Hi Fiona, are you back?? oops sorry

yes

Right i'm just filling in my visa to take to the travel agents tomorrow.

I just need a bit of help on a few questions. And please don't laugh when i ask for answers to some questions.

1- can the form be filled in in blue pen and capitals.

2 on the question fathers name, previous nationality do i just leave it blank as he is just british and the same with the present nationality of the applicant.

3 country from where migrated, do i just leave blank (or do i say mothers womb, sorry)

4 puropse of visit, do i just put holiday.

5 places to be visited in india, do i just put goa, or the name of the hotel i'm staying in.

6 right the referees, can the english ones just be 2 friends in england. But what do i put for the India side.

I think that i'm ok with everything else in the form.

I've decided to take them to the travel agents tomorrow. As the sooner i get them back the better.

1. Only black!

2. Nope....just do as they want and fill it in with fathers name..and nationality....don't know why - but don't want to run the risk of getting visa application form returned!

3. PMSL...no...United Kingdom will do fine! LOL!

4. Holiday!

5. You could put 'toilet...quite a lot'...but Goa is probably a safer bet!

6. For the India referee....name of hotel.

7. oh...there isn't a 7! pmsl!!

As a precaution, I usually put the name of the holiday company as my second referee for Goa with the hotel being the first.

Just visited the HCI London website and it seems they have at last seen sense regarding the visa fiasco. From 5th November they are to resume issuing visas via postal applications, wondered how long it would take before they realised their mistake.

Just visited the HCI London website and it seems they have at last seen sense regarding the visa fiasco. From 5th November they are to resume issuing visas via postal applications, wondered how long it would take before they realised their mistake.

Really? thats brilliant news.

Please note that all visa questions should be posted in the dedicated visa thread at the top of the page. Queries will be merged to there. We also have a useful guide to filling up the visa form here

Not sure this is the correct place for this topic but just read the following on the HC of London web site

http://www.hcilondon.net/visa/visa-advisory-notice.html.

Ivan

here we go again !!

As Victor Meldrew would say.......I don't belieeeeeeve it!!!!! Surely we haven't got to go through all this again.

Actually, despite the disruption that the changeover will doubtless cause, in the long term this should turn out to be good news. It has become clear that the Indian High Commission simply can't cope with the increasing volume of visa applications - hence the abortive attempt to stop postal applications last year.

Here in India, lots of foreign embassies have outsourced the process of issuing visas, and this has had the beneficial effect of greatly reducing processing times. It has made the process more expenive, as the firm engaged to handle the business have to make their money on top of the visa fees, but i would imagine that most people would be happy to pay a little more for a better (quicker) service.

Of course, there is bound to be a period of chaos while the changeover takes place, but at least they are doing it at a time of the year when the volume of visa appliactions is low.

I agree, PhilinGoa
The timing of this is much better (from a Goa tourist perspective) than last season.

It sounds like these new IVACS (Indian Visa Application Centres) will accept postal and personal applications.
Although they will charge a fee of £6.90 + VAT, as they will accept cash, credit and debit cards some people will make a saving on the postal order charges which will in part offset that fee.

Additionally, they will offer on-line tracking system and and enquiry system by telephone or email.

I can only see this as a positive step.

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr! Why can't they just implement visas on arrival and be done with it All this hastle is doing my head in - only saving grace seems to be that it will be cheaper than last year so I suppose thats something to be grateful for.

Here's the link for the outsourcing of visa applications http://in.vfsglobal.co.uk/

Well it doesn't sound that bad, not very much more painful than sending off to the High Commission, probably less so because you will have already made payment.

The proof will be in the pudding (as they say), once the season draws near and we all decide to send off for our visas, let's see how long they will take to turn around.

Think it's best that we don't get too upset as yet, and see how things work out (after all it can't get any worse than last years fiasco......... can it )

Seems like this starts in London tomorrow 29th May and Birmingham 6th June.
Look foward to hearing from the first people to use the new service
Heres the Link.for full details.
http://in.vfsglobal.co.uk/

Info removed due to possible copyright problems but it can be read on the link
Fiona ht mod

Hi Everyone

Just had a quick look at the website for this/next years visa application, its sound like an good idea but im sure the proof will be in the pudding as they say. For the tourist visa there a couple of options - up to 6 month, 1 year and more than 1 year can anyone tell me how long the more than 1 year cover ......is this a 5 year visa if so that would be very useful although i guess our passports would have to have 51/2 years before they expire.

Thanks

Jules

I notice The Consulate General of India in Edinburgh will entertain visa applications only from those who are resident in Scotland. Just in cae anyone is travelling up from N/Castle and over the border.