Re: Visa help.
 

So instead of paying about 3 or 4 quid to have the photos done in an average photo booth, which prints the photos as size 45 x 35mm, we will all have to go and have them done in a professional studio to get them printed on 50 x 50mm- at a cost of................. one can only begin to guess !!!!

Unless anyone knows of an alternative way of getting 50 x 50 piccies.....?

I can really see the 'tweekers' that Goa so avidly craves wanting to go to that level of hassle when they can go to Sharm el Sheik or other warm winter destinations and get visa on arrival !

Dread - wake up VFS
X

Re: Visa help.
 

VFS Victoria has a photo booth on the first floor, but I didn't pay much attention to it as I already had standard 35x45mm "photo-me booth" photographs when I applied before the new ruling. I presume it gives the required size photos, but we all know how often those machines are "out-of-order", especially when you really need those urgent photos.

I'm going to check the photo shop Noni once suggested to me next to Snow White laundry in Candolim & may get a batch done. The guy there (Subash) is a star at retouching old photos & doing re-prints & is very reasonable pricewise.

Re: Visa help.
 

We take it in turns to stand in front of a white wall at home with the digital camera. You can then use either Adobe Photoshop or try www.getpaint.net for some freebie software to re-size photos. Enjoy........!

Re: Visa help.
 

OK but how do you print them? - I've never got an inkjet printer to actually work with glossy paper.

AndyD 8-)#

P.S. Microsoft word will also re-size pictures.

Re: Visa help.
 

I had trouble getting photo paper to feed through my old printer, I found that if I had a sheet of ordinary paper under the glossy paper it would grip and feed through. Worth a try if you have not already tried it.

Re: Visa help.
 

Yep - you are right about Word. We do our photo printing via an HP deskjet 3940 on photo quality paper having selected that quality of paper via Printing Preferences - Paper/Quality tab - Type. Shouldn't be a problem but well....you know. Anyway, have been doing that for the last few years and perfectly acceptable to all and sundry, including renewing our passports. Hope this helps.

Chameleons.

Re: Visa help.
 

I find the ink just puddles and smudges on the glossy paper - and yes, I think I've tried it with 'real' ink.

AndyD 8-)#

Re: Visa help.
 

Will they accept mat finish for the photos? that might work in your printer. Is there someone who can print them for you? you could copy then to a disk and have them printed, in Goa it is cheap but you have to watch out as last time I copied photos to a usb stick and had photos printed from it it got infected. In the Uk it will be dearer but probably still cheaper than having a photographer take and print the photos.

Re: Visa help.
 

Have you got to wear a certain colour clothes - or none at all!!!

Re: Visa help.
 

I was in a photo shop in Goa last year where a local lad wearing everyday clothes had his passport photo taken. The assistant showed him the photograph then showed him a selection of pictures of smart suits and ties; he made his selection, then there was a little photoshop application which produced a pic of a smart young business exec. - all in under 5 minutes.

V

Re: Visa help.
 

Yes I will get some printed here in Goa - it's as cheap as doing your own - but that doesn't help people in the UK.

AndyD 8-)#

Re: Visa help.
 

Hi All,

Visas came this morning, 2 weeks and 4 days from re-submission. The entire process from first applying to getting passports returned requesting additional info to re-submitting and receiving visas 3 weeks and 5 days. This was the time it took using a total of 6 Special Delivery Envelopes (next day delivery guaranteed), posting from Northern Ireland to Hayes.

Personally i can not see me using this system again. You lose the entire build-up and excitement of your trip to the worry and stress of wondering if you are going to get a visa or not.

Hope to meet up with a few of you in Goa and will endeavour to make the meeting DV.

Regards,
Remy

Re: Visa help.
 

Blimey, Remy - you were writing about this when I was still in London early November - what a bloody fiasco & a strain on the nerves.

get over here and chill out!!!!!!!!!!!!

Cheers
Iain

Re: Visa help.
 

Well done!! They got there in the end for you. Even if one's own personal visa application process is 'straightforward' I always have the 'will they, won't they(give us visas)' thoughts whilst our passports are with VFS/HCI & I frequently have to remind myself that having had several visas before without issue, we should not have anything to worry about.

The hassle you have had would take away the anticipation of the build up to my hard earned trip.

Regards

H.

Re: Visa help.
 

Congratulations and enjoy your holiday.
I need to start the visa process, form filling, in the next day or so as I am going up to London next Wednesday.

Re: Visa help.
 

Great news - hope to see you here.

