Visa Outsourcing In U.s. Indian Embassys

na67784 · Mar 29th, 2008, 02:14

Hello all

I am traveling on my own for the first time, planning on going to India to do the one month teacher training program and I was just looking into visas and all the Indian Embassys in America seemed to have been outsourced by this company http://indiavisa.travisaoutsourcing....ements/display

in regards to issuing visas. Has anyone heard anything else about this? Is it safe to use? Is it normal for them to ask you to send the ACTUAL passport and not a copy? Has anyone ever lost their passport doing this? Sorry if I sound paranoid, I am just brand new to the travel thing and want to make sure! Thanks for your time and help, its greatly appreciated

)

~Nat

edwardseco · Mar 29th, 2008, 02:34

Safe by all reports. You DO send the actual passport because that is what the visa stamp goes into. Never had a problem. It costs a bit extran but I suppose the alternative is long delays.
Enjoy India, its a trip..

Nick-H · Mar 29th, 2008, 02:37

This is one of those If that's the way it is, that's the way it is questions! You don't have a choice!

It's new... so there isn't really a 'normal' and I doubt that (unless it's like Heathrow Terminal 5, a complete management disaster) there's going to be a history of things going wrong.

Whilst I say its new, the procedure is not; many embassies and high commissions of many countries around the world outsource the paper-collecting and delivery part of the visa process.

Yes, they need to see original documents, both from the standpoint of knowing them to be genuine, and also because they stick the visa itself in your passport.

Go for it: it'll be fine

And welcome to the site

camelgirl · Mar 29th, 2008, 04:31

I'll add my vote to the above. It's definitely OK. Just follow all the instructions, send the right amount of money for the type of passport you want--there are several kinds but most people get the 6 month tourist visa unless they plan on going back several more times in the course of a few years--in which case we U.S. citizens can get a 5 Year or even 10 year tourist visa.

And definitely don't worry about sending in your passport, as Edwardseco already said, it's the only way to get it and the Visa takes up one page of the passport and is pasted in (used to be a big rubber stamp, now it's pasted in). A permanent souvineer, you might say!

gia · Mar 29th, 2008, 05:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by camelgirl

I'll add my vote to the above. It's definitely OK. Just follow all the instructions, send the right amount of money for the type of passport you want--

I was also nervous about sending my passport through the mail, but it was a pretty easy process and I did get my passport back within a couple of weeks. In the Chicago area, they've also changed it so you have to fill out the application online. All in all, I just made sure to follow the instructions and it was fine.

crvlvr · Mar 29th, 2008, 05:08

Hard to believe that even visas are being outsourced. But, apparently this oursourcign outfit is legit. Here is a link to a letter from the Indian Ambassador http://www.indianembassy.org/newsite...20Services.pdf

Cardamom · Mar 29th, 2008, 10:32

Hey na67784 - I also was a bit apprehensive with the process. Just *Make Sure* you send your passport and paperwork via a traceable source like DHL, FedEx, UPS, etc. I would have been on pins and needles if I sent my passport through the US postal service. I opted for the mail-in version because I was pressed for time, even though I work about 8 blocks from the place. I got my Visa back in about 5 business days from when I sent it in.

I get jealous about all this applying-for-visas-business. Makes me wanna go back too!

Good luck!
C

camelgirl · Mar 29th, 2008, 10:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cardamom

Hey na67784 - I also was a bit apprehensive with the process. Just *Make Sure* you send your passport and paperwork via a traceable source like DHL, FedEx, UPS, etc. I would have been on pins and needles if I sent my passport through the US postal service.C

I used the U.S. Postal Service--no problem--You can send it Registered and get a tracking number unless you can easily find FedEx or UPS, which you probably can.

na67784 · Mar 31st, 2008, 03:58

thanks everyone! that makes me feel muuuch better and certainly will help my trek

)

Mar 29th, 2008, 02:14	#1
na67784 Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: NC Posts: 4	Visa Outsourcing In U.s. Indian Embassys Hello all I am traveling on my own for the first time, planning on going to India to do the one month teacher training program and I was just looking into visas and all the Indian Embassys in America seemed to have been outsourced by this company http://indiavisa.travisaoutsourcing....ements/display in regards to issuing visas. Has anyone heard anything else about this? Is it safe to use? Is it normal for them to ask you to send the ACTUAL passport and not a copy? Has anyone ever lost their passport doing this? Sorry if I sound paranoid, I am just brand new to the travel thing and want to make sure! Thanks for your time and help, its greatly appreciated ) ~Nat

Mar 29th, 2008, 02:37	#3
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 27,701	This is one of those If that's the way it is, that's the way it is questions! You don't have a choice! It's new... so there isn't really a 'normal' and I doubt that (unless it's like Heathrow Terminal 5, a complete management disaster) there's going to be a history of things going wrong. Whilst I say its new, the procedure is not; many embassies and high commissions of many countries around the world outsource the paper-collecting and delivery part of the visa process. Yes, they need to see original documents, both from the standpoint of knowing them to be genuine, and also because they stick the visa itself in your passport. Go for it: it'll be fine And welcome to the site __________________ . Just one member of the IndiaMike Mod Team

Mar 29th, 2008, 04:31	#4
camelgirl 10 year Visa okee dokee Join Date: May 2005 Location: Swannanoa NC usa Posts: 1,082	I'll add my vote to the above. It's definitely OK. Just follow all the instructions, send the right amount of money for the type of passport you want--there are several kinds but most people get the 6 month tourist visa unless they plan on going back several more times in the course of a few years--in which case we U.S. citizens can get a 5 Year or even 10 year tourist visa. And definitely don't worry about sending in your passport, as Edwardseco already said, it's the only way to get it and the Visa takes up one page of the passport and is pasted in (used to be a big rubber stamp, now it's pasted in). A permanent souvineer, you might say! __________________ My selected India photos http://www.indiamike.com/photopost/s...r/7030/cat/500

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Mar 29th, 2008, 02:34	#2
edwardseco Maha Guru Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Land that shakes and bakes. Posts: 4,208	Safe by all reports. You DO send the actual passport because that is what the visa stamp goes into. Never had a problem. It costs a bit extran but I suppose the alternative is long delays. Enjoy India, its a trip..

Mar 29th, 2008, 05:08	#6
crvlvr Guru Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Hollywood Posts: 4,501	Hard to believe that even visas are being outsourced. But, apparently this oursourcign outfit is legit. Here is a link to a letter from the Indian Ambassador http://www.indianembassy.org/newsite...20Services.pdf

Mar 29th, 2008, 10:32	#7
Cardamom Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: New York, NY Posts: 279	Hey na67784 - I also was a bit apprehensive with the process. Just *Make Sure* you send your passport and paperwork via a traceable source like DHL, FedEx, UPS, etc. I would have been on pins and needles if I sent my passport through the US postal service. I opted for the mail-in version because I was pressed for time, even though I work about 8 blocks from the place. I got my Visa back in about 5 business days from when I sent it in. I get jealous about all this applying-for-visas-business. Makes me wanna go back too! Good luck! C

Mar 31st, 2008, 03:58	#9
na67784 Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: NC Posts: 4	thanks everyone! that makes me feel muuuch better and certainly will help my trek )

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