Originally Posted by johnny five (Post 8996734)

Copied from a different forum (with thanks to Goangoangone!)

New Visa Application Process

"A new version of the Online Visa Application Form, aimed at upgrading the visa services and improve the application process, will be in effect on and from 23rd November 2010. The existing Online Application Form and downloadable versions will no longer be available on the website after this date. It is mandatory to complete all applications through the new system before submission at the India Visa Application Centers. Applications made before 23rd November will still be accepted at the Centers for an interim period only. More information can be obtained by visiting our website (http://in.vfsglobal.co.uk/index.html) and then clicking on the Important News and Notices link ‘New Visa Application Procedure."

This was a reply to a query with VFS. Did anyone elso know about this? How many times are they going to make changes with absolutely zero notice?

In case it didnt jump out at you, that means no more handwritten forms taken in person to VFS........Everything will be online!

One very disturbing addition to the new form is a question as to your religion.
Yes, your religion..........
What on earth do they want to know that for?
Perhaps the next planned discrimination will be by religion, like Visas for Hindus £20, visas for Christians £60?

What the hell do these imbeciles think they are doing? Do they think the standards of common decency observed by most of the rest of the world dont apply to them?


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Originally Posted by johnny five (Post 8996734)

Copied from a different forum (with thanks to Goangoangone!)

New Visa Application Process

"A new version of the Online Visa Application Form, aimed at upgrading the visa services and improve the application process, will be in effect on and from 23rd November 2010. The existing Online Application Form and downloadable versions will no longer be available on the website after this date. It is mandatory to complete all applications through the new system before submission at the India Visa Application Centers. Applications made before 23rd November will still be accepted at the Centers for an interim period only. More information can be obtained by visiting our website (http://in.vfsglobal.co.uk/index.html) and then clicking on the Important News and Notices link ‘New Visa Application Procedure."

This was a reply to a query with VFS. Did anyone elso know about this? How many times are they going to make changes with absolutely zero notice?

In case it didnt jump out at you, that means no more handwritten forms taken in person to VFS........Everything will be online!

One very disturbing addition to the new form is a question as to your religion.
Yes, your religion..........
What on earth do they want to know that for?
Perhaps the next planned discrimination will be by religion, like Visas for Hindus £20, visas for Christians £60?

What the hell do these imbeciles think they are doing? Do they think the standards of common decency observed by most of the rest of the world dont apply to them?


.

Originally Posted by Bipat (Post 8996923)

Read your post with horror as no way we could do our applications on line; what about the documents. On further reading it is not quite that bad, you are meant to fill in the form on line and then print it, then paste on 1 photo and pin on another and sign it. You can then take it in person.
As to the religion question they are also asking about education (obviously gathering data). You can answer 'other' for religion and 'illiterate' for education.
How can they check what you answer? So wouldn't seem much point in asking.

Originally Posted by johnny five (Post 8997042)

Thats how it has been since VFS took over! But with all due respect Bipat, you dont have to go through this rigmarole every year so would not know?

The whole point of this NEWS is that prior to tomorrow, one could obtain a printed visa form by several means (including turning up at a VFS office), filling it out with a black ballpoint and handing it in at the counter. Alternatively, the filled in form could be placed in an envelope and posted to Hayes.

AS OF TOMORROW, THIS CAN NO LONGER BE DONE!

It is computerised for all, whether you like it or not...........

And this was the point, apart from ludicrous questions about religion and education, of course.


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Originally Posted by Remy-Ireland (Post 8997058)

J5, is it VFS Global making these changes or is it coming from HCI London?
The Indian Embassy in Dublin have none of these changes or amendments in force therefore it would appear that these rules are being applied to British visa seekers only!!!

I know one thing for sure...i will be dealing with HCI Dublin from now on and never intend to use VFS Hayes again? My nerves are wrecked!!!

Originally Posted by johnny five (Post 8997042)

Thats how it has been since VFS took over! But with all due respect Bipat, you dont have to go through this rigmarole every year do you? Thought you were PIO/OCI so would not know?

The whole point of this NEWS is that prior to tomorrow, one could obtain a printed visa form by several means (including turning up at a VFS office), filling it out with a black ballpoint and handing it in at the counter. Alternatively, the filled in form could be placed in an envelope and posted to Hayes.

AS OF TOMORROW, THIS CAN NO LONGER BE DONE!

It is computerised for all, whether you like it or not...........

And this was the point, apart from ludicrous questions about religion and education, of course.
Interesting that one can claim to be illiterate on a form that MUST be completed on-line, only India could do that!
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Originally Posted by Bipat (Post 8997121)

Actually J5 I do go through it most years as each of us has a renewal of our 5 year (not PIO/OCI husband has no copy of old passport) at different times. Why me? the usual; you're used to it you go!! At Birmingham our nearest place, there were originally no chairs or tickets and at first 2 queues 1 for handing application, 1 for money.
I hate to disagree with you but you can attend in person with the new form and you can send it by post. You print out the competed form. It is clearly on the site you have put a link to in your post. So yes the info. is filled in on line and you can't use a biro and sit at a table but that is the only difference, of course you can't use the old ploy of filling in more than one form in a different way and see which is acceptable.
If illiterate someone else can do it for you, and presumably a thumbprint on the form.
One small off topic point; the difficulties that Indian tourists to UK and their hosts used to go through puts the above into perspective, it has improved a lot over last 2 years. Won't bore you with the details. I have suggested that it might be easier for both sides if they strapped themselves to lorries but they were not keen.

