Re: Visa help.
 

I'll believe it when it happens !

Dread - x

Re: Visa help.
 

hahahaHaHaHAHAAHAAAHAAAHAAAAA!

Re: Visa help.
 

My feelings exactly .....but would like to believe there was some truth in his words!!!!!!!!!!!!!:fingerscrossed:

Re: Visa help.
 

Might have to choke thyat laugh - here's another link.

AndyD 8-)#

Re: Visa help.
 

http://goindia.about.com/b/2011/11/0...-abolished.htm


And another link!!:fingerscrossed:

Re: Visa help.
 

Great that this info is cropping up in different links. Might even get into the Navhind Times soon!!

Thanks for finding these, Andy & Jill.

He has only held the position of Tourism Minister since January, but is obviously the right guy to be pushing for this.

Let's hope............:fingerscrossed::fingerscrossed:


Slightly off-thread, but for anyone interested in cinema & India, plse do a Google search on The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel on IMDB

The trailers look good & they might even bring in a visa for retirees?????

Cheers
Iain

Re: Visa help.
 

The trailer is really funny. I must go and see the rest of the film. Doubt if it will lead to visas for retirees though.

Re: Visa help.
 

probably not, I agree - but ever optimistic. Film not out till March, tho' it might appear on Goan beaches well before then.

Re: Visa help.
 

Anyone want to bet on three-month visas instead?

AndyD 8-)#

Re: Visa help.
 

Or a maximum 180 days in a calendar year !!!

John

Re: Visa help.
 

This 'retirement visa' or x visa for property owners is never going to happen is it. I think the Indian Government are keeping us in our place - India belongs to us now, we'll decide when you come and when you go.

Re: Visa help.
 

Interesting article written by an Indian. You never know they might be waking up to the damage they are doing to tourism with regards to the Visa

http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Defau...&ViewMode=HTML

Hope the link works, it's one hell of a URL

Re: Visa help.
 

Excellent article, it says all the things we have been saying for years and not because we want to put India down but because a we love India.

Re: Visa help.
 

That article says it all :thumbsup:

Re: Visa help.
 

I agree, but will the powers that be take heed? Or will the cracks just be papered over as usual? Bit like the road patching in Goa:eek::eek::eek:

Re: Visa help.
 

Simply amazing!
I went up to the VFS office in Victoria to put our passport and visa forms in and as usual went prepared for a long wait even though I had booked an appointment, but I was in and out in less than 30 minutes!!! It may have been the time of day as the appointment I booked was for 1.45pm but even so I have been at a similar time before and still waited nearly three hours.
As I was not meeting my friends until 6pm to go for a few drinks I was forced to go shopping on Oxford street. :starsmile::angel:

Re: Visa help.
 

It shames me to admit it but I do read 'trip advisor' & 'holiday truths' because despite my property ownership problems, due to my YOUNG AGE , that's eseentially what I am, a HOLIDAY maker.

Anyways, I absolutely cannot believe the problems that posters on TA & HT have when applying for a basic 6 month multiple entry tourist visa. I just don't understand what makes it so difficult. Recently, I applied for visas for some friends who are visiting Goa & my mate told me: "if you hadn't done it, we wouldn't be going" as he couldn't be bothered with 30 minutes of sitting down in front of a pc to fill in the online application.

Luckily & to save shame for me, their passports arrived back within 10 working days with said visas.

H.

Re: Visa help.
 

I usually do the families visa apps at the same time as mine but my son could not get his finger out and get new passports in time so now they will have to do their own. It is their 5th holiday in Goa and it will be the first time they have sorted their own visas. Just hope he gets on with it and gets them done in time.

Re: Visa help.
 

Good to know K800mer - would be interested to learn when they are ready for you to collect. I have appointment at Victoria at 0830 on the Tuesday 13th Dec & am hoping they will be ready for collection by the end of that week. I try to get to Victoria for about 0815 & find that I am usually out & heading back home by just after 0900 !

Some friends already in Benaulim & Candolim have reported not many British tourists around yet...............

Re: Visa help.
 

Some Goan friends in Candolim reporting that many regular long-termers are not coming this year.

AndyD 8-)#

Re: Visa help.
 

Perhaps they are like me and have decided to have Christmas at home this year!
It's not like anyone can just pop home for a couple of weeks.

Re: Visa help.
 

Quite a few are not coming until January, others have moved on. We have approx. 14 couples in our shack who are here for the Season.

Russians, Russians, everywhere. The beach girls have three prices, Ours, tweekers, and Russians.
Went to look at leather bags, the owner said, don't look at the prices that is for the Russians, and he did not drop his price for them.

Re: Visa help.
 

In theory Iain... hand them in Tuesday ready for collection Thursday afternoon....but if you are waiting for sms that doesn`t arrive until 3pm or later or even checking on-line doesn`t give you much chance to get into London.

You`ll def be able to pick them up friday!!

