Re: Visa
 

Congrats - have a 'noffi or two on us :eek:

Re: Visa
 

That's a result! Fingers crossed when you go to extend at the FRO.

Another tale........German couple got a 5 year. Got to leave every 90 days.:eek:

Re: Visa
 

Hi leaving goa,

I have heard of this and believe it is available to certain nationalities.
Indian visa rules differ depending on nationality for some strange reason.
Dont like the 3 month restriction though.

Regards,
Remy

Re: Visa
 

Babu1 said As I have posted somewhere on other thread(s):
Both the Landing Form they give you on the aircraft and the pleasant young woman at FRRO Panjim will tell you that there is no need to register until you have done 'nearly' 180 days - in fact FRRO won't register you.

See you at the Christmas Bash?

AndyD 8-)#

Re: Visa
 

Hi leavinggoa,

Don't intend to even try and extend Visa at Panjim after a year. Not after I heard the responses to those who tried it last year. But very pleased to get the 1 year X in the first place, so going out to Goa next week to start sorting things out.

All the best.

Re: Visa
 

Hi Andy,

This is another moving of the goal posts, and probably a misinterpretation of the rules by both parties.

I like my Resident Permit not only because it substantiates "residence", but because of the two tier pricing structure on things like travel and entry to monuments. As I understand it, I couldn't legally have bought my bike last year if I hadn't a Resident Permit.

Will still go to the FRO and give it a try. Infact, I'll insist they make me run around getting xeroxs, standing in queues being ignored and filling in forms in triplicate!

Don't want the 15 day notice to quit if I wait till "nearly 180 days".

Thanks for the up to date info.

Keeping an eye on the Christmas Bash - depends if I'm sober enough;), and whether the "missus" will be out by then.:ohmy:

All the best

Re: Visa
 

keep us posted

AndyD 8-)#

Re: Visa
 

Lucky you have your Visa - To-day HCI were giving tickets out for 10th October, as so many people were sending Agents. It seems you cannot now go to the Embassy early queue and obtain a Visa that day.
Do not leave it too late before your departure. This surely is going to
stop people visiting Goa next season.

Re: Visa
 

Hi Cariad,
where have you been hiding?;)

Yes i think your right.......there are so many irate people around because of this visa fiasco that its bound to have an effect on visiting tourists next season.

Do the Indian Government and the Indian tourist board not work together???......there definately not singing from the same hymn sheet.
The whole thing is crazy...it just doesn't make sense.:frown:

Regards,
Remy

Re: Visa
 

Hi All Partybashers,:thumbsup:

Please fill in the RSVP slip for the Christmas Bash in Dec under 'Meet Ups'.

Sorry for crossthreading.

Regards,
Remy

Re: Visa
 

Re: Visa
 

:curse: :curse: :curse:

Re: Visa
 

Hi All,

This confirms what i have been saying regarding tourist visas for a long time. I know many have debated on the subject but this is where they have everyone.....the word 'Tourist' gives it away.:ohmy::frown:

My cut and paste dosent seem to be working so can someone please cut and paste this onto the 'Buyer Beware' thread to warn others.

Kind Regards,
Remy

Re: Visa
 

Am now sure Douglas was working for Indian Intelligence/Government :curse:, he was sooooooooooooo right about things

Re: Visa
 

Hi Noni,

Has he forsaken us?
Any good poets/songwriters out there?.......we will have to write an 'ode to Douglas '

BTW Noni found a great theme song for all FNs caught up in the present fiasco will post it soon.

:wub:
Remy

Re: Visa
 

Hi All,

If the FRO turn you away....and the HCI denies your visa then maybe we should gather outside their offices and blare this out of a gettoblaster.....

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=rM7DRWUXMEk

;)Could this be our knew them song?

Regards,
Remy

Re: Visa
 

Well, if I had a place in Goa I would be worried to be honest.

What is happening is bad, but buying property on or through a tourist visa is asking for it.

Any other country might not be so bad, but India....they will give the property owners trouble.

