Re: Visa help.
 

Thanks for the messages, I will let you know what happens. :fingerscrossed:

B.

Re: Visa help.
 

Good luck from me too Bipat........although by rights, luck shouldnt come into it.............:blink:


.

Re: Visa help.
 

I had to write a very convincing letter as to why I wanted a 1 yr T visa!
It was obviously convincing enough!!

Re: Visa help.
 

Was the 2"x 2" photos required for visa??

Re: Visa help.
 

Just don't understand those people. We walked straight into the VFS with an application for 1 yr T visa and the lady who took us to the desk remembered us from last year. When the lady behind the desk seen the 1 yr app she looked at her colleague and was told yes put it through, these people always get a 1 yr T visa.

It depends on where you go, how you apply, who is processing the app and what ever way the wind is blowing which will decide how your application is being handled!

Happy Goa time anyway Jill :)

Re: Visa help.
 

Yes, they check at the door at Birmingham office.
Mine were from Max Spielman. £9.98 for 6. No formality the lady behind the counter, picks up a camera, directs you to a seat and clicks. No cubicle, no mirror! Ready in 20mins.

Re: Visa help.
 

If I remember correctly they were 80rs for 6 in Calangute back in June.

I do think that Birmingham are possibly a bit more lenient than London!

If I could have applied through B`ham I would have done.

And yes it`s wonderful being back in Goa-heat ,humidity,crickets,sitting out on the balcony at night(as opposed to indoors feeling frozen in the UK).

Re: Visa help.
 

Just collected my reinstated 5 year X visa. :D

Re: Visa help.
 

Congratulations Bipat!

Re: Visa help.
 

Thank you.
B.

Re: Visa help.
 

Brilliant news :thumbsup:

Re: Visa help.
 

Congratulations, a friend of mine whose husband was born in Bombay was refused a five year visa last year, they said she could only have a one year T.
I don't know what she has this year and they will be going back next month. I must ask.

Re: Visa help.
 

Nice one Bipat ! :thumbup:

Dread - x

Re: Visa help.
 

Congratulations, you will be able to live in 2places for a while longer now;)


.

Re: Visa help.
 

and to own property(even multiple properties) and conduct business (even multiple business) legally in both countries, and to enjoy all the privileges and benefits of being a British citizen too.

Maybe I should marry an Indian.

Re: Visa help.
 

They can be British as long as they have a parent or Grandparent who was born in India and can prove it.

Re: Visa help.
 

ever more opportunities to have your cake and eat it, yum yum.

Re: Visa help.
 

The problem is proving it - my mother, grandmother and great grandmother were all born in India - but sadly all deceased and no birth certificates given in those days .................

Try British Library in London. They now maintain entire archive of India House including baptisms, etc. Through these resources a friend of mine in UK is currently tracing family born in India in and onwards from the 19th c. with a lot of success.

Re: Visa help.
 

Sorry, forgot this bit:

http://londonresearchservice.com/bri...ia_office.html

This is not the British Library site but some information about what is available in the India House archives.

Good luck.

Re: Visa help.
 

Destination Expert
for Goa
Meerkat on Tripadvisor.


Hi all. Well, it’s that time of year again when we are all thinking about applying for our visas. The online application seems to change from year to year but we have just received our processed visas so I wanted to try and help anyone who may have queries with the online application. I hope the following information helps, even if only a little. I have compiled what I think is relevant and apologies for some of it being blatantly obvious, but I just wanted to put everything in from sections A to I, plus some additional information, all in the one place.


Indian Mission: UK – London (for postal applications)


SECTION A. Personal Particulars (As in Passport)

Marital Status – This is obviously your marital status. If you are separated from your spouse but not yet divorced, you still need to put married as this is still officially your marital status and their details must be entered in the Family Details (Section D) box, under spouse.

Citizenship/National ID No. – Just put NA. (Not N/A).


Visible Identification Marks –These are any distinguishing marks eg. tattoos, moles, birthmarks, scars etc on visible parts of the body. If you do not have any, put ‘none’.

