India Visa -Applications via VSF

442454

Hi,

I am looking for some advice around getting a Visa for India and I wondered if any other forum readers would be happy to share their experiences or advice with me?

I am looking to travel with my partner to India in Januray and as we are both British citizens, it just never occurred to me that we would have any problems in getting a tourist Visa to go (for a weeks holiday)

I spoke to a local travel agent who said that whilst I would have no problems, my partner would not get a Visa because he has Pakistani ancestry (His mother is a British citizen but holds dual nationality with Pakistan-although she was born before Pakistan existed so technically she was born in India?).

I wasn't sure about his advice so I rung the India HCI office in London to get their advice and they gave me an 0905 premium rate number to call VSF, the company they have outsourced their Visa application process to. So....after not being able to find a cheaper number to call them on, and the pointless e-mail conversations (as they just respond back with standard responses and completely ignore the question you asked), I ended up calling them. VSF said there would be no problem and he would get a Visa but he should attend one of their centres in person. I asked if Manchester would be ok and she said that would be fine. So....I have made an appointment to attend the Manchester Centre but having read several online forums, I'm unsure if we shoud have made our applications to the Birmingham Centre and if I am going the right away about this.

VSF seem to be very unhelpful when you email them and you get inconsistent advice. I am very reluctant to call them on their premium rate number again, and I wondered if any readers could share their experiences and if they have any advice on the best way of doing this? I'd be particularly interested to hear form anyone who has Pakistani parents or ancestry and how they have fared with dealing with these people? Is it lilkely to be able to get the Visa within 10 weeks?

Many thanks in advance to anyone who can help.

Voyager2002

Does the form ask about his ancestry? If not, no need to volunteer this information: just complete it to show that he is British, and the son of a British citizen.

Otherwise, consider using the Trailfinders visa service. They know the rules very well, and have good contacts inside the embassy.

xyz123

I am not sure why are you worried about going to manchester in birmingham.

With regards to comments by "Voyager2002" you will have to declare the pakistani ancestry as the form asks for previous nationalities for both the applicable and parents. Personally i think if your OH has always had a british passport it shouldnt be a problem however if he had a pakistani passport previously it may cause some delays....

With regards to VSF i think you mean VFS global. They are a global provider used by majority of the countries (including UK in india and other countries). Majority of embassies use premium rate numbers to generate additional income and to filter on people calling for information which is already available online.

Edit: What passport did your Oh's mother travelled on while coming to Uk. If pakistan did not exist at that time then it must be on indian passport and then you can probably get away with it by saying previous nationality as indian.

PolishBigSpender

VFS are utter crooks - there is very good evidence to suggest that they've been actively involved in bribery to secure the business from many embassies.

442454

Hi,

Thanks to everyone for their comments.

Voyager2003: Yes the form does ask for ancestry. Not sure why it should make a difference but it clearly does to them.

xyz123: I was worried about which centre to go to because when I spoke to a local agent after making my appointment, he suggested that I had to go to Birmigham. I think you are right -it shouldn't matter which centre you go to because they all have contacts with the India HCI in London I guess. My OH has always had British nationality and never had a Pakistani passport -which is why I couldn't understand the local travel agent telling me he would have no chance in getting a Visa. His mother was born before PK existed but after that the fanily lived in PK for a number of years before emigrating to the UK. I found out that she doesn't actually have dual nationality and is only a British passport holder but I'm not sure if her previous natioanality will cause any issues.
Oh well....appointment tomorrow so we shall find out!! I can't believe that I didn't look into all this before booking my flights!!

PolishBigSpender: I know the feeling -I felt ripped off after having a phone call with them!! It would be good if someone manages to find a local rate number to call them on!!

Thanks again

luci

There's a good topic on visas for India HERE I doubt it will answer your question on ancestry, but it does give advice on the application process.

rajuv

he should be ok to get his indian visa's but make sure u do your visa's very early as it can take while

Voyager2002

442454 wrote: »

Hi,

Thanks to everyone for their comments.

Voyager2003: Yes the form does ask for ancestry. Not sure why it should make a difference but it clearly does to them.

My OH has always had British nationality and never had a Pakistani passport -which is why I couldn't understand the local travel agent telling me he would have no chance in getting a Visa. His mother was born before PK existed but after that the fanily lived in PK for a number of years before emigrating to the UK. I found out that she doesn't actually have dual nationality and is only a British passport holder but I'm not sure if her previous natioanality will cause any issues.

Supposing that you 'forgot' to mention the possible family connection to Pakistan, I cannot imagine that they would find out.

xyz123

Voyager2002 wrote: »

Supposing that you 'forgot' to mention the possible family connection to Pakistan, I cannot imagine that they would find out.

Its not a question of "forgetting". The appliation form clearly asks for previous nationalities for both the applicant and parents. If OP's OH's mother had pakistani passport it has to be declared.

It wont be forgetting but lying. While the embassy may not find out but if they do then it will be big trouble....

elsien

You may well find you have to submit the visa on-line first even if you attend in person. Yes I know that sounds daft, but that's what they did on us last year!
We got to the visa centre in Brum, were sent away to find an internet cafe to fill the form in on line, then went back to the visa office half an hour later to get the passports stamped etc.
If you do the on-line thingy first, then go to pick it up in person, they'll be able to check any information that they need with you first or when you get there.

PolishBigSpender

442454 wrote: »

PolishBigSpender: I know the feeling -I felt ripped off after having a phone call with them!! It would be good if someone manages to find a local rate number to call them on!!

Normally - I would jump on anyone using 'ripoff' to descibe something. But VFS are truly utter crooks - some of the stories coming out of Moscow concerning the way that they run the British operation there is shocking to say the least - and I'm not surprised that you're having problems with them.

The worst thing is that VFS are just passing on applications - they know nothing about what may or may not happen, and it's now becoming impossible to actually contact embassy staff.