Re: Visa help.
 

It`s a definite Yes! I know at least 4 people on business visas!
My friend who is a Chiropractor actually finds it easier to leave the country than to register as Panjim make it so difficult for those on B visas to register!

Re: Visa help.
 

Not all business visas have the 180 day limit. I have applied for, and received 12 month Business Visas for the past 6 years without any 180 day stipulations.......Maybe its just the luck of the draw, I dont know?
But I agree that it could sometimes be easier to leave and re-enter India, than to meet the requirements of the F.R.O.!

Re: Visa help.
 

A couple of friends of ours, both with business visas without 180 days, go out of the country rather than attempt to gather together the 32 documents (yes! literally) required by the FRO to register. Just not worth the hassle. We have never bothered to apply for a business visa without the restriction for the same reason. :thumbdown:

Re: Visa help.
 

We have the 180 day restriction on our Business visa.But before, when we didn't have this.. we would leave the country because of the ridiculous documents required.

John

Re: Visa help.
 

Many thanks!

Re: Visa help.
 

Can anyone please help?

I've completed the online visa forms for my parents but when I've printed them out there are a few errors on them. I can't seem to get back on to make the amendments. It will only allow me to print????

Re: Visa help.
 

Does your web reference number not allow you to "go back into the form" to make any amendments?

The las time I applied there were a couple of things that I knew I'd keyed in to the electronic form that then weren't transposed on to the printed hard copy, I made the necessary amendments in black biro, this was never questioned when I submitted my application & I got the visas - with the often un-communicated rule changes, heaven only knows if this kind of amendment is still acceptable!

Good luck.

H.

Re: Visa help.
 

If you go to the VFSGlobal site 'home'; on the right hand side are quick links. Click on FAQ and scroll down to 'Can I Edit my Form'. The answer seems to be 'No' . It tells you to redo and reprint the form if there are errors.
I presume you take both forms with you and they will cancel the unsigned one.

Re: Visa help.
 

It used to be that if you started 1 application, it would not let you start another - infact when VFS 1st got involved, they didn't cancel applications & when people tried to apply for their visas the following season, it wouldn't allow the new application as the one from the previous season was still there & people had to repeatedly email VFS before they would delete the application for the previous seasons by then expired visa.

Regards

H.

Re: Visa help.
 

I have just repeated what I read on the VFS site. I imagine you would not risk posting the new application but would go in person to explain.
If the errors are insignificant perhaps leave them??

Re: Visa help.
 

The errors are:

I've not put where they will be staying in India - but I'm thinking this may not be a mandatory as they recommend you don't book until you've obtained a visa.

I've not put port of exit (Manchester) and the date of departure is 25th June and I've put 26th June on the other.

I think I will re-do and explain at Birmingham in person on Thursday.

??????

Re: Visa help.
 

Let us know what happens.

Re: Visa help.
 

Tough if you live in the depths of Cornwall. North Wales, Isle of Wight, Lincoln. or God forbid. the Channel Islands!

And all because this bunch of idiots can't put a simple web site together properly...........

and no, I don't wish to enter into a debate/arguement/boxing match about this, thank you.

Re: Visa help.
 

My alternative was saying "naff all" when feeling tempted to respond to a post & realisin before typing, "NO" - leave it, it's just totally pointless & really not worth the bother.

Heidi - good luck with the visa applications & please let the forum know how you get on.

Regards

H.

Re: Visa help.
 

No, it is worth the bother!

You are loved and missed.................


.

Re: Visa help.
 

hemingway I just took the trouble to look up the VFS site in order to help, and then quoted what they had said. Can you explain why you are making these remarks?

Re: Visa help.
 

Heidi, one of my friends sent in her form with her date of birth as the current
date (eg just born) and expected to get it sent back! No she got her visa back no problem.

hope all goes well later in the week.

J

Re: Visa help.
 

Well J5, your spot on, incompetencies of the VFS. The reason I omitted where they will be staying and port of exit is because they are questions no longer asked on the online form!!!!! The date of exit was wrong but I guess that doesn't even matter as you're not supposed to book until you obtain a visa!!

