Applying for another Indian tourist visa in Colombo, Sri Lanka

We went to the VFS on Galle Road 433 (almost opposite Renuka Hotel) to apply for our indian tourist visas. Prepaid ac-taxi from the airport costs 2500 Rp. No problems at all(german & australian passport). It took 5 working days to get them approved, 1 more day to get them issued (hand passport in between 8:30-9am and pick it up between 5:30-6pm. However, we gave it a few more days each, just to be sure.

Service is very friendly and efficient, it cost about 5400 Rp each. They`ve got passport-foto and copy-facilities. Only complaint: They give you a phone-number you can ring to find out if your visa has been approved - which is absolutely useless and only meant to get rid of you easily, I believe! On this number you ring the indian embassy and they absolutley don`t care. In fact, they were very rude and said, it`s VFS`s issue and they can`t tell you anything about your visa-status, but neither does VFS. So you will only know by the time you pick up your passport..

Which visa did you get,,, I.E 3 or 6 month tourist visa??.

Real easy by flights but there is no ferry at this time. Who knows if that will change manana..

All the visas I've had in recent years have the restricted areas endorsement pre-printed on them (it is slightly more readable on the new photo visas).

AndyD 8-)#

And what about the rule of having to stay out of India for a minimum of 2 months before being able to apply for a visa again,
is that still effective?

There never was such a rule.

AndyD

But VFS in London are certainly enforcing this non-rule, as reported by several members on here......

I don't think so, there has never been such a rule; for a brief period there was a one-month-between-visas-before-applying-again rule but that was dropped. There have been reports that VFS won't forward applications within about two months of a previous visit because the visa would be unusable for two months (which seems sensible, and quite helpful of them) but if you have a reason such as visiting other countries first, or if you apply with a week or so to go on the two-months then the general experience seems to be that they accept your application.

AndyD 8-)#

Isn't that what I said?

Quite probably, these things go round and around, we all just try to help people not to have to read all the old correct answers deep in the archives.

AndyD 8-)#

Has anyone applied for a indian visa from the jaffna branch?, same sort of timing i am guessing

Not the Jaffna branch, but last season in India (Goa), i met two people who got 6 month tourist visas in Colombo. Maybe its changed.

Hey, guys!

I've got one question.
I currently have an valid business visa until 16/09/12, but my residential permit is only valid until 10/08/12 (the day that I stop working).

As I wish to travel around India for a month or so, I'll need to get a tourism visa, probably in Colombo, as it's the closest for me).

My question is: Can I have 2 valid visas at the same time?!

No, one cancels the other..

Go to the FR[R]O that issued the RP and explain the situation, there's a good chance they will extend the RP.

AndyD 8-)₹