Update: Much of the information below is now wrong! Visas take much longer to get - the queues are longer, and if you don’t arrive really early, you’ll be given a ticket to come back at a later date. The best way to learn more is to look through the comments that other people have helpfully supplied - check the most recent ones.
If you ever decide to visit India, you’ll discover at the travel agent that you have to get a visa. At this point you’ll go through several well-defined stages; shock, anger, fear, irritation and acceptance. Then you’ll find out that you have to make the trip to an Indian Consulate (in my case, India House on Aldwych in London), and you’ll go through them all over again. This is a brief guide on how to get a visa for India and what’s involved. This was all applicable in November 2004 - things may have changed by the time you read this and I advise you not to just rely on this guide, just in case.
Quick Facts
1) Don’t worry, it’s not actually that difficult
2) You can be in and out within two hours
3) If you make sure you clearly and fully complete your application form, then things will go much quicker
4) Bring a magazine or a book
Before you go
I’m going to assume that you have already visited the High Commission of India’s website, downloaded the visa form and decided on when to go to the commission. The website also has a list of official holidays at the commission when they’ll be closed - check this because they have a number of holidays and you’ll feel really stupid if you turn up and no-one’s home.
Fill in your form, check it and double-check it. Get two passport-sized photos and make sure you have the correct amount of money for the application fee in cash - they don’t take cheques or credit cards.
When you decide on when you’re going to go get your visa, you might want to consider if there are any holidays around when you go. For example, I visited the commission after two days of holiday (Diwali). As a result, I suspect the queues were longer.
How can I find the commission at Aldwych?
It’s the thing with a huge queue of people snaking out from it (unless you get there absurdly early). It’s hard to miss. The really long queue is the one for visas, the short one is for people with Indian passport enquiries (i.e. not you).
The start of the first queue, disappearing into the distance.
The end of the first queue (you can see the window at the end of the curve)
What time should I turn up?
The commission in London opens at 8:30am. I arrived at 8:35am and there were already over 150 people in the queue in front of me. I think people start queueing up as early as 7:30am, and I talked to a girl who’d been queueing since 7:45am and she got out at 9:45am (i.e. two hours all told). The problem with turning up that early is that while there are fewer people in front of you, you still have to wait for the place to open.
As a result, I think that if you turn up at any time before, say, 9am, it’ll probably take you around two hours altogether. If you leave it any later, you’ll have to wait longer. I really don’t recommend turning up any later than 9:30am since there’s a good chance you won’t be able to pick up your visa that day, or at least you’ll have to wait for much longer than two hours.
What’s the process when I get there?
I heard many people in the queue criticising the commission for an illogical system. That’s not true - it’s perfectly logical and it even is vaguely organised. The only problem is that they seem to have no desire to inform anyone of how it works. Luckily, I do.
The process has three steps; queueing to get a queue number, queueing to hand in your visa application, and waiting to get your completed visa. You’ll notice there’s a lot of queueing involved.
The First Queue: Getting a Queue Number
This is the one outside of India House. I arrived at 8:35am and spent a little under an hour in this queue. It moves along quite regularly. The point of this queue is to show a guy in a window that you have a passport and then to collect a piece of paper with a queue number (or numbers, depending on how many passports and visa applications you’re making). The queue number you collect here (e.g. B69) is for the second queue, inside.
The Second Queue: Handing in your visa appplication
After you collect your queue number, you’ll be allowed inside and walk upstairs to a room with a bunch of commission staff behind windows. There are a lot of seats here and in a side room that also has vending machines.
Once you get upstairs, do not loiter around in front of window 1, which will be directly in front of you when you go through the door at the top of the stairs. Window 1 is for people collecting their completed visas and right now, that’s not you. Instead, go and wait in the main room and get a seat if you can. There’s a display in the corner of the room with the current queue number. Notice that a letter from A to E is also highlighted below the number. The queue number cycles through the letters and goes from A1 to E99, so do not make the all-too-typical mistake of going to a window when it’s your number but not your letter; the staff won’t be impressed.
Since many people there are submitting multiple visa applications (e.g. for friends or family) the queue number tends to go in bursts. I got inside at around 9:30am and the queue number was A77. My number, B69, took about 40 minutes to come up. When it’s your number, go straight to the next free window; don’t worry if they seem to have skipped past your number.
Once you’re at the window, hand over your application, passport, passport photos and money. Do not waste everyone’s time by searching through bags and wallets for the necessary stuff; you just spent at least an hour queueing before this so you don’t have an excuse. This bit only took me a couple of minutes because I’d filled in my form properly and hadn’t been denied a visa in the past. After she’s taken all your stuff, she’ll give you a receipt with your queue number (the same one as before) written on it. She will keep your passport - they need it to process your visa.
Waiting to get your completed visa
They hand out visas at window 1. For some inexplicable reason, there are always loads of people rammed up against this window despite the fact that there can be an hour long wait and also they always call out your number multiple times when they have your visa ready. Who knows why people do this - it certainly doesn’t speed things up.
