Visa help.
Oct 30th 2011 | 4:47 am
#946
BE Forum Addict
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 2,941
Re: Visa help.
I'm afraid VAF almost certainly means 'referred to Delhi'. Have you emailed VFS? (Don't bother with the premium rate tel. no. - I hear it's a call centre and they know nothing).
Talk to your travel agent / airline.
AndyD 8-(#
Talk to your travel agent / airline.
AndyD 8-(#
Oct 30th 2011 | 5:09 am
#947
Just Joined
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 18
Re: Visa help.
Reply about Business visa - yes, we have a partnership with an Indian company which has been since 2002 but our family business has been trading with India for 20 years.However, issues such as this are becoming ridiculous and they make it as difficult as possible with red-tape etc to carry out any business - not to mention battling corruption at every turn - so we are seriously considering getting out of India altogether. However, to do this we would need to get visas anyway!
Oct 31st 2011 | 1:19 am
#948
Lovin' it
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 164
From: Candolim
Re: Visa help.
I know Jet and Kingfisher, on the tickets I have bought in the past, do not allow a change of outward departure. But they do normally allow a change of return flight for no fee, possibly a small charge if the flights are more expensive. It does depend on the tickets and the fare class you are in, and therefore probably the price you paid as well.
I normally go through Southall Travel and insist on my 46k luggage allowance, one free change of return flight and they have always (so far) come up with the goods.
You may have to cancel and lose the outbound ticket (but SHOULD be able to claim back the tax & fuel surcharge) but you MAY be able to adjust / change the inbound flight for a small fee?
That way your extra expense will be to buy a one way ticket into India. Just a thought
I normally go through Southall Travel and insist on my 46k luggage allowance, one free change of return flight and they have always (so far) come up with the goods.
You may have to cancel and lose the outbound ticket (but SHOULD be able to claim back the tax & fuel surcharge) but you MAY be able to adjust / change the inbound flight for a small fee?
That way your extra expense will be to buy a one way ticket into India. Just a thought
Last edited by goanstay; Oct 31st 2011 at 1:20 am. Reason: Fingers too quick for my Belo'd brain
Oct 31st 2011 | 1:45 am
#949
Forum Regular
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 221
From: London
Re: Visa help.
I know Jet and Kingfisher, on the tickets I have bought in the past, do not allow a change of outward departure. But they do normally allow a change of return flight for no fee, possibly a small charge if the flights are more expensive. It does depend on the tickets and the fare class you are in, and therefore probably the price you paid as well.
I normally go through Southall Travel and insist on my 46k luggage allowance, one free change of return flight and they have always (so far) come up with the goods.
You may have to cancel and lose the outbound ticket (but SHOULD be able to claim back the tax & fuel surcharge) but you MAY be able to adjust / change the inbound flight for a small fee?
That way your extra expense will be to buy a one way ticket into India. Just a thought
I normally go through Southall Travel and insist on my 46k luggage allowance, one free change of return flight and they have always (so far) come up with the goods.
You may have to cancel and lose the outbound ticket (but SHOULD be able to claim back the tax & fuel surcharge) but you MAY be able to adjust / change the inbound flight for a small fee?
That way your extra expense will be to buy a one way ticket into India. Just a thought
Oct 31st 2011 | 1:47 am
#950
Just Joined
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 18
Re: Visa help.
I know Jet and Kingfisher, on the tickets I have bought in the past, do not allow a change of outward departure. But they do normally allow a change of return flight for no fee, possibly a small charge if the flights are more expensive. It does depend on the tickets and the fare class you are in, and therefore probably the price you paid as well.
I normally go through Southall Travel and insist on my 46k luggage allowance, one free change of return flight and they have always (so far) come up with the goods.
You may have to cancel and lose the outbound ticket (but SHOULD be able to claim back the tax & fuel surcharge) but you MAY be able to adjust / change the inbound flight for a small fee?
That way your extra expense will be to buy a one way ticket into India. Just a thought
I normally go through Southall Travel and insist on my 46k luggage allowance, one free change of return flight and they have always (so far) come up with the goods.
You may have to cancel and lose the outbound ticket (but SHOULD be able to claim back the tax & fuel surcharge) but you MAY be able to adjust / change the inbound flight for a small fee?
That way your extra expense will be to buy a one way ticket into India. Just a thought
Oct 31st 2011 | 5:18 am
#951
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 1,149
From: Siolim Goa
Re: Visa help.
