That article did not instill a lot of confidence for me.

I am going to stick to my original plan - make an early appointment, drive to SF for the day and get it all done in person.

Here is a link to another article from the same source. I am definitely steering clear of this method. In addition to the additional limits placed upon this visa that is available on-line, I wonder how long one would have to wait in line at the airport to actually get the visa before getting in another line to go through immigration/customs.

http://blogs.wsj.com/indiarealtime/2...val-confusion/

SCDreamer, double check before embarking on your fun "all in one day" trip to SF. This used to be possible--I did it three times ('til wised up, accepted my India addiction, and got a ten yr visa) but apparently now you make the appt to drop off the docs , photos, and passport, then have to return a few days later to get the visa/passport.
On behalf of a concerned first-time visitor, I phoned Cox/Kings number twice: the first person told me it ALL can be done only online; the second person told me that yes, you can arrive in person, but "most definitely" can't retrieve it for a few days. Who knows what yet another call would reveal? Indian bureaucracy at its finest!!

<<<jacketwatch on Aug 4, 15 at 4:06pm
You mean 3-4 days?>>>

No, I meant 34 days. It's a 30 day window and you can only apply for that 4 days ahead of time. I like having my visa in hand a couple months out sometimes. I'm always afraid I'll space it somehow and forget to do something in the weeks right before I get to leave or that I'll screw it up somehow and have to mail it in.

Thank you Iowa redhead. .

I agree about getting things done as far ahead as one can. Less to think of that way.

CaliNurse - Thanks for the heads up - it does say on the India Consulate web page that if you make a morning appointment to present your passport, photos, application, etc in SF - you can return that same afternoon to pick up the visa. And also - they are only providing the ten-year visas now (at their discretion ... could be five years if you look funny?)

But who knows? It's not a super long drive for us from Santa Cruz; we could easily do it twice if we have to. I am just thinking that I don't want to arrive at Delhi Airport and have to get in any extra lines.

Crosscheck: when I clicked on the link to apply for a Visa on the Ambassador website it takes you to indianvisaonline.com which is the same page where you sign up for the ETA I'll call them tomorrow but I'm not sure how it differs. ??
It seems that 34 days is enough time to get a visa online but I guess you never know.
I wonder if my travel insurance would cover it if I didn't get the visa through no fault of my own?

Its odd that no one from this Fodors site has actually experienced buying a visa online. I wonder if tripadvisor may have additional information> I'll try and post and if I hear anything I'll let you know...
Thanks for everyone's input....

SCDreamer--I HOPE the consulate info is correct. There's NO reason it shouldn't all be ready the same day...but consider the source.
Having received different information from employees--both of whom assured me they were"100% correct, Madam"-- of the same company, I'd do exactly what you're doing.The only way to be sure is to go in person
I wonder if the consulate website is based on the process with its previous contractor, Travisa, who issued my previous visas in a relatively painless morning/afternoon timeframe.
For those who've never been to India, this visa thing is a typical S.N.A.F.U. and preparation for the country's occasionally infuriating, occasionally endearing, M.O. DO NOT expect "seamlessness"!! Bring sense of humor. Do not assume the people who should know correct answers, actually do.

Hi jasperti, Yes, call Ambassador - Maybe they included that link just to show the documents you need. If you use their services, they usually deliver in 1-3 days. I always go in person, so I'm not sure how the process differs by email. I don't mind paying extra because I often go to Canada for work at the last minute and get nervous about giving up my passport.

I did find flyertalk and tripadvisor threads about the online visas:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/india...-2014-a-3.html

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic...urs-India.html

Sounds as if it doesn't hurt to try online. If it doesn't work, you could then use an expeditor like Ambassador to get you a quick visa. My friends who have traveled to India recently all used expeditors. I know several people who were caught up in the bureaucracy of the SF office and had to wait for weeks.

I posted on the tripadvisor forum and received positive information in that folks who applied were actually given their visa within the 72 hr time frame and it seems that the waits in Deli are approx 15 minutes.
Seems reasonable but I'm going to call Ambassador also.

Can you get pastrami while you're waiting in that Deli? (Sorry-- couldn't
resist!!)
On a more serious note, jasper, that is great news. I still think this is a situation of optimism vs reality!

.

Anyone have more news on this? Experience/accounts by those who have done it? Even though we aren't leaving for India until January 2016 - I'd just as soon take care of it sooner than later, especially since the visas are being issued for ten years.

The online process can only be submitted within 34 days of planned travel? Do they want to see an itinerary/paid ticket? Does that mean we can't do that right now? Asking because there is always the possibility of last-minute travel deals (one of the perks of bring retired!)- but would need the visa in place before even considering that.

My understanding is that you cannot apply for the online visa until 34 days before your trip. So if you want the flexibility for a last-minute trip (or if you want to get your visa early), apply now for your 10-year visa.

Thanks, Kathie. That was what I figured. Back to square one.

scdreamer, I just sent mine off to Travisa in Chicago to get the 10 year visa. It's not worth taking a day off of work to drive in and deal with it myself so I just sent it to them. I typo'd one item on the application (when it asks for given name it really does mean first AND middle name as on your passport, not just the first name that is on your passport) and they called me immediately to ask me to fix that and resend just the app. They got it the day after I sent it somehow and had already reviewed it.

The fee for Travisa is worth it to me to get the 10 year visa without the time to drive to Chicago. Plus that way I don't have to wait until the last minute to get it online when I'm already going to be really busy and more likely to forget it.

I'll post again when I get it back but so far using Travisa has gone really easily. I've used them in the past for other visas and have never had any complaints.

Thanks for the update, Iowa. Just curious: I thought Travisa lost the contract from the Indian govt, and visa applications are now handled by Cox and Kings. Or does it vary by city? I alway successfully and easily used Travisa but --unless I'm confused--I thought they no longer do it.

I have no idea about the contract, but Travisa is definitely taking visa applications and such.

http://india.travisa.com/TVSVisaInst...O&PartnerID=TA

Travisa no longer has the contract, but they will still facilitate your visa processing, even though it has to be done by Cox and Kings.

Thanks, Iowa_Redhead, I'm going back and forth regarding whether to just make an appointment and drive up to SF to hand everything over ... or to use a service and do it by mail.

I definitely don't want to go the eTV route. We're arriving in Delhi at an ungodly hour, and the thought of one more line and one more process to get through doesn't hold much appeal.

So Travisa can do the same thing as Cox & Kings?

I just always hate the idea of entrusting my passport to the USPS, and if I'm going to courier it, I might as well take it myself. Fortunately for me, I am retired, so not a problem to take a day or even a couple days to deal with everything directly.

Thanks for offering to come back and post when you receive the visa. I'm interested in hearing about your experience and time frame.