Visa from London

justmakebelieve · Oct 5th, 2006, 00:56

Just thought I'd post my experience of getting a visa - I went down to London this morning, joined the queue outside the High Commission at 8.05, queue started moving inside once it opened at 8.30. I was number 83 in the queue, got called to the desk at 9.15, my visa was ready at the collection desk (for anyone who goes... desk 7 is a tiny hole in the wall along from desk 6 - you'll have trouble spotting it from the other end of the room) at 10.15. excellent speed I thought

Piece of advice - when you hand your passport and forms in (fill these out beforehand) they'll say something like "one hour, desk 7". If you move down towards desk 7, you'll find that they call the numbers out (this will be the same number as your original queue number) but *not* in order. So I would just stay for the hour so you're there when your number is called. Otherwise you end up doing what lots of people seem to do - ie going away for an hour, then returning and waiting for half an hour for their number to be called, before being informed that their number was called ages ago!

crvlvr · Oct 5th, 2006, 01:03

Thanks for sharing your expeience and the tips. Glad you had a positive experience.

Nick-H · Oct 5th, 2006, 01:45

A couple of hours is par for the course.

The passports come back in batches too, as well as not being in the original order: so it can seem as if nothing is happening for a while, then you have to listen hard to a sudden long stream of numbers.

Enjoy your India trip

hairycanary · Sep 6th, 2007, 01:56

This is the most comprehensive description of the 'Getting a Visa in Person in London' experience I have found online.

It is from 2004 but from reading all relevant 06/07 posts on IndiaMike still looks fairly accurate.

http://mssv.net/2004/11/16/how-to-ob...dia-in-london/]

Anyone with recent experience feel free to update it. I am going tomorrow and will provide an update afterwards.

HC

Maz 1979 · Sep 6th, 2007, 22:07

I went this morning - queue was huge but the place was shut Tues so must have had a knock on effect - got our tickets at 9.15 - handed in at counter at 10.05 and collected visa at 10.35. I was 165 - my friend was 166 and because i asked the man at counter 7 - the collection counter - where mine was he went and got it (with a cup of tea for himself i might add) my friend had to wait another 20 minutes.... hehe!

Nick-H · Sep 6th, 2007, 23:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by hairycanary

This is the most comprehensive description of the 'Getting a Visa in Person in London' experience I have found online.... ... ...

Better illustrated, but all the information is on this site

hairycanary · Sep 7th, 2007, 03:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick-H

Better illustrated, but all the information is on this site

Oh totally Nick! I for one would be completed screwed (or perhaps just less well planned

) without IndiaMike.

Too much work and a worsening cold got in the way this morning, so I shall be heading there early next week.

Thanks for the update Maz. I was hoping the line might be shorter post-school holidays, we'll soon see!

HC

Nick-H · Sep 7th, 2007, 13:58

The last time I had to go there I thought it was low season, but there was a big queue. The counter person told me they were that busy every day!

The thing is to arrive early and not to be daunted by the queue. Once you get inside they really are quite efficient.

People who get used to working in an overseas mission like that must find it really frustrating when they get transferred back to some homeland MHA office! Or maybe they find it a great relief

!

hairycanary · Sep 11th, 2007, 16:02

This is my experience at London High Commission today.

I arrived this morning at 7.30am. India House is opposite The Waldorf and the theatre where Dirty Dancing is playing at the moment. The entry, and the beginning of the queue, is at a side entrance.

There are two queues. The one for visas is further away from the road. Depending on how many people are there when you arrive, you can identify the queue because it’s the one that is not 100% populated by Indian nationals (that would be the consulate services queue).

At 7.30am I was number 12 in the queue. By 8am I counted 60 then the queue went around the corner, so there might have been more. I took a paperback but probably spent more time chatting than reading.

Due to the buildings there is no sun, so even it it’s sunny bring a jacket. I was cool this morning in a suit. There is also no shelter, so don’t forget an umbrella etc if it looks like rain.

At 8.30am the window opened and each person in the queue was given a ticket with a number on it. If you are getting visas for more than just yourself, you need to get a number for every person. To get a number you just need to wave a passport in front of the window – you don’t need forms or cash yet. I received 12 and 13.