The staff member who gave you your receipt will tell you how long you can expect to wait if you ask her. I was told it’d be 45 minutes; instead it was only 20 minutes. I put this down to my charming personality, or more likely, the fact that there weren’t any issues with my passport or application. You might as well sit down again at this point and wait for your number to be called out. Don’t fall asleep or listen to music, even if it seems it’ll take ages based on what numbers they’re calling out at the moment; they tend to skip around numbers a lot so they might be calling out B1 in one minute and B60 in the next.
When they call out your number, fight your way through the silly huddle of people around the window and get your passport with your visa inside. They’ll tell you to check it - do it! You are checking to make sure that they’ve gotten your passport number correct, and that the valid dates are correct for when you want to visit (they’ll actually be valid for ages longer than you’ll typically need it).
And then you can leave, all done! Like I said, it took me two hours altogether and I suspect it would be even quicker if I hadn’t gone through after two days of holiday.
Other Questions
Is there a toilet?
While I have not seen it myself I’m told there is one downstairs.
You’re wrong about x
Perhaps I am, I only went there once and things may have changed. Please do not rely on this guide for anything really urgent.
I can’t be bothered queueing up, is there some way I can mail my application in?
You can mail it directly to the commission, or you can use a visa service. The visa services are often much quicker and more expensive. Whether or not you want to use them depends on how much you value your time. I don’t know anything more about them so don’t ask me to recommend one.
Why did you bother writing this?
I estimate that at least 400 people go to the commission every day. That’s up to 100,000 per year. I was not been able to find anything decent online about the actual process of getting a visa before I visited, and for many of the people there, it’s quite a stressful and anxious procedure. I decided that a guide explaining all of the steps involved would make it a little clearer and more understandable for all concerned. Perhaps it might even speed things up!
Will you update this guide?
I sorely doubt it, unless there happens to be a good reason.
I would like to reprint this guide
Email me. There’s a link at the top of this page.
232 responses so far ↓
Vandana // Dec 13, 2006 at 2:43 pm
Very useful - thank you!!!
Vasantha Kumar // Dec 20, 2006 at 2:55 pm
interesting and useful; good of you to do this
Kevin Couchman // Dec 29, 2006 at 3:05 pm
Many thanks for your valuable information. I went to get a Visa on Dec 29th 2006. I arrived at around 10.30am, picked up a ticket almost immediately and was told to come back in 30 mins. My number was eventually called at around 12.45pm and I was told the visa would be ready at 1.45pm. I turned up at that time only to find they had closed upstairs and the staff were tucking into an end of year lunch. Eventually I found someone who could help and he handed over the Visa at a window downstairs.
In summary it wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be and as long as you have some reading material the wait is bearable.
Thanks again.
Hiral Patel // Jan 12, 2007 at 12:45 pm
Excellent article, very useful, and straight to the point. Thanks for your submitting this.
Amar // Jan 18, 2007 at 11:18 pm
very good
thanks
David // Jan 24, 2007 at 5:26 pm
Got my visa this morning. Thanks for your advice. Started queuing at 8.30. Got ticket and entered building at 9.05. Got to visa counter at 10.05. Received visa at 11.10. But, interestingly enough, I spoke to a guy who arrived at 9.30, queued for 5 mins outside and waited the same lengths of time inside. Maybe he was just lucky but he certainly waited less time queuing in the cold!!
Hugh // Jan 26, 2007 at 4:09 pm
Cheers for this - I went down yesterday and got scared off by the queue - at least now I know how it works.
Shirley // Feb 20, 2007 at 8:57 am
Does the person wanting the visa have to go to London or can a representive go on their behalf and are there any cases where it is not issued on that date.
P.S. I found your information very interesting
nathalie // Feb 20, 2007 at 9:58 am
Very helpful - its the only information I have found that actually tells you how it works and the timings..!
Sara // Mar 12, 2007 at 5:39 pm
very usefull indeed many thanks every thing i needed to no wicked !
momo // Mar 22, 2007 at 1:46 pm
Very helpful thanks.
Just a couple of things to note:
1) Make sure you join the visa queue and not the pasport one like I did for 10mins.
2) when you get your queue ticket it’s just a number, no letters involved.
3) the visa room is now downstairs.
4) watch out when your number is near as they are very trigger happy and may go past your number, just remember what window it was and you’ll be cool.
5) visas handed out at window 7 - it gets crowded but there’s a guy with a little microphone that’s not very loud, so best to stick around there (if they say it’ll take an hour, give it 35mins).
Ram // Apr 15, 2007 at 10:42 pm
Very good and thanks. I now feel a lot better about visiting that scary place to get my visa.