Yes, Goa is a great place and it would be nice to have a holiday home there, but it is too risky. I hope people stop taking the risk.

Not only that, the State Government of Goa is getting fed up with it all and I can only see them acting in a manner that will further prevent tourists entering Goa. And at the end of the day it is their right to do so too.

Re: Visa
 

Yes, as much as we may not like it..........this is indeed the sad truth of it all.

Remy

Re: Visa
 

Yes....in most cases the Government have the upper hand!

Re: Visa
 

Hi

I Agree with you totally - but in 2000 Goa (on the surface) was a great deal different. Too late for us but I am going to :curse: :curse::curse::curse:
enjoy myself out there whilst I can and enjoy the Apartment. They can tie me to the balcony and I will sing "We shall not, we shall not be moved" and I expect you all there singing Remy's anthem.

:wub: :eek: Noni

Re: Visa
 

Hi y'all
I read this in Sunday's Heraldo but I didn't think it was saying anything new. The bit about there not being a visa for fn's to settle/ retire in India was made very clearly on the hci website. I know some people were under the impression that they would be given 'eXtensible' visas but I was never told that - the most I was ever promised by the hci (B'ham) was that after 'some' years a 5 year 'x' might be available. The article also doesn't say (or imply) that you can't get FEMA resident status if you are on (two) tourist visas.

The most glaring omission in the article is any mention of the fact that the Register has been closed to foreigners.

AndyD 8-)#

Re: Visa
 

Hi all,

Looks like where approaching the end of HCI same day visas!:eek:

http://www.hcilondon.net/visa/notice.html


Remy

Re: Visa
 

Hi all, just wondered if anyone is visiting HCI this week for a visa, if so could you let me know if things are improving in terms of processing applications. We booked our flights back in March and as you know at that time there didn't seem to be any issues other than the postal application process changing. We are not in the UK just now and had given ourselves 2 days to get a visa in London before flying out, having checked the HCI website on Sunday I discovered that they are now not able to guarantee same day issuing of visa's. We have managed to book another flight to London for a day earlier (no point in going over the weekend). Fingers crossed they get their act sorted out, although I won't hold my breath. Unfortunately we are unable to change our flight to India so no visa, no holiday and no refund! Like most people I feel angry that they keep changing the process, it's ok saying plan your holiday around the visa but for those of us who booked early in the year the information is of little use.

Re: Visa
 

Unfortunately we are not able to get to Birmingham to get visas, the HCI website is XXXX, it says it gives info re Accredited Travel Agents that you can get visas through, but doesnt actually list them. does any one know of an acrredited travel agent please

Re: Visa
 

Luxor Travel done mine no problem he is a goan
www.luxortravel.co.uk

Re: Visa
 

A friend used Puja Travel if you can find the address, all back in three days (before the strike) and £10 extra. Will email her if none of the ~BE kids can advise you.

Re: Visa
 

Hi there is a list of agents on the HCI website http://www.hcilondon.net/travel-agents.html
I called one of the agents yesterday who said it is now taking 3-5 working days for them to get the applications processed at HCI, so you need to apply in good time to avoid the delays.

Re: Visa
 

thanks all, no longer stressed out, have all info I need. :thumbsup:

Re: Visa
 

The Birmingham list of agents is *here*
(I knew I'd found it somewhere!) - phone em' all up and ask if they can get you an 'x' visa <bg>

AndyD 8-)#

Re: Visa
 

btw - it looks as if using Travel Agents is only an interim measure. There's a link on the main hci site to some sort of invitation to tender to private companies for running all of the hci passport / visa related work.

AndyD 8-)#

p.s. anyone know how things are going at the hci's - there were near riots at Birmingham earlier this year and that was before the tourist season started.