Educational Qualification – If you are not a graduate or anything else on the drop-down list, put Higher Secondary.

Nationality by Birth/Naturalisation – By birth for people born here.

SECTION B. Passport Details

Passport Number

Date of Issue

Date of Expiry

and

Place of Issue which is GBR

SECTION C is just the applicants contact details ……. Present and permanent address.


SECTION D. Family Details

Put your parents names, nationality, place and country of birth even if they are deceased. Spouses details must be entered if you are separated but not yet divorced, as stated above.

SECTION E. Details of Visa Sought

Type of Visa is Tourist.

No. of Entries – Best go for multiple, just in case you wish to squeeze in another visit before the visa expires. Just remember the two month rule!!!

Period of Visa is 6 months (for most applicants). The fee for the 6 month visa is currently £42.20 inclusive of VFS service charges and VAT (with effect from 12th September 2011).


The total charge for a one year visa is currently £62.20 inclusive of VFS service charges and VAT. I cannot confirm how easily obtainable these are.


Port of Arrival is your first port of arrival in INDIA. (Be this Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore or Dabolim for a charter flight from the UK or scheduled from Doha). Port of Exit isn’t asked for on the online application but appears on the printed form. There is no need to write the details when you’ve printed the form.

There is a part when the form is actually printed that says “Required Detail Of”. It’s just under the ‘Port of Arrival’ question on the printed form. Again, there is no need to write the details when the form is printed. When the form is printed “Tourist Visa” appears beside “Required Detail Of”. This is what you would have entered online.

Purpose of Visit is Tourism.


SECTION F. Previous Visit Details

If you answered ‘yes’ to ‘Have you ever visited India’ – Put the address of where you stayed on your LAST visit. They don’t request all your previous visits – just the last one.

Visa Number is the number of your last visa and date of issue and ‘Visa Issued Place’ is GBR.

Countries visited in last 10 years – They won’t know whether you have or haven’t visited many countries but I would suggest looking through your passport for any stamps or visas you have for countries you’ve visited and DEFINITELY put these down. If you have already paid online and then realise you have missed a country and you definitely have a stamp in your passport, don’t panic! Write the country in black ink and initial. I would suggest enclosing a letter explaining what you have done, just to cover yourself.


SECTION G. Profession/Occupation Details

Present Occupation – most of us will be mere ‘workers’ but choose the one that is the most relevant to you.

Designation is job title. This is not a mandatory field so you can leave this blank if you so wish.

SECTION H. Address of Place of Stay/Hotel


Again, this is present on the sample application form and is not asked for on the actual online application but appears on the printed version. And again, there is no need to write the information on the printed form as it is not asked for on the online version. Why it appears on the printed version is anyone’s guess!!! A glitch in the system at present maybe?!!!

SECTION I. Details of Two Referees

In India – Put the name, address, pin code and phone number of your accommodation. Contact details for accommodation can easily be found on the net.

In United Kingdom – The name of a relative or friend is acceptable.

Don’t forget to make a note of your web reference number (beginning with a ‘W’ followed by a series of digits) and your web file number (GBRL followed by 8 digits). The web file number is on the printed application form but the web reference number isn’t. Print an extra copy for your own records or save the application to your computer or do both.

Photos MUST be 2 inch by 2 inch. You can take your own photos on a digital camera, resize on your computer and print yourself. Just make sure that you follow the photo specifications on the VFS website to the letter.


Remember to make a note of the SDE number for posting to Hayes so you know the applications have safely arrived at Hayes and the SDE number for return (if enclosing your own envelope). The cost of one pre-paid SDE is currently £5.90 but if you choose to have VFS return your passports using DX Secure, the cost is £7.40 which is paid along with the visa fee and service charge at the time of application. Remember, only two processed passports will be returned in one envelope.


FOR MINORS - (under the age of 16), the following documentation is required:


A copy of the childs birth certificate showing both the parents names.

Consent letter signed by both the parents.


In case of divorce, child custody letter from court in respect of the child is required.


In case of single parent, solicitor’s letter and child benefit letter will be required.