Interestingly, the lady before me also receive 12, and the lady after me received 13..(Welcome to India I thought...

) More about this in a minute.

While I was waiting I noticed around 20 people just milling around not in the queue. I presumed they must be waiting for friends (which I thought was dumb, if it were me I’d be in a coffee shop!). At 8.25 though, they all formed a second queue, so then I thought they were queue jumping at it would be a scrum at the window! They were still in their queue when I went it though, and I am pretty sure they are all travel agents etc and that this extra queue is a normal occurrance.

Armed with my two numbers, we were directed upstairs (through a metal detector, though I went through with keys etc).

Upstairs is a room with about 80 plastic waiting chairs, and 10 old fashioned bank windows. There is an old fashioned number counter with the changing number, plus ABCDE lights. The ABCDE lights weren’t used. When I arrived the number was at 15 and I thought I’d missed my call somehow already! But I took a seat next to Lady #8 who had been many times before. She asked at a window and was told the number thing was broken and they will call out 1-15 manually. People #1-#15 were all nice and organised ourselves so this was no problem.

My number was called to a window within 10 minutes of taking a seat on the plastic chairs. You aren't directed to any particular window, just go to the one with no one at it. Being at the window took about 3 minutes, handing over forms, passports, photos and cash. There were around 6 windows open, and overall they processed around one number per minute while I was there.

The two ladies next to me in the queue (the #12 and #13 doppelgangers) and I all told our window attendants about the #12 #13 double up, and this didn’t end up causing any problem.

Tip #1 IF YOU HAVE TWO PASSPORTS. I have a British passport (naturalised, two years ago) and an Australian passport (since birth). I listed the British passport on the form as the main passport and the Australian passport as the ‘other’ passport. I took the Australian passport and offered it at the window, however they did not take it.

Tip #2 BRITISH PASSPORT WITH BANGLADESHI ORIGIN. The lady next to me was getting a visa for her husband, who had a British passport (naturalised, 5 years ago) but was born in Bangladesh. She was prepared for hassle. She had no hassle at all, the only difference was he received a 3 month visa rather than a 6 month visa. Not sure if she offered the Bangladesh passport as well but they didn’t take it. Not sure if she had ‘extra documents’ either.

Once cash was taken at the window I was given a computer printout with the name and number of each person on it, and was told to take a seat and wait until 9.30am when they would start calling numbers out at Window 1.

At 9.10 I asked a lady who had just entered and sat next to me what number she was. She was 89, and she said she had arrived in the queue at 8.15. At that point the counter was up to #45 so were processing around 1 a minute. We estimated she would be called up to the window between 9.45-10am.

At 9.10am something was said over the PA which we couldn’t understand, but a few people were gathering around Window 1 so I joined them. The lady at Window 1 started calling out numbers, around 5 at a time, and handing back passports. I was in the second group and had my passports back, and was out the door by 9.15am.

When I was outside, I noticed someone wandering who was before me the queue, so told them their number had probably already been called. Best bet is to stay inside I'd say so you don't miss your number.

Overall, 1hour 45min. Pretty happy with that. If they kept processing at the same rate, no matter what time you arrived I think it would have taken approx 2 hours. The lady immediately after me with the Bangladeshi-origin husband also received her passport back at the same time as me.

Nick-H · Sep 12th, 2007, 00:12

Even though I sit here, as permanently resident in India as a Brit can be, every time I read such a description I get a pang of nostalgia: the London visa queue, the beginning of the adventure

Nice description, nice post. Just one thing to clarrify...

Quote:

At 8.30am the window opened and each person in the queue was given a ticket with a number on it. If you are getting visas for more than just yourself, you need to get a number for every person. To get a number you just need to wave a passport in front of the window – you don’t need forms or cash yet.

If you do not already have one, this is also where you get your application form. You can be filling it in in that coffee shop Hairycanary mentioned

.

I'd like to put in a special mention for The Strand Palace Hotel's Toilets! In through the main front door, up a couple of steps into the main lobby, then turn right and down a few steps. Gents is on the left. Don't know where the ladies' is, I'm afraid, but could well be about the same. Nobody ever challenges you in a busy hotel lobby anyway, if you look like know where you are going.

