Re: Visa help.
 

A friend wanted to apply for a "longer term" visa in a category that the MHA website said a "long term" visa could be issued for - the VFS website gave a price for visas up to 1 year & visas for more than 1 year in this category, so the price for more than 1 year was paid by credit card (important) but VFS were having none of it & ended up grudgingly accepting the application for a longer period than they wanted to, but not for the period my friend wanted to apply for!

Separately, when I was at the VFS office, I was surprised to see what a cozy relationship that the VFS staff appeared to enjoy with several guys who were so obviously visa agents - it really did make me wonder if it was a case of not what you knew but who you knew. . . . . . . . . . .

Regards

H.

Re: Visa help.
 

And I always thought that Indians were so family-oriented!!! Seems to be the exact opposite once they've lived in UK's chilly climate for a while.

This whole situation is getting too bizarre for words, and I feel so sorry for anyone caught up in this fiasco.

"Incredible India"!! - whoever thought up that slogan has certainly given the pen-pushers food for thought.:thumbdown::thumbdown::thumbdown:

Re: Visa help.
 

Picked this up from a Google Alert - same problems happening in Houston USA - so, we are not alone. Is there a conspiracy to thwart visitors to Incredible India?

Well Laid Plans, Challenges & Travel to India — My Cultivated Life
By Angela
I did that! Use a visa broker, maybe? They still seem kind of shady to me. Expect the unexpected, definitely. So, now I wait and create a contingency plan for both the business project and the timing for travel to India… ...
My Cultivated Life - http://www.mycultivatedlife.com/

Re: Visa help.
 

iain I don't understand your reply to my post?? I don't know who you think is Indian, I got the impression that the family were British, I am British white, (always have to add this!). I would have thought that leaving 80 year olds to fend for themelves in this situation was not very family-orientated. If this is what you meant I agree with you.

Re: Visa help.
 

Sorry, Bipat - wires crossed. I meant that I have always found Indians to be so family-oriented, and can't get my head round why at VFS or HCI they should put so many obstacles in the way of family members of different generations wishing to obtain visas in order to travel together.

Re: Visa help.
 

[/QUOTE]

Being Non Techno Noni I
Just called into Subhash (PoonamDigital) he said he would certainly do the new visa photo's for us.

What tickled me was the address on his card -
Shop 11 unique arcade camotim waddo, candolim, goa near football ground :rofl:

in Noni language next door the Snow White Laundry.

In March we will get ours done, and I suppose ordinary passport size for passports etc. - much cheaper than at home.

Re: Visa help.
 

OK, fourth un-annouced change in about a week, but surprised we were not told, as IndiaMike was?

On IndiaMike, Andy was told it was not tucked away, heres the link, judge for yourself....

http://in.vfsglobal.co.uk/pdf/General_Notice1.pdf


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Re: Visa help.
 

If you click on your link and open the main website. Application process --step 2
It gives instructions how to complete the form. Instruction re. a declaration is the last point. I noticed it on Wednesday when checking, during the discussion on that day about website problems, photos etc. If you were actually filling in a form you would find it. (The exclusion of all liabilities, doesn't really comply with our laws - but I think we knew that already!!)

Re: Visa help.
 

Sorry - I got my links crossed - the Declaration is here

AndyD 8-)#

Re: Visa help.
 

Will you post the url for the India Mike thread here, it is so important to all our members! and also ask the person with all the knowledge to please post on our visa thread. Thanks.

Re: Visa help.
 

Note this section from the new VFS link :-

Please submit a confirmed and detailed itinerary if applying for a double/triple entry visa. However, this does not guarantee the issuance of a visa and the decision would still remain subject to thediscretion of the High Commission of India (London) and the Consulate General (Birmingham and
Edinburgh).

Then later on :-

All visa seekers are recommended to confirm their travel plans only after obtaining the visa.

How soon is it going to be before they will issue single entry visas only, and if you request this for a stay of a few months up to the max 180 days, there will be even more scrutiny & possible rejection?

The BHC need to be aware of this & provide some concrete answers.

Re: Visa help.
 

