Visa not given ... what now ?

Nick-H · Aug 16th, 2009, 16:28

"Hey, Rajiv, look at this..."

"Yep, Looks like you've nailed an illegal therapist there, Githa. Good work! Refuse!"

Sorry... I know this is no laughing matter for Annie

.

AnnieGurton · Aug 16th, 2009, 16:30

Horses and stable doors come to mind, but I have now changed my web site (www.anniegurton.com)
As for the 'Annie Gurton Media Training' web site, I haven't had anything to do with that business for over 10 years (I sold it on and am not even sure if it is still in business)
I sometimes write features on psychotherapy, but would hardly call myself a journalist any more !

EDITED TO ADD: The visa application was bone fide, whatever it looks like. While we are in Goa we go up to Agra and Murzapur to order rugs for some UK retail businesses in Penzance.

karuna · Aug 16th, 2009, 16:31

Quote:

The very first hit on a google search of "Annie Gurton" brings up the paragraph "Annie Gurton - Psychological Therapist in Penzance, Cornwall and Goa, India."

Bullseye for Haylo there I think. And Nick's comment! Oh dear.

federica · Aug 16th, 2009, 16:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by AnnieGurton

but I have now changed my web site (www.anniegurton.com)

Just a hint: on your website you're still mentioning that you're "available for sessions (...) in either location".

nycank · Aug 16th, 2009, 19:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by AnnieGurton

Horses and stable doors come to mind, but I have now changed my web site (www.anniegurton.com)
As for the 'Annie Gurton Media Training' web site, I haven't had anything to do with that business for over 10 years (I sold it on and am not even sure if it is still in business)
I sometimes write features on psychotherapy, but would hardly call myself a journalist any more !

EDITED TO ADD: The visa application was bone fide, whatever it looks like. While we are in Goa we go up to Agra and Murzapur to order rugs for some UK retail businesses in Penzance.

Annie, I know you mean well, and I know you have good intentions. Visa Officers are at best PIBs (India,UK,US,Thai....) But somehow you dont make a good case to the HCI in UK. Here are some jarring pointers - You mention, in your own words on your website -

Quote:

I live and work in two places: From mid-October to mid-April, I live in Goa, India.

From mid-April to mid-October, I live and work in Penzance, Cornwall, UK.

The operand words - Live and Work are against the terms of a Tourist Visa, if that is what you got in the past. Your love for Goa aside.

Secondly, by claiming that you are buying rugs for retail businesses in Penzance, Cornwall,UK you raise more suspicion. How many rugs in annual buy can a population of 21,000 sustain for it to have a semi-permanent buyer in India ?

I do not know what you do for six-months a year in Goa, India - If it is business, why do you not incorporate in UK as such. An LLC/LLP. It will reinforce your case. If Therapy is your business then do so. Form alliance with local institutes in Goa and take it from there.

As it stands, you are in murky waters.

Haylo · Aug 16th, 2009, 20:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by nycank

How many rugs in annual buy can a population of 21,000 sustain for it to have a semi-permanent buyer in India?

Penzance, although it has a small population, sees a massive turnover of tourists in the summer and supports many businesses which could never be sustained by the locals. Think of it as Agra by the sea!

Even so, you have a good point. It would take some doing to convince the HCI that a genuine businesswoman would take as long to purchase rugs for stock as it will take to sell them back in the UK.

Nick-H · Aug 16th, 2009, 20:43

I think this has gone down a red-herring lane.

Importing rugs does not at all imply selling them within a couple of miles of one's home. She could have a nation, indeed, international, business.

fsg · Aug 16th, 2009, 20:53

Normally I buy the air ticket, then get the visa, think again ?

Its amazing what Google can throw up about you.

Not that I have my own web site.

Nick-H · Aug 16th, 2009, 21:03

Imagine the visa authorities collecting together my less-than-positive posts from this site!

omtapas · Aug 16th, 2009, 21:13

"You can't tell me anything that I haven't heard before" is written on your website.
Looks like Bhagawan wanted to challenge you!

I think the application for "Business Visa" has been so abused lately. I know of so many people who applied for Import&Export of jewellery or carpets, etc...

Congratulations to Haylo for looking on Google!

Ultimately, Bhagawan is in charge.

omtapas · Aug 16th, 2009, 21:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick-H

Imagine the visa authorities collecting together my less-than-positive posts from this site!

Very good

Nick-H · Aug 16th, 2009, 21:25

Quote:

Ultimately, Bhagawan is in charge.

Nope: Rug-one is in charge.

nycank · Aug 16th, 2009, 21:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick-H

I think this has gone down a red-herring lane.

Importing rugs does not at all imply selling them within a couple of miles of one's home. She could have a nation, indeed, international, business.

[ On further review, penalty declined.. Still First down ]

You are partially correct. However to claim an international business one has to show a substantial paperwork in one's name pertaining to the said business. And of course in India you need a unique IEC number. Register with DGFT have a PAN as well as submit a current bank account. Doing legitimate EXIM business in India is not easy; it used to be very difficult a few decades ago.

Thinking Aloud: Does India have a Small Business Administration kind of an entity whose sole purpose is to look after mom-n-pop type startups ?

