This may sound like a silly question to ask, but why do we have to have a visa for India, and many other countried in the world, when in Thailand you do not need a visa.

I think it would be much easier if India had the same approach to visas as Turkey does, visa on arrival.

Yummymummy

It is really because India are playing tit for tat, indian nationalities have one heck of a job to get a visa for our country, and it costs them far more than what we pay for ours, so it is there way of making it difficult for us.

tomitma I was going to say the very same thing

How about this for service!..........

With a high degree of nervousness having read the threads here and other places about the torture ahead, my GF & I filled in the online visa application for our first 10 dayer in Goa in November.

We made the usual mistakes etc re: not having ALL the details to hand and took a punt and stated Gen Mgr & Dep Gen Mgr of our hotel for the 2 Indian contacts.
And then duly posted the lot off, passports, mug shots, forms and SDE envelopes. This was all last Monday (1st Sept). Imagine my ABSOULTE surprise when the Postman delivered them on Thursday (4th Sept)!!!!!!

As I opened the envelope, I had visions of a rejection etc, but NO - we have our visas, so it looks like we're off to Goa!

Just thought I share our good news, as so many people seem to have problems. BTW, we live in Norfolk so sent everything to the Victoria address in London........

Kind regards

BG163

thanks for that and welcome to HT

Biggee that is reassuring. Thanks and welcome to HT

Beginners luck

Good for you.

its reassuring news for others ... enjoy your holiday!!
chilly

This is great news we are sending ours next week hope
it goes as smoothly as yours
Pat

I got the forms filled in with few problems, but then chose to make an appointment to take the passports to Edinburgh. The system gave me an appointment time of 0830, which as we stay 65 miles away was not much good. I paid over £1 to phone the helpline only to be told that appointments cannot be changed. I asked what I should do and was told that I would simply have to queue. What is the point of making an appointment if you cannot choose a time that suits you? I was so glad to hear that I would not have to stand for hours at the Consulate in Edinburgh, now I am dreading that I will have to stand for hours in the new office, and pay more for the pleasure.

Anyone know where I can get flights to Thailand???????

Sandyboy

I don't whether the Edinburgh office will operate the same way as London, but the man handing out the tickets at the London office (Victoria) did not seem at all bothered that I arrived for my "appointment" 30 minutes early and I should think that this would have applied equally if I had arrived late. They do seem to operate a different numbering system for "appointment" and "no appointment" so you may find that as long as you show the man at the door that you have an appointment (albeit you happen to arrive a late) you should be treated more favourably than those who have just walked in. In any case, good luck. I was in the out in 5 minutes both on delivering and collecting my passport.
Candybabe

As a matter of interest, what visa length are people applying for. I applied for a one year tourist visa as I travel to Goa a lot and was given one. Has anyone applied for a tourist visa longer than one year and been successful.

SuckSeed. I was thinking of applying for a year long visa but I think I read on here (or somewhere) that if they refuse it you don't get refunded the difference in price of a 6 month one. Do you know if this is correct?

If you apply and pay for a year long visa and they only give you six months you will not get the extra cash back! We were told this at the Victoria office.

I was also told that there would be no refunds for a refusal, even if they do not grant a visa at all.

Thanks for the replies. I thought it was right but just wanted to check for sure. Don't think I shall risk it then as I would rather give money away than them get it by default

Thanks Candybabe, hopefully it will be the same in Edinburgh.

I can confirm that the information does disappear from the visa system after a period of time. I filled in applications for my in-laws on 23rd August and they changed their minds about the length of time they wanted a visa for. This is a field that you cannot amend on-line. It has taken me ages to get in touch with someone at VFS as no-one replies to emails, despite the automated response that says they will get back to you in 24 hours, and the phone number gives the unobtainable tone. Anyway, I called the number specifically for complaints and got voicemail, but a very nice man phoned me back and he told me that I could print off the forms and make the amendment by hand but when I typed in the passport and web reference this evening I got a message saying there was no such application and I have had to fill them in again.

Still, it saved me having to buy postal orders as I made the payment on-line.

Sent mine yesterday Jettii so lets see who gets theirs first!!