Re-done mum's with the right date on anyway. Lets see them tell me there's a problem with 2 applications active. At least I'm going in person so can explain.

I really feel sorry for those who go to Goa year after year but are not computer literate. They must be having a nightmare.

H x

Re: Visa help.
 

Agree with you about the web site it is not user friendly to say the least. The photograph instructions are complicated. Even for the reasonably computer literate it is not easy.
(To hem and J5 I didn't create the web site only reported what I had read!).
Dreading doing my renewal in August, but fortunately within train distance of Birmingham.
Hope all goes well for you.

Re: Visa help.
 

We have just arrived back in Goa,after getting our latest one year business visa.A word of warning for anyone applying,the Hci are realy scutinising all the documents now, especialy for people "running" business's in Goa.It took us 5 working days from applying at Vfs in person to collecting our passports,and that's during a quiet time of year for applications.

John

Re: Visa help.
 

I have written to FCO with regard to Visa's but as yet have not received a reply.

Re: Visa help.
 

I filled in the online form for my new Tourist Visa, and, as per previous forms (both online & manual) there was the question about Port of Entry, expected date of entry, but nothing about date of departure.

Yet when I printed the form - there it was......a box headed "Date of Departure".

I e-mailed VFS (& to give them there due, I had a reply next morning) saying that as there was no mention of departure date on the online form, just to ignore it.

They also pointed out that once the form had been filled in and submitted online, it could not be subsequently "changed or altered" in any way.

We'll see what happens when I submit the application in person on 19th July.............:eek::eek::eek:

Greetings from Turkey - how clean this place is, but not cheap!!!!

Re: Visa help.
 

Hi Iain, glad you are enjoying Turkey, hope to visit myself in the not too distant future.......cheaper than Europe I'm sure, and well worth the absence of constant filth in Goa.

Last time I emailed VFS, a couple of weeks ago, they answered in a couple of hours! Surprised by the answer you got though?

Over and over again we have been told that following the now obligatory on-line application, the best next step (to avoid any problems later) is to hand your form to VFS in person as they will be checked by a member of staff and any errors corrected before final submission to HCI.........

so basically, what you were told was a load of b@ll@cks? No great surprise there then?

Re: Visa help.
 

Hi Johnny Five

I think you will like Turkey - I'm staying at a friend's in Yalikavak, about 15km from Bodrum. The weather is glorious, the food great (especially if you like lamb) but it is by no means cheap (as compared to Goa - which itself is getting more expensive each year).

At least I'm getting a bit of sun on the old bones after 3 weeks in dismal UK in June, before returning to a couple of months of monsoon.

Here is part of the reply I got from VFS :

Dear Applicant,

Thank you for your query,

Ø Please note that you would be unable to make any changes online however, “port of exit” is not a mandatory question. Hence, you can keep the particular field blank as the same is not been asked at the time of application.

The rest of the mail was all about where & how to submit & how to pay - just standard stuff.

I read this to mean that I personally would be unable to go into my online application and make any subsequent changes before going in person with the downloaded form & photos.

Let's face it, my education status could have changed from "illiterate" to "graduate" overnight!!:rofl::rofl::rofl: I must admit I found that particular question quite unnecessary and rather offensive, but that's another gripe for another day once I re-immerse myself into the high-falutin' prose of the Navhind Times & Herald:lol::lol::lol:

Cheers for now.............

Re: Visa help.
 

You are both correct, the on-line application, cannot be changed (on-line), but the printed out application can have additions or alterations made in Biro.
Last time my form was altered by the person at the desk.

Re: Visa help.
 

OK, it was your phraseology then.

Following submission, no changes on line = correct

With print out at VFS desk, they can make changes (and maybe change "online"?) = correct

Others have reported making changes in pen and initialling before posting, but not so sure about that, even with a covering letter. = dubious maybe

= not strictly correct (see above)

You infer that it is acceptible to do it yourself, do you have direct experience of the success of this, as opposed to the option of VFS doing it?
.

Re: Visa help.
 

It was very informal, she just put a line through mine and wrote over the top.
I presume I could have done the same.
This was at Birmingham and as Heidi has previously said they are very pleasant.

