India Visa Delays Warning

MATTR5

Hi All

Just in case anyone is tempted to book a last-minute deal to India (There are a few cheap deals to Goa floating about) please be aware there are no Visa appointments available up to the end of November at least, Customer of mine tried all areas.

You have to fill in the visa application online, upload a photo to the exact size, submit it, print it off, and then apply for Visa at the requested office.

You will also need 2 passport photos and pay to have the passport sent back to you if you are not collecting it. It's not the same day

India does offer EVisas but the UK is NOT on the approved countries list so you cannot get one of those 

The process is basically very slow at the moment so be prepared and aware

daveyjp

Sounds not much different to how it was 25 years ago.

A 'last minute' bargain to India was never an option if you didn't have a visa.  Unless you were fortunate to live near an issuing office with empty appointment slots it had to be applied for by post and took weeks.

I also remember the system, form, requirements would change on a regular basis!

MATTR5

Hi Dave

Yes its always been bad - just even worse this year I think - just wanted to warn people who may not know 

Had this from Head Office today

Hi Everyone,

If you have a booking travelling to India, you may or may not be aware that customers now are required to obtain a full visa in order to travel and part of that process includes making an appointment at one of the three India visa centres around the country and present their paperwork in person.

Due to limited appointments and visa processing times and the we would advise your customers allow sufficient time to apply for their Visa as we have been advised today there are no appointments available currently until the end of November/early December.

More information and the relevant links can be found on https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/india/entry-requirements

We would suggest that you go through any bookings you have for India to ensure that your customers are provided with the correct information in plenty of time.

Many Thanks

Channel Operations Manager – Travel

Wicks

This is very topical for me as I've just got my Visa today.  We were told to check at about 5pm every evening as they release slots for the next 2 weeks or so. I had my appointment at  he Birmingham offices. 

You will need a printout out of your form, even if submitted, 2 India Visa photographs (which are not he same as official passport photos but you can do at the office for £10.00) plus printed copy of your appointment form.

My appointment was last Friday with my sister.  She got her Visa yesterday.

I had some issues with mine and had to go back, which they fit me in at 8.30 on Monday 19th ( Bank Holiday) and as I said I've got my visa in the post today. 

Hope this helps

Voyager2002

Wicks said:

This is very topical for me as I've just got my Visa today.  We were told to check at about 5pm every evening as they release slots for the next 2 weeks or so. I had my appointment at  he Birmingham offices. 

You will need a printout out of your form, even if submitted, 2 India Visa photographs (which are not he same as official passport photos but you can do at the office for £10.00) plus printed copy of your appointment form.

My appointment was last Friday with my sister.  She got her Visa yesterday.

I had some issues with mine and had to go back, which they fit me in at 8.30 on Monday 19th ( Bank Holiday) and as I said I've got my visa in the post today. 

Hope this helps

Welcome to India.

Getting a SIM once you are there is a similarly convoluted process, but requires considerably more effort. And you need a local SIM in order to make a train reservation (unless you have the patience to go to a station and find out how to get a place under the foreigners' quota).

Wicks

Thanks @Voyager2002.  Not planning on the trains.  We do have family there, so hopefully will have advice and help from them. Plus use their phones and internet in true MSE

williewonder

Think I'll just stick with Sri Lanka which when I was there in March many people changed their holiday plans from India to Sri Lanka.

feet_up

Very topical for me too. We are travelling end of November from Birmingham where we live. The travel agent offered to do the VISA (40 pounds each!!). She was only able to book an appointment in Hounslow on 4 November. She said Birmingham was fully booked.

I emailed Birmingham consulate and they advised me of a date I could attended Birmingham (unadvertised). We have now filled in the forms ourselves and are trying to get the local appointment. Ill let you know if we get it.

Lessons - 
The websites for the visa are pretty poor. And the forms a bit OTT
I wish we hadn’t paid the travel agent to do this as it looks as if we may end up doing it ourselves.
plan for a trip to London to get the visa and allow lots of time

I too am visiting family and I’m annoyed that given the close links between the two countries that UK citizens can’t use the  EVisa system. What do our diplomats do/

Regards

sheramber

Diplomats apply for a diplomatic visa electronically. it is a different process

CKhalvashi

Wicks said:

Thanks @Voyager2002.  Not planning on the trains.  We do have family there, so hopefully will have advice and help from them. Plus use their phones and internet in true MSE

They should be able to sort you a SIM at local rates, also in true MSE fashion.

Never buy one at an airport.

feet_up

I posted earlier and just wanted to update people.

We got a local appointment in Birmingham and turned up to an appointment on Saturday Morning. It was very crowded but also well organised and efficient (given the bureaucratic nature of the process). I would make sure you take photos and have photocopied documents done before you go as although there are facilities there, there was a queue to use them.

 And my earlier my throw away line about diplomats was trying (badly) to make the point that online VISA’s should be available in the UK as they are for the rest of the world, given the economic and family links between Indi and the UK. This is failure of diplomacy which inconveniences people and cost money in transport and time to get a visa.

D