Sorry we won't see you over Xmas Mike but have a brilliant time, I am sure you will. Hope everything gets sorted out for you visa wise for the future, will be a shame if we never see you again, sad to have familiar faces missing.

All the best Mike and safe travels. Keep in touch with everyone and hope to see you one day soon xx

Mike
I'm really sorry to hear that this still hasn't been resolved.

Wherever you decide to go, I hope you have a fab time.

We came back from Goa on Sunday on the MON2491 flight into Gatwick.
We were delayed slightly as we had to wait for a woman who had been refused entry to India to re-board the same flight she went out on.
No idea what the exact problem was but presumably it was visa related.

It's bizarre to think that things are made so difficult with the rules changing virtually without notice (very recent examples are the 'no hand-written applications' and the change in size of photographs.

Lots of people (shack guys, beach sellers, taxi drivers, shop & restaurant owners) were asking where all the British people were.
We told them it was possibly to do with the economic climate here, the problems with delays in shack licences in previous years, poor weather at the start of last November, the increase in flight, accommodation & package prices, and last but certainly not least the problems encountered by some people in getting visas and the 2 month rule which has certainly caused real problems for a lot of regulars.

For the last 6 years we've gone twice a season, last 2 weeks Nov/1st week Dec and last 3 weeks Feb.
This year, our chosen hotel is not available for the weeks we want.
It IS available for the week before but it's just within the 2 month gap so it's likely that we'll not bother unless we get a cancellation.

Candolim seemed really quiet most evenings with a few restaurants busy but most not.

Just like the River Princess saga, they'll probably realise too late that they've lost a lot of their regular business.

At a meeting in Panjim last night with the British High Commission the subject of people being given visa's was brought up by THEM. They are trying to find out why this is happening.
The Goan Tourist Minister must take the blame for the way we are treated and try to sort something out, as it is extremely quiet here.

But is it really the Goan Tourist minister who is to blame?

The visa rules apply to the whole of India so must be set at a higher level than the State of Goa - but I do agree that Tourism Ministers for states like Goa and Kerala should escalate the problems being caused to the businesses (hotels, guest houses, restaurants, shacks, beach sellers, taxi drivers, shop keepers etc) by the numerous issues that are causing people to look elsewhere for a holiday destination.

Still, it's good to hear that issues are being aired and we can only hope that somebody will listen before it's too late.

PPC i hope you get back for weeks as you normally do, as you know mine is not a visa problem i have my visa just been refused entry with no reason !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Bardez thanks for letting me know, i did give all my paperwork to someone who went to the meeting so hopefully they will be looking over that in the near future ?????

All the very best to you all

Mike

Any update yet Mike?

Yes the Goa team is doing well in my absence and Man City are near the top of the premiership so I shall stay away.

Sfelts City are doing well aren't they !!!!!! still no news for me though suprise suprise !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mike

When I saw you had posted, I thought you had some good news for us Mike. You must be at the end of your tether. We are all thinking of you.

Well i managed to get an interview with the embassy in Birmingham !!!!!! i have had to put it on an email AGAIN and they are forwarding it to Mumbia, watch this space.

Mike

What a nightmare for you Mike. Its as if you are just going round in circles. Good luck again, hope it gets sorted soon.

Did they explain why you keep being refused entry with a valid visa? I suppose an apology from them would be too much to hope for

Good luck Mike, it will be very interesting for you to know their reasoning behind all of this. Bet you never knew you were such a dangerous person!

Birmingham embassy say they can't find out why Mumbia have done it, so they have to wait for Mumbia to put themselves in gear !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! even at Dabolim airport last time in October the immigration could not believe it as they looked at all my stamps in and out which were all in order.

Mike

Hopefully they will hear back quickly from Mumbai and its a favourable outcome. All the best Mike

been 4 weeks now Gemma and not a word from them, i even mailed the high commission and Mr Peter beckingham 4 times and asked them if they could ask some questions at Mumbia and would you beleive NOT A WORD FROM THEM EITHER, that's Mr Peter Beckingham that is there to help all British people having problems in India

Mike

Mike,do you have any friends in goa at the moment.M Peter Beckingham is holding a meeting with the Brits here on Monday 21st March,maybe they can raise the question for you.

John

Hi John

Yes i have emailed someone out there and hopefully he will raise it with Peter beckingham, i have also emailed LOCATE and Peter beckingham FOUR TIMES and had no reply !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mike