AndyD 8-)#

Re: Visa help.
 

Same nonsense happened to us, cost an extra £12. and then the waiting and dreading opening the envelope just in case you have to do the whole application again.

As you say it does take the excitement off your holiday.

Delighted for you Remy and the family - see you soon.
'noffi on ice x

Re: Visa help.
 

Good news Remy!


.

Re: Visa help.
 

Thank you so much everyone for your messages of support. This forum has helped my family and i cope over the last few weeks. It has been really stressful and with Janis and the kids so looking forward to a break, i don't know what we would have done had the visas not have come through.
My heart really goes out to every expat who is fighting for their property and their visas.....people including myself sometimes forget the stress and anxiety that you must be going through, the way you have been treated is disgraceful shameful & unforgivable.

Keep up the fight folks....i'm with you all the way!

Regards,
Remy

Re: Visa help.
 

They put me in a Sari with the end of the sari over my hair as I had just come off the beach - what a laugh.

May ask to have the full muslim veil this time!

Re: Visa help.
 

Burkha!

H.

Re: Visa help.
 

From the person (me) who brought you;

New visa forms and everything on-line (unannounced)

New photo sizes (unannounced)

The latest is.............
Children (and accompanying adults) - One month only visas!
http://www.holidaytruths.co.uk/viewt...?f=60&t=149372

Now this could be down to one of the officious jobs-worths at VFS, or a simple cock-up, but Chilly is an old "Goa hand", and I have been right about the visa changes so far..........

Dread, take note!


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Re: Visa help.
 

Thanks for all the info ; according to the people on this link there are also security issues with the VFS website and payment portal during the past couple of days (which appears to have put a few of them in a bit of a panic, nice start to their holiday plans):

Goa Forum: Beware the Visa website

http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowTop...bsite-Goa.html

I saw Sharm El Sheik 5 Star All Inclusive 2 weeks advertised for something ridiculously cheap like £309 the other day, free visa on arrival if I'm correct (4 hours flight time). If we weren't tied to a property which the Goa Govt. might eventually say we don't own, I'd be tempted to bag a few of these tweeker deals for some Winter sun.

Wouldn't mind at all if the Brit charters pulled out of Goa. Just a shame the place is overrun now by domestics and Russians, so no going back really (if only we could get out!). They're certainly not making things any easier, short term or long term.

Re: Visa help.
 

Thankyou J5 and Babu,

and i thought that i had been having visa problems.
dare i say it...UN-BLOODY-BELIEVABLE!!!

I actually believe that most of these problems and foolish decisions are coming from VFS Staff and not the HCI London, i say this because HCI Dublin haven't implemented any of these 'new rules' and you still apply for your visa directly with them and not through an outsourcing agency such as VFS.

Re: Visa help.
 

so the plot with the visas thickens... I am beside myself...... my 80 yr old mum, dad and my grandson are coming out on 12th feb for 3 weeks... we sent off for visas some weeks ago .. including all additional documentation now required for kids ... my mum received a call today from VFS to say they could not process her visa yet as kids (and accompanying adults!!) can only have a one mth visa.. they told her everything she sent is in order but they are returning everything and that she has to reapply in mid jan... sooo..... heres the anomoly... how can she apply in mid jan??!! the visa is applicable for one mth from date of stamp, she is coming for three weeks till 6th march... if we send for visa in jan it wont be applicable for her trip as the mth will be from date of issue and if we leave it till last minute ie at beginning of Feb we probably wont get it back in time for travel !! my mum is 80 lives 200 miles from London and no way can she get up to victoria to deliver and collect it in Feb... which at present seems the only sure way of getting the visasa.........so what do we do now!!!!

I am just so down with this whole scenario.... and she is ready to rip up the tickets... any ideas please guys??? apart from me flying back to the UK to go to London to hand it in myself for her someone here tonight mentioned using an agent?? anyone able to assist me in a reputable recommendation and an idea of costs etc...i am guessing they will have to pay all over again for the visas as they paid already online... this is just a nightmare and i feel for anyone who is briniging out kids this season

Copied from Holiday Truths - can you believe it? I just don't understand what is going on.

Re: Visa help.
 

And here is another Visa story, so beware

http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowTop...bsite-Goa.html

Re: Visa help.
 

This post was written yesterday on the 30th and if they applied for their visas a few weeks before (which is what they are claiming) then that would be the same time as we applied for ours and yet Janis and the two kids have all got a 6 month multiple entry visa. Its beginning to look like some of VFS' staff don't really know their ass from their elbow......nothing is consistent and no flexibility or common sense is being applied to each applicants personal circumstances.

