Visa Surgeries

boundlesstraveler · Jan 4th, 2007, 05:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick-H

A circus?

What, with consular officers doing juggling, clowning, and that sort of thing? Tricks on horseback?

Marky · Jan 4th, 2007, 15:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by JamesW

Back to the point

- I went to the Coventry surgery a few years back. It was in some community centre on the Foleshill road. Went in the latish morning with documents and forms. They had forms there, but I had downloaded one from the High Commission website and filled it in in advance. It was all well organised, I handed over the form, passport, money, photos, etc. We were told to return in the afternoon - had some lunch (you can get quite an authentic Indian dining experience on Foleshill - good practice!) and returned. After a bit of waiting around I got my passport and visa.

It's all done in the same day, so you shouldn't have to worry about cutting things fine. Just make sure you bring everything you need - read the application form carefully. In particular they don't take cheques, so bring cash for payment.

Just looked at the link. There are two possible venues: the community centre I went to, or a Sikh temple. Make sure you know which one they're using on the day you're going.

Cheers James, this is exactly the type of response I was hoping for. Its great to know that they are efficient and you can turn up late in the day, though I will still get in the queue an hour and half before hand just in case. I think the session is in the sikh temple so i'll probably need to dress appropriately... good practice form the Golden Temple.

Marky · Feb 5th, 2007, 23:27

I attended the visa surgery in Coventry this weekend and I must congratulate the organisers. It was very effiecent and if you ever need a visa I suggest you ue one of these events rather than visit the consulate.

The high commission staff didn't arrive until 9.30, however I arrived at 6.50am to get in the queue nice and early, this was a good idea because I had my visa by 11. And when I left at 11 the queues were huge.

kullukid · Feb 6th, 2007, 16:59

I live in Leeds & went to a visa surgery in Bradford last year. Here's what i wrote about it on "Another India Forum"

well, i'm back complete with valid visa. Got to the surgery at 9.30am all completed by 11.15am waited in a hall with about 80 Indians & believe it or not about 20 Angrezi (English), i didn't think that many English new about it. It was a bit like sitting in an Indian bank with everything been done in triplicate & 5 people doing the job of 1 except it takes them 5 times longer, you know the one!!!
But the best bit of all was THE SMELL! you know what i'm talking about.
It was that smell of India, but without the really bad bits (one day someone will bottle it & make a fortune out of suckers like me!)
The reason for the smell was because the room next door contained the temple & there was lots of incense being wafted about & the local Indian wives had spent the night before making refreshments to raise funds for charity. They were serving 1 big very fresh samosa with a portion of pakora & raita for £1 & a delicious chana masala, so i got 2 portions of each to bring home for lunch, i said to the woman kitne £s & couldn't believe it when she replied "AS YOU LIKE" anyway it's lunchtime now so i'm off to stuff my face & i think i'll definitely use the visa surgeries from now on! KK
Here's a link to the full story: http://www.theindiatree.com/forum2/i...showtopic=1330

coldroses · Jul 13th, 2007, 00:00

Hello!

I'm just posting to see if anybody has ever attended the visa surgeries which are held across the country? I'm going to one on Saturday and just wondering how busy it will be.

Thanks in advance

Nick-H · Jul 13th, 2007, 00:19

As an ex-Londoner I never needed to go to one, but there are a number of reports here on the site. Most people seem to make a fun day out of it!

ISTR reading that they only process a limited number of applications in a day, so get there early.

Watch out for the payment terms too... I have a funny feeling they might demand postal orders or something odd (and expensive).

...yes, that information is on the High Commission London website here. You have to pay £10 extra too

!

capt_mahajan · Jul 13th, 2007, 00:23

Quite a few threads here, as Nick says.

Check HERE

coldroses · Jul 13th, 2007, 00:34

Thanks for the replys

£10 pounds is a lot cheaper than a £70 train ticket down to London!

I was thinking of getting there for about 10.30 but I may try and get there a little earlier. Thanks again.

blackbird · Jul 13th, 2007, 00:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by coldroses

Thanks for the replys

£10 pounds is a lot cheaper than a £70 train ticket down to London!

I was thinking of getting there for about 10.30 but I may try and get there a little earlier. Thanks again.

You don't have to go to London though -- there are the consulates in Edinburgh and Birmingham, I haven't tried the Edinburgh one but in Birmingham it can be done in a day no problem.

Of course, if you live in the Shetlands this may not be much more use to you than the London one....

Nick-H · Jul 13th, 2007, 00:58

I should try to be there before they open!

coldroses · Jul 13th, 2007, 01:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by blackbird

You don't have to go to London though -- there are the consulates in Edinburgh and Birmingham, I haven't tried the Edinburgh one but in Birmingham it can be done in a day no problem.

Of course, if you live in the Shetlands this may not be much more use to you than the London one....

I'm currently working full time during the week so weekdays are a definite no (I'm covering everybody who is on holiday so no holidays before India for me

).

