rhkkmk

i applied for our visas on line using the services of travisa. the application was quite simple to do on line.. after it is approved i mailed our passports to their nyc office via regular mail, including two passport sized photos each. also enclosed was a postage paid envelope for the return (also regular mail). I used padded mail envelopes.

they sent me an e mail when they received my package-- a couple of days. they sent me another e mail telling me that it was complete and that it was being forwarded to the consulate in nyc. i received another email when they received it back. and finally i received another e mail telling me that it had been posted to us.

all of this took less than 2 weeks. i provided them with a credit card number for the fees. they tell you this may cause a delay but in my case that was not true.

i was delighted with travisa and with the quick turnaround and frequent communication.

Kathie

Bob, we had the same excellent service from Travisa. Did you opt for 10 year visas?

rhkkmk

no, we got only the 6 month one... i figure in a year or two when india takes over the usa, we won't need visas...

i would use them again for any visas i need however.. have you priced a china visa lately---YIKES!!

Kathie

We figure we'll b e back to India in a year or two, so it paid to get the 10 year visa. Yes, Chinese visas are expensive. Indeed, I think the Chinese visa was $120 way back when I last went to China.

Femi

I was also quite pleased with Travisa. I think I've also used them for other countries and received the same level of service.

thursdaysd

I, too, have been pleased with Travisa. I got the 10 year Indian visa, and I think it took a week.

WRT fees. The fees for US nationals are high because the fees for US visas are high. Also, in general you have to appear in person at a US embassy, never mind how far away you live. A single entry Chinese visa for a UK citizen is 30 GBP ($50) and a double entry is 45 GBP ($73). The fee for US citizens is $140 regardless of visa type.

rhkkmk

i think the fees amount to over $300 each for a chinese visa

thursdaysd

According to the Chinese embassy website the fee for the visa is $140, but of course that doesn't include a fee to a visa agency like Travisa or mailing costs.

See http://www.china-embassy.org/eng/ywz...10627.htm#Time

dgunbug

Using Travisa was a breeze. We got our visas with them for our upcoming trip to India and will likely get next year's China Visas with them as well.

rhkkmk

i believe there is a $165 processing fee too

julies

Okay. I am a US citizen, and we are starting to explore the idea of a trip to India. How much total will it cost me to use Travisa to get a regular visa for India? In comparison, how much is a 10 year visa? And, how much of this is fees for service to Travisa rather than the cost of the visa itself? Can one deal directly with the Indian counsulate/embassy rather than going through a service agency?

Thanks much.

Kathie

All India visas in the US have to go through travisa, as the consulate has contracted with them. Go to their webpage - it has all the info on fees.

https://indiavisa.travisaoutsourcing.com/homepage

jacketwatch

Sorry guys but our experience with Travisa was a nightmare last yr. It was marked by completely contradictory information from two Travisa offices about a mile or so apart in Chicago. One was a general office and the other one specific for India. We went in person to the latter where we received a cold, rude reception and were basically told what we had to submit for my wifes visa who is a former Indian citizen with a US passport was insufficient despite the fact that a person at that very office told us what we had was fine. I gave the name of the person who I spoke with and only by insisting to speak with the office manager did we get the matter straightened out. Otherwise the receptionist would have been most happy for us to leave unhappy. Yes we did get the visas in a timely manner but if you are a former Indian citizen as my wife is then its a far different and complicated process. I am glad your experiences were better than ours.

julies

The travisa website says not to purchase plane tickets until the visa is in hand. Did all of you abide by that guideline?

alan43

Hi
I recently got a visa for China. A leisure visa good for 1 yr cost $170.00 for one day service at the Chinese visa office in Wash. DC last wk. They also changed their visa application to a 2 pg. form. Thouught I'd pass it along as it came up.

kmkrnn

Abide by the guideline? What guideline? If you waited that late to get flight you would be swimming to India. It is called cross your fingers guideline.

Kathie

No, we bought our tickets in advance. They say that to remind you that you are not guaranteed to get a visa.