A slight increase in visa fees
#106
Banned
Thread Starter
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 2,478
Re: A slight increase in visa fees
Welcome back Heidigirl.
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#107
Re: A slight increase in visa fees
With Axis, the RBI have allegedly said that the accounts can remain "frozen" until a customer is next in India & then the customer can visit the branch with copies of passport, visa & address proof to close the account & withdraw the funds - if you are actually going to visit India this is probably the better option rather than repatriation with the exchange rate as it currently is.
There's no reason why the above should not apply to BoI also but who knows. . . . . . . .
#108
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 394
Re: A slight increase in visa fees
I have an NRO account at BoI. I've heard nothing from them about freezing accounts.
#109
Forum Regular
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 245
Re: A slight increase in visa fees
Have you had notification (email or letter) that your BoI account has been "frozen"?
With Axis, the RBI have allegedly said that the accounts can remain "frozen" until a customer is next in India & then the customer can visit the branch with copies of passport, visa & address proof to close the account & withdraw the funds - if you are actually going to visit India this is probably the better option rather than repatriation with the exchange rate as it currently is.
There's no reason why the above should not apply to BoI also but who knows. . . . . . . .
With Axis, the RBI have allegedly said that the accounts can remain "frozen" until a customer is next in India & then the customer can visit the branch with copies of passport, visa & address proof to close the account & withdraw the funds - if you are actually going to visit India this is probably the better option rather than repatriation with the exchange rate as it currently is.
There's no reason why the above should not apply to BoI also but who knows. . . . . . . .
Hx
#110
Forum Regular
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 245
Re: A slight increase in visa fees
Have you had notification (email or letter) that your BoI account has been "frozen"?
With Axis, the RBI have allegedly said that the accounts can remain "frozen" until a customer is next in India & then the customer can visit the branch with copies of passport, visa & address proof to close the account & withdraw the funds - if you are actually going to visit India this is probably the better option rather than repatriation with the exchange rate as it currently is.
There's no reason why the above should not apply to BoI also but who knows. . . . . . . .
With Axis, the RBI have allegedly said that the accounts can remain "frozen" until a customer is next in India & then the customer can visit the branch with copies of passport, visa & address proof to close the account & withdraw the funds - if you are actually going to visit India this is probably the better option rather than repatriation with the exchange rate as it currently is.
There's no reason why the above should not apply to BoI also but who knows. . . . . . . .
Hx
#111
Re: A slight increase in visa fees
Mum and dad came over in August to apply for new visa..... received 1 year TV back after 4 days.
See this thread for a discussion of NRO accounts - basically it has always been the case that after 6 months money cannot be remitted from an NRO account without permission from RBI.
AndyD 8-)₹
#112
Forum Regular
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 60
Re: A slight increase in visa fees
Slight increase ? Holy moly.... £82.00 for tourist visa being UK citizen. I already booked up I think I paid £30 odd quid 3 years back. Wow it is almost racist.
Why are the Indian Government doing this in 2013 ?
Must be politically motivated. Pay back for colonial rule ?
Maybe they just do not want British tourists ?
Why are the Indian Government doing this in 2013 ?
Must be politically motivated. Pay back for colonial rule ?
Maybe they just do not want British tourists ?
Last edited by Vagatorsunset; Nov 17th 2013 at 6:09 pm.
#113
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 20,711
Re: A slight increase in visa fees
Slight increase ? Holy moly.... £82.00 for tourist visa being UK citizen. I already booked up I think I paid £30 odd quid 3 years back. Wow it is almost racist.
Why are the Indian Government doing this in 2013 ?
Must be politically motivated. Pay back for colonial rule ?
Maybe they just do not want British tourists ?
Why are the Indian Government doing this in 2013 ?
Must be politically motivated. Pay back for colonial rule ?
Maybe they just do not want British tourists ?
Could it be 'tit for tat'?
#114
Forum Regular
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 60
Re: A slight increase in visa fees
So nice that the general population pay for governmental gripes. Going to India for me is always a double edged sword as it is being honest.
It gives a lot but it is also as dangerous a place as you can get with the traffic, corruption and potential of getting ill etc. I like it but not these aspects. Well no choice now of course once booked up to visit but it may well be the absolute last time at those visa rates.
I thought it might be related to extra security checks against Brits whose parents are Pakistani/Bangladeshi. Obviously there would be a disproportionate no. originating from the UK, the world being what it is today.
Anyway hardly attractive... I would have thought the benefits of tourism in India would warrant a lower fee. Maybe new markets and influx from elsewhere in the world for holidays in cold winters mean they can essentially do whatever they fancy.