I guess you could even use their coffee shop!

beano · Sep 12th, 2007, 00:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by hairycanary

Armed with my two numbers, we were directed upstairs (through a metal detector, though I went through with keys etc).

Yeah, I wondered about thing. I walked through it with keys, a large metal key fob and a swiss army knife but the security chaps just directed me upstairs.

I notice it still beeped when people went through it, though. Maybe it's just a people counter?

Nick-H · Sep 12th, 2007, 00:38

I think it is just a big mettle frame with a beeper attached!

richie4india · Sep 29th, 2007, 21:48

To be honest both times (this week and December 2006) I actually found the process of obtaining a visa in person at the High Commission in London easy enough and rather straight forward.

It does require patience though. If you can maintain your patience then it is fine. My experiences in both cases were fine. The second one was different as I was trying to obtaining a 'one' year tourist visa and was given it too. I also needed two normal toursit visa.

I will explain my day this week, Monday 24th Sept.

I joined the queue at 8.20am. I got to the 'yellow card' visa hall at 9.15am. Oh it was pouring down with rain by the way.

Anyway the Queue number display unit came up with my numbers at 10.20am and I handed over the three forms and the pleasant lady said 'you need to go to the PRO desk to get this 'one year' tourist visa application authorised and signed before I can take it and then come back to me.' She took the other two and I left the desk.

I went to the PRO desk which took about 45minutes of waiting as all the queries he had were complicated. When I handed my application form over this man said 'No, scrub this out and put six months, bye.' Having previously spoke to someone with more authority than him to agree this application to which I attached a reference letter, I was not happy but still remained calm. He was onyl doing his job after all.

At this point I said 'OK.' I moved to the side and called the guy who I spoke to. He met me at the door between the PRO desk and travel agent windows. He authorised and signed my application form for me and was very nice and happy to do it.

I took the form back to the lady at desk 4 and she said 'all sorted?' with a big smile. It was 11.20am when my 'one year' visa form was taken by her. I then went over near the entrance next to the OCI hall. This is were the passports with the visas are issued.

At 11.50am they called out one of my three visa numbers so I looked through the three receipts. It was for my 'one year' visa!!!

I nealy died as I thought it would take a while but then again it was getting quiet as there was actually multiple seats available! The lady who was issuing the visas then said 'I will now call numbers I have already called.' Luckily two of them were for me.

I left the embassy at 11.55am!! Happy and still in shock at the 30 minute turnaround of my visa.

Beena450 · Oct 1st, 2007, 04:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by richie4india

It was for my 'one year' visa!!!

Can I ask how you got a one year visa?? I'm want to go for about 7 or 8 months and have resigned myself to the fact at some point I will have to leave the country to renew the 6 month visa.

goangoangone · Oct 1st, 2007, 09:49

I also got a 1 year tourist with 180 day endorsement. Told them I'd previously had a 1 year X and resident status.

Oct 5th, 2006, 01:45	#3
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 26,849	A couple of hours is par for the course. The passports come back in batches too, as well as not being in the original order: so it can seem as if nothing is happening for a while, then you have to listen hard to a sudden long stream of numbers. Enjoy your India trip __________________ . Just one member of the IndiaMike Mod Team

Sep 6th, 2007, 22:07	#5
Maz 1979 Monkey Bait Join Date: May 2004 Location: London Posts: 151	I went this morning - queue was huge but the place was shut Tues so must have had a knock on effect - got our tickets at 9.15 - handed in at counter at 10.05 and collected visa at 10.35. I was 165 - my friend was 166 and because i asked the man at counter 7 - the collection counter - where mine was he went and got it (with a cup of tea for himself i might add) my friend had to wait another 20 minutes.... hehe! __________________ India