For interest I have just looked at the VFS Global information for visas to the UK. (For non Europeans).
There is also a non refund policy for a failed application. The application form for a 6 month general-visitor visa is, you might say comprehensive!!
7 section questions on marital status. If spouse not living with you, where are they? Housing status: how long at present address etc. Employment details. Income: evidence of monthly income. How much have you spent on this travel, who paid for it. Children details of where they live. All supported by documentation + much, much more.
1 interesting question your sex at time of application (guidence suggestion).
Long term visas need interviews.

Re: Visa help.
 

Hi.
as far as I know none of this is new - the double/triple entry visa is a way to do side trip[s] without falling foul of the 2-month rule. You can still apply for multiple entry.
What is new is the Declaration which, read with the MHA FAQ, forces 'persons having property in India' to either make a false declaration or go without a visa. Also it is not very prominent on the web page which raises the possibility that postal applications could be returned because the declaration is not included.

AndyD 8-0#

Re: Visa help.
 

Make no mistake about it Andy, you can be guaranteed to have your postal application returned....thats a dead cert!!!

Re: Visa help.
 

Hi,

I have looked at copies of application forms from London going back for a few years. All have a declaration, in very small print, which requires signature. The first para. on those is identical to that on the new forms, but what I think we could be seeing here is the all too common situation of different Indian authorities/representatives giving differing advice.

However, the second para (VFS info.) has been amended and now requires among other things, that you sign up to VFS data protection policies. I think someone raised this issue elsewhere, but given the amount of info required on an application and therefore security issues, there should be assurance given that it will only be used for current visa application purposes. Someone very clearly hacked the payment part of that system recently. Its an issue that perhaps BHC ought to raise with the Indian authorities.

Veri

Re: Visa help.
 

I haven't checked but I'll take your word for it - two points:
# why not still include it on the downloaded form

# previously you had the option to put e.g. 'to stay in my property in India' under Reason for Visit - now iirc it just defaults to 'Tourist visa' - you could also apply for an X visa - whether you got one or not that's what you applied for.

AndyD 8-)#

Re: Visa help.
 

On quick research, VFS Global is an agency started up by USA , and (as my above post re visas for UK shows ) it is employed by many countries worldwide for their visas.
Could the wording of the new declaration be a protection for the agency itself, rather than anything to do with India? I don't know the legal risks for such an agency which is employed by an embassy (which has diplomatic immunity). Does anyone know?

Re: Visa help.
 

AFD

Re declaration - you are quite right, it should be impossible to download the form without the declaration. At the moment it isnt possible for me to check, but if this is not a mandatory download, every application without it is bound to be rejected.

Perhaps someone about to complete the form can confirm?

Veri

Re: Visa help.
 

My point also: why is the declaration separate? why do the second and third paragraphs relate to VFSGlobal matters only? and mention negligence and breach of contract? By putting these with the first paragraph (which must be mandatory) you are forced to sign the whole declaration.
I have just looked at the VFSGlobal info. for visas to Russia, similar wording is there (+ a lot more) and put as a 'disclaimer' and 'terms and conditons'. Perhaps there are more complaints re Indian visas.

Re: Visa help.
 

I delivered my and my family's visa applications yesterday to Victoria, I included all the things that have been mentioned, 2"x 2" photos (for everyone except myself, mine were passport size but the lady said that was ok), signed declarations, birth certificates for the children, letter of permission from both parents to say they can go to India (even though they are all travelling together), completed forms and passports. Now I have all my fingers and toes crossed.
Incidentally, my son had printed their applications using duplex and they should have been printed single sided. The lady behind the counter kindly photocopied the second side for me.

Re: Visa help.
 

Sounds like you got THE helpful VFS employee.

Just out of interest, did you remember the genetic finger-printing, retinal id, saliva samples, palm prints, fart foto-synthesis, etc, etc................just in case they need it before they let you into their civilised, progressive, 21st century country?


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Re: Visa help.
 

No, but I am expecting to need them next year.

Re: Visa help.
 

next year you'll have to submit a duplicate of yourself to be sent to Delhi for verification <g>.

AndyD 8-)#

Re: Visa help.
 

Has anyone looked at the Visa application form (for non-EU people) to get into our civilised country. VAF1A General Visitor. Some of the questions are really an invasion of privacy. Full income details, family addresses, traffic offences etc. etc.

