It is a beautiful thing called s o v e r e i g n t y
Shouts out to Hounslow for having one of the only Indian visa centres in the whole country.
> Findlay was due to fly from London to Delhi with British Airways, before receiving a text from Visa Genie.
> It said “effective immediately, the Indian embassy has advised that all applications must be made in person”, the Times reported.
> “We believe this sudden change is unfair to you and potentially very expensive.”
> In response to the reports, the Indian high commission has claimed that the visa rules were not changed at the last minute.
> Instead, it claims that British applicants have always had to apply in person at VFS Centres, and that third party agencies had been collecting fees and then heading to the centres themselves.
Which is fair. Apply direct for a visa direct, and not via a sketchy 3rd party, and you’re fine.
It’s just proper enforcement of Visa rules. Wasn’t that what british home secretary wanted?
Anyone know how I get a travel visa for India? I’m going there in December and I’m confused now..
But they’re rich people having expensive holidays in a COST OF LIVING CRISIS. I bet they were all landlords as well
I bet the Mirror struggled really hard to try and pity the people involved
UK to bring 160000 Indian students next year and make it even more easier.
India have shown it’s true colours with regards to Russia and Ukraine.
None of this would happen if Suella Braverman knew what to speak and when.
>In response to the reports, the Indian high commission has claimed that the visa rules were not changed at the last minute.
>Instead, it claims that British applicants have always had to apply in person at VFS Centres, and that third party agencies had been collecting fees and then heading to the centres themselves.
>The Commission said that the matter was being investigated.
It’s been awhile, but I’m sure that’s not right? Back in 2018, I helped an older family member apply for their tourist visa online. I distinctly remember there being a lot of third party websites with really high fees, but we eventually found what I thought was the official Indian gov website, and submitted it for a fraction of the cost. It sticks with me because we went out to dinner and they insisted on paying, saying they were using the money that we had saved by going direct.
What incentive would there be to block tourists? Given that tourism is generally a revenue earner for the recipient country? I’m going to guess that if you get ill in India as a foreigner you presumably have to pay out of your own pocket for treatment?
That said, I guess India’s revenues from domestic tourism far outpasses revenues from international arrivals (much like the other “big” nations – China, the USA etc), so maybe it’s a drop in the ocean in the grand scheme of things. I would have thought these days the Taj Mahal gets way more Chinese visitors than British visitors.
I had no idea about this and booked flights to India for Easter this year, to fly a few weeks later. Then found out that I couldn’t get a visa on my British passport without an in-person interview, which weren’t available.
Thankfully I could use my Irish passport instead (benefit of being from Northern Ireland) and got the e-visa but I completely feel for all those who booked flights without knowing because there was absolutely no warning anywhere about potential visa issues when booking.
To all the confused people, this is part of a Diplomatic row between the Indian government and Truss’s government given Suella’s comments. These changes won’t last long. And if the Indo-British deal is signed before November, visa free travel will be available for both nationalities. I wouldn’t be surprised if these Visa rules are changed within a week or two
I had to apply for an Indian visa in person, and it was the most pointless and the most painful visa application I have ever done.
“Give little people a little power, and it goes straight to their ugly, little heads.” – true everywhere, but especially in Indian visa centres.
Childish reaction and smacks of collective punishment.
Never had to attend in person when I got my visa, but I was travelling for work, not a holiday, and working for an Indian company at the time – don’t know if that’s why. I did it all online.
This is worse for India than UK. India needs pounds more than UK needs to vacation options in India.
17 comments
It is a beautiful thing called s o v e r e i g n t y
Shouts out to Hounslow for having one of the only Indian visa centres in the whole country.
> Findlay was due to fly from London to Delhi with British Airways, before receiving a text from Visa Genie.
> It said “effective immediately, the Indian embassy has advised that all applications must be made in person”, the Times reported.
> “We believe this sudden change is unfair to you and potentially very expensive.”
> In response to the reports, the Indian high commission has claimed that the visa rules were not changed at the last minute.
> Instead, it claims that British applicants have always had to apply in person at VFS Centres, and that third party agencies had been collecting fees and then heading to the centres themselves.
Which is fair. Apply direct for a visa direct, and not via a sketchy 3rd party, and you’re fine.
It’s just proper enforcement of Visa rules. Wasn’t that what british home secretary wanted?
Anyone know how I get a travel visa for India? I’m going there in December and I’m confused now..
But they’re rich people having expensive holidays in a COST OF LIVING CRISIS. I bet they were all landlords as well
I bet the Mirror struggled really hard to try and pity the people involved
UK to bring 160000 Indian students next year and make it even more easier.
India have shown it’s true colours with regards to Russia and Ukraine.
None of this would happen if Suella Braverman knew what to speak and when.
>In response to the reports, the Indian high commission has claimed that the visa rules were not changed at the last minute.
>Instead, it claims that British applicants have always had to apply in person at VFS Centres, and that third party agencies had been collecting fees and then heading to the centres themselves.
>The Commission said that the matter was being investigated.
It’s been awhile, but I’m sure that’s not right? Back in 2018, I helped an older family member apply for their tourist visa online. I distinctly remember there being a lot of third party websites with really high fees, but we eventually found what I thought was the official Indian gov website, and submitted it for a fraction of the cost. It sticks with me because we went out to dinner and they insisted on paying, saying they were using the money that we had saved by going direct.
What incentive would there be to block tourists? Given that tourism is generally a revenue earner for the recipient country? I’m going to guess that if you get ill in India as a foreigner you presumably have to pay out of your own pocket for treatment?
That said, I guess India’s revenues from domestic tourism far outpasses revenues from international arrivals (much like the other “big” nations – China, the USA etc), so maybe it’s a drop in the ocean in the grand scheme of things. I would have thought these days the Taj Mahal gets way more Chinese visitors than British visitors.
I had no idea about this and booked flights to India for Easter this year, to fly a few weeks later. Then found out that I couldn’t get a visa on my British passport without an in-person interview, which weren’t available.
Thankfully I could use my Irish passport instead (benefit of being from Northern Ireland) and got the e-visa but I completely feel for all those who booked flights without knowing because there was absolutely no warning anywhere about potential visa issues when booking.
To all the confused people, this is part of a Diplomatic row between the Indian government and Truss’s government given Suella’s comments. These changes won’t last long. And if the Indo-British deal is signed before November, visa free travel will be available for both nationalities. I wouldn’t be surprised if these Visa rules are changed within a week or two
I had to apply for an Indian visa in person, and it was the most pointless and the most painful visa application I have ever done.
“Give little people a little power, and it goes straight to their ugly, little heads.” – true everywhere, but especially in Indian visa centres.
Childish reaction and smacks of collective punishment.
Never had to attend in person when I got my visa, but I was travelling for work, not a holiday, and working for an Indian company at the time – don’t know if that’s why. I did it all online.
This is worse for India than UK. India needs pounds more than UK needs to vacation options in India.