Sep 11th, 2007, 16:02	#9
hairycanary Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: London Posts: 11	My Experience at London High Commission This is my experience at London High Commission today. I arrived this morning at 7.30am. India House is opposite The Waldorf and the theatre where Dirty Dancing is playing at the moment. The entry, and the beginning of the queue, is at a side entrance. There are two queues. The one for visas is further away from the road. Depending on how many people are there when you arrive, you can identify the queue because it’s the one that is not 100% populated by Indian nationals (that would be the consulate services queue). At 7.30am I was number 12 in the queue. By 8am I counted 60 then the queue went around the corner, so there might have been more. I took a paperback but probably spent more time chatting than reading. Due to the buildings there is no sun, so even it it’s sunny bring a jacket. I was cool this morning in a suit. There is also no shelter, so don’t forget an umbrella etc if it looks like rain. At 8.30am the window opened and each person in the queue was given a ticket with a number on it. If you are getting visas for more than just yourself, you need to get a number for every person. To get a number you just need to wave a passport in front of the window – you don’t need forms or cash yet. I received 12 and 13. Interestingly, the lady before me also receive 12, and the lady after me received 13..(Welcome to India I thought... ) More about this in a minute. While I was waiting I noticed around 20 people just milling around not in the queue. I presumed they must be waiting for friends (which I thought was dumb, if it were me I’d be in a coffee shop!). At 8.25 though, they all formed a second queue, so then I thought they were queue jumping at it would be a scrum at the window! They were still in their queue when I went it though, and I am pretty sure they are all travel agents etc and that this extra queue is a normal occurrance. Armed with my two numbers, we were directed upstairs (through a metal detector, though I went through with keys etc). Upstairs is a room with about 80 plastic waiting chairs, and 10 old fashioned bank windows. There is an old fashioned number counter with the changing number, plus ABCDE lights. The ABCDE lights weren’t used. When I arrived the number was at 15 and I thought I’d missed my call somehow already! But I took a seat next to Lady #8 who had been many times before. She asked at a window and was told the number thing was broken and they will call out 1-15 manually. People #1-#15 were all nice and organised ourselves so this was no problem. My number was called to a window within 10 minutes of taking a seat on the plastic chairs. You aren't directed to any particular window, just go to the one with no one at it. Being at the window took about 3 minutes, handing over forms, passports, photos and cash. There were around 6 windows open, and overall they processed around one number per minute while I was there. The two ladies next to me in the queue (the #12 and #13 doppelgangers) and I all told our window attendants about the #12 #13 double up, and this didn’t end up causing any problem. Tip #1 IF YOU HAVE TWO PASSPORTS. I have a British passport (naturalised, two years ago) and an Australian passport (since birth). I listed the British passport on the form as the main passport and the Australian passport as the ‘other’ passport. I took the Australian passport and offered it at the window, however they did not take it. Tip #2 BRITISH PASSPORT WITH BANGLADESHI ORIGIN. The lady next to me was getting a visa for her husband, who had a British passport (naturalised, 5 years ago) but was born in Bangladesh. She was prepared for hassle. She had no hassle at all, the only difference was he received a 3 month visa rather than a 6 month visa. Not sure if she offered the Bangladesh passport as well but they didn’t take it. Not sure if she had ‘extra documents’ either. Once cash was taken at the window I was given a computer printout with the name and number of each person on it, and was told to take a seat and wait until 9.30am when they would start calling numbers out at Window 1. At 9.10 I asked a lady who had just entered and sat next to me what number she was. She was 89, and she said she had arrived in the queue at 8.15. At that point the counter was up to #45 so were processing around 1 a minute. We estimated she would be called up to the window between 9.45-10am. At 9.10am something was said over the PA which we couldn’t understand, but a few people were gathering around Window 1 so I joined them. The lady at Window 1 started calling out numbers, around 5 at a time, and handing back passports. I was in the second group and had my passports back, and was out the door by 9.15am. When I was outside, I noticed someone wandering who was before me the queue, so told them their number had probably already been called. Best bet is to stay inside I'd say so you don't miss your number. Overall, 1hour 45min. Pretty happy with that. If they kept processing at the same rate, no matter what time you arrived I think it would have taken approx 2 hours. The lady immediately after me with the Bangladeshi-origin husband also received her passport back at the same time as me.

