Visa: a little worried

siri_uk

Hi guys

I got a bit of a problem regarding travel to Bangalore, I need to stay in India until august, so can only get my visa from the visa surgery not far from me on 2/2/08. I am worried that if I do not book the flight early enough the price will rise/seats will not be available. Do I take a chance of booking the flight then get the visa, I can think of no reason why they would turn me down for visa but is it a wise move to make to book the flight, will it affect if they give me the visa if I just go ahead and book it without being peoperly accepted to visit the country

TIA

steven_ber

I always book my ticket first and always get my visa at the first attempt.

The only thing I can remember that delays a visa application is if your parents are from Pakistan.

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Bollywood Barbie

Hi Siri

we have always had flights booked before getting our VISA sorted & have never had any problems. If there is no reason you shouldn't get declined I would book the flight now. I think most people already have their flights booked before they get round to getting the Visa.

Hope this helps, enjoy your trip!

The_Londoner

Siri,

Book your tickets as getting a VISA is more or less a hassle free process. Download VISA forms from http://www.hcilondon.net/services/visa-download.html. Make sure you have two passport size photos. If you are in London, than just queue up at India High Commission early in the morning and your visa is ready by the afternoon.

siri_uk

Just 1 other question on the visa application do i put that i'm going to stay 6 months or put less on the application but stay the length of the visa

siri_uk

hi

i'm worried at the minute i've booked my flight to bangalore on 08/02/08, the visa surgery near me is open on 02/02/08 for me to get my visa. At present I am not working and would like to stay in india until 27/07/08 ( I will have money sent to me during my stay)I am a natural worrier and cannot get it into my head how long a uk national can stay in india on a tourist visa (i do read the posts but it aint sinking in) would it be better to put a shorter stay on the visa application but stay until july? I plan to get married to my indian girlfriend why i am there but am just going on a regular tourist visa. would getting married entitle me to an entry visa? would my not being employed be reason to refuse a visa? I am so worried it is making me ill even before i go i am a british citizen. How long do the visas take to get at the visa surgeries? does anyone know of anyone that has been turned down? please help me i am so desperate to have my mind put at rest

TIA

Nick-H

Whoa! Calm down there!

180 Days ... ( <--- to help it sink in )

usually, if you are an ordinary, resident Brit. If you are of Pakistani or Sri Lankan etc origin, they may make life harder for you with the application and give you a shorter time.

After marriage Yes. This is one example of a situation in which a tourist visa can be changed, with hassle, to a different type in India, but I found it much much easier to get mine back in London. Make sure you register you marriage and have all docs and supporting evidence, either way.

Shouldn't be a problem at all; in fact an Entry visa does not entitle you to work in India (A PIO card, which you can get after one year of marriage* does)

Same day, I think, but they only hand out a limited number each day. Again, can be longer if you are not a vanilla Brit (No, I don't mean the colour of your skin --- I mean not SL or Pakistani etc. Nigerian would be just fine)

For a tourist visa? Very highly unlikely. Don't say you're getting married, just social visit.

I hope you're feeling a little calmer now


*Did you or your family come from India? Then you could apply for OCI or PIO in your own right and not have to worry about tourist or entry visas.

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catpat123

At a surgery you will get your visa the same day, within a few hours of arriving. As Nick says, they only issue a certain number each time, usually around 400-500, and this is per application not per person; some people bring several applications along to a visa surgery.

I would suggest that you get there for around 8am even though the doors won't open until 9am. You will probably find there is a queue even then.

The last time we did a visa surgery we got there at 7.45am, were around 50th in the queue and were out with our visas by 11am.

Hope this helps.

Nick-H

PS... It is a great deal easier for you to settle in India with your new wife than it would be if you intended to bring her back to UK to settle with you.

Of course, that is possible, but you would have to show and prove all kinds of financial stuff and all.

So don't worry about coming to India!

siri_uk

thanks catpat123 for the reply. Nick-H you have really been a big help to me not only with this post but also others that I have posted, you are a true gent and you have put my mind at rest, thank you again for all your help I hope to see India very soon - i'm also missing the girlfriend like hell. Me and my family don't come from India so OCI or PIO are no use to me. All the best for 2008 to you and all on the forum.

the irish indian

Hi Nick,
Just Curious....so even if you are a UK resident/passport holder and you married a person from India or elsewhere, you would have difficulty settling back in the UK with your knew spouse?

Is this right?

Remy

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Nick-H

I've taken my wife to UK three times.

The first time I had a house there.

We only ever applied for 'tourist' ('Non-settlement') visas. I had to show that I had some money in the bank and was able to support her and, the first time at least (before we were married) she had to produce details which supported her claim that she fully intended to return to India (job, family, etc).

It wasn't made difficult for us, and in both cases (three visits, two visas) the visa was granted within 24 hours with no further interview.

If we both wanted to settle in UK --- that might be a different matter; I am sure we would have to go throuhg a more extensive procedure.

The key issue is being able to support and house your spouse.

Once upon a time your spouse's Brit passport got you in; but then, once upon a time, a Brit passport got you into India too!

Nick-H

Siri; glad to be of help. If you can find my early postings (around October 2005 or so onwards), you might find the various stories of my marriage and adventures with visas and PIO card useful.

Congratulations on your forthcoming wedding, and best wishes

the irish indian

Hi Nick,

Thanks for satisfying my curiousity.
It seems that we no longer really live in a democratic free world but big brother wants to know where we live, what we've got, how we got it and what we plan to do with it and how much of it we have to give them........bit like legalised extortion.....ah well, better stop before i start ranting.

Cheers,
Remy

The_Londoner

Very difficult if you plan to settle in the UK with your spouse.. You have to prove that you can support her, or him to start with, that you have a house and an income..


Siri, you shouldn't have any problem. If you are near London, queue up at the Indian Embassy one early morning after with all correct documents and two passport size photos. Spend sometime at Strand and have an early lunch.. and your Visa should be ready the same afternoon for you to pick up.. VISA Documents can be downloaded from http://www.hcilondon.net/services/downloads.html

Don't forget, you may require a liquor permit, specially for Gujarat visit.

Enjoy your trip.