Help! Format of tourist visas issued in London

Rich Hall · Jan 29th, 2008, 20:24

Hi,

I'm a first time traveller to India, leaving this weekend. I wondered if one of the more experienced forum hands could help with a visa query I have.

I applied for my tourist visa in person at the High Commission in London. Before leaving, I checked to see that there were no typos on my visa. My passport number and visa duration etc are all fine and in the box called 'Name' it listed my name correctly spelt in the following format:

Surname, First-name second-name third-name

This all seemed fine. But having got home, I have noticed that there is another box higher up the visa that is actually called Surname. On my visa, this is entirely blank.

It's not obvious to me whether this means my visa has been filled in incorrectly or whether as a matter of operational practice they sometimes put the surname on the same line as other names. Essentially I'm trying to work out whether I need to get it corrected or whether it's a complete non-issue. I have tried to call the High Commission but they are permanently engaged.

Can anyone help? In particular, has anyone who has got a visa from the London HC in the past found that they filled it in this manner and if so did it cause problems passing immigration control when you arrived in India?

Rich

anu_k · Jan 29th, 2008, 21:30

Hi Rich

I really don't think you need to worry. I also got my visa in London and the format is the same as yours.
I hadn't even noticed it until i read your post and just checked my passport. I certainly didn't have any problems at immigration... but maybe they just didn't notice.

Surname, First name is a common format - I can't imagine that it would cause a problem. But i am hardly an expert on the matter.

Anu

kidsan · Jan 29th, 2008, 22:19

Dont worry Rich, they allways seem to do this. My last 2 indian visas are in this format from last year and the previous year... and i also never noticed till you pointed it out.

Have a great trip

steven_ber · Jan 30th, 2008, 03:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by kidsan

and i also never noticed till you pointed it out.

Just checked my visas, the last 2 were also incorrect in the same way.

ellieema · Jan 30th, 2008, 04:41

i also just recieved my visa, looked at it today for the first time and i also noticed this...i assumed it was fine. and knowing yours is like that too is reassuring.

Kingstonian · Jan 31st, 2008, 05:43

Got my visa in London on Friday - ditto - as above

Rich Hall · Feb 1st, 2008, 01:24

Thanks for the reassuring responses all. It seems funny to have the surname box but never use it, but evidently it doesn't really matter at all.

steven_ber · Feb 1st, 2008, 02:47

Bt the time you've checked into a few hotels in India, nothing will seem strange anymore, have fun. (and welcome to indiamike.com)

Jan 29th, 2008, 20:24	#1
Rich Hall Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: London Posts: 2	Help! Format of tourist visas issued in London Hi, I'm a first time traveller to India, leaving this weekend. I wondered if one of the more experienced forum hands could help with a visa query I have. I applied for my tourist visa in person at the High Commission in London. Before leaving, I checked to see that there were no typos on my visa. My passport number and visa duration etc are all fine and in the box called 'Name' it listed my name correctly spelt in the following format: Surname, First-name second-name third-name This all seemed fine. But having got home, I have noticed that there is another box higher up the visa that is actually called Surname. On my visa, this is entirely blank. It's not obvious to me whether this means my visa has been filled in incorrectly or whether as a matter of operational practice they sometimes put the surname on the same line as other names. Essentially I'm trying to work out whether I need to get it corrected or whether it's a complete non-issue. I have tried to call the High Commission but they are permanently engaged. Can anyone help? In particular, has anyone who has got a visa from the London HC in the past found that they filled it in this manner and if so did it cause problems passing immigration control when you arrived in India? Rich

Feb 1st, 2008, 01:24	#7
Rich Hall Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: London Posts: 2	Thanks! Thanks for the reassuring responses all. It seems funny to have the surname box but never use it, but evidently it doesn't really matter at all.

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Jan 29th, 2008, 21:30	#2
anu_k Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: London Posts: 125	Hi Rich I really don't think you need to worry. I also got my visa in London and the format is the same as yours. I hadn't even noticed it until i read your post and just checked my passport. I certainly didn't have any problems at immigration... but maybe they just didn't notice. Surname, First name is a common format - I can't imagine that it would cause a problem. But i am hardly an expert on the matter. Anu

Jan 29th, 2008, 22:19	#3
kidsan Maha Guru Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: north wales, UK Posts: 667	Dont worry Rich, they allways seem to do this. My last 2 indian visas are in this format from last year and the previous year... and i also never noticed till you pointed it out. Have a great trip

Jan 30th, 2008, 04:41	#5
ellieema Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: devon Posts: 11	i also just recieved my visa, looked at it today for the first time and i also noticed this...i assumed it was fine. and knowing yours is like that too is reassuring.

Jan 31st, 2008, 05:43	#6
Kingstonian Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Kingston on Thames, UK Posts: 288	Got my visa in London on Friday - ditto - as above

Feb 1st, 2008, 02:47	#8
steven_ber Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: London, England. Posts: 8,645	Bt the time you've checked into a few hotels in India, nothing will seem strange anymore, have fun. (and welcome to indiamike.com)

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