Over two weeks now from the visa applications where re-submitted and still nothing.......very slow service indeed, kicking myself for not using Dublin HCI.

Read on another forum about a change in photo size, has anyone else heard about this?


.

It would appear to be true, look here;

http://in.vfsglobal.co.uk/touristvisa_photospecs.html
(with thanks to Mike Cork on IndiaMike)

So yet again, the total cretins in charge of these things change the rules with no warning, and it seems are already sending applications back due to this.

The smaller size is called a "passport photo" with good reason, most of the world, civilised or not, uses it for passport and visa purposes
.....except India now.

Do you think they are obsessed with jerking foreign visitors around just because they can, or is there a darker reason?


.

Afaik "the standard" the world over for passport photos is 45mm x 35mm as photos to be submitted with india visa applications previously were. Now 50mm x 50mm or 2 inch square photographs - what's all that about really????

I can't see there being a 'dark reason' behind it, just some detached from reality bureaucrat in an MHA office in Delhi changing a photo size specification because the only other thing they can change is a form & they've done that, so now they can claim to have 'overhauled' the visa application process when all they've really done is inconvenience people & piss them off even further - mission accomplished then!

Regards

H.


.[/QUOTE]

UN-BLOODY-BELIEVABLE !!!
I wouldn't be surprised if the Charters did pull out of Goa next year......the seats are just not selling and the whole visa process has a lot to do with it.
Although i think a lot of the visa problems appear to be VFS being over zealous in implementing stupid rules and not using the common sense approach. I say this because this outsourcing agency has asked us for things that neither London HCI or Dublin HCI ever did before.

I much prefer cock-up to conspiracy, but the fact that they are apparently returning applications because of this inclines me to your suggestion - I am beginning to believe quite seriously that the Indian govt are indulging in quasi-judicial persecution of foreigners.

AndyD 8-)#

I think they must be trying to stop tourists visiting India, when Remy said about letters from parents for childrens visas I thought it could be that he had a different surname to the children but I have now found the info below copied from the VFS website. I am just glad I saw it before I go up to Victoria for the visas as I get the grandchildrens visas also.

Quote 'For Minor Child (Under 16 Years of age)

A copy of the child’s birth certificate showing both the parents names.
Consent letter signed by both the parents.
Photocopy of Parent’s passports along with the copy of their current Indian Visa, if already holding one.
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.
' quote


what are they playing at!

I tend to agree with you, Andy.

If you look up VFS sites in other countries, the photograph sizes required for Indian visa if you are resident of said country are listed as :-

France - 35x45mm
Switzerland - 35x35mm
China - 40x35mm
Canada - 35x35mm
Australia & USA - 2x2 inch (now UK too it seems)

But if you are an Indian, applying for an Indian passport, according to the Gov't of India Passport Division, the passport photo size required is 35x35mm, tho' I have spotted the following on the web :-

"Indian Passport Photos

* Photo sizes are specified as 35mm x 45mm, 50x50mm or 35mm x 35mm depending on which Indian Government agency web site you look at
* Indian Passport photos require a white or off white background
* You must look straight into the camera and your head must not be tilted
* No profile or three quarter views of the head are allowed in Indian Passport Photo"


What hope do we have getting any further logical information out of BHC meetings. India now dictates its own rules and will continue to make off-the-cuff changes depending on whichever country has pissed them off in the previous 24 hours.

I checked the various 'passport photos' I have had done in India - they are:- 35 x 45; 35 x 40; and 35 x 35.
All have been accepted by various authorities in India including the MHA.
N.B. In the UK I recently had to submit new photo's for my driving licence - I went to Max Spielman with my usual photo on a memory stick - their machine refused to accept it because there wasn't enough white space around the head**. They did me another free of charge but if these machines are that fussy what is the chance of getting 2" x 2" photo's out of them?

** I then submitted the 'official' colour 35 x 45 photo with space round the head as required by DVLC and I got back my new licence with the image trimmed to remove the space round the head and printed in black & white!!!
The insanity is international.

AndyD 8-)#

I'M GETTING TOO OLD FOR ALL THIS

So instead of paying about 3 or 4 quid to have the photos done in an average photo booth, which prints the photos as size 45 x 35mm, we will all have to go and have them done in a professional studio to get them printed on 50 x 50mm- at a cost of................. one can only begin to guess !!!!

Unless anyone knows of an alternative way of getting 50 x 50 piccies.....?

I can really see the 'tweekers' that Goa so avidly craves wanting to go to that level of hassle when they can go to Sharm el Sheik or other warm winter destinations and get visa on arrival !

Dread - wake up VFS
X

VFS Victoria has a photo booth on the first floor, but I didn't pay much attention to it as I already had standard 35x45mm "photo-me booth" photographs when I applied before the new ruling. I presume it gives the required size photos, but we all know how often those machines are "out-of-order", especially when you really need those urgent photos.

I'm going to check the photo shop Noni once suggested to me next to Snow White laundry in Candolim & may get a batch done. The guy there (Subash) is a star at retouching old photos & doing re-prints & is very reasonable pricewise.

We take it in turns to stand in front of a white wall at home with the digital camera. You can then use either Adobe Photoshop or try www.getpaint.net for some freebie software to re-size photos. Enjoy........!

OK but how do you print them? - I've never got an inkjet printer to actually work with glossy paper.

AndyD 8-)#

P.S. Microsoft word will also re-size pictures.

I had trouble getting photo paper to feed through my old printer, I found that if I had a sheet of ordinary paper under the glossy paper it would grip and feed through. Worth a try if you have not already tried it.