Steve // May 18, 2007 at 9:40 am
Thanks! This was very helpful… takes time to write this, so much appreciated.
nama // May 29, 2007 at 6:02 am
whether ETA is required for indian visa
Maria // May 29, 2007 at 4:29 pm
Hi,
Thanks for the useful information. I will be applying for the tourist visa very soon, but am unsure about Q 36 on the form. What is meant by references both in India (hotel perhaps) and in applicants country?? Or does this apply only for the business visa?
Thanks a lot - Maria
Maria // May 29, 2007 at 4:34 pm
Hi again,
I found a completely different form than that I downloaded from the Indian Embassy website.
It looks better and I guess my question is answered by that. Thanks anyway
Maria
AJ // Jul 20, 2007 at 10:09 am
Thanks for this- just a few points to add
1) if you have a new passport (or one with no previous indian visas inside) when you go to get your visa - be sure to take your old passports with you aswell- as they like to see them for some reasons- (i had the pleasure of having to travel all the way back home and pick up my old ones and then come back)
2) if this is the first time you are applying for indian visa and you have no family there- you will only be entitled to 3 months instead of the usual 6 months
3) REMEMBER the visa starts from the day u go to get it- something which i did not read and then found to my shock meant my 3 month visa expired while I would be in India
Kath // Aug 7, 2007 at 10:18 pm
Hey
I’m jsut filling in the Indian Visa form and it asks me for two referees in India. What should I put? I don’t know anyone there and haven’t yet booked any accommodation.
Thanks
Adrian Hon // Aug 7, 2007 at 10:22 pm
Hmm, not too sure about that one. I suspect you’ll want to book accommodation and use someone from there as a reference. I guess you could make someone up, but ultimately the references are there to help you (e.g. if someone really needs to reach you, or if you get hurt).
Raj // Aug 13, 2007 at 10:04 pm
You can write ref. of the hotels you have booked. Write telephone number. If dont have anything dont makeup anything. Dont forget to write 2 ref. in U.K
Jo // Aug 21, 2007 at 10:14 am
I went there and since I am not a UK resident for the last year and didn’t have any proving papers they told me to wait for 3-5 days. I handed in my application and a copy of passport and now I need to call a number and check when it is ready to collect.
Does anyone know what the difference is betweeen the white and yellow queueing tickets. I got a white and they told be to go downstairs, but another guy he got a yellow and went upstairs…
Om Prakash Srivastava // Aug 31, 2007 at 10:41 am
It is really useful but unfortunately I found it after I got my visa. Only one thing to re-emphasise, check before you queue whether it is for Indian Passport holders or for visa. I wasted 30 minutes in wrong queue.
Prity Khambhaita // Sep 10, 2007 at 1:20 pm
Very useful information. I may just take the route of posting it.
carol marlow // Sep 11, 2007 at 4:27 pm
I want to come to the embassy in november to collect a visa, are there any days that I should
avoid?
Helen // Sep 16, 2007 at 1:58 pm
Hi I need to do this but I have to be able to get to work by 10 in the morning! Do you think this would be possible? Also can you queue up, leave your passport and then come and collect it the next day? Thanks
Jane // Sep 17, 2007 at 6:26 pm
I have just read on High Commission of India that there is No postal applications now? A bit anxious about what I should be doing now.
Adrian Hon // Sep 17, 2007 at 6:30 pm
Jane: You could always use one of the visa services. You’ll have to send your passport and forms to them and it’ll be more expensive, but it’ll be quicker. I’ve never used any so I can’t recommend anything though!
Another Hon // Sep 18, 2007 at 12:11 pm
Any decent Travel Agent will provide visa services. The one I use frequently will charge a total of £77 for an Indian visa and it will take 5 working days. You could ask the Travel Agent to collect and deliver your passport to your office or home address. £77 is made of 3 components: £30 for the visa fee, £32 for the handling agent, £15 for the travel agent (the company you deal with directly). However, if you book your air tickets through your travel agent, they would normally waive their fee. Under such circumstances, you will only need to pay £62. For those who could not spare the time to go to Aldwych, this is a very good option indeed.
The Travel Visa Company // Sep 19, 2007 at 9:19 am
Dear Applicant’s,
As some of you may already know the Indian High Commission will no longer accept postal applications in the UK.
Your 2 options are:
1) Go in person - Please note that as of September 2007 die hard visa applicant’s start to queue from about 6.30am
2) You can use an authorised agency like ourselves!
We offer a standard 4 working day service for £66.00 including return delivery (Visa Fee £30/Handling Fee £29/Special Delivery Post £7 )
We also offer an expedited service for those running short on time!
You can call one of our helpful Visa Consultants on 020 7833 9080 or visit http://www.thetravelvisacompany.co.uk/india.htm
We hope that this information is useful - Thank you for reading.