Re: Visa
 

Hi
After having our visa sent back by indiavisa.co.uk a visa agent who were recommended to us charged us £35 for both visa then sent them back saying they could only get us a 3 month visa Not good.We did it the hard way stood outside the HC
I would recommend what we did today because visa are becoming like rocking horse sh*t
Sorry there is no easier softer route
We queued from 2am this morning at Birmingham and got the visa we required.We have to go back at 3pm to pick them up.If you are going to do this I suggest you get there by at least 3-30am because by this time there was 40 people
The agents are not accepting visa applications if you are travelling within the next three weeks.We had a long discussion with the HC himself who told us they were short of staff due to redundancies.He told us they have a back log 2,500 visa and there is a meeting on Thursday next week with the agents to try and sort out the problems and do some forward planning,as he see's no early solution to the problem, infact he said it will get worse before it gets better
I have to say that the staff were excellent and were seeing people outside of the 50 and issueing visa if they were travelling within the 5 days.They are taking a lot of abuse and this directive has come from Delhi,they were working flat out
So after we have picked them up I am going to bed
hope this helps good luck
Karen

Re: Visa
 

HI ANDY.
ARR GOA 3 RD OCT ON 1 YR X VISA. THOUGHT IT ODD THEY KEPT THE RTN HALF SLIP IN MUMBAI . WENT TO REGISTER ON 16 OCT, THEY SAID COME IN MARCH.. ...ANY ADVICE WELCOME.

LEEGRAND. REIS MARGOS

Re: Visa
 

yes, they seem to have changed the rules - the Landing Form you get on the plane has changed as well so it is probably legit. I've been told that they don't want to be bothered with people who don't stay >180 days after all.

AndyD 8-)#

Re: Visa
 

HI ANDY.

WE STAY TILL MAY, ABOUT 215 DAYS THATS 35 DAYS MORE. PERHAPS WE SHOULD GO BACK, DONT REALLY WANT TO CAUSE WAVES DOWN THERE THOUGH..
LEEGRAND REIS MARGOS.

Re: Visa
 

Hi All,

The Latest Visa Notice from High Commission Of India London;

Advisary on Visa Issues

http://www.hcilondon.net/visa/visa-issues.html



Regards,
Remy

Re: Visa
 

Thanks for that Remy, interesting reading on a Friday. We are going for our visas early Monday so will update the site on how long the queues are.

Re: Visa
 

Hi Michellea,

No Probs,
I need three visas before the middle of Nov but im scared to post off the passports etc. Being in Northern Ireland we have to go to Dublin.....sooooooooo........next week i'll have to take a day off work and go to the Embassy in Dublin to sort out the bloody things.

Let us know how you get on.....take some prozac with you!!!

Regards,
Remy

Re: Visa
 

Hi Remy, I take it you are Irish. We are in France and considered going to Paris. The website in Paris says there is no problem getting a visa if you are French, other EU national with residents permit (you don't have such things these days which means they class us as non residents) however, the site says you can still get a visa if you are another national not normally residing in France. It says you can go on the day and even pay an extra admin fee to get it processed on the same day. Luckily having had previous such experiences in Greece I decided to phone them to make sure it was possible. "oh yes it is no problem, come to Paris and we will get it withing 5-7 working days" no thankyou, the cost of travelling and overnight stays far outweighs the cost of the flight I would rather cancel. So we have booked another flight from France to London to give us an extra day of hope, thank goodness for Ryanair and Travel lodge cheap deals! fingers crossed, the recent statement is a little contradictory in terms of saying it issues on same day and then goes on to say it issues appointments for subsequent days, c'est la vie.

Re: Visa
 

:curse::curse:
and so it goes on and on. Sadly tourists will not go next year.
Thank goodness we did ours in August.:blink:
Good luck to you and to Remy next week - let us know how you get on. :wub:Noni

Re: Visa
 

Yes its a complete Bollocks!....oops can i say that on expats?

Anyway, Dublin wont issue on the same day....we have to make a trip down to process and then another trip down in a week or so to collect.:curse:
They will post it back if you provide a Special Delivery envelope thingy....but i dont want to risk the post with all the striking etc at the moment.....knowing my luck the families passports would end up in Mombasa or somewhere.:eek:

Regards,
Remy

PS.....Im an Irish Indian!!!! :eek::ohmy::blink:......and you thought you had problems!!!:rofl: