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New process
The Indian High Commission has introduced a new system for Visa processing with effect from Friday 6 June 2008 – outsourcing the process to VFS Global who have set up two new processing centres (IVACs). The new system includes an online application process, where you can complete the documentation online (note that you will need a printer to print off the completed form) and make a payment via credit/debit card. Comprehensive instructions are on the website: http://in.vfsglobal.co.uk/index.aspx. You have the option of applying by post, or in person in London, Birmingham or Edinburgh (for Scottish residents only).
Application form
For British residents obtaining a visa in the UK, you will need to complete an application form.
You can either:
- complete the form online – which gives you the option of online credit/debit card payment and a status tracking facility or
- complete the enclosed form
You can either take your completed application/documentation/payment in person to one of the IVACs as detailed below, or send your application by post.
Additional forms can be downloaded from: http://in.vfsglobal.co.uk/visaforms.aspx or click the button above. The form must be completed in PRINT and blue or black ink. Most of the form is straightforward and easy to complete, but we suggest the following answers to certain questions:
Purpose of visit: Tourism
Proposed date of arrival: The date your plane lands in India
Duration required and number of entries: Six months, multiple entry
Places to be visited: Just list the 3 or 4 main stops on your tour.
Where you are asked for two referees in UK, and two in India, for the Indian referees, you should just write “Inclusive tour”. Don’t forget to sign the declaration.
How to apply
You can apply in person or by post for your visa. Applying in person can be time consuming, and our experience is that the postal system works well, with replies usually being received in 15 working days. We recommend that you apply for your visa twelve weeks before departure, but, to be safe, make sure you apply at least four weeks before you go, and bear in mind the validity of the visa runs from its date of issue, not the date you first arrive in India.
If you wish to apply in person, visa counters are open from 08:30 to 14:30 most weekdays for drop-offs and 11:00 to 14:00 for collections, but please check with the relevant IVAC, (email info.inuk@vfshelpline.com; telephone 0207 8287369) before making a special journey (if you have completed an online application you can also check the status of your application online). The holiday closure dates are available on the following webpage: http://in.vfsglobal.co.uk/holiday.aspx The locations in the UK which issue visas are:
- India Visa Application Centre 142-148 Goswell Road, London EC1V 7DU
- India Visa Application Centre 20-21 Pemberton St, Birmingham B18 6NY
- 17 Rutland Square, Edinburgh EH1 2BB
Postal applications should be sent to one of the above addresses (we suggest you use the closest to you).
Photographs
Please provide two recent photographs (not more than 6 months old) of yourself. The photographs should be in colour and:
- Taken against a light background (white or off-white) so that features are distinguishable and in contrast against the background
- Clear and of good quality
- Printed on normal photographic paper
- Un-mounted - 45 mm x 35 mm in size
- Should show full face (without sunglasses and normally without a hat or cap);
- The face should be in the middle of the frame
How to pay
The Indian High Commission now accepts credit/debit cards via the online process only. If you are applying by post (and not completing an online form), please do not send cash through the post. A postal order or bank draft for the full payment should be included with your application payable as follows:
V F Services (UK) Ltd-London (London Applicants)
V F Services (UK) Ltd-Birmingham (Birmingham Applicants)
The fee for a visa is £38.86 (£30 plus the new £8.86 processing fee).
You should also send a reply-paid envelope, and we strongly recommend that you use special delivery for both outward and return postage. (You can arrange all the paperwork for this at your local Post Office counter - they will provide the right stickers for your return envelope – ask them to check that the correct postage for the envelope and passport is affixed). When you are posting the envelope to the IVAC, you must put your name and address on the outside of the envelope, otherwise they will refuse to accept it. Any incomplete applications will be returned unprocessed.
In common with most countries, the Indian authorities reserve the right to issue or not issue visas at their own discretion, and to ask visitors to attend in person, or to restrict the areas or dates permitted. However, our experience has been that, if the forms are properly completed and all the above rules are followed, that obtaining a visa is a reasonably speedy and painless experience. If there is a significant delay between receiving these notes and applying for your visa, it may be worth looking at http://in.vfsglobal.co.uk/visaforms.aspx to ensure that the form and the fees payable have not changed.
Processing Time
Processing times vary from application to application at the sole discretion of the High Commission of India and its Consulates in the UK, and some applications may take longer than others to get processed. The following are some estimates of processing times under normal circumstances:
1. Applications personally submitted at one of the IVACs are processed approximately within 48 hours.
2. Postal applications take approximately 15 working days to be processed. This does not include the period they are in transit to and from the High Commission or the Consulate General.
If you are planning to visit one of the IVACs, we recommend that you complete your application via the online process, making a note of your reference number, and check the status of your application here: http://in.vfsglobal.co.uk/onlinetracking.aspx
Checklist
- Passport valid for a minimum of 190 days with at least two blank pages
- Correct visa fee.
- Two recent identical passport-size photographs.
- Completed application form (all columns in the form are mandatory and must be completed).
Please remember it’s your responsibility to ensure that you have a valid visa for the tour!
Note: This information is correct at the time of publication. As with all new processes there may be teething troubles” as the new system is bedded in. We will make every effort to keep our information updated as far as possible, but please check out the IVAC website for the most up to date information.
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