London High Commission Ends Postal Visa Applications

Cariad · Aug 1st, 2007, 20:44

The High Commission of India, London
put out a Press Release yesterday, entitled
Urgent Notice to Visa Applicants using Postal Service.

It means that we have got to go ourselves to the Consular Services or pay for Travel Agents to obtain our visas, these Agents are quoting between £15 to £20 on top of your visa.

machadinha · Aug 1st, 2007, 20:52

And here's the link: Press Release Details : HCI London

Nick-H · Aug 1st, 2007, 21:55

This has been mentioned in another thread, and added to the Visa FAQs thread, but it is such important information to those in UK planning trips that I don't indit getting a thread of its own!

matt67 · Aug 1st, 2007, 23:34

Got my visas on friday.

Please remember that when you go to the HC there are 2 queues. Ones is for consular services and other for visas for foreign nationals. Join the correct queue. We joined the queue at 08:00 am. The tokens for visas are handed out from 8:30 onwards. We got token number 40 and were issued with visas by 10:00 am.

CliveG · Aug 2nd, 2007, 02:46

Is this a security thing or just illogical - More queues, more expense!

Can you take applications on behalf of your partner or do you both have to attend?

steven_ber · Aug 2nd, 2007, 03:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by CliveG

Can you take applications on behalf of your partner?

Yes.

You don't even need to attend yourself, I've been a few times to get visas for friends.

CliveG · Aug 2nd, 2007, 03:27

Out of mild curiousity does anybody know why they have stopped postal applications -I can't think of a sensible reason for this decision.

Nick-H · Aug 2nd, 2007, 12:09

Quote:

As part of our ongoing review of Consular Services it has been felt necessary... ...

It's a commercial thing. That's consultant-speak: stands out a mile! Oh dear...

Steven... I get this mental picture of you saying to all your friends, "Please, can I get your visa for you?"

. Except I don't suppose you get time for mornings off at HCI London these days

.

I did enjoy my visa trips, even though it meant getting up at least an hour earlier than usual.

matt67 · Aug 2nd, 2007, 13:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by CliveG

Out of mild curiousity does anybody know why they have stopped postal applications -I can't think of a sensible reason for this decision.

anything to do with the postal strikes??

the HCdoes not want to be bblamed for postal backlogs and people not getting their visas

make sense

Nick-H · Aug 2nd, 2007, 14:30

Nahhhh... there were always postal strikes.

Andy & Anne · Aug 3rd, 2007, 22:10

Can you still make postal applications to Birmingham. I had a quick browse of their site yesterday and I am sure that it mentioned that they still accept postal applications, but don't quote me on that.

I will have to have a closer look, or give them a call.

Nick-H · Aug 3rd, 2007, 22:42

It is thought that you can.

ALPHABAR · Aug 3rd, 2007, 23:28

it's a response to the postal strikes.

postal strikes don't happen that often in the UK (they don't), but the staggered nature of the current round of strikes makes the HC response understandable and considerate.

AntonyDodd · Aug 19th, 2007, 00:40

I rang up the visa section of the Consulate in Birmingham the other day and the guy I spoke to (who very helpful, considering what some embassies can be like!) said that the consulate in Birmingham is still accepting postal visa applications. The application form is slightly different from the one on the HCI London website and is on the website of the Indian Consulate in Birmingham.

Not sure how the turnround time differs- the London consulate used to be very fast. I'll try to remember to post here to say how fast they were.

Nick-H · Aug 19th, 2007, 16:15

I changed the thread title again to make the matter clear at a glance.

Aug 1st, 2007, 20:44	#1
Cariad Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Goa UK Posts: 15	London High Commission Ends Postal Visa Applications The High Commission of India, London put out a Press Release yesterday, entitled Urgent Notice to Visa Applicants using Postal Service. It means that we have got to go ourselves to the Consular Services or pay for Travel Agents to obtain our visas, these Agents are quoting between £15 to £20 on top of your visa. Last edited by machadinha : Aug 1st, 2007 at 21:09. Reason: adjusted title

Aug 1st, 2007, 20:52	#2
machadinha Not Your Guru Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: yörp Posts: 9,447	And here's the link: Press Release Details : HCI London __________________ Reading tips, all picked up at IndiaMike : INDAX's A Comprehensive Guide To India / Dinoj Surendran's Desi Humor / ITHVC on Culture Shock & Travel Health / JetLag Travel Guides For the Undiscerning Traveller / India Travel Links

Aug 1st, 2007, 21:55	#3
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 24,651	This has been mentioned in another thread, and added to the Visa FAQs thread, but it is such important information to those in UK planning trips that I don't indit getting a thread of its own! __________________ . Just one member of the IndiaMike Mod Team

Aug 1st, 2007, 23:34	#4
matt67 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Bath Posts: 162	Got my visas on friday. Please remember that when you go to the HC there are 2 queues. Ones is for consular services and other for visas for foreign nationals. Join the correct queue. We joined the queue at 08:00 am. The tokens for visas are handed out from 8:30 onwards. We got token number 40 and were issued with visas by 10:00 am. __________________ 'Indian thriller with english lyrics' on Youtube is there anything funnier....??? Gosh my old calculator aint got no bow....

Aug 19th, 2007, 00:40	#14
AntonyDodd Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Cambridge, UK Posts: 8	I rang up the visa section of the Consulate in Birmingham the other day and the guy I spoke to (who very helpful, considering what some embassies can be like!) said that the consulate in Birmingham is still accepting postal visa applications. The application form is slightly different from the one on the HCI London website and is on the website of the Indian Consulate in Birmingham. Not sure how the turnround time differs- the London consulate used to be very fast. I'll try to remember to post here to say how fast they were. Last edited by AntonyDodd : Aug 19th, 2007 at 00:42. Reason: Original post was unclear

Aug 2nd, 2007, 02:46	#5
CliveG Maha Guru Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: PORTSMOUTH U.K. Posts: 613	Is this a security thing or just illogical - More queues, more expense! Can you take applications on behalf of your partner or do you both have to attend?

Aug 2nd, 2007, 03:27	#7
CliveG Maha Guru Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: PORTSMOUTH U.K. Posts: 613	Out of mild curiousity does anybody know why they have stopped postal applications -I can't think of a sensible reason for this decision.

Aug 2nd, 2007, 14:30	#10
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 24,651	Nahhhh... there were always postal strikes.

Aug 3rd, 2007, 22:10	#11
Andy & Anne Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: South Yorkshire, England Posts: 11	Can you still make postal applications to Birmingham. I had a quick browse of their site yesterday and I am sure that it mentioned that they still accept postal applications, but don't quote me on that. I will have to have a closer look, or give them a call.

Aug 3rd, 2007, 22:42	#12
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 24,651	It is thought that you can.

Aug 3rd, 2007, 23:28	#13
ALPHABAR Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: SWEDEN Posts: 69	it's a response to the postal strikes. postal strikes don't happen that often in the UK (they don't), but the staggered nature of the current round of strikes makes the HC response understandable and considerate.

Aug 19th, 2007, 16:15	#15
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 24,651	I changed the thread title again to make the matter clear at a glance.

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