TopSec

Hi, quick question.

Has anyone any knowledge of applying for an Indian Visa (business for hubby, tourist for me) whilst here in US.

He has to head to India on 10th March but we don't leave USA until 2nd or 3rd. I could organise it in London which takes about 3 working days but I wondered if I could do it beforehand here in Houston (there is a Consulate here) before we leave.

Thanks

Noorah101

I have no direct knowledge, but I don't see why it couldn't be done in the USA at an Indian consulate.

Rene

TopSec

Thanks Rene, I have checked the website and it appears it can, I just wondered if anyone had done it and their experience of it. I am loathe to deposit our passports at a consulate a few days before we plan to depart US!! I've done quite a number of visa apps at various embassies over the years and the ability for it to go tits up is quite high!

Our problem is we don't have much time for it to go TU when we get back to UK either!! Meeting is non movable

Noorah101

I don't know about India, but I know the Pakistani Embassy in Los Angeles does same-day visa service. Perhaps the Indian Embassy does the same?

Rene

Jerseygirl

My husband's company applied to the Indian Embassy in the US for his visa. It took 1 day.

TopSec

That's good to know Jerseygirl. As soon as we get the definite nod that it is happening, a trip to the Indian Consulate in Houston looks like a plan.

Thanks!

Jerseygirl

Where are you visiting?

TopSec

Just had to google it He has to go to Jamnagar, so I guess into Mumbai. I am not sure where/what I will do.

lisa67

My husband tried to get his visa for India done in Houston and it was going to take about a month I think so he ended up going to Indoa via London and getting it done there.

Englishmum

I went to the Indian Consulate in New York City (a block from Central Park), dropped off my passport/photos/fee and went back a few hours later to collect my passport with new Indian tourist visa. I downloaded the application form from their website online.

However.....it seems that last year the Indian Embassy implemented new procedures, they have outsourced visa applications to a company called BLS International. See link below from the official Indian Embassy website:


https://www.indianembassy.org/pages.php?id=18 (Indian Embassy site)


http://www.cgihouston.org/page/display/31/19 (Houston Consulate site)

Englishmum

When are you arriving in the UK?

The Indian High Commission website for the UK also states that it has outsourced the processing of visas to visit India to VF Services UK Ltd:

https://www.hcilondon.in/visa.html

You have to complete the online application form (including in the link above) but you can take the application in person to one of the visa processing centres in central London or at Hayes, Middlesex (West London, not too far from LHR) and you can make an appointment to go there. I remember when I went to the Indian Consulate in NYC that there were very long queues before the building was open to the public, I can imagine it would be *extremely long* in the UK, so it's probably best to try and make an appointment or get in the queue at dawn..!

For an urgent business visa for India:

https://www.hcilondon.in/urgent_business_visa.html (Same day visa)


Btw; Diplomatic offices in capital cities are called Embassies, however in (British) Commonwealth countries the member countries are called High Commissions eg. India, Canada, Singapore, Australia, NZ etc. so there is no Indian, Canadian, Australian Embassy in the UK (and vice-versa).

All satellite diplomatic offices (ie. in large cities which are not the capital city) are called Consulates.

Hope this helps!

PS. For tourist visas the website http://in.vfsglobal.co.uk/ says that it takes 2-3 days transit time after the passport has been received and processed....might be best to get a refundable or fully flexible air ticket for India in case you don't get yours back in time and your spouse has to head off to India without you!

PPS. You don't happen to have a New Zealand passport do you? Kiwis are allowed to get a tourist visa on arrival at certain Indian airports.

TopSec

It's a looking a bit like a crap fest at the moment

Houston takes minimum 5 working days

London 2-3 days

Plan is now to leave Houston on 6th March so unless he can get invitation letter over the weekend or Monday/Tuesday very latest we are struggling to do it here. Otherwise it is Urgent visa service in London.

I have stood in those queues in London in the past, awful place, in fact I seem to have stood in shitty visa queues for a lot of places, I pretty much hate them all with a vengeance!! Russia being the worst

Thanks for your help