The web site states that you cannot go back and alter the form online.

Re: Visa help.
 

were there only 2 options - illiterate and graduate ? do they now only want 'graduates' traveling to india !! :rofl:

Re: Visa help.
 

No - quite a few options available.

I was offended with "illiterate", but more than happy with "semi literate":rofl::rofl::p:p

The things we put ourselves through to get to India/Goa:lol::lol::lol:

Re: Visa help.
 

Just said 'good-bye' to a Indian guest in UK for 1 week for a work related conference. Yesterday evening turned into a wine fuelled 'your visa application is worse than our visa application' competition. I think she won!!
They have to give details and addresses of all children (whatever age), spouse details and address if not living together, parental details.
All financial info. income, tax return forms, 'have you any stocks and shares'? spending info. what do you spend each week? who bought your air ticket? Etc.
Employment history and present info. and addresses. Have you worked in media, police, government and others.
Finally USA type questions, "have you ever been a terrorist"? !!!!
It took 3 weeks to get. (and this is someone who has had previous visas).
It causes a lot of worry because this has to be one in conjunction with ticket buying in order to prove you have a return ticket.

At least there is no 2 month out rule (as far as I Know).

Re: Visa help.
 

Re: Visa help.
 

From Diana Joseph



On your specific question for an update, we have been working closely with the Ministry of Home Affairs, New Delhi but at this moment I’m afraid we do not have anything substantive to report. We will of course keep you updated once we do have something to share with the community.



Please do let me know if there is anything else I could help you with.

Re: Visa help.
 

Either VFS or HCI are making up new rules as they go along or I`ve had a real
a******e process my visa application.
I put it in at Hayes on Weds 10th in readiness for flying on 22nd (62 days after leaving India).I`ve tracked it on the web site today to find it saying resubmit after 21st.
Nowhere on the VFS site can i find anything about 2 months gap between visas.I`ve wasted a fortune on the premium charge no. getting absolutely nowhere and am awaiting a response to my email.
I applied 12 days in advance as the office is shut for the next 2 mondays and didn`t want chance it not being ready in time.

Re: Visa help.
 

There used to be a one month rule which was apparently dropped and didn't make sense anyway. What visa were you on (12 monthT ?) and when did it expire (20th June ?).
This does sound like a nonsense - I hope it was a mistake - we came back to the UK early April but our 12 month T visas are valid until 12th Sept; we absolutely don't want to wait until 12th November!!!

AndyD 8-)#

Re: Visa help.
 

Hi Andy.

Yes it was a 12 month T and it expired 21st June which was the day I left India.
Last year I definitely applied within the 2 month gap and had no problems.

I was told when i handed this recent application in that they only give 1 yr T to Indians now - i was told to write a letter explaining why I wanted a 1 yr.
I`m still waiting for a response- Looks like it will be Tuesday now as office shut for holiday on monday.

You should`nt have any probs having been out of the country for well over 2 months.
Angry J

Re: Visa help.
 

That happened to me last year (Nov 2010) , MSJ5 - I submitted my form in person at VFS Victoria about 4 days before the end of my 2 months out of India, yet no-one there bothered to check my passport to see when I had actually left India to tell me I was applying too soon.

Like you I found out when checking status on-line.

Try e-mailing them to see if they will rush it through for you - it may just work.

Best of luck.
Iain

Re: Visa help.
 

I don't understand why they've done this???? We got mum and dads ready for flying out exactly 62 days after leaving India? This has got to be wrong!

Re: Visa help.
 

Thanks Iain.
I emailed them at lunch time. Not heard back and sadly Monday is an indian holiday so on a limb until Tuesday. Next monday 22nd(when i should be flying home) is also a holiday. So things could be tight even if they agree to accept it and fast track it.

J

Re: Visa help.
 

Thats exactly what I had planned Heidi!!

Re: Visa help.
 

Hi Jill

May be worthwhile addressing another email to POOJA JOSHI at the VFS Helpdesk.

She was the person who advised me last November.

Wishing you best of luck

Cheers
Iain