This came from one of the Customer Relations officers Astha Alung and as the visas pass through their hands they should know if an application is successful or not. You are right though as like anything here or in the UK it depends on the day but I have had two confirmations that the 5 year tourist visa will be almost impossible for us to get.

With so many other personal things going on this summer four members of our family will not be joining me for Christmas because of the increase in Visa. I am sure they will not be the only ones.

As I have posted elsewhere, it is now apparant that the 5-year T visa is the old 'tour reps' visa.

AndyD 8-)₹

Will be interested to learn if anyone applies for & actually gets the 2 year Tourist Visa which is now offered.

Cheers
Iain

Not sure how I missed this before but according to VFS an X visa is now cheaper than a T:

X T
6 months £67.20 £92.20
1 year* £92.20 £287.20

* 1-2 years for T - but yet to hear of anyone getting one.

This would explain why VFS are telling all enquirers that they are not entitled to X visas.

AndyD 8-)₹

P.S. Unless I'm missing it again the 5-year T now has disappeared from the VFS site.
P.P.S Formatting messed up by HTML - put the X over £67.20 and the T over £92.20 -
hey mods how about enabling &nbsp #test&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp/#

More sneaky bloody changes without telling anyone, is it amateurism, or are they just rrrrs-holes?

Andy, I presume you will put this on IM?



.

#5848

AndyD 8-)₹

Andy
As. A home owner in Goa we are obliged to apply for a one year "x" visa,if as you say a six month "T" visa is less expensive and you are refused a "x" visa would you be refused a six month "T" because you visa fee would not cover the cost.
Slagtip

Would it not be advisable to bypass VFS and go direct to the Consul who makes the final decision anyway?

If he refers you back to VFS with an approval for whichever visa, pay them the relevant fee, or pay direct at the Consulate like we used to?

A six-month T is the same as a 1-year X. If you're lucky VFS will forward your application for 'guidance' without taking the money (B'ham did that iirc until last year when they told me that if the X was refused I would have to apply again from scratch - new forms, photos, everything - and no refund of course!).

@babu1 - I've only once got into the Consulate since VFS took over and even then I didn't get to see a consular officer, just the VFS guy.

AndyD 8-)₹

Surely that has been the case since VFS took over and quoted lots of times, not surprising as that is VFS' reason for being there. Iirc the only exception to this has been the "permit to re-enter" during the 60 day out farce, and the odd occasion that the IHC asked to see you.

Was bemused to see this advice being given really?


.

Bemused or not, the advice was given based on personal experience.

I have met the Consul (resplendent in Indian issue baggy brown trousers, bobbly Pringle jersey and bare feet; a very genial man) without appointment at my relevant Indian Consulate while my application had been previously submitted at VFS and was stalling indefinitely without explanation.

Yes, the ease of access was surprising in that the role of VFS is to set a barrier between most applicants and the Consul but I would have sorted a great deal of unnecessary hassle (and money in cancelled flights) had I taken this direct approach earlier.

The small office was also fairly busy with Business Visa applicants who didn't appear to have appointments either. I received my X Visa, possibly one of the last to be issued (December 2009) before the complications in eligibility and the 2 month rule was official or enforced..

I can't speak for how things are or have been at Birmingham, London etc.; it was only a suggestion and not intended to bamboozle.

I saw the Consul at Birmingham many years ago, just after 5 year visas were dropped (2 weeks after.......... bollox ), Sadly he wasn't in fancy dress, but was charming, right up until he told us to p*ss off.

The date you experienced an ability to confront the Consul, almost 4 years ago, obviously preceded the hardening of attitude to a personal approach that was documented here, as well as on a proper forum like IndiaMike, throughout 2010.

At a rough guess you may have experienced this special treatment north of Hadrian's Wall, where the consulate seemed to make up its own rules (very Goan) until quite recently when they appear to have been told to toe the line. Anecdotal, of course.

I assure you from bitter and costly experience there was no special treatment given me south of the Antonine Wall.

The Consul was not making up his own rules but seeking directive from MHA during a period of uncertainty and paranoia during which his job would be on the line for an incorrect decision; who knows how many potential terrorists slip through immigration in fancy dress, and who knows how many clowns work in consular services?

In appreciation, I predict high level discussions regards trending "Indian Bureaucratic Sartorial" (where baggy brown is definitely the new black). This will be channeled as a retro look since India has moved on and it will be a major marketing challenge in contemporary urban India to return consumer spending away from denim, mini skirts, boob tubes, thongs and Western style tattoos.

What visa are you on or applying for?

Hello all, been a long time since I've been on here!

Mum and dad came over in August to apply for new visa. VFS stated a price of £92.20 for a TV UP TO 6 month and next one up a price of £287.20 TV UP TO 2 year. Obviously we indicated 2 year tourist on application form. We then went to Manchester (we usually go to Birmingham but Manchester is nearer) and was told by the chap at the desk that they are not giving 2 year visa's and to change it to one year tourist. Price was still £287.20. Very sneaky really - it doesn't say 2 year visa it says UP TO 2 years, which 1 year can be considered as!

Parents received 1 year TV back after 4 days.

Don't know what the future will hold for them over in Goa. They're not getting any younger and it's all getting quite messy - in every sense.

Can anyone advise on banking? With regards to having money in BOI. I will PM the details.

Any advice would be great thanks.

Hx