Visa Application Form/How To Answer/Or Not!

I do not have an exact departure/arrival date yet. If it's only in a few weeks, does this look weird to the embassy?

What is the best answer to give to the question: Objective of Journey? Does one put travel; touring; vacation; etc?

I have my reasons for asking. Thanks for any help.

Noonietn

1. No, many leave visa applications until quite late as visas are valid from the date approved, not the date of arrival in India. If you plan on staying close to the full 6 months of a tourist visa, then applying close to the date of departure is necessary. Exact departure date isn't necessary -- the question is asked for two reasons, I presume: 1. to make sure you get it in time and 2. you aren't asking so far ahead that the visa date will cut short your plans.

2. tourist/business/family visit/school -- no 'best' answer, but better not to raise flags by saying you're a journalist, planning on working (if applying for tourist visa) or that you are on some sort of crusade.

3. the question you didn't ask "what about the 2 references?' -- it's not important if you don't have any, leave it blank.

If you are applying for a tourist visa, you have to put holiday, vacation, or something like that on your application. It's against the law to do anything but tour on tourist visa. If you plan to do something else--study, work, journalism, missionary activities, gun running, or whatever--there are different visas to apply for.

There's a visa for gun running? Does that go under the "freedom fighter" category? :P

I should have put shopping on my visa.

hello everybody,I am planing to go india in january for a year,studing,helping,meditatin g,which kind of visa shall i apply for....when shall i apply?
Can I apply by internet ,because I'll have to go to the french embassy (because I'm fench,but leave in brighton ,about an hiour from london=mission),so would be cool to know in advance what document to take with...
I know I could justbut this ffull of great advice,that bypointing out my situation I'm sure I can get quite handy advice! :O)
thanks,have a great shiny day

You can download the forms over the internet www.hcilondon.net

You can apply at the Indian High Commission in London. I do not see any reason to go to the French embassy.

If you are a French passport holder you may want to take proof to show you have been residing in the UK eg bank statements, council tax notices etc.

Hi there! You can only stay for 6 months on a tourist visa. To get a student visa you will first have to apply for admission in a recognised college/university in India from England. Then you will have to go to the Indian High Commission in India with proof of having been accepted in that particular college/university. You can stay for more than 1 year on the student visa.

However if I'm not mistaken you can easily hop across the border and apply for another 6-month visa? If this is the case the tourist visas appear to be the most hassle-free so don't mention your studying or working or anything.

Sure you can hop across the border but that can be quite expensive if your location in India is far away from the border.

Hm yes but given it's feasible a trainride to anywhere doesn't have to be very expensive, although a flight might be more practical. One long trainride in a year would be worth it though and might certainly beat all that paperwork. Note: If you do anything like an official study or job you'll have no other option but to go through the paperwork anyway I assume.

one thing I will not put on my visa again is that I am a writer. when I went to the window to turn in my visa application I was first asked if I plan on writing in India, I said yes, right, what writer would not write in India. The agent looked at me and said, "wrong answer." I had to sign a release that would not write about India and profit from it. I tried to let the agent I write experimental poetry, and very few people read experimental poetry, but I think something was lost in translations.

so, next time i will just say I am a social worker on vacation..

yep I've heard about crossing border to get extention,want to go to thailand as wel for a bit,so might be convenient...how long does it take more or less,they must be time when it's quicker or slower is january a commun time for people to go?
thanks a lot,do u know where to go to talks about health and safety in the forum? lol
lots of love and lights x