Thanks for the thought. We've contacted Qatar. It would be £100 each plus difference in fare which works out at an extra £450 each with fares as they are now! Also - we don't have an alternative date to fly as we are at the mercy of HCI (VFS can't do anything)as we have been 'referred' for confirmation and no time frame will be given. So cancellation is the cheapest option as we will get taxes back at least. India have got to get this mess sorted out instead of advertising for Foreign inward investment and Business opportunities! What rubbish. Opportunities for them to extort money out of foreigners, get them to set up business links and then make them give up out of frustration. Trade cannot be carried out sucessfully with stupid, needless obstacles like this.
I learnt the hard way and had to cancel my flight with Jet!!cost me £150.
But to re book the flight 2 weeks later cost me the refund Jet gave me as flights had dropped in price!!!!
Hope all works out for you!!
Oct 31st 2011 | 5:21 am
#952
Forum Regular
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 221
From: London
Re: Visa help.
VFS do advise you not to book flights until you have your visa!!!!
I learnt the hard way and had to cancel my flight with Jet!!cost me £150.
But to re book the flight 2 weeks later cost me the refund Jet gave me as flights had dropped in price!!!!
Hope all works out for you!!
I learnt the hard way and had to cancel my flight with Jet!!cost me £150.
But to re book the flight 2 weeks later cost me the refund Jet gave me as flights had dropped in price!!!!
Hope all works out for you!!
Oct 31st 2011 | 5:39 am
#953
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 1,149
From: Siolim Goa
Re: Visa help.
A bit different if you are trying to live here and are applying in your 2 month gap and want to get back to your home and dogs!!!
Oct 31st 2011 | 5:50 am
#954
Just Joined
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 18
Re: Visa help.
[QUOTE=powerhouse;9706614]No wonder tourist figures are dropping, how can you get a visa for a holiday you may take 8 months later? We often used to book holiday 12 months in advance your visa would expire before you even went.[/QUOT
My application was sent on 8th October ready to travel on 6th November - enough time would you think? - And if processed early would waste precious weeks of visa anyway - devil and deep blue sea?
We used to get a 2 year business visas then without warning - and of course no refund - this was cut to 1 year. To expect a company to renew visas every 12 months and be without their passport for 3 weeks at a time when they may need to travel elsewhere is ludicrous. (and as a northern company can't just waste time 'popping' down to Hayes when business visas have to be processed by HCI London anyway.)In business you have to book things in advance to fit your schedule as well as take advantage of cheaper fares, but as in my case - you cannot apply for a new visa to cover your trip if your other is still current but runs out during your stay, without a myriad of paperwork and your great grandmother's shoe size! It's just a minefield of stupid,pointless typical Indian rot. They have an incredible knack of making the simplest things complicated and taking 100 times longer to complete than everyone else. Do I sound bitter? I am! I will now have to reschedule my trip which messes up my counterpart in India also because of some nimby who has decided suddenly I'm a security risk.( ps.- I am usually a really calm, happy person but have been driven to rant by this frustrating situation where I am banging my head against a brick wall getting no answers from the powers that be and have no control over any of it!) Glass of wine time I think....
My application was sent on 8th October ready to travel on 6th November - enough time would you think? - And if processed early would waste precious weeks of visa anyway - devil and deep blue sea?
We used to get a 2 year business visas then without warning - and of course no refund - this was cut to 1 year. To expect a company to renew visas every 12 months and be without their passport for 3 weeks at a time when they may need to travel elsewhere is ludicrous. (and as a northern company can't just waste time 'popping' down to Hayes when business visas have to be processed by HCI London anyway.)In business you have to book things in advance to fit your schedule as well as take advantage of cheaper fares, but as in my case - you cannot apply for a new visa to cover your trip if your other is still current but runs out during your stay, without a myriad of paperwork and your great grandmother's shoe size! It's just a minefield of stupid,pointless typical Indian rot. They have an incredible knack of making the simplest things complicated and taking 100 times longer to complete than everyone else. Do I sound bitter? I am! I will now have to reschedule my trip which messes up my counterpart in India also because of some nimby who has decided suddenly I'm a security risk.( ps.- I am usually a really calm, happy person but have been driven to rant by this frustrating situation where I am banging my head against a brick wall getting no answers from the powers that be and have no control over any of it!) Glass of wine time I think....
Oct 31st 2011 | 6:09 am
#955
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 8,227
From: Noni the Indian Goan Beach Mulberry
Re: Visa help.
[QUOTE=jhh911;9706664]
You will need more than one glass, good luck.