It gives a lot but it is also as dangerous a place as you can get with the traffic, corruption and potential of getting ill etc. I like it but not these aspects. Well no choice now of course once booked up to visit but it may well be the absolute last time at those visa rates.
I thought it might be related to extra security checks against Brits whose parents are Pakistani/Bangladeshi. Obviously there would be a disproportionate no. originating from the UK, the world being what it is today.
Anyway hardly attractive... I would have thought the benefits of tourism in India would warrant a lower fee. Maybe new markets and influx from elsewhere in the world for holidays in cold winters mean they can essentially do whatever they fancy.
Last edited by Vagatorsunset; Nov 18th 2013 at 9:41 am.
#115
Re: A slight increase in visa fees
So nice that the general population pay for governmental gripes. Going to India for me is always a double edged sword as it is being honest.
It gives a lot but it is also as dangerous a place as you can get with the traffic, corruption and potential of getting ill etc. I like it but not these aspects. Well no choice now of course once booked up to visit but it may well be the absolute last time at those visa rates.
I thought it might be related to extra security checks against Brits whose parents are Pakistani/Bangladeshi. Obviously there would be a disproportionate no. originating from the UK, the world being what it is today.
Anyway hardly attractive... I would have thought the benefits of tourism in India would warrant a lower fee. Maybe new markets and influx from elsewhere in the world for holidays in cold winters mean they can essentially do whatever they fancy.
It gives a lot but it is also as dangerous a place as you can get with the traffic, corruption and potential of getting ill etc. I like it but not these aspects. Well no choice now of course once booked up to visit but it may well be the absolute last time at those visa rates.
I thought it might be related to extra security checks against Brits whose parents are Pakistani/Bangladeshi. Obviously there would be a disproportionate no. originating from the UK, the world being what it is today.
Anyway hardly attractive... I would have thought the benefits of tourism in India would warrant a lower fee. Maybe new markets and influx from elsewhere in the world for holidays in cold winters mean they can essentially do whatever they fancy.
#116
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 20,711
Re: A slight increase in visa fees
Russians and others who get visas on arrival seem to pay much less but their visas are for around 3 weeks, we can get a visa for 6 months. I don't think they want British holiday makers now that they can get lots of visitors from ex communist block countries or they would give cheaper visas on arrival as an alternative for British holiday makers also. Of course I don't think there is anything like such a high number of Pakistani/Bangladeshi living in ex communist block countries as there is in the UK which seems to be one of the Indian governments concerns. The visa form asks if your grandparents were Pakistani/Bangladeshi.
I think reciprocity with UK demands is more likely.
The cost of a visitor visa for Indian tourists to UK has always been high and the application is extremely difficult even though now the personal interview has been dropped and sponsorship letter no longer has to be signed by a notary. Still income and tax details have to be declared and so many other details.
Have a look at the application form, pages of it !!!
May be visa on arrival for the British would solve the problem.
#117
Re: A slight increase in visa fees
I think the questions regarding Pakistani origin applies to all countries. Certainly to USA where there are also a large number of Pakistani origin citizens and from USA a 10 year tourist visa is possible.
I think reciprocity with UK demands is more likely.
The cost of a visitor visa for Indian tourists to UK has always been high and the application is extremely difficult even though now the personal interview has been dropped and sponsorship letter no longer has to be signed by a notary. Still income and tax details have to be declared and so many other details.
Have a look at the application form, pages of it !!!
May be visa on arrival for the British would solve the problem.
I think reciprocity with UK demands is more likely.
The cost of a visitor visa for Indian tourists to UK has always been high and the application is extremely difficult even though now the personal interview has been dropped and sponsorship letter no longer has to be signed by a notary. Still income and tax details have to be declared and so many other details.
Have a look at the application form, pages of it !!!
May be visa on arrival for the British would solve the problem.
#118
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 20,711
Re: A slight increase in visa fees
I would not dispute that it is much harder for an Indian to get a tourist visa for the UK but if we were able to compare the numbers of British citizens going to India on a tourist visa and staying there with the number of Indians who have arrived in the UK on tourist visas that stay here I would like to bet that there are far more 'overstaying' Indians in the UK than 'overstaying' British in India. As it is I would have no real problem disclosing my income and investments if I needed to in order to be able to spend time in India.
As I said the restrictions for example to and from USA are less. ( USA also has problems with illegal immigrants.)
Maybe now UK has not implemented the proposed bond scheme the cost of Indian visas may possibly be reduced.
Last edited by Bipat; Nov 20th 2013 at 1:58 pm.
#120
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 20,711
Re: A slight increase in visa fees