Hi if anyone is thinking of going to sort your Visas out at the Longsight Centre, dont go on Wednesday as its CLOSED for the day (holiday) back open on Thursday. We went today waited for 3 long hours but done dusted sorted, the ladies are very nice and wasn't as daunting as I thought.

Mids - had the same problem, I never found add another either, ended up doing them both separatley, has the site changed in the past few weeks ? Seemed easier last few years !
Also last year as soon as I submitted them, you could put in passport details etc.. and it would tell you they were submitted with a date, this time i get 'no record found'
I have paid for them both on-line, and payment was taken - have they been submitted ?
Posted forms and all the bits off to Birmingham, so if nowt comes up via tracking by Friday will get in touch - if thats possible ?
Not much hair to start with, so no worries about it falling out with panic over this !
India - don't you just love it..

Hi Spike

Posted forms and all the bits off to Birmingham

I think you might have a problem here as ALL postal applications should go to the Hayes, Middx address.
This has been the case since it was out-sourced to VFS several years ago.

From what I've read on here & TA, I think your documents will just be returned to you, they don't seem to forward them on.

The application form changed towards the end of November 2010, I guess you also know that the size of photos required has changed too....?

The on-line tracking system seems to say 'no record found' for quite a few days, probably until they start processing the application.

PPP,cheers. Photos all correct along with documents, the site gives you info where to send forms in a drop down for the area you live - West Yorkshire for us, so options for Birmingham was at the top just like last year so sent them there.
The electronic info goes to VFS - the forms go to the nearest handling place, same as last year, or am I missing something ?

Spike
I'm not sure exactly what you've done but you should complete the application on-line, print it off, sign it (along with the separate Declaration Form - which is new) and send it with your passport, photos and payment (unless you've paid on-line) to:
India Visa Application Centre
1-3, Canalside,
Uxbridge Road
Hayes, Middlesex, UB4 0JN

Here is the link that states that:
http://in.vfsglobal.co.uk/postalapplication.html

It's been like that since April 2009.

The drop-down 'jurisdiction' bit you've found is only for when you apply in person, depending on where you live you can only attend certain VFS centres. e.g. if you live in Northumberland, even though Edinburgh is the NEAREST centre you can't take your application in to there.

The electronic bit doesn't go anywhere - at least electronically.

Did you send a pre-paid RM SDE for return of your documents? Or did you pay for courier?

Hi Spike, we applied & paid on line we are in Merseyside, we done applications for our friends (Yorkshire) and sent passports,photos ect to Hayes, Middlesex.
Got passports back complete with visas within 14 days from start to finish, hope yours get processed at Birmingham it would be a pain having to pay for more recorded delivery envelopes ......Keith

As long as its not just me then Spike....

2 hours messing around with 1 application, the air was blue, second application tonight.

I want to get them submitted so I can take them into Birmingham on Monday.
The nearest VFS centre is for handing applications in.

KJF
I'd be surprised if Birmingham will process any postal applications (although I hope I'm wrong for Spike's sake).

I think maybe last year they did forward some on but I've read a few posts about applications just being returned unprocessed.

Here's a thread on TA:
http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowTopic-g297604-i6045-k3966545-l28865202-Help-Goa.html#28865202

At least they DO issue visas at Birmingham (they don't at Manchester) so you might have a chance, Spike.
I sometimes think it depends who picks up your application and what mood they are in.

Fingers crossed, anyway.

Well the way I understand it is, to ease pressure on one place handling all applications, you had to select one that was nearest your area, choices for me were Birmingham and Manchester. Birmingham is the place I have always sent the p/ports paper work etc. to, and have done so since the online applications came into force.
Never had any problems and always come back within a decent time scale.
If this goes belly-up and they come back, I will just re-send to Hayes - my loss ! just hope they don't hang around for too long with them. Still got a good 8 weeks before going so not gonna panic (yet).

It's very clear on the link I gave you that ALL postal applications go to Hayes:

Centralised Postal Processing Centre
With Effect from the 22nd of April 2009, all postal applications are processed at our centralised Postal Unit below.
Hayes
India Visa Application Centre
1-3, Canalside,
Uxbridge Road
Hayes, Middlesex, UB4 0JN

If you're somehow getting around that by posting to Birmingham, then that's OK.

I was just pointing out what the VFS website said and that somebody who'd done exactly the same as you had had their applications returned unprocessed - to give you a 'heads up' that you might have problems.

Cheers ppp, at least I'm sorted if it's sent back. Reading that link, there seems to be many saying the site gives conflicting instructions, can't see why they can't simplify it ? We have never had problems until this time.
Thanks for your help - need a few Kingfishers now !!!!

Just finished filling out the forms oh Joy

the one I did yesterday would not retrieve, don't know if they only last a period of time, I was on the last page of one, clicked save & continue, if went back to the start & lost all the information. Now for the fun bit on Monday see if they are up to scratch at Birmingham........

Did mine on Sunday and 1st attempt the site froze up on me at the end, couldn't get anywhere putting in the 'temp app numbers' or the 'file numbers' to get the forms up, so started again.
I have had 4 e-mails sent to me with web ref numbers, so I guess they did submit okay to start with ? Will VFS just ignore 2 of the web refs ? Also do the web ref numbers mean that my applications were submitted ?
Any ideas Prettypollycat ? - you are my guiding light this week !!

Spike
I'm afraid your 'guiding light' is shining a bit dim at the moment - at least regarding your specific questions.

I've only ever sent my applications to the Hayes address, here's what I 'think' happens:
You do an application and it gives you a ref number
You print off the application and send to Hayes
Most people get a 'record not found' message because the application is sat in an in-tray waiting to be opened - the only way to be sure it's reached Hayes is to track it through the Royal Mail system using the RM SDE ref number
Once it's opened, you can track the application through the system. I think it says something like 'scan', then 'being processed' etc etc until it finally says 'Passed to Royal Mail'.
Once it actually shows up on the tracking system, it seems to go through pretty quickly.

I don't know if the same happens if you post to Birmingham.

I'm sorry I can't help with the 4 web ref numbers as mine (luckily for me) went through without any problems so I only got 2 ref numbers for 2 applications and managed to track them OK.

At least you have quite a while before you go - and I guess the volume of applications will be slowing down too.

Cheers for your help.

FWIW, Spike, here's what I would do:

check via the RM tracking system to make sure your SDE has been delivered to Birmingham
keep checking the VFS tracking system to see if your application is on the system - as I've said it's usual to get the 'no record found' message in the early stages
keep checking the RM tracking system WITH YOUR RETURN SDE NUMBER (that's assuming you enclosed one rather than opting for the return by DX courier)

If your return SDE number becomes active before your application becomes live on the VFS system, I'd say it's probably on it's way back to you unprocessed. Then you can at least be ready to do a speedy turn-round to Hayes.

Alternatively, you could just adopt a 'que sera, sera' approach, chill out and dream of Goa, you've got plenty of time to get it sorted.

I dont know if this question has been asked but here goes.I called in at Max Spielman yesterday to enquire about the size of photo needed for visa application,I was told 2X2 which I thought I had heard,they then proceeded to tell me the price was £9.99.(I did think wow expensive!!)I was wondering if the photo booths did this size as they will be a lot cheaper & will they be accepted

I'd pay it Franny, it was a sight lot dearer than £9 at snappy snaps in Exeter
Fizz

I don't think the photo booths are geared up to doing the 2" x 2" photos.

If you send the wrong size, your application will almost certainly be returned unprocessed.
It will be cheaper to get it right first time.