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

caz_a · Jun 17th, 2008, 23:57

yep...it seems to be a total shambles
i tried to phone VFS about 30 times this afternoon - it just rings and rings... and they don't answer emails either

i'm not going til the end of july and i haven't sent my postal application in yet. its supposed to take 3 weeks... but i'm already getting pretty nervous about it

how long before you go davey?

Valini · Jun 18th, 2008, 02:01

Are there ANY success stories yet? ? ?

Love to hear them if they're out there!

I'll give you mine when (fingers crossed it is one)

HelenR · Jun 18th, 2008, 14:29

Wow... The US version of this, Travisa Outsourcing, is pretty simple...

Nick-H · Jun 18th, 2008, 14:41

VFS are very experienced at this. They run visa processing for UK and several other countries here in Chennai, and I think their operation is international. They have no excuses for screwing up on opening a new branch.

Either something must have gone very wrong in the interaction between them and HCI --- or British management is terminally sick and everything that happens there is doomed to inneficiency. Have to admit that I have suspected that for years!

thearchways · Jun 18th, 2008, 16:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by caz_a

yep...it seems to be a total shambles
i tried to phone VFS about 30 times this afternoon - it just rings and rings... and they don't answer emails either

i'm not going til the end of july and i haven't sent my postal application in yet. its supposed to take 3 weeks... but i'm already getting pretty nervous about it

how long before you go davey?

We haven't booked our flights yet as we are flying to Egypet on 12th July for 2 weeks, there we will book flights to India. We need our visa before we head off to Egypt. Because they've had our passports for so long, we are unable to obtain our other visas for Nepal, China, Vietman etc.

Davey

thearchways · Jun 18th, 2008, 16:26

There is a glimmer of hope.

I found an alternative number for the High Commission and got through to a lovely lady who says she will investigate and find some alternative numbers for us.
I have to ring back in an hour.

I will post these telephone numbers once I receive them.

Davey

Mod Note

Hi Davey. Have removed the mobile number you provided plus the suggestion of bombarding it. Providing phone numbers for others to use is great, helpful, very appreciated. Using IM to initiate phone spamming of someone's private mobile is not something we support. Appreciate how frustrating the experience is - but you'll have to find some other way to express your frustration with them that doesn't use IM as a rally point.

colin c · Jun 18th, 2008, 17:16

can anybody tell me if you can still use an agency to get your visas, this i must admit seems to be a mother of a cock up .
you would think this day and age it would be simpler.
god knows why for the average tourist they cant issue a 2,3or 4 week visa on entry while going through immigration , this would reduce there other visa load by at least 80% and make it very manageable .
but there you go why employ 100 people when you can employ 1000.
i will keep watching this thread with gusto , im hoping that theyve sorted all out before i go to india
good luck to all those trying to get theres now
colin

Nick-H · Jun 18th, 2008, 17:37

Quote:

why employ 100 people when you can employ 1000.

Why employ 100 people when you can employ 10. Or 5. Or 1

--- is much more likely to be the source of this particular problem. That is what outsourcing is all about: get rid of the in-hous people who know their jobs and get them done by a company that might, or might not, but that shows on paper that it is cheaper.

India is still talking about visas on entry. Has been for a long time. Maybe one day.

jhiker · Jun 18th, 2008, 19:19

Just wondering, has anybody from the UK applied for a 1yr tourist visa from VFS (with the 180 day resriction) at £50?

Have you got it yet?

wireless_drums · Jun 19th, 2008, 01:00

I got my India Visa yesterday and wasn't too impressed by their 'new system.' I just want to confirm firstly that the online application still requires you print off the 'online form' and take it to the centre or post it. it then takes 48hours from your appointment before you can collect your passport. if posting this takes 15 days but i expect that will be alot longer. all this at a higher cost... what was wrong with a scrap of paper and a long que?

Nick-H · Jun 19th, 2008, 01:16

But you did get your visa within the 48 hours that they say it takes?

wireless_drums · Jun 19th, 2008, 01:20

Im still waiting.. and i was told it may take a little longer as its a busy time of year but i couldnt tell you how accurate it is yet, however there is an online tracking system and it seems to be going well.

Nick-H · Jun 19th, 2008, 01:26

Please let us know.

Oh, and Welcome to the site!

Valini · Jun 19th, 2008, 01:29

I've just added this to another thread so will put it here too since this is its rightly home.

I was told by a visa agency with whom I've applied through that the rules will change depending on where you live. They said that for example, if you are in Yorkshire, you must only apply via the Birmingham Embassy and not the London one. Apparently there is a leeway time, not quite sure but check it out of you're about to send yours off soon. It could save you some precious time.

thearchways · Jun 19th, 2008, 03:07

Sorry to dampen your spirits wireless drums, but I submitted my application just over two weeks ago and still have not received my visa. The online system has since stated that my application has been forwarded to the High Commission. The telephone number on the VFS website is continuously dead.