No wonder tourist figures are dropping, how can you get a visa for a holiday you may take 8 months later? We often used to book holiday 12 months in advance your visa would expire before you even went.[/QUOT
My application was sent on 8th October ready to travel on 6th November - enough time would you think? - And if processed early would waste precious weeks of visa anyway - devil and deep blue sea?
We used to get a 2 year business visas then without warning - and of course no refund - this was cut to 1 year. To expect a company to renew visas every 12 months and be without their passport for 3 weeks at a time when they may need to travel elsewhere is ludicrous. (and as a northern company can't just waste time 'popping' down to Hayes when business visas have to be processed by HCI London anyway.)In business you have to book things in advance to fit your schedule as well as take advantage of cheaper fares, but as in my case - you cannot apply for a new visa to cover your trip if your other is still current but runs out during your stay, without a myriad of paperwork and your great grandmother's shoe size! It's just a minefield of stupid,pointless typical Indian rot. They have an incredible knack of making the simplest things complicated and taking 100 times longer to complete than everyone else. Do I sound bitter? I am! I will now have to reschedule my trip which messes up my counterpart in India also because of some nimby who has decided suddenly I'm a security risk.( ps.- I am usually a really calm, happy person but have been driven to rant by this frustrating situation where I am banging my head against a brick wall getting no answers from the powers that be and have no control over any of it!) Glass of wine time I think....
My application was sent on 8th October ready to travel on 6th November - enough time would you think? - And if processed early would waste precious weeks of visa anyway - devil and deep blue sea?
We used to get a 2 year business visas then without warning - and of course no refund - this was cut to 1 year. To expect a company to renew visas every 12 months and be without their passport for 3 weeks at a time when they may need to travel elsewhere is ludicrous. (and as a northern company can't just waste time 'popping' down to Hayes when business visas have to be processed by HCI London anyway.)In business you have to book things in advance to fit your schedule as well as take advantage of cheaper fares, but as in my case - you cannot apply for a new visa to cover your trip if your other is still current but runs out during your stay, without a myriad of paperwork and your great grandmother's shoe size! It's just a minefield of stupid,pointless typical Indian rot. They have an incredible knack of making the simplest things complicated and taking 100 times longer to complete than everyone else. Do I sound bitter? I am! I will now have to reschedule my trip which messes up my counterpart in India also because of some nimby who has decided suddenly I'm a security risk.( ps.- I am usually a really calm, happy person but have been driven to rant by this frustrating situation where I am banging my head against a brick wall getting no answers from the powers that be and have no control over any of it!) Glass of wine time I think....
You will need more than one glass, good luck.
Oct 31st 2011 | 11:07 pm
#957
BE Forum Addict
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 2,941
Re: Visa help.
@jhh911-
eveytime I go to Birmingham the place is half full of people applying for B visas.
AndyD 8-)#
eveytime I go to Birmingham the place is half full of people applying for B visas.
AndyD 8-)#
Nov 1st 2011 | 3:57 am
#958
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 1,149
From: Siolim Goa
Re: Visa help.
Heard today of a masseur/physio who contacted 1 of my friends wanting a lead in for an Employment visa...they couldn`t and didnt want to help...put him in touch with some friends who are well established in Chowgule college as Chiropractor and massure ....English couple who have trouble getting business visa themselves!!!
Apparently a letter on headed paper from friends involved at Chowgule has got him a business visa!!!
This really begs(beggars) belief!!!
Nov 8th 2011 | 7:08 pm
#959
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 444
From: Goa & London
Re: Visa help.
I received this google alert today. Not holding my breath, but you never know. If the link doesn't appear, I'll try to cut & paste the article from BERNAMA.com - Malaysian National News Agency.
Cheers
Iain
India Wins Two Global Awards At World Tourism Mart
Bernama
Asked on visa restrictions on tourists, he said that such rule would be resolved soon and India is going to remove the barrier. The visa restrictions on Tourists prohibits a tourist from revisiting India within two months of the first visit. ...
Cheers
Iain
India Wins Two Global Awards At World Tourism Mart
Bernama
Asked on visa restrictions on tourists, he said that such rule would be resolved soon and India is going to remove the barrier. The visa restrictions on Tourists prohibits a tourist from revisiting India within two months of the first visit. ...
Nov 8th 2011 | 7:17 pm
#960
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 444
From: Goa & London
Re: Visa help.
Sorry folks, the link didn't copy & I can't copy/paste.
Here is the web id
http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v5/ne....php?id=625408
Anyone read anything similar elsewhere?
Cheers
Iain
Here is the web id
http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v5/ne....php?id=625408
Anyone read anything similar elsewhere?
Cheers
Iain