Nick-H · Aug 16th, 2009, 21:36

Hmmm... I sort-of assumed that Annie had all the bureaucratic stuff in hand, as she has been doing this for some years

AnnieGurton · Aug 16th, 2009, 21:54

[quote=Haylo;793735]Maybe not routinely for tourist visa applications, but the bona fides of business applicants can be checked in various ways, and I know as a fact that visa officers in one High Commission do use a google search as one of their tools.

The very first hit on a google search of "Annie Gurton" brings up the paragraph "Annie Gurton - Psychological Therapist in Penzance, Cornwall and Goa, India."

To a visa officer, that could easily look like a fraudulent business visa application was being made for trips to buy carpets in Agra, to cover the applicant's illegal therapy work in Goa. I'm not saying that is AnnieGurton's situation, but that is how it looks.

Good luck!

Yes, well, I feel rather silly now. How could I possibly have thought that they would NOT run a Google check, and I could have a web site like that and still claim that the rug business was my primary business.
Unfortunately, however, it is TRUE that I am not involved with the media any more, and it is TRUE that I carry out a rug-buying exercise every season. And any therapy work I did do in Goa was transitory.

However, I feel that any attempt by me to appeal will only draw attention to me.
Time to retire to my corner, lick my wounds, and ponder on the next move.

Many thanks to all who have replied to this thread - your replies have been really very helpful.

Maybe I'll just go straight to Australia and leave out India this year - and for the forseeable years.

Best wishes, Annie

Aug 16th, 2009, 20:53	#23
fsg Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: U.K Posts: 478	Normally I buy the air ticket, then get the visa, think again ? Its amazing what Google can throw up about you. Not that I have my own web site. __________________ The British gave India bureaucracy..... India perfected it [Lord Desai]

Aug 16th, 2009, 21:13	#25
omtapas Be happy for this moment, this is all you have. Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Puttaparthi Posts: 45	"You can't tell me anything that I haven't heard before" is written on your website. Looks like Bhagawan wanted to challenge you! I think the application for "Business Visa" has been so abused lately. I know of so many people who applied for Import&Export of jewellery or carpets, etc... Congratulations to Haylo for looking on Google! Ultimately, Bhagawan is in charge. __________________ Videos about my trips and more: http://www.youtube.com/omtapas Om Sai Ram - Tapas

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Aug 16th, 2009, 16:28	#16
Nick-H This is just a cameo appearance Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 36,194	"Hey, Rajiv, look at this..." "Yep, Looks like you've nailed an illegal therapist there, Githa. Good work! Refuse!" Sorry... I know this is no laughing matter for Annie .

Aug 16th, 2009, 16:30	#17
AnnieGurton Account Closed Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Penzance Posts: 6	Horses and stable doors come to mind, but I have now changed my web site (www.anniegurton.com) As for the 'Annie Gurton Media Training' web site, I haven't had anything to do with that business for over 10 years (I sold it on and am not even sure if it is still in business) I sometimes write features on psychotherapy, but would hardly call myself a journalist any more ! EDITED TO ADD: The visa application was bone fide, whatever it looks like. While we are in Goa we go up to Agra and Murzapur to order rugs for some UK retail businesses in Penzance.

Aug 16th, 2009, 20:43	#22
Nick-H This is just a cameo appearance Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 36,194	I think this has gone down a red-herring lane. Importing rugs does not at all imply selling them within a couple of miles of one's home. She could have a nation, indeed, international, business.

Aug 16th, 2009, 21:03	#24
Nick-H This is just a cameo appearance Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 36,194	Imagine the visa authorities collecting together my less-than-positive posts from this site!

Aug 16th, 2009, 21:36	#29
Nick-H This is just a cameo appearance Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 36,194	Hmmm... I sort-of assumed that Annie had all the bureaucratic stuff in hand, as she has been doing this for some years

Aug 16th, 2009, 21:54	#30
AnnieGurton Account Closed Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Penzance Posts: 6	[quote=Haylo;793735]Maybe not routinely for tourist visa applications, but the bona fides of business applicants can be checked in various ways, and I know as a fact that visa officers in one High Commission do use a google search as one of their tools. The very first hit on a google search of "Annie Gurton" brings up the paragraph "Annie Gurton - Psychological Therapist in Penzance, Cornwall and Goa, India." To a visa officer, that could easily *look like* a fraudulent business visa application was being made for trips to buy carpets in Agra, to cover the applicant's illegal therapy work in Goa. I'm not saying that is AnnieGurton's situation, but that is how it looks. Good luck! Yes, well, I feel rather silly now. How could I possibly have thought that they would NOT run a Google check, and I could have a web site like that and still claim that the rug business was my primary business. Unfortunately, however, it is TRUE that I am not involved with the media any more, and it is TRUE that I carry out a rug-buying exercise every season. And any therapy work I did do in Goa was transitory. However, I feel that any attempt by me to appeal will only draw attention to me. Time to retire to my corner, lick my wounds, and ponder on the next move. Many thanks to all who have replied to this thread - your replies have been really very helpful. Maybe I'll just go straight to Australia and leave out India this year - and for the forseeable years. Best wishes, Annie