mailing passorts off for visa questions

EmpressGinger · Aug 24th, 2009, 06:42

I took the summer 'off' frm planning my trip . But am back at it now that my 6 kids go back to school tuesay WHEEW!

So My youngest daughter who is going on the trip, did not have a passport. The other 2 that I am taking already did as they traveled to Egypt with me last year.

So we went last week and got the 7 year old's passport ordered. It should arrive in about 6 weeks.

Then, my questions are...When to mail the 4 passports off to get the Inida Visa...(still can't believe it is done this way...so needlessly complex, what's wrong with the stamping them at the airport way other countries do, LOL) We are getting the cheapest (not cheap at alo) visa the 6 month ones ...and our trip is not until Feb 22 thru March 3. So we need to be sure the Visa is in effect through March. I was planning to wait till Nov 1st to mail our passports off so the Visas would be good through April ya know 'just in case.' But is waiting till Nov. 1 Ok? How long does it take them to return your passports? Do they ever get lost, delayed and take ages?

Also I wanted to ask should I mail all 4 passports together in one package? I assume you send the package registered mail or such being your actual passports.....and I assume I need to make out 4 Money orders or checks for the fees....but should I send them in 4 different envelopes?

Blessings,
Ginger

paintedlotus · Aug 24th, 2009, 06:49

I'm pretty sure you can mail them off all together. Perhaps make a call to Travisa Services to find out if you need to make one money order or 4 separate ones.

Typically it takes about 1 to 2 weeks turnaround time for the passports; in your case, with a trip beginning at the end of February I would probably wait until the beginning of January to send them off. But that's just me.

Hope this helps, have a great time.

nycank · Aug 24th, 2009, 11:07

1st week of January should be OK. If you are conservative, mail it during holidays

I think your juridiction is Washington DC.

emmyisyummy · Aug 24th, 2009, 11:13

I mailed my Visa application out on a Wednesday via USPS Express overnight mail and I got it back via Fed Ex (I had to pay Travisa more for this) the next Thursday. 8 day turnaround time isn't bad!

edwardseco · Aug 24th, 2009, 13:57

5 days is the record for the SF office..

Haylo · Aug 24th, 2009, 23:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by EmpressGinger

Then, my questions are...When to mail the 4 passports off to get the Inida

The Travisa website quotes five working days on receipt of postal applications, while I would suggest giving yourself a bit longer than that, three months in advance is perhaps rather generous.

Quote:

what's wrong with the stamping them at the airport way other countries do, LOL

If even one of a family has a problem with obtaining a visa on arrival, that person has no option but to return home immediately. Cancellation because of this would not be covered by travel insurance, and presumably if that happened to a family member it would not improve the holiday for the rest of you...

Personally, given my experience of Indian bureaucracy, I would never travel to India without the assurance of a visa safely in my passport, even if they did introduce Visa on Arrival.

Quote:

How long does it take them to return your passports?

Around five working days after they recieve them. Unless you take them in person, in which case it's the same day.

Quote:

Do they ever get lost, delayed and take ages?

Yes but hardly ever, yes but not often, and yes but generally only when there's a good reason for it eg. issues of family heritage or previous dubious applications.

Quote:

Also I wanted to ask should I mail all 4 passports together in one package?

Yes, as long as each passport has its signed application form with it.

Quote:

I assume you send the package registered mail or such being your actual passports

You'd be crazy not to.

Quote:

I assume I need to make out 4 Money orders or checks for the fees.

Payment is made online, when you make your online applications. They actually debit your credit / debit card only when they receive your applications.

Check out the Travisa website, it really is helpful and explains what to do quite well I think.

curtdfw · Aug 25th, 2009, 03:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by EmpressGinger

Do they ever get lost, delayed and take ages?

Would hate to introduce paranoia into the process, as this is the only time I've heard of something like this, but...

Travisa/Fedex lost my passport

EmpressGinger · Oct 24th, 2009, 19:15

Glad to hear the turn around time is so fast cause alas, due to budget issues I'm having to put this off till later. I wanted to do it ASAP to get it over with and ya know checked off the list but I may have to wait till dec. or even Jan to have the cash to mail them in, they are so costly....

So the reports of just a week or two return of them is reassuring.

thanks,
Blessings,
Ginger

Aug 24th, 2009, 06:42	#1
EmpressGinger Senior Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: North Carolina, USA Posts: 104	mailing passorts off for visa questions I took the summer 'off' frm planning my trip . But am back at it now that my 6 kids go back to school tuesay WHEEW! So My youngest daughter who is going on the trip, did not have a passport. The other 2 that I am taking already did as they traveled to Egypt with me last year. So we went last week and got the 7 year old's passport ordered. It should arrive in about 6 weeks. Then, my questions are...When to mail the 4 passports off to get the Inida Visa...(still can't believe it is done this way...so needlessly complex, what's wrong with the stamping them at the airport way other countries do, LOL) We are getting the cheapest (not cheap at alo) visa the 6 month ones ...and our trip is not until Feb 22 thru March 3. So we need to be sure the Visa is in effect through March. I was planning to wait till Nov 1st to mail our passports off so the Visas would be good through April ya know 'just in case.' But is waiting till Nov. 1 Ok? How long does it take them to return your passports? Do they ever get lost, delayed and take ages? Also I wanted to ask should I mail all 4 passports together in one package? I assume you send the package registered mail or such being your actual passports.....and I assume I need to make out 4 Money orders or checks for the fees....but should I send them in 4 different envelopes? Blessings, Ginger

Aug 24th, 2009, 11:07	#3
nycank Clueless Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Homeless Posts: 1,318	1st week of January should be OK. If you are conservative, mail it during holidays I think your juridiction is Washington DC. __________________ bade bhaisaheb is outsourced

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Aug 24th, 2009, 06:49	#2
paintedlotus Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 58	I'm pretty sure you can mail them off all together. Perhaps make a call to Travisa Services to find out if you need to make one money order or 4 separate ones. Typically it takes about 1 to 2 weeks turnaround time for the passports; in your case, with a trip beginning at the end of February I would probably wait until the beginning of January to send them off. But that's just me. Hope this helps, have a great time.

Aug 24th, 2009, 11:13	#4
emmyisyummy Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: beautiful colorado Posts: 13	I mailed my Visa application out on a Wednesday via USPS Express overnight mail and I got it back via Fed Ex (I had to pay Travisa more for this) the next Thursday. 8 day turnaround time isn't bad!

Aug 24th, 2009, 13:57	#5
edwardseco Maha Guru Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Land that shakes and bakes. Posts: 5,845	5 days is the record for the SF office..

Oct 24th, 2009, 19:15	#8
EmpressGinger Senior Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: North Carolina, USA Posts: 104	Glad to hear the turn around time is so fast cause alas, due to budget issues I'm having to put this off till later. I wanted to do it ASAP to get it over with and ya know checked off the list but I may have to wait till dec. or even Jan to have the cash to mail them in, they are so costly.... So the reports of just a week or two return of them is reassuring. thanks, Blessings, Ginger