You have left 2 months before applying I assume?
J

Re: Visa help.
 

Our visas are now ready to collect so that is two working days as they went in on Thursday afternoon and were ready some time this afternoon.

Re: Visa help.
 

Yes, I actually went into Victoria and checked, showing my passport with exit stamp 13th Oct, and they said I could re-apply 13th Dec, so......:fingerscrossed::fingerscrossed:

I'm only a few tube stops from Victoria, so no real problem there. I found the SMS advice worked fine the last time.

Cheers
Iain

Re: Visa help.
 

That's great news!!!:thumbsup::thumbsup:

Re: Visa help.
 

Call center number is incorrect it should be 09057570045.

Re: Visa help.
 

Have you a problem?

Re: Visa help.
 

Did have. Computer froze at the end of one application at the print screen. Then the screen went blank. Stupidly I hadn't taken note of the ref no.!!! Was told I would receive an email if it had gone through if not just fill out new form. Will do that now. It wasn't mine, it was OH. He always is awkward!!:thumbdown:

Re: Visa help.
 

Should have made him do it himself, as they are always right and perfect :nod:

Re: Visa help.
 

Its done now. Just need signature.:D

Re: Visa help.
 

3 signatures now, one below photo, one at end of visa form and one on vfs disclaimer.

Re: Visa help.
 

Application forms handed in at Victoria Tuesday 13th morning (only 15 minute wait) and ready for collection today 15th (tho' I had over an hour to wait, as only one guy on the counter), but I'm not complaining.

Goa here we come early next week:thumbsup::thumbsup:

Re: Visa help.
 

Congratulations! Have a good flight.

Re: Visa help.
 

Great news Iain!
Safe journey home!

J

Re: Visa help.
 

Registration for long term X visa within 2 weeks, a 'nightmare' in Pune central reg. office. I had got forms from website, docs. etc. Not accepted. "They hadn't updated the website". Local Xerox shop had sample forms. A. (said students only but apparently the only form), C form re landlord even if there was no landlord.
Worse to come; had to go to police station close to residence to get proof of residence form. (Other side of city).
There more forms and docs. needed including spouses or fathers!!
When there they mentioned an affidavit, we realised more was expected than forms and docs., would need to PM about that!!!
Told to collect it next day. we thought we would have time then to go back to central office before leaving Pune in evening; but of course form not ready.
Brother in law will get it, and we will have to go to central office when we go back on 24th. Whether I will actually get registered eventually:fingerscrossed:
Regretting now having got the wretched X Visa.

Re: Visa help.
 

It is comparatively painless in Panjim - remind me why you needed to register within 14 days.... info page now here:

AndyD 8-)#

Re: Visa help.
 

It is printed on the new photo visas " Registration required within 14 days of arrival in India for Visas valid for more than 180 days"

Got my visa in August. I was reprimanded for "leaving it to the last minute to register".
OH who has an older visa doesn't have to register, confirmed at the office.
I am hoping they go back to the old rules of, 'only if you stay longer than 180 days', otherwise I will cancel this visa.

Re: Visa help.
 

This has been on printed on visas at least as long as they've been pre-printed stickers (probably 1998) - it has always been superceded by the rules on the Landing Permit, also more recentlye on the Immigration website; it is not definitive (just like the statement on all visas which said "Tourist Visa Not Extendable"). Indeed for many years the FRO's refused to register you until your stay approached 180 days (which has been widely reported).
I have one of the new visas and was quite surprised to be allowed to register in the first few weeks. Even if they are now enforcing the 14 day rule for X visas (and I'm pretty sure they aren't) the fine for late registration is fairly trivial.

Now why would you do that? You only have to Register once, and the RP is usually co-terminus with your visa!!!

AndyD 8-)#

Re: Visa help.
 

[QUOTE=a_f_d;9804238]This has been on printed on visas at least as long as they've been pre-printed stickers (probably 1998) - it has always been superceded by the rules on the Landing Permit, also more recentlye on the Immigration website; it is not definitive (just like the statement on all visas which said "Tourist Visa Not Extendable"). Indeed for many years the FRO's refused to register you until your stay approached 180 days (which has been widely reported).
I have one of the new visas and was quite surprised to be allowed to register in the first few weeks. Even if they are now enforcing the 14 day rule for X visas (and I'm pretty sure they aren't) the fine for late registration is fairly trivial.


Now why would you do that? You only have to Register once, and the RP is usually co-terminus with your visa!!!

Quote


Andy this visa looks quite different from all other 5 year visas we have had,
I confirmed that registration is necessary at the registation office, and it is on each entry as our circumstances are different.
I don't need a RP as we come for 1, 2 or 3 short stays each year.
It is just to confirm that you have registered. I think it was K800mer who mentioned a friend who had difficulty leaving when not registered and I was warned in Pune this could happen if I did not register. In fact the officer said "get a tourist next time".