It appears that VFS are over zealous in returning applications seeking additional info and inventing 'new rules'. WTF!!!

Re: Visa help.
 

... and their website is up the creek.

Re: Visa help.
 

which is a major catastrophe considering that applying online is now mandatory.

Re: Visa help.
 

I did my applications online before I knew about all the problems. As it happens, as far as I know the forms are ok and the payment I made went through the 'verified by visa' system so keeping my fingers crossed but also checking with my credit card company.
this thing about only giving a one month visa for children and accompanying parents, is that a fact because if so how is anyone supposed to be able to get their visas in time to travel for three weeks. Pretty hopeless if you use the mail unless they are going to date the visas from the date of travel.

Re: Visa help.
 

Remy you must come to the meeting with the BHI on the 13th December.
Speak to you soon will pm our number it should be the same as before.

Re: Visa help.
 

WTF indeed! I'm sure I've read before that VFS Global is owned by Kuoni of Switzerland, if that is the case VFS Global certainly doesn't seem to be running like the proverbial Swiss watch.

I can't get my head round the huge differences in different customer's experiences from perfectly fine to complete Fu**ing nightmare.

The best of luck to anyone currently suffering anguish at the hands of VFS.

H.

Re: Visa help.
 

Thats because most Swiss watches do not have a bunch of Persons of Indian origin with attitude problems as their works!
As I am sure all of those who have attended a VFS office will have noticed they are not exactly an "equal opportunity" employer.........


.

Re: Visa help.
 

Could it possibly be due to the circumstances of this particular family? It must be unusual for a child (even a teenager) to travel from UK to India with great-grandparents in their 80's

Re: Visa help.
 

but its not just this particular family that has been having problems, as J5, Babu, Myself and others have pointed out, many many people are having serious problems and i must reiterate that this appears to be a VFS problem as other HCIs including Dublin have not implemented any of these 'new rules' or changes so if its coming from the HCI then its just the British HCI.

Re: Visa help.
 

I know that Remy, in fact I was one of the first to report a problem with rule changes in August when I was refused a 5 year entry although husband got his without problem in January. The staff were pleasant and said that they were surprised at the rule changes and pointed out if they put through my original application I would lose my money. Hope we now have the requisite docs. for next time.
This family with a 1 month visa are different, I would think their circumstances strange.

Re: Visa help.
 

I didn't have the situation of TA's Chillyandmike in mind - I was thinking more of the hassle Remy has had in comparison with my own personal straightforward experience. I would be very interested to know what feedback Kuoni receive about the overall level of customer service that VFS global provide.

As stated by J5, VFS don't appear to be any sort of equal opportunities employer from the staff I've witnessed at the one office I visited. On both occasions I have submitted applications in person VFS told me the 1st time that HCI would require additional documentation from me - they didn't! On the 2nd occasion VFS told me I would not get the visa that I was applying for - I did! So yes VFS staff despite saying they have no involvement in the visa decision seem quite quick to put obstructions in the way of applications.

Regards

H.

Re: Visa help.
 

Well if your right and the changes are being implemented and enforced by London HCI and nothing to do with over zealous VFS staff and mis-interpretation of rules by VFS staff then these 'new rules' are only being applied in Britain which in itself raises big questions!!!

When we used to apply directly to London HCI via post we never had a problem and never had to produce solicitors letters, court orders etc to obtain visas which raises my suspicions about the VFS out sourcing agency also as i have previously stated the HCI Dublin is as straight forward as its always been (the way London HCI used to be) . Why then are these 'new rules' and enforcements not universal? Very very suspicious me thinks!!!

Re: Visa help.
 

So are you saying you gave up on your 5year X visa on the say so of the obnoxious jobs-worths at VFS because they gave you the "lose your money" spiel?
Oh Dear!
Like Hemmingway, I got exactly the same routine from these *rseholes and yes, just like him I persisted and got the visas I wanted. They are simply a processing operation and have no remit to carry on the way they are, in fact they are behaving just like "public servants" :rofl::rofl: do in Goa, but without the bribe scenario......


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Re: Visa help.
 

No I haven't given up, as the new rules actually do state that a PIO or spouse need a copy of original Indian passport or Affidavit re origins. They didn't need these before. We did not have the former but now do have the latter. (Another story re the day in court, with 7 clerks + judge to be paid etc. etc.)
So I will try again next August ( unless there are yet more new rules.)