Lou // Sep 20, 2007 at 2:23 pm
This was very useful information, thanks. I never would have brought cash or known what queue to stand in. I almost got into trouble because the business reference letterhead ran off the bottom of the page. You must be able to see the address. The man behind the counter told me off and rolled his eyes at me, but gave me the visa anyway. Arrived at 08:30 and had my visa at 10:30.
David // Sep 24, 2007 at 12:35 pm
Two up really helpful pieces of info:
1) DO NOT BRING ANY BAG OTHER THAN A SMALL BAG FOR YOUR APPLICATION/FORMS. I HAD TO RETURN TO MY HOTEL TO DUMP MY CABIN SIZED SUITCASE! You are not allowed in the building with anything other than “a ladies purse” according to the notive. Practically, even a laptop bag may be disallowed.
2) I arrive 7.30am Monday, out with Visa and soaked to the skin by 9.30am!
Mark // Sep 25, 2007 at 8:40 pm
Very usefull site, does anyone know if it is possible to get your visa application processed at the Indian consulate on Saturdays? Since their website quotes working hours between Monday and Friday.
Steve // Sep 26, 2007 at 4:46 pm
Looks like things are deteriorating since they stopped accepting postal applications, or else there is a surge in applicants.
Today: arrived 8:45. Queue to reach window for 2 hours (with many people still behind me). By this time they had stopped accepting applicants directly into the hall and I was given a ticket to return at 2pm. Arrive 2pm - visa obtained within 45 minutes. When I left the 3pm crowd was arriving.
My advice is:
1) No luggage (they do seem happy with rucksacks, small briefcases etc, but it seems a bit arbitrary - it’s your risk).
2) Arrive BEFORE 8:30am if you want to get the visa that morning. In fact I think 7:30 am is probably advisable on the experience today.
3) You can collect the next day, but frankly once you’ve actually handed over your passport and money the remaining wait is insignificant - may as well tough it out.
4) Just go through a visa agency!
Mike Veal // Sep 27, 2007 at 11:52 am
I obtained my Visa yesterday (26th Sept 2007).
I joined the queue at 9am, and eventually reached the window at 11.30 am. A queue of two and a half hours.
I was given a queue number and told to come back at 2pm, which i did.
My queue number was 90, and I waited for exactly an hour before I was seen inside.
The Visa application window is open from 8.30 till 12. They will close the window either at 12.00, or whne they have handed out 1500 “Q” numbers (I think they mean “queue” ). One visa application, one queue number. So based on my experience, anyone turning up after 9.30am is likely to have a long wait, then be turned away.
One more word of advice. Wrap up warm. The queue is in the shade all morning, but not sheltered from the wind. You will freeze.
Unless you absolutely have no choice, use a visa agency.
TD // Sep 27, 2007 at 8:02 pm
Just jumped though all of the hoops - plan on a whole day “invested”…
First step (queue outside to Bush House starting at 0930): 2 hours
Second step (inside once the office opens again at 1400): 1.5 hours
Third step (to pick up the passport): 1 hour
All of the advice and observations in the posts and article above are pretty much spot on. However, be sure to be on-time getting to the building for thte “second step” at 1400. If your number is called - they will not wait to move on to the next number.
There’s a video of the queue outside on youtube…
http://youtube.com/watch?v=wNx_CtvC5uk
By the way, cheers for your very informative article - much apprecaited!
Louise // Sep 28, 2007 at 9:21 am
This has all been excellent advice. Which is the best Visa Agency? I have been totally put off by standing in the rain!
jeremy // Oct 1, 2007 at 4:28 pm
Anyone know what is the latest time in the day that the Embassy will issue a Visa if you get there early?. I will turn up at 6.30am in a couple of days (got turned away today after 2 hours queue) and I need to know whether I may be given a come-back time to collect visa as late as say 3.00pm or later the same day.
David // Oct 2, 2007 at 4:08 pm
I arrived 7.20am on a Monday, waited in pouring rain. Out with visa by 9.30am. Very efficient i thought!
There was a much larger queue waiting for Indian passports. Make sure you don’t wait in that queue - as there are plenty of people like me who will join the end of the passport queue in front of you. On rainy days the queues merge together which makes things tricky.
Robin // Oct 4, 2007 at 12:17 pm
Very useful article and comments. Thank you.
They seem to be getting absolutely swamped with people at the moment… We got there at 7.30am this morning and didn’t get our ticket till 11am.
Our tickets are for TOMORROW as all the ones for today had already been given out (maybe they started giving them out yesterday). I’ll see what happens when I go back at my allocated time of 11am tomorrow.
It was the couple in front of us’s SECOND DAY queuing, on the previous day they hadn’t got there early enough and had got near the front only to be turned away!!! They didn’t live in London so were having to pay train fares each time they came to try and get their visa!
Another bloke I spoke to was on his THIRD visit… He’d come last week and been turned away without even getting a ticket. He came yesterday and got there at 7am and queued for 3 hours to get a ticket. THE TICKET WAS FOR THE NEXT DAY THOUGH so he’d had to come back again at his allocated time today to actually apply & get his visa.