FOR MEDIA RELATED PROFESSIONS, POLICE OR ARMED FORCES, COMMERCIAL PILOTS, CHARITY/SOCIAL WORKERS and PRIESTS going to India for tourism, supporting documentation is required in the form of:


Letter from the employer stating the purpose of travel.


Media related professionals who are self employed need to provide an undertaking letter stating no professional related activities will be undertaken during their stay in India.


The visa fee for such cases (media related only) is currently £57.00 plus service charges (£10.20). The above fee is inclusive of £2.00 consular surcharge.




You can pay online or by cash, debit or credit card (excluding American Express) at an application centre. Postal orders or bank drafts should be made payable to “VF Services UK Ltd”.


The application centre for all postal applications remains at Hayes:


India Visa Application Centre


1 – 3 Canalside
Uxbridge Road
Hayes
Middlesex
UB4 0JN

Remember also to print the declaration form, write the requested details in black ink and enclose along with your printed and signed application form and your other documents. Check your passport signature for a good match for the application form and the declaration form. The link for the declaration is below:

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

A few web addresses are also below for your convenience. I don’t think the links will work but you should be able to copy or cut and paste straight into your address bar.

Online Application Form
in.vfsglobal.co.uk/onlineapplication.html




Create/Reschedule/Cancel Appointment

http://in.vfsglobal.co.uk/modify.html


Make a Payment
http://in.vfsglobal.co.uk/retrieve.html


Visa Fees
in.vfsglobal.co.uk/touristvisa_fees.html




Document Checklist

in.vfsglobal.co.uk/touristvisa_CheckList.html




Photo Specifications
…vfsglobal.co.uk/touristvisa_photospecs.html


Sample Application Form
…vfsglobal.co.uk/pdf/…20Form.pdf




Retrieve and Reprint Your Application Form

https:/…Reprint.jsp

Track Your Application
in.vfsglobal.co.uk/trackyourapplication.html




Application Centres

url]http://in.vfsglobal.co.uk/contactus.html[/url]


Email Helpdesk

[email protected]


Hope this helps and good luck to all

Many thanks to Meerkat20 at Tripadvisor.:thumbsup:

Re: Visa help.
 

I love the archives at the British Library and lots of references to my family - unfortunately the IHC will not accept baptism certificates - they want birth certificates and apparently these were rarely issued when the British ruled -
If anyone has managed to get birth certificates with the baptism certificates as evidence I would be grateful to know

Re: Visa help.
 

Dear Noni,



We thought it might be useful to do a quick update on what’s been going on in our world. I’d be grateful if you could share this with the community via the forum.




Thanks,

Diana







On X Visas:

· We have received guidance from the Indian High Commission in London concerning the requirements for X Visas. Although we feel that this is a step in the right direction we have sought further clarification. We will update you on this once we have more information.

· The British High Commissioner wrote to the Indian Home Secretary in June and we will be following this up with the recently appointed Indian Home Secretary.



Property owners:

· In relation to those British Nationals who purchased property in India on an X Visa, the status of the X Visa unfortunately still remains unclear.

· We would like to reiterate that if you have not heard from the Enforcement Directorate (ED) by now, it is unlikely you are subject to investigation.



Tourist visa:

· We are aware of the new FAQs on the MHA website (http://mha.nic.in/pdfs/FAQ-TVisa280710.pdf). The British High Commissioner will raise this with the newly appointed Indian Home Secretary.



British Business group:

· In consultation with the British Business Group, the British High Commissioner raised a number of issues concerning British Nationals working in India with the India Home Secretary. Amongst these were:

Ø The time it takes to obtain/renew a Business or Employment visa, and the duration of the visa itself.

Ø Information relating to applying for and renewing Business or Employment visa.

Ø Registration at FRROs





Next meeting:

At the meeting in March 2011 it was proposed that the next town hall could be in early 2011. Please let Noni know your preference for the timing of the meeting.

Re: Visa help.
 

The answer may well be on here already, but im buggered if i can find it. Currently my employment visa has finished as the employment has, can i return to India on a tourist visa before 2 months ? :)

Re: Visa help.
 