Re: Visa help.
 

Could that possibly be because there is a history of people coming to Britain as "vistors" and deciding to stay, illegally?

And goodness knows why they would want to do that?

And of course, there are lots of British people trying to do exactly the same thing in India?

Which, incidentally, is what this thread is about, British citizens entering India, not whatever axe you are grinding today.........


.
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Re: Visa help.
 

No axe J5, just 'seeing the other side', as this thread was indicating that India was particularly difficult in its visa requirements. You surely must agree that for genuine visitors to UK (and they do exist) the application form is somewhat over detailed!!. In fact for years family members visiting us (from India) have made comments (and the humiliating interview has only recently been dropped) I am ashamed that I have only just actually looked at the form. Influenced by this thread.

Re: Visa help.
 

Better go on a diet then or the postage will be very expensive.

Re: Visa help.
 

With due respect Bipat, this thread is about UK residents wishing to visit India and the problems they get. IT IS ALSO A STICKY. (which means we should keep to the subject of the thread)

Re: Visa help.
 

Profuse apologies Noni, I do understand the subject of the thread, in fact I was the first person to post about the changes, when I had problems in August.
I thought perhaps people might be interested in the 'other side of the coin' what non EU citizens (not just Indians) face coming to UK.
Perhaps you could move my original post to an appropriate thread.

Re: Visa help.
 

Checked the VFS web site today, only 6 of the seven passports I delivered on Thursday are showing on the site. The missing one is the one that never appeared on the site as ready for collection last year even though it was there with the others when I went to collect them.

Re: Visa help.
 

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/c...ow/7089732.cms

penny dropping at last!

Re: Visa help.
 

But do the people who the 'penny is dropping with' actually count for ANYTHING AT ALL as far asThe Union Government of India is concerned???

Sadly not I fear.

H.

Re: Visa help.
 

I am grateful to have received my business visa. I also received an email entitled 'Declaration' which went to junk and disappeared into the ether. Do I need to do anything about this? (Returning end December/January.) Seem to remember there was a thread about this recently but cannot find it. Thank you if anyone can advise.

Re: Visa help.
 

Hi Jessica,

See post no. 569 below as there is a link to it.

Good luck,

Chameleons.

Re: Visa help.
 

If you have received your visa then you probably do not have to worry about the declaration at this stage as it is a cover all/cop out of all responsibility for you not getting a visa and not getting your money back and for them loosing your passport. As it is now a sperate form they may be allowing some leeway as not everyone will know about it. Fill one in next time you apply.
I had a declaration with each of the seven passports I took in last Thursday including the childrens signed on behalf of them by their father (just in case) but they did not want the childrens ones. Our passports were ready for collection on Tuesday so I am going up tomorrow to collect them and just keeping my fingers crossed that we got the 6 months we asked for not 3 months.

Re: Visa help.
 

Thank you!

Re: Visa help.
 

Just collected our passports with the visas, my OH and I got 6 months multiple entry which is what we requested on all the forms, the son, his wife and the grandchildren got six month single entry visas although they requested 6 month multiple entry. Not that it makes any difference, they are only going for three weeks holiday in Feb/March. On the way back from the station it was snowing so heavily I could hardly see to drive.

Re: Visa help.
 

Has anybody declared property ownership when applying for a Visa and been refused? If you do not declare and are therefore lying on your application has anyone been caught out doing so???

Re: Visa help.
 

Why do you ask, have you?

Re: Visa help.
 

I used to say 'to stay in our property in India' but you can't do that any more - this year I attached a covering letter drawing attention to the MHA FAQ and enclosing the usual property docs, I also asked for an X visa as usual - though without much hope. VFS passed our application to the Consulate for guidance and after a few days emailled me to say:

... nothing from the Consulate themselves.
So, as 'advised' we applied for (and got) 1-yr T visas with 180 day and 2-month out endorsements. The online system puts 'Tourist visa' in the space for 'reason for visit'.
I'm not happy about this and, it seems. neither is the BHCI who are pressing the MEA for a better answer as to what visa may be issued to foreigners with a business or property in India.

AndyD 8-)#