What's the current India visa situation?
Apr 27th, 2014, 04:34 AM
#1
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What's the current India visa situation?
Has anyone applied for an India visa in the last couple of months?
I'm wondering how long it currently takes for a US citizen to get their India visa? Have the "start up" problems of the new agency been resolved?
I'm wondering how long it currently takes for a US citizen to get their India visa? Have the "start up" problems of the new agency been resolved?
Apr 28th, 2014, 07:48 AM
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I heard they may be implementing a visa on arrival program in October. I am traveling in December and am wondering the same thing. Anyone know when is a good time to start the visa application process?
Apr 28th, 2014, 04:57 PM
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kuranoske, Being able to use travisa is a great improvement! And where in India are you going?
Thursdays, I read a short article in a newspaper about it - which paper? Who knows. I hope what I read was correct!
Thursdays, I read a short article in a newspaper about it - which paper? Who knows. I hope what I read was correct!
Apr 28th, 2014, 06:30 PM
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Hi Kathie-I'm at the "thinking about it" stage of planning for a winter vacation and am considering Sri Lanka, possibly combined with southern India. However, if the visa situation is still a mess by the time I need to apply for it, I will just skip going to southern India as I'm not going to send off my passport and worry about whether or not I will get it back.
Apr 28th, 2014, 06:37 PM
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Someone had linked an article here on fodors saying that BLS
was finished. Here's one from January:
http://www.telegraphindia.com/114011...p#.U18Oi1e-Fl5
It seems to say that BLS will not complete its contract and will end its service as the contracted visa provider for India in July of this year. . . .
It seemed that they were resolving some of their issues as the months went by .. . . but now that they're sort of "lame ducks" who knows about the service. Because of all the problems we'd read about we applied in person to BLS in DC in September for our January trip. We got the visas within a couple weeks or less - but with an error that was fairly quickly resolved . . . once I became a thorn in their side.
So Shelley seems like you'd apply through BLS if you plan to apply before July . . .
was finished. Here's one from January:
http://www.telegraphindia.com/114011...p#.U18Oi1e-Fl5
It seems to say that BLS will not complete its contract and will end its service as the contracted visa provider for India in July of this year. . . .
It seemed that they were resolving some of their issues as the months went by .. . . but now that they're sort of "lame ducks" who knows about the service. Because of all the problems we'd read about we applied in person to BLS in DC in September for our January trip. We got the visas within a couple weeks or less - but with an error that was fairly quickly resolved . . . once I became a thorn in their side.
So Shelley seems like you'd apply through BLS if you plan to apply before July . . .
Apr 28th, 2014, 07:06 PM
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We're going in December and planning to use Travisa.
Avoid the BLS drama. There's just way too much risk to not pay the extra money...and to have the extra peace of mind (and accountability) of using Travisa.
Avoid the BLS drama. There's just way too much risk to not pay the extra money...and to have the extra peace of mind (and accountability) of using Travisa.
Apr 29th, 2014, 05:41 AM
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We are flying to Paris on Tuesday, Kuranosuke. Can't wait! And you know about our Peru trip for November. I'd love to hear more about your India travels.
Shelley, I do remember reading about your Sri Lanka/Southern India idea. Hopefully the visa situation is now straightened out.
We got 10-yr visas, so still have time to get to India another time or two before it expires. We were just talking this weekend about where we might want to go.
Shelley, I do remember reading about your Sri Lanka/Southern India idea. Hopefully the visa situation is now straightened out.
We got 10-yr visas, so still have time to get to India another time or two before it expires. We were just talking this weekend about where we might want to go.
Apr 30th, 2014, 03:41 PM
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I hope you have a wonderful trip to Paris, Kathie.
Jim and I spent 16 days in Peru several years ago and loved it. Book your tickets early for the train to Machu Pichu, as they sometimes sell out in advance for the more convenient times on a given day.
Jim and I spent 16 days in Peru several years ago and loved it. Book your tickets early for the train to Machu Pichu, as they sometimes sell out in advance for the more convenient times on a given day.
Jun 6th, 2014, 12:19 AM
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Hello i haveIt seemed that they were resolving some of their issues as the months went by .. . . but now that they're sort of "lame ducks" who knows about the service. Because of all the problems we'd read about we applied in person to BLS in DC in September for our January trip. We got the visas within a couple weeks or less - but with an error that was fairly quickly resolved . . . once I became a thorn in their side.
So Shelley seems like you'd apply through BLS if you plan to apply before July . .
So Shelley seems like you'd apply through BLS if you plan to apply before July . .
Jun 6th, 2014, 05:47 AM
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BLS was out as of May 21st. India is planning a visa on arrival system for 40 some countries the US. It's good for stays under 30 days and this was announced last Oct. I think they plan to have this in effect by the fall of this yr. Hopefully. 
Dec 14th, 2014, 01:20 PM
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A US citizen, I applied yesterday (Saturday), completing at about 7:45 p.m. my application online for a visa on arrival. At 12:31 a.m. the next day, Sunday, less than 5 hours after completing the application, I received an email that my application status was "Granted". I paid online using a credit card. The website I used was:
https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/visa/tvoa.html
I clicked on the "Visa On Arrival Application", and completed the steps within about 15 to 20 minutes, not counting time to shoot a passport photo (jpeg file), and create a copy of my passport (pdf file).
https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/visa/tvoa.html
I clicked on the "Visa On Arrival Application", and completed the steps within about 15 to 20 minutes, not counting time to shoot a passport photo (jpeg file), and create a copy of my passport (pdf file).