Some people were getting very irate as they were due to fly tonight but were not going to be able to get a visa today. One woman was refusing to move away from the ticket window because she needed a visa today and they had to call security to remove her.
I’ll be back at my allocated time tomorrow now I’ve got my Q tickets but if I was doing it all over again I would JUST PAY FOR A VISA SERVICE!!!
For the sake of an extra £40 quid compared to wasting hours of your life standing in queues over several days, I know what I’d choose…
tina // Oct 4, 2007 at 5:13 pm
Very helpful. I have just read that you can only get a 28 day stay in goa. We plan to stay 32 days
is this possible? help anyone.
Chris // Oct 5, 2007 at 1:25 pm
Went in this morning (Fri 5th October 2007) to get the visa. Having read the previous post I was a little concerned and arrive at 6.45am. There were about 100 people ahead of me but the door was in site. Queue started moving at about 8.20 to get the ticket to go inside and apply for the visa.
I recieved my ticket and was inside handing the form over by about 9.20. A word of warning - the numbers come up very fast and they don’t hang around so pay attention. I was told to come back between 15.00 and 16.30 to collect my visa which I am now waiting to do.
I did meet a couple who had arrived at 7.30 on Thursday only to end up getting issued a ticket for today. They did not have to queue again for a ticket but there ticket number for handing over the application was after the numbers for all the other applications today - i.e. they had to sit in the hall and wait for todays ticket holders to do there stuff first.
I will let you know how I get on later when I go to pick up my visa.
Sarah McNewitt // Oct 6, 2007 at 1:50 pm
Oh My god.. I cant beleive what i went through on Tuesday last week. Havin got to the embassy at 7.30, i still had to wait for 2 hours before getting a ticket. When i got to the window i was told that all the days tokens had been distributed and i should come the following day. Having travelled all the way from Bristol, it was just a nightmare. I ended up using one of those visa services “Prince Visa”. A bit expensive but better than that queue anyday.
All please dont waste your time just use a visa agency. I gave my passport to them on Wednesday and got it back through DHL today. Well worth it.
Chris // Oct 6, 2007 at 9:59 pm
I noticed the poor spelling and grammar in my last message - written in a bit of a rush with lack of sleep. Picked up the visa at 15.30 in about 5 minutes. Not bad.
ol // Oct 8, 2007 at 2:53 pm
Went this morning. got in queue at 8, got to first window at 11am and was given tickets for friday morning (the earliest time)
himalayanlearning // Oct 9, 2007 at 12:02 pm
Our charity has had one volunteer drop out of flying and we have a spare queue number for friday 12th morning. if anyone is interested in making a small donation, let us know at http://www.himalayanlearning.org (registered charity no. 1103105)
Mr Richard // Oct 9, 2007 at 3:47 pm
Hey himalayanlearning.
I would like the ticket if it is still available.
I was planning to queue to save money from using a service.
Since I dont line in London I’d be extremely grateful for a ticket.
Could you contact me at:
regi.public(at)gmail.com
Where (at) is the @ symbol (to stop spam bots spaming me!)
Thank-you
himalayanlearning // Oct 9, 2007 at 4:53 pm
Sorry everyone, we’ve just had a response! Good luck!
Keith Mould // Oct 9, 2007 at 6:38 pm
A special visit from the Portsmouth, arrived tues 9th at 8:15, queued for three and half hours only to be given a ticket to return after 3:30 NEXT TUESDAY. No explanation of what the ticket was, the man at the window wouldn’t answer any questions, security at the door wouldn’t answer any questions, referring everyone back to the previous window (or rather the enormous queue to get back to the window.) I don’t know if I can risk coming back in one weeks time as if something goes wrong I won’t have time before the flight. So, do I come back tomorrow pre 6:30 and try the early lottery??
An absolute shambles, and the process looks past bursting point. If I hadn’t already booked my flight I would have cancelled the trip and spent my money in someone else’s country. I strongly advise anyone to either use passpport agency or even better just don’t go to the damn country.
I’m bloody furious, but I’m nowhere near as bad as most of the other people who were in the queue around me.
Anna // Oct 9, 2007 at 7:18 pm
Hi - I went this morning and was in the queue by 5am. They opened the doors at 8.20 and although most of us were expecting just to get a ticket, they actually ushered us through for a visa, and I had my full visa issued by 9.40. Dare I say it was actually quite fun chatting with people in the queue -and I was glad I went as early as I did.
Re the agencies - I’m sure lots of them are great, but remember no one will look after your passports and forms like you will yourself. Even though I would have submitted mine to an agency if I’d been able to - having seen the mayhem, I’m glad I took it myself.
Good luck!
Great blog - thank you for starting it. Certainly soothed my nerves before I went!
