India Visa Problems

[Progressive]

Following my recent 'Goa' thread, I have a more concerning issue about the visa situation.

Having booked the holiday, I now need to get the visas. I've read a few articles about the potential difficulty of getting their visas and people having their applications rejected for what seems to be no reason at all?

Have I made a mistake booking before having the visa in my hand? Surely anyone who books the holiday to india 3 months in advance of going would have this problem.

I'm confused / frustrated.

[GT03ROB]

Don't know what problems others have had, but I've lost track of the number of Indian visas I've had & it was never a problem.

[Stu R]

GT03ROB said:

Don't know what problems others have had, but I've lost track of the number of Indian visas I've had & it was never a problem.

snap. Never had a problem.

[Progressive]

Thanks. Just out of interest, have you booked the holiday then chased the visa acquisition? Didn't cross my mind until I browsed the net. For Egypt and USA it was almost an after thought.

Fortunately, we are not crims and genuine tourists staying in a reputable hotel with booking confirmation to prove it.

Must admit, would be sick if they got rejected and we lost the cost of the holiday over paperwork.

[GT03ROB]

Progressive said:

Thanks. Just out of interest, have you booked the holiday then chased the visa acquisition? Didn't cross my mind until I browsed the net. For Egypt and USA it was almost an after thought.

Fortunately, we are not crims and genuine tourists staying in a reputable hotel with booking confirmation to prove it.

Must admit, would be sick if they got rejected and we lost the cost of the holiday over paperwork.

Done both. Really it is a formality, get up the High Commission early lodge the paperwork, comeback 2hrs later Visa will be in the passport. And seriously I've never heard of anybody having a tourist visa rejected. I lived out there for several years so got well used to people coming out on tourist visas for a visit, as well as sorting my own out. Don't worry about it.

[LuS1fer]

No problem here either. In fact I booked my holidays and didn't even think about visas until someone else mentioned it but still had plenty of time.

[Broomsticklady]

Same here - been nmany times no problem. Now visas are handled by and agency exclusivley so don't know if that hasd made a difference, and also just heard it no longer passport photos required but 2 inch by 2 inch photies which are harder to get - may explain a few rejections?

[H_Kan]

Broomsticklady said:

Same here - been nmany times no problem. Now visas are handled by and agency exclusivley so don't know if that hasd made a difference, and also just heard it no longer passport photos required but 2 inch by 2 inch photies which are harder to get - may explain a few rejections?

The 2x2 photo is same size as American passport iirc. Most places such as Snappy Snaps will do them, but they are quite pricey- I paid £15 for 4.

http://in.vfsglobal.co.uk/touristvisa_photospecs.h...

OP, get down the Visa place at least an hour before opening as there are likely to be queues. Also (no idea if this is still the case), in the olden days they'd sometimes just shut after issuing x amount of visas and so if you weren't early enough then you'd have to come back. But as I said, get there ahead of time and just be firm but polite. Some of the staff can be a bit annoying but just stand your ground!

Sure it'll be fine, people have had to run around due to them being inflexible etc but I've not heard of anybody being rejected for one outright.

[Dav_s]

India visa system has changed, and for the worse. Get on line, fill in the form, print a copy, choose an appointment time, and get down there - the office in Hayes, Middlesex, has a photo booth there.

[Tallow]

Progressive said:

Following my recent 'Goa' thread, I have a more concerning issue about the visa situation.

Having booked the holiday, I now need to get the visas. I've read a few articles about the potential difficulty of getting their visas and people having their applications rejected for what seems to be no reason at all?

Have I made a mistake booking before having the visa in my hand? Surely anyone who books the holiday to india 3 months in advance of going would have this problem.

I'm confused / frustrated.

The only problem I've ever had with an Indian visa was that they wouldn't give me one because I didn't have two consecuctive unused pages in my passport, the pedantic bds!

[Progressive]

Tallow said:

Progressive said:

Following my recent 'Goa' thread, I have a more concerning issue about the visa situation.

Having booked the holiday, I now need to get the visas. I've read a few articles about the potential difficulty of getting their visas and people having their applications rejected for what seems to be no reason at all?

Have I made a mistake booking before having the visa in my hand? Surely anyone who books the holiday to india 3 months in advance of going would have this problem.

I'm confused / frustrated.

The only problem I've ever had with an Indian visa was that they wouldn't give me one because I didn't have two consecuctive unused pages in my passport, the pedantic bds!

My point exactly. Being a pain for being a pain's sake. Not got the time to be messing around. Later in the year I might apply for one, if it goes though might book something. Not putting my eggs in one basket and flushing money away only to fall at the final hurdle.

[Asterix]

Since the Bombay attacks, they have added a few extra 'rules' as well.

I've always had 6 month multiple entry visas before but the last time (October) they would only give me a single entry and when I wanted to go again in December, I was told that I can't have another tourist visa for 90 days!

[Tallow]

Progressive said:

Tallow said:

Progressive said:

Following my recent 'Goa' thread, I have a more concerning issue about the visa situation.

Having booked the holiday, I now need to get the visas. I've read a few articles about the potential difficulty of getting their visas and people having their applications rejected for what seems to be no reason at all?

Have I made a mistake booking before having the visa in my hand? Surely anyone who books the holiday to india 3 months in advance of going would have this problem.

I'm confused / frustrated.

The only problem I've ever had with an Indian visa was that they wouldn't give me one because I didn't have two consecuctive unused pages in my passport, the pedantic bds!

My point exactly. Being a pain for being a pain's sake. Not got the time to be messing around. Later in the year I might apply for one, if it goes though might book something. Not putting my eggs in one basket and flushing money away only to fall at the final hurdle.

You could just expedite the process using a visa processing company. I use these guys nowadays: http://uk.travelvisa24.com/. They haven't let me down yet in terms of timing. Worth the money I say!