hi jxk8,
i can sympathise with your sentiments but what would happen if you got to goa and they refused you entry and put you on the next flight home. i know this system is not the best and causes stress but lets try and lobby them to make the system easier here and less stressful.and keep us all informed all of the time whilst they hold onto your passports which are very important.
smudger2

Hi smudger,
first, if the case was that we would be refused entry, not just to Goa but anywhere in the world (re: visas) tourism would stand still as no one would take that chance of traveling and being refused entry to another country.

Can anyone else on this site tell me of another country as to where you have to release your passport to anything up to the periods of 2/3 weeks at a time just to go on a holiday, me personally, I am now sick of it and I do not believe I will be visiting Goa again after this trip, only that I have booked and paid I don't think I would have gone, and to finish this is such a sad statement when you think it is only the authorities that is doing this, and eventually it will have an impact on the Goans.

Someone somewhere needs to wake up, and soon.

...jxk8

maybe in this electronic age they could get your passport details from our passport agency and check it against your visa application and then just send your sticker so you could stick it in your passport yourself and not have to send your passport at all????/?
smudger2

We think we have got it bad trying to get a visa to visit India. For the Indians trying for a visa to visit the U.K. it is a complete nightmare. A friend of ours in Goa has been trying for 3 years but no luck, rejected every time despite our guarantees and him submitting all his business references and financial details.

As lovely as Goa is, there are still people who like to separate us from our money in non-legitimate ways e.g., people who say your luggage weighs too much but for £20 they will let it go through without you having to pay excess baggage, or the man searching you who asks for a wad of your Indian Rupees you have on you but should not.

If we paid for our visa on entry, then that would open up the system to abuse. You would have people clamouring to be immigration officers because of the 'doh ray me' they could make. You may be told that you don't look much like your photograph or your signature on the visa form or whatever they get you to sign doesn't look anything like the one on your passport; but for a certain amount of money (or a donation as some of them call it), they will let you in.

If you think this sort of thing does not happen then read some of the old posts on this site.

Yet, I still love the place because I try not to leave myself open to be treated like this.

Sheila.

Hi

HT virgin here! Sorry if this is a silly question, but I'd be very interested to see a copy of Smudger2's online visa form. Unfortunately when I try to PM him it say that I don't have a facility to compose a new PM.

Any help would be appreciated, as I'm really stressing about applying for our visas.

Many thanks

I have pmd you Lindyloo

kath have pmd herwith contact address
smudger2

Any help would be appreciated, as I'm really stressing about applying for our visas.

Join the club lindyloo300

you've come to the right place!! LL300

is it something on the online form that's worrying you? try not to panic...lots of help and advise on here for you.

start at the beginning of the form it's not all that bad, (cough) have the indian addresses passports and all your details close to hand remember write down your reference number and your passport number ...( I know people who have sent them off and can't track online then!) have ink in printer, and work out which jurisdiction you come under ...
send off in a SDE and WAIT...and WAIT!!!

its also a good idea to photocopy your passport in case it gets lost
smudger2

Hi everyone

Thanks for all your replies and advice. I have one BIG question (and many little ones!) that is puzzling me.

It says on the vfs website to apply to the nearest office to where you live. Well, Goswell Road is 14 miles away. But now it states in red across the top of the page that if you come under the London area, from 15th Oct you should apply to the Hayes office (which is 43 miles away)!!

I only have 5 weeks to get my visa, so don't want to send it to the wrong branch.

Is there anyone else with this dilemma?

Just about to do mine too but as I live in the west country I suppose it'll be Hayes.

squigs,
looking at the amount of foreigners we now have entering this country it cant be that much of a nightmare.

So do you think this is a tit for tat exercise by the Indian officials.

PS: please don't take this as a derogative reply....jxk8

sydney,
this backhander business happens all over the world and I do understand your point, it seems to be more evident in the country in question, but it also happens here in this country and this was at last years visa surgery that I visited.

The day before the surgery was to operate people where turning up and being given a ticket for a small payment to cut time on waiting the next day when it was suppose to be open officially on a first come first served and you where given a raffle ticket with a number and this was the number of order you where in the line, I was I think number 16 but there where not 15 people in front of me queuing, it was only after we found out that some people had turned up the day before and obtain there raffle tickets ahead of the people that had been queuing for about an hour or two before the visa surgery opened, I bet you a few people reading this will remember if they where at this surgery....jxk8

Hi All
Have been reading the forum about Goa for a short time now as My wife and I are travelling to Arpora and Backwoods camp in Feb 09. I am a little concerned for a friend who is going over Xmas as he has submitted his Visa application forms hand written via post. Am I right in thinking this could be a problem? Oh I hope not as he has done four this way in total.

If I could have a little help I would appreciate it as I have tried to PM Smudger 2 for his guide to applications but sadly the system does not allow me. Please could anybody inform me how I go about getting the guide? Thanks very much....and I am staying positive about our anticipated form filling online!

Thanks to all who contribute to the forums as your info so far has been very helpful.

Hi sleeper I will ask smudger to pm you
Pat

Most appreciated, thank you.

hi are anyone still waiting for their visas after sending te 3 weeks ago?