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Oct 5th, 2006, 00:56	#1
justmakebelieve Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: UK Posts: 29	Visa from London Just thought I'd post my experience of getting a visa - I went down to London this morning, joined the queue outside the High Commission at 8.05, queue started moving inside once it opened at 8.30. I was number 83 in the queue, got called to the desk at 9.15, my visa was ready at the collection desk (for anyone who goes... desk 7 is a tiny hole in the wall along from desk 6 - you'll have trouble spotting it from the other end of the room) at 10.15. excellent speed I thought Piece of advice - when you hand your passport and forms in (fill these out beforehand) they'll say something like "one hour, desk 7". If you move down towards desk 7, you'll find that they call the numbers out (this will be the same number as your original queue number) but not in order. So I would just stay for the hour so you're there when your number is called. Otherwise you end up doing what lots of people seem to do - ie going away for an hour, then returning and waiting for half an hour for their number to be called, before being informed that their number was called ages ago!

Oct 5th, 2006, 01:03	#2
crvlvr Guru Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Hollywood Posts: 4,474	Thanks for sharing your expeience and the tips. Glad you had a positive experience.

Sep 6th, 2007, 01:56	#4
hairycanary Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: London Posts: 11	This is the most comprehensive description of the 'Getting a Visa in Person in London' experience I have found online. It is from 2004 but from reading all relevant 06/07 posts on IndiaMike still looks fairly accurate. http://mssv.net/2004/11/16/how-to-ob...dia-in-london/] Anyone with recent experience feel free to update it. I am going tomorrow and will provide an update afterwards. HC

Sep 7th, 2007, 13:58	#8
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 26,849	The last time I had to go there I thought it was low season, but there was a big queue. The counter person told me they were that busy every day! The thing is to arrive early and not to be daunted by the queue. Once you get inside they really are quite efficient. People who get used to working in an overseas mission like that must find it really frustrating when they get transferred back to some homeland MHA office! Or maybe they find it a great relief !

Sep 12th, 2007, 00:38	#12
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 26,849	I think it is just a big mettle frame with a beeper attached!

Sep 29th, 2007, 21:48	#13
richie4india Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: London Posts: 164	To be honest both times (this week and December 2006) I actually found the process of obtaining a visa in person at the High Commission in London easy enough and rather straight forward. It does require patience though. If you can maintain your patience then it is fine. My experiences in both cases were fine. The second one was different as I was trying to obtaining a 'one' year tourist visa and was given it too. I also needed two normal toursit visa. I will explain my day this week, Monday 24th Sept. I joined the queue at 8.20am. I got to the 'yellow card' visa hall at 9.15am. Oh it was pouring down with rain by the way. Anyway the Queue number display unit came up with my numbers at 10.20am and I handed over the three forms and the pleasant lady said 'you need to go to the PRO desk to get this 'one year' tourist visa application authorised and signed before I can take it and then come back to me.' She took the other two and I left the desk. I went to the PRO desk which took about 45minutes of waiting as all the queries he had were complicated. When I handed my application form over this man said 'No, scrub this out and put six months, bye.' Having previously spoke to someone with more authority than him to agree this application to which I attached a reference letter, I was not happy but still remained calm. He was onyl doing his job after all. At this point I said 'OK.' I moved to the side and called the guy who I spoke to. He met me at the door between the PRO desk and travel agent windows. He authorised and signed my application form for me and was very nice and happy to do it. I took the form back to the lady at desk 4 and she said 'all sorted?' with a big smile. It was 11.20am when my 'one year' visa form was taken by her. I then went over near the entrance next to the OCI hall. This is were the passports with the visas are issued. At 11.50am they called out one of my three visa numbers so I looked through the three receipts. It was for my 'one year' visa!!! I nealy died as I thought it would take a while but then again it was getting quiet as there was actually multiple seats available! The lady who was issuing the visas then said 'I will now call numbers I have already called.' Luckily two of them were for me. I left the embassy at 11.55am!! Happy and still in shock at the 30 minute turnaround of my visa.

Oct 1st, 2007, 09:49	#15
goangoangone Monsoon Loon Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Goa Posts: 1,499	I also got a 1 year tourist with 180 day endorsement. Told them I'd previously had a 1 year X and resident status. __________________ GoanGoan......here

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