Let me know if and when you receive your visa.

Many thanks

Davey

Jun 18th, 2008, 16:26	#96
thearchways Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: aylesbury Posts: 6	There is a glimmer of hope. I found an alternative number for the High Commission and got through to a lovely lady who says she will investigate and find some alternative numbers for us. I have to ring back in an hour. I will post these telephone numbers once I receive them. Davey Mod Note Hi Davey. Have removed the mobile number you provided plus the suggestion of bombarding it. Providing phone numbers for others to use is great, helpful, very appreciated. Using IM to initiate phone spamming of someone's private mobile is not something we support. Appreciate how frustrating the experience is - but you'll have to find some other way to express your frustration with them that doesn't use IM as a rally point. Last edited by brownboy66 : Jun 18th, 2008 at 19:33. Reason: message to op

Jun 19th, 2008, 01:00	#100
wireless_drums Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Nottingham,UK Posts: 5	UK Visa application I got my India Visa yesterday and wasn't too impressed by their 'new system.' I just want to confirm firstly that the online application still requires you print off the 'online form' and take it to the centre or post it. it then takes 48hours from your appointment before you can collect your passport. if posting this takes 15 days but i expect that will be alot longer. all this at a higher cost... what was wrong with a scrap of paper and a long que?

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Jun 17th, 2008, 23:57	#91
caz_a Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: london Posts: 58	yep...it seems to be a total shambles i tried to phone VFS about 30 times this afternoon - it just rings and rings... and they don't answer emails either i'm not going til the end of july and i haven't sent my postal application in yet. its supposed to take 3 weeks... but i'm already getting pretty nervous about it how long before you go davey?

Jun 18th, 2008, 02:01	#92
Valini Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Bdx,FR--Kanpur Posts: 391	Are there ANY success stories yet? ? ? Love to hear them if they're out there! I'll give you mine when (fingers crossed it is one)

Jun 18th, 2008, 14:29	#93
HelenR Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: USA Posts: 116	Wow... The US version of this, Travisa Outsourcing, is pretty simple...

Jun 18th, 2008, 14:41	#94
Nick-H This is just a cameo appearance Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 36,213	VFS are very experienced at this. They run visa processing for UK and several other countries here in Chennai, and I think their operation is international. They have no excuses for screwing up on opening a new branch. Either something must have gone very wrong in the interaction between them and HCI --- or British management is terminally sick and everything that happens there is doomed to inneficiency. Have to admit that I have suspected that for years!

Jun 18th, 2008, 17:16	#97
colin c Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: turkey Posts: 100	can anybody tell me if you can still use an agency to get your visas, this i must admit seems to be a mother of a cock up . you would think this day and age it would be simpler. god knows why for the average tourist they cant issue a 2,3or 4 week visa on entry while going through immigration , this would reduce there other visa load by at least 80% and make it very manageable . but there you go why employ 100 people when you can employ 1000. i will keep watching this thread with gusto , im hoping that theyve sorted all out before i go to india good luck to all those trying to get theres now colin

Jun 18th, 2008, 19:19	#99
jhiker Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Cheshire, UK Posts: 23	Just wondering, has anybody from the UK applied for a 1yr tourist visa from VFS (with the 180 day resriction) at £50? Have you got it yet?

Jun 19th, 2008, 01:16	#101
Nick-H This is just a cameo appearance Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 36,213	But you did get your visa within the 48 hours that they say it takes?

Jun 19th, 2008, 01:20	#102
wireless_drums Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Nottingham,UK Posts: 5	Im still waiting.. and i was told it may take a little longer as its a busy time of year but i couldnt tell you how accurate it is yet, however there is an online tracking system and it seems to be going well.

Jun 19th, 2008, 01:26	#103
Nick-H This is just a cameo appearance Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 36,213	Please let us know. Oh, and Welcome to the site!

Jun 19th, 2008, 01:29	#104
Valini Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Bdx,FR--Kanpur Posts: 391	I've just added this to another thread so will put it here too since this is its rightly home. I was told by a visa agency with whom I've applied through that the rules will change depending on where you live. They said that for example, if you are in Yorkshire, you must only apply via the Birmingham Embassy and not the London one. Apparently there is a leeway time, not quite sure but check it out of you're about to send yours off soon. It could save you some precious time.

Jun 19th, 2008, 03:07	#105
thearchways Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: aylesbury Posts: 6	Sorry to dampen your spirits wireless drums, but I submitted my application just over two weeks ago and still have not received my visa. The online system has since stated that my application has been forwarded to the High Commission. The telephone number on the VFS website is continuously dead. Let me know if and when you receive your visa. Many thanks Davey