Great stuff, Franny
We want to see a full report on your return.
I'm so excited for you. You deserve the holiday!!!

Why not send them to Hayes by courier and pay for them to be sent back the same way ?
Good luck Dave

panag
what option did you choose when asked where you wanted to submit your application?

All postal applications go to Hayes, so why was Birmingham involved in discussing posting applications?

Royal Mail have re-instated their Special Delivery guarantee - although this may not continue if there are more strikes - see RM website for up-to-date information.

What Bolton department?
According to VFS website, there isn't a centre at Bolton.

According to VFS website, you can (assuming that you're in that jurisdiction) personally hand in your application to Birmingham and collect it (not the same day though).

It sounds to me like you're getting mis-information somewhere along the line.

Am i right in saying that the Bolton department is just a agency/courier and they in turn have to send them off to HAYES the same as everyone else but charge alot more for it?correct me if i'm wrong...

How God damn easy was that (no offence to those who are having a 'mare' with their visas)

Filled out the VFS online application form at midnight last night. Opted to hand it in personally at Manchester (Longsight) as it is local. Paid £38.86 fee with my card. Printed form (is only main info not half a tree's worth). Chose an appointment time (expecting no dates near), got 10.15 today!

Parked up today and went in 10 mins early and handed the security guy the appointment letter (printed off). Called in at about 10.20... done and dusted by 10.30.

The only think that expected to be able to do was to go and collect in person when ready... not an option. I had to pay £7.40 courier service (Not via Royal mail but a company called DX). I could have done that bit online last night and saved myself another 3 minutes today

Told it should be with me 5-7 days tops.

Excellent experience so far (kiss of death)

Now I best start think of packing for my 156 day trip starting on Nov 11th... woo hooo

Am i right in saying that the Bolton department is just a agency/courier and they in turn have to send them off to HAYES the same as everyone else but charge alot more for it?correct me if i'm wrong...

sleep_r_us
Whatever the 'Bolton department' is, it's not part of VFS.

I'd be very interested to hear how pandg got on.

P/P/C I know it's not part of VFS...They are a side line..Reminds me of of the fiasco i had when having to use a courier/agent in bolton the mess they got me into sending my visa/passports back 2 days before i travelled out to Goa never again...

Hi can i recommend Astro Travel on Chorley Old Road Bolton, he is an excellent guy with a lovely personality. I called in at the end of last year and filled in our visa forms, then he made sure they were all filled out correctly, typed all the information up onto the computer, and said they will be ready at the beginning of next week. I handed our passports and fee to him on a Monday, and i had them back in my hand on Monday morning with all 3 visas. He did phone me on the Friday at 4pm to say they were ready, but i couldnt collect them as i was away for the weekend.

He goes in person 2 days a week, so they wont get lost in the post.

I think he charged around £20 for 3 people, plus the visa fee. So for the sake of a couple of pounds i thought id ask him to do it.
He also does flights and package holidays, and is fully abta bonded.

hello bapu boy , thanks for your reply and info re VFS at Manchester.. do you have their telephone number so i can make app and sort my visas out . thanks

pandg wrote:

hello bapu boy , thanks for your reply and info re VFS at Manchester.. do you have their telephone number so i can make app and sort my visas out . thanks

As far as I am aware, although I'm no expert, you can only arrange an appointment after completing the online form. You are prompted at the end to arrange an appointment if you wish. Alternatively you can just turn up with your completed form and all supporting documentation and take a ticket in the queue. The address is The Jain Community Centre, 669 Stockport Rd, Longsight, Manchester. I may also have the number somewhere which I will post as soon as I find it.

I would recommend the onlone application route with pre-arranged appointment from my experience today.

hello bapu boy , thanks for your reply and info re VFS at Manchester.. do you have their telephone number so i can make app and sort my visas out . thanks

There is no telephone number for Manchester, there is a contact number (premium rate) for all queries (under 'contact us').
http://in.vfsglobal.co.uk/index.aspx

Making an appointment is part of the application process - that is why I asked you what option you chose when you did your online application.
However, as far as I am aware you can just go without an appointment - but obviously that will take longer as people with appointments will be given priority.

Have you checked on the VFS website (using your tracking number) what the status of your application is?

off to manchester tomorrow to sort visa out . should be ok now . thanks

I posted my visa applications off Monday 19/10/09 to the visa prcessing centre in Hayes with a return prepaid special delivery enevlope enclosed
They where returned this morning at 11am Tuesday 27/10/09
Thats 8 days including weekends and postage times
After all the problems of recent years
Is this a record or am i just lucky?

GM06
Ian

Is this a record or am i just lucky?

If you read the posts on the subject it's par for the course this season !

hi everyone sent off for our visas last monday to hayes,got them back this morning,goa here we come for a whole month roll on feb2010

last time I went to Goa I sent all my details off the HCI London. I realise visa applications have changed now so can anyone tell me the best way to get a visa. I live in Middlesbrough but can travel anywhere if needed.
hoping to go in march but want to get ahead of the game

thanks

bob

There is a long Visa specific thread so your post will probably be moved to there.

Here's a starting point for you:
http://in.vfsglobal.co.uk/

I realised there was a specific thread but its 41 pages long so thought I would take a short cut

Thanks for the link

Hi Bob,
just had the VSglobal site site (just checking how our visas are progressing!)
For Middlesborough it states
"You are requested to submit your application at the India Visa Application Center in Birmingham or Manchester:"
India Visa Application Center
20 - 21 Pemberton Street
Birmingham B18 6NY
Submission of Application: 0830 - 1430 Hrs
Passport pickup: 1300 - 1630 Hrs Monday-Friday
India Visa Application Center
C/o. Jain Community Centre
669 Stockport Road, Longsight,
Manchester, M12 4QE.
Working hours: 0900 - 1430 Hrs Monday-Friday
Limited Parking Space
Mode of payment: Postal order/ Online payment
OR.......(the best one)
Note:-'Applications can also be submitted at any of our London- India Visa application Centers or should you wish to apply by post, please send your application to the India visa application Center at Hayes'.

Personally I would go for the latter!!! I was really suprised that we posted ours last Thursday in the middle of the strike...and it arrived the next dayat the Visa centre.

Have fun!!!! Trina