MJP // Oct 9, 2007 at 8:49 pm
Think I was one of the group with the above ‘poster’. Seems to work like this: the new travel agent reps start to drop in some time after 6am. They write a note of how many Qtickets they want that day on an unofficial list by the window. At 8.30 the staff know how many ‘today’s Qtickets’ will then be left over for Joe public. I started queuing at 5.30. Pick up a white ticket at 8.30, straight downstairs, didn’t even sit down as my number was being called as I arrived. Back in 1 hour and on my way with 3 visas by 9.45am. Noted that as I went past India house later (11am) there were still people joining the queue down past the BBC – must have still been 400 there! So – get there before 5am and there’s still hope on the day. At least you get to meet some nice people before breakfast!
Mez // Oct 10, 2007 at 2:30 pm
I hold a British Passport and I am trying to get an Indian Tourist Visa and I am having major problems because my parents originate from Bangladesh but are British - anyone else had the same problem?? Please share your experience/advise with me.
I queued for 7 hours on Monday and I then got a ticket to come back Friday (12th October 2007) – I told them that I fly on Sunday 14th 2007 and they said that this shouldn’t be a problem. But after reading a few blogs and speaking to a few of the private visa companies, they said that it take longer if your parents originate from either Bangladesh or Pakistan –
Anyone know why this is and if there are any extra supporting documents that I can take to speed up the process. I’m hoping that after some serious grovelling (which I hopefully wont have to do, but I am prepared to), they will give it to me the same day.
CMB // Oct 10, 2007 at 3:26 pm
I’m getting conflicting advice about whether I can submit an application in person for a work colleague. The High Commission web-site certainly implies yes but Edinburgh office (the only one to respond to a phone call) ‘thinks’ you can only submit for a family member. Does anyone know for sure?
Mez // Oct 10, 2007 at 6:04 pm
You can submit for anyone - as long as you have all the relevent paperwork, it shouldnt be a problem.
Hels // Oct 11, 2007 at 4:25 pm
Hi everyone, it is a bit chaotic at the embassy to say the least! I queued last Friday morning from 9am onwards, to be given a ticket to come back today! However, if you start queuing from 6.30am you can get a ticket for the same day I later discovered…so if you need a visa urgently or you don’t want to come back again start queuing from AT LEAST 6.30am. I think it might get worse as apparently people had been sleeping outside the embassy from 2.30am this morning in sleeping bags to to get one for sure on the day. The root of this problem seems to be the fact that they have stopped doing postal applications. Its quite organised really though if you stick to what is asked of you and get there early.
Also, in answer to the above question, yes you can definitely submit for anyone, as long as you have the paperwork, photos, cash and their passport - I got a visa for me and my boyfriend this morning.
Hope this is helpful and sorry if its not what you wanted to hear about getting up early…!
Hels // Oct 11, 2007 at 4:33 pm
Oh and there is a toilet downstairs in the hall for white tickets (once you’re allowed in the building!), but you can go through and use it even if you have a yellow ticket, just ask.
David // Oct 12, 2007 at 2:30 pm
The wait appears to be getting longer. I joined the queue today at 8.30am and received a Q ticket just after 11.00am only to find that I have to return on the 22nd for the application to be processed i.e. in 10 days time!! Be warned if you need a visa quickly.
Paul // Oct 12, 2007 at 9:38 pm
Whether it’s due to the postal strike or the fact that they have stopped taking postal applications as the above person says, but… Today Friday, I queued from just before 8am all I got was a ticket at 10:30 allowing me to come back next Thursday at 10am. Currently, if you want to be served same day 7:00 seems a realistic time to turn up…
Gavin // Oct 13, 2007 at 10:45 am
This info is pretty much worthless now, the consulate in London is so behind on visa applications already for the new holiday season that you are now queing in person for approx 3-4 hours just to get a ticket to come back in 10 days, if you have a flight within the next 10 days you will have no choice but to pay one of the Consulates new “Official” travel agents to get your visa, these agent have paid the consulate large sums for this right and in return the Consulate has ceased accepting postal applications, if you need your Indian Visa urgently, these agent are charging £129 + the £30 visa fee.
I was at the consulate at 8am on friday 12th of October and had to que for 4 hours just to get a ticket to come back on the 22nd, anyone flying before this date was told they had to pay the agents or lose there flight. This a typical Indian money making scheme, make a few extra pounds with the bright Official Agent idea and stop taking postal applications, but lose 10,000 times that in lost tourism!
stephanie // Oct 14, 2007 at 11:04 pm
I arrived from Norfolk at 9.30am on 11th october, at the HCI, obviously too late to get a visa same day, to be told to come back next Friday. This excercise cost me £70 in fares, a day off work, to return home without a visa. I came out of the queue for the yellow ticket, took a tube to west hampstead and left my passports with an agent for a fee of £40. I love my holidays to Goa, but am seriously looking for a new destination. I don’t think I can go through this ‘pallava’ again. I am shocked the Indian Government have let this chaotic system of applying for visas happen which will undoubtedly affect tourism.