Originally Posted by johnny five (Post 8997131)

Sorry, cant be bothered to argue with you any more, besides as highlighted, you are doing it yourself.......

And yes, black is white, if you say so.


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Originally Posted by johnny five (Post 8997042)

Interesting that one can claim to be illiterate on a form that MUST be completed on-line, only India could do that!
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Originally Posted by iain492001 (Post 8995912)

If you fill in your visa applications on-line and book an appointment to take them to Victoria. They should normally be ready for collection 2-3 working days from receipt at Victoria, and you can track them on-line. Check on the website in case there are any holidays in between submitting and hoping to collect.

Have you been out of India for for the FULL minimum 2 months? I made that mistake when putting ours in at Victoria - they were accepted and payment taken, but I was a couple of days early, even tho' we were not planning to travel till after the 2 months out. Processing did not start until the day after our full 2 months out, but they were ready for collection on the 3rd afternoon.

Also, on the third day, the tracking status did not change from "being processed" to "available for collection" until nearly 11.45, and that was for one passport - second was about 10 minutes later. Got to Victoria at about 12.45 and was No 70 in the queue to collect.

Good luck............

Originally Posted by Bipat (Post 8997121)

One small off topic point; the difficulties that Indian tourists to UK and their hosts used to go through puts the above into perspective, it has improved a lot over last 2 years. Won't bore you with the details. I have suggested that it might be easier for both sides if they strapped themselves to lorries but they were not keen.

Originally Posted by hemingway (Post 8998755)

I'd be interested to know what 'hoops' UK hosts & Indian tourists have to jump through in order for the Indian tourist to secure a visa to visit the UK?

H.

Originally Posted by Bipat (Post 8998820)

Originally for their side it was an interview in somewhat humiliating atmosphere
with questions such as "why do you want to visit your brother, you visited two years ago?" On host side a standard letter agreeing to cover expenses any medical bills etc. this had to be signed in presence of a notary public. This meant travel to a notary willing to do this work.
Later the notary requirement dropped and signed letter adequate.
Suddenly about 3-4 years ago (not sure which year) strict again. B in law had to provide 3 years of tax returns at the interview, we had to send the usual letter and a copy of the entry in the land registry concerning our house. (What happened to people who rented I don't know.)
Finally last 3 years or so (again not sure of date) all became civilised, Indian travel agents do everything now (no interview), we sign the standard letter and fax it to the travel agent.

Originally Posted by hemingway (Post 8998863)

Very interesting - thanks for taking the time to type it. Reading other forums, the process for a UK citizen to obtain a visa to visit India seems to range from:

a walk in the park - don't know what all the fuss is about.

to:

a total bloody nightmare - won't be sodding well doing that again & will be going somewhere else.

I guess the reasons for this could be:

A) Personal circumstances/situation & background of visa applicant

B) Competence at form filling/following instructions of visa applicant

C) Interpretation of 'rules' by VFS agent and/or Consulate Visa Officer

D) Mood on the day of VFS agent and/or Consulate Visa Officer

Regards

H.

P.S. - A friend submitted their visa application at a VFS office recently & witnessed a 'dispute' between what appeared to be a VFS 'suit' & a male customer of South Asian origin - during the heated dispute, one half of the apparently pretty full waiting room could not have failed to hear the 'customer' refer to VFS staff as "bloody Indians" :eek::eek::eek::eek:

Everyone is entitled to think what they like, but there are certain things in certain environments that, if said are only going to make life very awkward, difficult, unpleasant etc etc - I reckon the man's visa application would have at best suffered an extremely long delay, even after being mysteriously lost the first few times it was submitted!

Originally Posted by hemingway (Post 8998863)

Very interesting - thanks for taking the time to type it. Reading other forums, the process for a UK citizen to obtain a visa to visit India seems to range from:

a walk in the park - don't know what all the fuss is about.

to:

a total bloody nightmare - won't be sodding well doing that again & will be going somewhere else.

I guess the reasons for this could be:

A) Personal circumstances/situation & background of visa applicant

B) Competence at form filling/following instructions of visa applicant

C) Interpretation of 'rules' by VFS agent and/or Consulate Visa Officer

D) Mood on the day of VFS agent and/or Consulate Visa Officer

Regards

H.

P.S. - A friend submitted their visa application at a VFS office recently & witnessed a 'dispute' between what appeared to be a VFS 'suit' & a male customer of South Asian origin - during the heated dispute, one half of the apparently pretty full waiting room could not have failed to hear the 'customer' refer to VFS staff as "bloody Indians" :eek::eek::eek::eek:

Everyone is entitled to think what they like, but there are certain things in certain environments that, if said are only going to make life very awkward, difficult, unpleasant etc etc - I reckon the man's visa application would have at best suffered an extremely long delay, even after being mysteriously lost the first few times it was submitted!