I'm currently staying about 2hrs away from Manchester atm and I work late so getting there before it opens may be quite difficult

I'm not a morning person

blackbird · Jul 13th, 2007, 01:11

In that case, it's worth trying the surgery, but sounds like you will need to get up early! The alternative is by post if you have time (see other threads).

machadinha · Jul 13th, 2007, 01:53

... Merged thread with a previous one, as the subject is esoteric enough to me

catpat123 · Jul 13th, 2007, 01:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by coldroses

I was thinking of getting there for about 10.30 but I may try and get there a little earlier.

The first time we went to the Leeds surgery we got there for 9.45 or thereabouts and we were numbers 202 and 203 in the queue. Try to get there earlier if you can. They only give out a certain number per day and once all the tickets are allocated they won't do any more.

The second time we did it we got there before 8am (doors open at 9) and there were still about 40/50 people ahead of us.

Take something to read and a lot of patience with you.

m.bhattacharya · Jul 13th, 2007, 02:59

I think it is a lot easier to your visa by post. Send your passport by recorded delivery and enclose a Self Addressed and Stamped Envelope (Recorded/Special Delivery) and your visa is with you in 2 weeks +/- 2 days. We got ours in about 16 days. Queues for visas are really really long and a real test of patience.

Milan

Jul 13th, 2007, 00:00	#20
coldroses Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: scotland Posts: 12	Visa surgeries Hello! I'm just posting to see if anybody has ever attended the visa surgeries which are held across the country? I'm going to one on Saturday and just wondering how busy it will be. Thanks in advance Last edited by machadinha : Jul 13th, 2007 at 01:52. Reason: merged threads

Jul 13th, 2007, 00:19	#21
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 27,763	As an ex-Londoner I never needed to go to one, but there are a number of reports here on the site. Most people seem to make a fun day out of it! ISTR reading that they only process a limited number of applications in a day, so get there early. Watch out for the payment terms too... I have a funny feeling they might demand postal orders or something odd (and expensive). ...yes, that information is on the High Commission London website here. You have to pay £10 extra too ! __________________ . Just one member of the IndiaMike Mod Team

Jul 13th, 2007, 01:53	#28
machadinha Not Your Guru Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: yörp Posts: 11,124	... Merged thread with a previous one, as the subject is esoteric enough to me __________________ Reading tips, all picked up at IndiaMike : INDAX's A Comprehensive Guide To India / Dinoj Surendran's Desi Humor / ITHVC on Culture Shock & Travel Health / JetLag Travel Guides For the Undiscerning Traveller / India Travel Links

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Feb 5th, 2007, 23:27	#18
Marky Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Sheffield, England Posts: 97	I attended the visa surgery in Coventry this weekend and I must congratulate the organisers. It was very effiecent and if you ever need a visa I suggest you ue one of these events rather than visit the consulate. The high commission staff didn't arrive until 9.30, however I arrived at 6.50am to get in the queue nice and early, this was a good idea because I had my visa by 11. And when I left at 11 the queues were huge.

Feb 6th, 2007, 16:59	#19
kullukid Maha Guru Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: u.k. Posts: 997	I live in Leeds & went to a visa surgery in Bradford last year. Here's what i wrote about it on "Another India Forum" well, i'm back complete with valid visa. Got to the surgery at 9.30am all completed by 11.15am waited in a hall with about 80 Indians & believe it or not about 20 Angrezi (English), i didn't think that many English new about it. It was a bit like sitting in an Indian bank with everything been done in triplicate & 5 people doing the job of 1 except it takes them 5 times longer, you know the one!!! But the best bit of all was THE SMELL! you know what i'm talking about. It was that smell of India, but without the really bad bits (one day someone will bottle it & make a fortune out of suckers like me!) The reason for the smell was because the room next door contained the temple & there was lots of incense being wafted about & the local Indian wives had spent the night before making refreshments to raise funds for charity. They were serving 1 big very fresh samosa with a portion of pakora & raita for £1 & a delicious chana masala, so i got 2 portions of each to bring home for lunch, i said to the woman kitne £s & couldn't believe it when she replied "AS YOU LIKE" anyway it's lunchtime now so i'm off to stuff my face & i think i'll definitely use the visa surgeries from now on! KK Here's a link to the full story: http://www.theindiatree.com/forum2/i...showtopic=1330

Jul 13th, 2007, 00:23	#22
capt_mahajan (in charge of navel affairs) Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: India Posts: 10,568	Quite a few threads here, as Nick says. Check HERE

Jul 13th, 2007, 00:34	#23
coldroses Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: scotland Posts: 12	Thanks for the replys £10 pounds is a lot cheaper than a £70 train ticket down to London! I was thinking of getting there for about 10.30 but I may try and get there a little earlier. Thanks again.

Jul 13th, 2007, 00:58	#25
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 27,763	I should try to be there before they open!

Jul 13th, 2007, 01:11	#27
blackbird Jai Maa Tarini Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Bristol, England Posts: 391	In that case, it's worth trying the surgery, but sounds like you will need to get up early! The alternative is by post if you have time (see other threads).

Jul 13th, 2007, 02:59	#30
m.bhattacharya Milan Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Milton Keynes, UK Posts: 79	I think it is a lot easier to your visa by post. Send your passport by recorded delivery and enclose a Self Addressed and Stamped Envelope (Recorded/Special Delivery) and your visa is with you in 2 weeks +/- 2 days. We got ours in about 16 days. Queues for visas are really really long and a real test of patience. Milan

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