MJP // Oct 15, 2007 at 8:44 am
Disagree, Gavin that “This info is pretty much worthless now”. If anything this blog is more important as the days pass. Once again, if you are able/willing to camp out (latest news suggests 4am latest) you stand a pretty good chance of a visa on the day. This might change in the next few weeks as more people turn to agents and they take up more of the (unofficial but hinted at) 200 ‘today Qtickets’.
Another Hon // Oct 15, 2007 at 10:31 am
I’ve been to India and Thailand recently. If I am thinking of going to India merely for a holiday, I would swap it for Thailand any time due to this shambolic visa fiasco.
Nick White // Oct 15, 2007 at 11:32 am
Went this morning - arrived 4.50 with about 30 people ahead of me. About a thousand behind me when I left (seriously - went right past Bush House). Had my visa by 10.00am. Not sure when they stopped allowing people to have tickets for today - but it was pretty soon after I got in. Remember that people are making applications for several others at the same time.
It was pretty rotten to have to go so early, but fortunately I live in London whereas others live further afield and have had to make several visits.
Quite stupid really - at £30 a visa which takes approximately 5 minutes processing time in actual person time they could afford to pay a bit of overtime and take on some more staff. Seems like they probably turn away £10,000 a day and hope it will come back. They lose much more in goodwill.
Time to publicise this - some TV travel program and some national news coverage might help.
But all in all the spirit of the blitz lived on and in the right frame of mind it can be fun (so long as you get your visa at the end of it). So thanks to those all around me who made ita fun wait…hope you all got to Maidenhead/Colchester/Dubai! and good luck with the charity work in Delhi.
So, in a nutshell, either think of an alternative destination or bring water, food, collapsable chair, torch & book - but don’t bring a big bag - they really might not let you in.
Good luck!
Richard Farnsworth // Oct 15, 2007 at 6:09 pm
Having had the wind put up me by recent posts and the strikes I went for the visa agency solution. Handed over the passports Wednesday, visas ready today (Monday). Agencies have a queue ticket allocation (although their allocations have been reduced because of the trouble) so they seem safe from the main stumbling block here. I was willing to throw money at this problem using the express service (agency fee+£50) but they, Princes Visa, said it wasn’t necessary. They could have skinned me if they’d wanted, so credit to them.
Avril // Oct 15, 2007 at 11:12 pm
I have been at the embassy from 8.30 this morning and got a ticket to return next week at 12.15. I was frozen, hungry, thirsty and really fed up by then. I travel in January by ship but do not enter Hong Kong until 12th Feb. Someone on this site says that I may not get a 6 month visa as I have not already visited India. HELP!!! Do I go back next week or will it be a waste of time? Does anyone know for sure if I will get a 6 month visa?
MJP // Oct 16, 2007 at 8:04 am
Avril, all tourist visas are for 6 months from date of issue. So, no problem.
NRP // Oct 16, 2007 at 12:38 pm
I am getting seriously worried. I have to fly to India next Friday as my dad passed away recently.
I send my application in Sept by mail as I’ve always done, but it was returned 2 weeks ago due to the change in process. I gave up on the idea of using an agent as they all asked me to send things by Royal Mail which given the current situation I was reluctant to do.
I resided to going up to HCI tomorrow for a same day visa (Wed 17th). My plan was to get a 5am train from Brighton to arrive by 7.30am… however THANKFULLY I found this website.
I’m now leaving here at 2am by car so will be there by 3.30am. I simply cannot afford to come back dissappointed so will be sat in the cold for 5 hours until they open.
Would appreciate any advice as I’m dreading the whole experience!
Adrian // Oct 16, 2007 at 1:06 pm
I went there this morning with my girlfriend. We turned up at 4.30 am and I counted 18 people already there queuing. The line grew very quickly behind us and before long it was snaking round Aldwych, so people have obviously heard that it is wise to get there early. In fact some of the people around us were there for the second day having queued before but arriving too late for a same-day ticket on previous days.
As we were 19th or so in the queue we got our numbers soon after 8.30 and these were called by 9. We got our passports back with the visas at around 9.45. When we came out the queues were as long as ever though. I can’t imagine many more people would have got their visas the same day.
My advice - either pay to use an agent or go very early and wait. It’s not much fun sitting waiting in the dark but if you need your visa urgently it works!
Iffat // Oct 16, 2007 at 10:42 pm
I went to the indian embassy on 12th October. i joined the queue at 8.30am only to be told that i should return on 22nd October.
That will be a problem for me as it will take a month to process my visa as my parents are from Pakistan. that means that it will be too late for me by then to get a visa to India before the time i was meant to fly to India in time for a wedding and for my birthday.
the advice is to make sure that you arrive before 5am and wait in the queue. that way you should get a visa either on the samr day and if your parents are from Pakistan, Bangladesh or SriLanka, then you will atleats get in to hand your application in. then you will have to wait for a month, making numerous phone calls which usually go unanswered.
