centre, then you can collect it from the centre again 2 days later. this is because the passports still need to be sent to the HCI to have the visas put on them! how ridiculous!

Haylo · Jun 11th, 2008, 00:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nemesis

I cant seem to find info there on how to renew my 5 year visa, can anyone see where ?

Are you a UK citizens wanting a tourist visa? Because the maximum length still seems to be for six months.

stevebenaulim · Jun 11th, 2008, 00:37

When you book online, your visa, you can order a 5 year tourist visa, with any one stay up to 180 days.
If they will give this to us Brits is anyones guese????.
Let me know if you find out,Please.
Thx

caz_a · Jun 11th, 2008, 05:42

oh sweet jesus, buddha and krishna!!!

has anyone got to the end of this online visa form yet? i just spent a good 45 minutes trying to figure out what to put where and finally finished the forms for myself and my daughter... but when i click 'make payment' it says:

Online Payment option will be available soon. For the interim, you can visit the Application Centre and make the payment with your card.

aggghhhhh!!!!

the back button won't work... and now i have 'system failure' ....and i didn't get round to writing down the reference numbers yet...

hhmmmm.... very professional!

if anyone has successfully completed this, please enlighten!

----------------------------
to answer:

Quote:

Originally Posted by greenasgrass

I have a question about the form - the online application for a tourist visa asks for details of a sponsor (with a little asterisk next to it which usually means that you MUST answer that question). What should I put here?

i just put 'NA' in everything! sponsor, referee, address in india etc, seeing as they appeared not to be compulsory.

Quote:

Also it asks the question "Place Permitted". What information is required here? (It also asks about "restricted area" but I presume that this refers to places such as Sikkim?)

yes - it explains this in the help box: sikkim, andamans, nagaland etc (doesn't mention tibetan protected areas tho, i think you have to apply for PAP from delhi)

greenasgrass · Jun 11th, 2008, 15:36

Thanks Caz A for the advice on the form. Not great news about online payment - a day trip to London from darkest Devon to get my visa was not what I had in mind. Will have to keep an eye on this.

steadyfriend · Jun 11th, 2008, 16:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevebenaulim

When you book online, your visa, you can order a 5 year tourist visa, with any one stay up to 180 days.
If they will give this to us Brits is anyones guese????.
Let me know if you find out,Please.
Thx

As far as I know, 5 year tourist visas are only for foreign nationals of Indian origin.

caz_a · Jun 13th, 2008, 23:32

hi greenasgrass,

i have given up with the online form and decided to do it by post - that would save you a trip up to the smoke too.

download a form from here http://in.vfsglobal.co.uk/visaforms.aspx
and send it in with £7.40 to cover return secure delivery
details of postal applications here http://in.vfsglobal.co.uk/postalapplication.aspx

for anyone else optimistic enough to try the webform, make sure you write down your ref number as soon as you are given it in case it disappears into the ether when you try and pay. that way you can log in again. even though they ask you for your passport no., you cannot log-in without the ref no. ... and you cannot start a new application because they already have your passport no. in the system!

i cannot yet vouch for the success of the postal method but will let you know!

thearchways · Jun 17th, 2008, 23:40

We went to the VFS centre in London to complete two applications - submitted them both on the 6th June 2008 and still have not received our visas - 11 days ago!!!

I ring the VFS telephone no. (0207 8287369) on a daily basis, but it just goes dead. I have trawled the net looking for alternative numbers but to no avail.

This is an appalling service. I cannot find out what has happened to our application. I can’t travel to London as I'm working and time is running out.

What do we do?

We submitted out applications in plenty of time, thankfully we did.

Any help would be much appreciated.

Davey

greenasgrass · Jun 17th, 2008, 23:43

I think I have seen on the VFS website the facility to track your application. Were you given an application number? Perhaps if you put this in (there is an option on the left hand side of the screen if I remember rightly) you will be able to tell what is happening.

Keep us posted...

thearchways · Jun 17th, 2008, 23:49

I have tried this - since we submitted our applications it has stated the they 'have been forwarded to the High Commiccion'

realy peaved off...

Jun 17th, 2008, 23:40	#88
thearchways Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: aylesbury Posts: 6	VFS Service We went to the VFS centre in London to complete two applications - submitted them both on the 6th June 2008 and still have not received our visas - 11 days ago!!! I ring the VFS telephone no. (0207 8287369) on a daily basis, but it just goes dead. I have trawled the net looking for alternative numbers but to no avail. This is an appalling service. I cannot find out what has happened to our application. I can’t travel to London as I'm working and time is running out. What do we do? We submitted out applications in plenty of time, thankfully we did. Any help would be much appreciated. Davey

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Jun 10th, 2008, 01:01	#76
stevebenaulim Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: goa Posts: 191	Dear Mickey s, great idea, give me a phone number that i can get through on, ive tried the phone number on the website and no answer. Many thanks.

Jun 10th, 2008, 02:36	#78
stevebenaulim Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: goa Posts: 191	Haylo, not much to tell you on Goa at the moment. Plenty of rain, wind, mosquitos etc. I will tell you more next season, as its quiet here at the moment. Im in South Goa, so not much going on in the monsoon. Very few westerners, a few Indian tourists. Let me know if you want any more info. I will let you know if i suceed in getting my 5 year tourist visa, when i get back to the UK.(NOT FOR LONG). Thx

Jun 10th, 2008, 17:45	#81
dmckie250 Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Liverpool Posts: 15	stevebenaulim, i went down to the birmingham office this morning, i had booked an appointment online but when i went down there they just gave me a ticket and i got in line. sorry i couldnt remember what your other question was (how long is a long term visa) but they said that if you fill in the application online and take it down to the centre, then you can collect it from the centre again 2 days later. this is because the passports still need to be sent to the HCI to have the visas put on them! how ridiculous!

Jun 11th, 2008, 00:37	#83
stevebenaulim Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: goa Posts: 191	When you book online, your visa, you can order a 5 year tourist visa, with any one stay up to 180 days. If they will give this to us Brits is anyones guese????. Let me know if you find out,Please. Thx

Jun 11th, 2008, 15:36	#85
greenasgrass Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Exeter, UK Posts: 77	Thanks Caz A for the advice on the form. Not great news about online payment - a day trip to London from darkest Devon to get my visa was not what I had in mind. Will have to keep an eye on this.

Jun 13th, 2008, 23:32	#87
caz_a Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: london Posts: 58	hi greenasgrass, i have given up with the online form and decided to do it by post - that would save you a trip up to the smoke too. download a form from here http://in.vfsglobal.co.uk/visaforms.aspx and send it in with £7.40 to cover return secure delivery details of postal applications here http://in.vfsglobal.co.uk/postalapplication.aspx for anyone else optimistic enough to try the webform, make sure you write down your ref number as soon as you are given it in case it disappears into the ether when you try and pay. that way you can log in again. even though they ask you for your passport no., you cannot log-in without the ref no. ... and you cannot start a new application because they already have your passport no. in the system! i cannot yet vouch for the success of the postal method but will let you know!

Jun 17th, 2008, 23:43	#89
greenasgrass Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Exeter, UK Posts: 77	I think I have seen on the VFS website the facility to track your application. Were you given an application number? Perhaps if you put this in (there is an option on the left hand side of the screen if I remember rightly) you will be able to tell what is happening. Keep us posted...

Jun 17th, 2008, 23:49	#90
thearchways Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: aylesbury Posts: 6	I have tried this - since we submitted our applications it has stated the they 'have been forwarded to the High Commiccion' realy peaved off...