That is what is worrying me fizzy, if it weren't for my o.h. 50th birthday in December, our trip this March would have been our last, but Ian wants to spend his birthday in his favourite restaurant and hotel.

I was thinking about leaving posting my visa applications until the 2nd week of September, but I am wondering whether I ought to send them next week just in case the admin fees suddenly go up.

Fizzy, your "CYNICAL" not a chance of a price reduction if anything at this rate we will be paying double for next seasons visas??????jxk8

Is hard to know what to do and when to do it at the moment sydney - we are all soooooo confused. I hope your OH has a great time out there for his 50th, I did for mine last year. The hotels and shacks will do whatever you want and far cheaper than the UK. It will be a birthday to remember for ever. Have a good time. Once we are all there, this visa issue will fade in our memories - until the next time

You could well be right there jxk8 - only time will tell! If they want double, they'll end up with next to nothing - eventually! Pure greed!

Sidney
My son has just phoned me and told me he spoke to Puja today and you can pay by cheque, but will take 4/5 weeks to process
It seems we will all be sending off for them this weekend, erm they maybe very busy
Inger

just got this e mail from puna travel

Please note our charges for visa is £20 + Normal Visa fee & we require at least 2 weeks.



Also note this information is for your guidance we would like you to call our office and confirm for any updates or changes. ...& you will need to send us pre-paid special delivery envelope for us to send you your passport back to you.

Those of us who work in the tourist industry are also concerned at this ridiculous situation. We spend a lot of time and effort promoting India, as does the Indian government with their excellent "Incredible India" campaign, whilst another branch of the givernment seems hell-bent on making it as difficult as possible for people to come. To any out there who are having second thoughts, all i can say is, in spite of all the visa hassles it IS worth it once you get here!

I wonder why Puja say allow two weeks. Is it because they do not want to send visa applications off in dribs and drabs and will be sending loads off in on go?

I am not too worried if someone from Puja physically travels to London to take them into the HCI for processing but I am worried if they actually post them as this increases the possibility of passports being lost.

My o.h. has e-mailed them to ask why the two week wait.

I have just rung Skyline Travel in Coventry, one of the recommended ones from the Birmingham site. They have told me that they charge £40 per visa, cash only and it will take 2 weeks. Not bad if you live nearby, but pretty useless if you have to send off for it, and why would it take 2 weeks?

It could be Polly, that they go up to the HCI or wherever once each week. They drop the passports off and then go back the following week to collect them, whilst dropping off that current week's new visa applications.

Their argument could be that they do not have available staff to go every day or every other day.

I am seriously considering paying through the nose to have an established visa service do my visas for me. The one I have seen charges £40 per passport and they guarantee to have your visa back to you within four working days.

I go to Goa on the 17th November, so not quite sure what to do. I might go to one of the surgeries at the end of September to get it done there and then.

I've seen mention of 50 day validity??? Are they not issuing 6 month visas any more? Cause if it's only 50 days, then I'll have to get mine done through an agency towards the end of October
Any chance this sort of info can be put into the first post as this thread is all over the place and very hard to read through.

I, too, have been very confused by mixed messages on the hci london website, but finally stumbled upon their well-hidden urgent announcement (not on the main Visa info page). Might be just me, but I nearly missed the announcement!

It would be useful to hear if anyone has experience of any other agents linked to this page than the one or two already mentioned in this thread. Planning to return to Goa early January and get a feeling this is going to be a major headache.

Does anyone know if there are still visa surgeries in Yorkshire? Have been trying to get through to High Commission on the 'phone to no avail. Thanks

Hi Phoebe

There are still some visa surgeries to go in Yorkshire they are as follows

06.10.07 Bradford - Hindu Cultural Centre, 321 Leeds Rd, Bradford BD3
Tele: 01274 543145/01274 725923

17.11.07 Huddersfield - Sikh Leisure Centre, Prospect St,Springwood,
Huddersfield HD1 2NX
Tele: 01484 450650

22.12.07 Leeds - Sikh Community Centre, 128 Chapel town Rd, Leeds LS7
Tele: 01132 625645

I would telephone first to make sure they are still on.

The other option is to contact one of the travel agents listed on the Birmingham HCI website, the only one in Yorkshire is in Doncaster, which is Ffestiniog Travel, Lime Tree Lodge, Thorpe Road, Mattersey, Doncaster, DN10 5ED contact name is Peter Jordan Tele: 01777 817798 e-mail address darjtours@btconnect.com

Hope this helps.

Debs

Debs,

Thanks very much for your swift reply and the information. Shall give them a ring and find out. That's really helpful of you

Visa Collection Services

Well - got the visas today from London. I started queuing at 7.45 am and was number 14. Out by 9.15. Moral - it pays to get there early.

I noticed that they now do not allow bags in the room (except ladies "purses". People with rucksacks were told to leave them in the entrance hall (at own risk) so best to travel as light as possible.

I wish my fellow HTers good luck with their own arrangements - thank God that is it now until next year. Let's hope they reverse the no postal applications by then or, even better, allow us to get the visas when we arrive - but not holding my breath.

Candybabe

Well Candybabe, doesn't sound like it was too traumatic an experience, couple of hours. Thanks for the info re bags in the room, by ladies purses I take it you mean handbags.

Thanks. It pays to get there early if you can and it does get busier as the year goes on because of the Christmas rush and Diwali.

"Purses" was their expression and yes, it did mean handbags. I'm sure it caught a few people out and many tend to have rucksacks with them so they can have a drink and food with them.

Candybabe

could someone please help me as getting very confused with vsa situation, it will be our first time to goa on jan 27th for 3 weeks and was so looking forward to it, when do we have to get visas as i understand you can only apply for them not too long in advance? and if we have to travel to london in person can my other half get mine in my absence or do i have to go as well - because due to injuries to my back last year in accident i won't be able to travel from essex to london and stand in a queue all that time, so am very worried about the whole issue now. As i say we were looking forward to this holiday have only paid deposit until november and might have to change the holiday - not that we want to. Many thanks for your help. Christine