Help with online Visa application

My elderly parents are taking a cruise from Singapore to Southampton with 3 stops in India, starting with Cochin. I have some questions regarding the online tourist visa application & wondered if anyone could hep.

1. The section entitled Reference requires completion with details of a reference in India. My parents do not know anyone in India who can act as a reference nor do they have an address in India as they are staying on the cruise ship. How should they complete this section? Is it acceptable to just put ’see attached note’ in all three mandatory boxes so that the form can be printed & then attach a note explaining that they are staying on a cruse ship?

2. Who qualifies as a reference in the UK, is it anybody who knows them including a family member not travelling with them or does it have to be someone of standing in the community, like a doctor or police officer?

3. On the VFS Global website in the area offering advice on applying for a Visa there is a section called ‘Restrictions on Tourist Visa’ which states that ‘ there should be a gap of at least 2 months between two visits to India on a Tourist Visa’. It goes on to say that ‘In case of requirement to visit India within 2 months, permission should be sought from the High Commission of India, London ’ Does this apply to passengers on cruise ships making multiple stops in a short period of time?

4. On the VFS Global website it states that, in order to combat the spread of swine flu passengers arriving at Indian airports will be required to show a health screening card. Does anyone know if this applies to those arriving by sea?

Any help would be greatly appreciated

Hello
I always use hotel addresses for referees in India (or the tour company if I'm on an arranged trip)even if I haven't booked the hotels in advance. For the UK references I just put the detaisl of family members, not sure about the 2 month rule on cruises, do the three stops in India all follow on? If so then they shouldn't be leaving Indian territory so that should be OK. Regarding the swine flu declaration, that is just a form that you need to fill in saying that you have been well and not had any symptoms. In Dec 09 we were screened at Delhi but no-one bothered last Dec at Mumbai airport.
Could you contact the cruise company for clarification just to put your mind at rest?

Hi, thanks for the swift reply. The 3 stops in India are consecutive over the space of about 5 days . My gut feeling is that immigration at sea ports must deal with day trippers from cruise ships all the time so any restrictions on re entry within a specified period are probably waived. If it were me I would just wing it & argue my case at the second port of call if there were a problem but I don’t want any unnecessary hassle for my parents so will contact cruise operator to make sure they have all the necessary paperwork.

Re the health declaration do you know how get hold of the forms if we do need the? The link on the VSF Global website doesn’t work.

Thanks for your help

Hi Gary,
The form just opened for me and I managed to save a copy. I went to in.vfsglobal.co.uk/news.html and scrolled down to Health Information. Even though I have been visiting India for 15 years now I still stress out about filling in the visa forms correctly. VFS sent one application back because my husband's signature faintly touched the line of the signature box!

Understood. I will locate that form & download it, Thanks,

Please contact the cruise for visa logistics. I can only comment on how it works in the caribbean. Your passort or passport card is taken, and you are issued a cruiseline's ID and a band. The passport/PC is kept with the cruise.

Hi Gary696
Did you get an answer for what is expected as the reference on the online application form for indian visa for a cruise passenger ??
I am stuck and have no idea what to put

Thanks
Curtis

Maybe the name of the Cruise Company should be used ?

I also would have thought that the Cruise Company running these Cruises would be of some Assistance re the Visa Issue.


vandy

Hi Curtis, have just given the name of the cruise ship then attached a short note to the application explaining the circumstances of their visit.

Hi Vandy,

Haven’t contacted them yet. Hoped to get this done on my own but if I have any problems I won’t hesitate to involve them

I believe cruise passengers are issued short-term multiple entry visas annotated with the words "Traveling on cruise ship xxx" and the 2-month gap between visits does not apply. This is second-hand information, so please confirm. Yes, please do not try to have them "wing it". It won't work.

Hi Curtis, have sorted visas now & should be available for collection from office in Victoria in 3 days. Cruise ship name & operator is fine for the Indian reference but I did have to provide a photocopy of the itinerary & receipt for payment for the holiday. Hope that helps

Hi Gary

Thanks for the info, i was going to call the info line at the visa office but its 95p per minute ! so you saved me
I new the itineray needed to be provided but not the receipt so Ill submit that with the application.
There isnt a place to note you are a cruise passenger was there ? did you just add a note to that effect
Cheers

Hi Curtis,

I have now successfully obtained the visas. It was a much less painfull process than the rather confusing application form suggested it would be. I did phone the helpline (briefly) & was advised not to make an appointment at the office in Victoria(they all seem to be for 9.15am anyway) but to just turn up, take a ticket & wait to be called to present the applications with supporting documentation. That took about an hour including waiting time.
As for explaining that you are a cruise ship passenger, I just typed the cruise ship name & the UK address of the operator in the space on the form for the name & address of a reference in India & attached a note explaining that I was on a cruise ship & where it was stopping.
The people at the application centre in Victoria were very helpful if you are struggling with any aspect of the application. If you are making the application by post make sure you include a copy of the cruise itinerary & copy of the receipt for payment of the cruise.

Hope this helps

good luck

Gary