Yes !!

John

Re: Visa help.
 

Just had a text from my friend who lives in Goa and her friend who is Greman just got issued a one year tourist visa WITHOUT the 180 days or 2 month stamp.
Maybe a mishap in the German visa place or hope for the future - we shall see

Dread - x

Re: Visa help.
 

Dread, from reading IndiaMike, the consensus seems to be that these are blanket rules applying to all tourist visas for all nationalities (even applied retrospectively in the case of USA 10 year visas), regardless of whether they are stamped on the passports or not. Many examples have been quoted of visas stamped with one, or the other, or neither.

In the 60 day scenario, the airline will be the first point of enforcement and are unlikely to let one board within the 60 days anyway.......

However, Germany does seem to be a bit of a "special case" in the Schengen group of nations. getting longer visas than some other members.


.

Re: Visa help.
 

Certainly I have not known of this in a long time, and to me it seemed that visas were getting more stringent each year - probably someone forgot to stamp her passport .......... a fluke methinks

Dread - x

Re: Visa help.
 

Mum's got the same in June - Dad's had the out after 180 days though.

Re: Visa help.
 

Met a guy at a party yesterday who has got 1 yr T visa and he has this weird idea that if he goes and registers with the FRO in Panjim that it will waive his 180 days and the 2 month rule! :rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::r ofl::rofl:

Re: Visa help.
 

As a short stayer, I'm really looking forward to coming back this time as we don't have to apply for a visa - we obtained a two year visa in 2010, I'd like to think we can get another 3 trips out of the 2 year visa but maybe we'll only get 2 more trips out of it - not brilliant value for money but you can't put a price on not having the aggro of having to go to VFS Birmingham.

Our visas state "registration only required if stay exceeds 180 days".

Regards

H.

Re: Visa help.
 

Blimey H, thats the first I've ever heard of a TWO year visa, on here, IndiaMike, or anywhere!

How on earth did you swing that?

Especially as according to "everything" on the forums they dont even exist!


.

Re: Visa help.
 

I'm aware of several people I know who have managed to get 2 year business visas but not tourist ones.
Hem is yours a T or B visa?

Dread - x

Re: Visa help.
 

For everyones info, recently asked a question about being out of the country after having an employment visa and wife on x, and getting straight back in without the 2 month rule.

Upshot is i was refused, told i needed 2 months out, but wife wasnt...work that out, in addition though they said if i go and get another passport (without old visa etc) they will grant me a visa.....wtf????

So im off to get another passport today and hopefully resolve the issue. I only seem to be able to get a 6 month T visa, no option for 12 month, im beginning to think i should go to embassy myself rather than through a middleman.:fingerscrossed:

Re: Visa help.
 

KP, you are suffering from VFS bullsh*t and making it up as they go along.

1) the two month rule only applies to tourist visas, not employment, so you can apply straight way for a tourist visa.

1a)suspicion has been reported that applicants will return to India and resume work. (idiots). If you have documentation to back up why you want to return on a tourist visa and not employed, submit it with the application.

2)12 month visas are available, several BE members have got them, some within the last month, with a covering letter to say why they are needed.

3)to tell you to get a new passport is ridiculous (and probably illegal
), also we are assured that they have computer records now so surely this will flag up?

4)you cannot approach the High Commission directly, thats why they employ VFS. They will flatly refuse to see you.

Puzzled though, thought you had long term work in Goa?


.

Re: Visa help.
 

Dread,

It's a B visa.

Regards

H.

Re: Visa help.
 

Yes I did until I was very sadly made redundant. A very long story. However I have a temp offer of working in Goa but not thru the e visa, so this is what I intend to do.

Re: Visa help.
 

The very very best of luck with whatever you choose to do. :thumbup:


.

Re: Visa help.
 

X visas for property owners - read all about it! #264

Re: Visa help.
 

Just thought anyone may be interested, although being reassured by many people from the embassy, visa middlemen, and even peeps on here, both visas have now been refused and we have to wait till the 16th Nov before we apply..............how friggin annoying is that :(