Beware, if you are the child of a Pakistani, Bengali or Srilkankan, you must make sure that you attend yourself. Non of the agents will be able to do that for you as they will sent away and told that you have to attend in person.
Frankly, in those circumstances, it is a complete waste of time and effort. you might aswell go elsewhere, where you will be treated with some degree of respect atleast.
Im soaking wet // Oct 17, 2007 at 8:23 am
just a quick update on todays situation
i arrived at 4:55am. there was about 20 people ahead in the queue. at least one of which was a travel agent doing multiple applications.
i left at 7:25am and there were about 300 people in the queue. my girlfriend is still there with our applications. i’ll update this when i find out what time she got them.
pretty cold and raining but all good fun if you prepare yourself mentally.
Im soaking wet // Oct 17, 2007 at 9:42 am
done. sucessfully left the building at 9:22am.
so 4 and a half hours in total.
for those needing visa quickly id definetly recommend the same. if you get there that early then you are queueing in the off street bit as well. bit more spacious and chances to sit down.
Ross // Oct 17, 2007 at 12:31 pm
Thanks for all the info, looking at heading up tomorrow so hopefully queues arent too big! Someone mentioned earlier that if you havent visited India before you can only get a 3month tourist visa…is this true!? This would screw my trip up as i’m going away for 6months and india is my last stop!
Ross // Oct 17, 2007 at 12:45 pm
And will they still issue a visa if you dont have an indian reference?
julian // Oct 17, 2007 at 9:35 pm
I am flying in 10 days. and they turned me back today and told me to return on the 30th October..and gave me a ticket…i.e i am pretty much stuffed.
If i camp out overnight, you reackon i’ll be able to get one in one day too?
Cheers,
Julian
MG // Oct 18, 2007 at 12:27 pm
Hi everyone!
I took the advice of Im Soaking Wet and arrived at 4.30am this morning. Having been given a 30th Oct ticket yesterday.
Stood for 4 freezing hours and got in at 8.35am. Processed at 9am and got passport at 9.50am. The people around were very pleasant.
I was approached twice to ‘help’ jump the queue but steadfastly refused, even offered £50. It is only fair for everyone to queue in line and wait their turn.
I certainly wouldn’t want to this everyday - flying out on Wednesday. Good luck to all!
Jo // Oct 18, 2007 at 3:31 pm
Hi,
After realising that the embasy has stopped taken postal applications I decided to use one of the approved travel agents. I sent our passports to them on 25th Sept’, my partner has got his back today and I’m still waiting for mine. We fly on 27th October so looks like I’ll be queing !!
dan // Oct 19, 2007 at 4:26 pm
does anyone know what the situation is for getting the visa at the consulates in birmingham or edinburgh?
i might go to edinburgh insted of london and try but don’t know if it’s possible to get one on the day or what the queues are like
Mukesh // Oct 20, 2007 at 4:26 pm
Guess What !!!! - No Postal Applications, In London, Edinburgh, and Birmingham NO LONGER ACCEPTED.
BE WARNED, Yes The Indians, have done it again, they changed the rules again, they will no longer accept visa application via post, instead they expect you to use the travel agents, who will also charge you their handling fee. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED. !!
rav // Oct 22, 2007 at 11:37 am
queued up at 420am this morning. got tickets 18, 19, 20. it opened around half eight and i was all paid up by quarter to. then had to wait half an hour and i was all done by half nine.
the queue outside when i left was well over 200 metres past busch house. i wouldn’t bother going any later than 6. good luck.
Marion // Oct 22, 2007 at 1:23 pm
Wish I had found this website before last week !I arrived at Embassy on 18th October at 7.40 queued for two hours and given a Q card to come back on 31st Has anyone experienced this return trip yet its got a time on it but I am not convinced it will work
also I was wondering about the surgeries they have around country has anyone been to one recently
The whole situation is mad I got visa in march without any problem Its certainly not going to encourage tourism
Good luck everyone its all very “character building” and prepares you for indian way of life I suppose
Hels // Oct 22, 2007 at 1:25 pm
I heard someone in the queue say that you can’t get your visa on the day in Birmingham, presumably its the same in Edinburgh, I think they have to send them down to London first, but I should think the queues can’t be any better, they are NOT accepting postal applications as I’ve said before so everyone has to queue now whichever embassy you go to.
Bell // Oct 22, 2007 at 7:00 pm
Hi,
Thank god for this site as it really helped in ensuring that I got my visa and now WILL be going on Sunday-phew!!
I went on 17th Oct at 6:20am and was out with visa by 10:15. Talked to people who’d arrived around 7am and they were being told to come back that afternoon for Visa.
So from what I witnessed I wouldn’t say its essential to camp out but if your trip depends on it and you want to do it in ‘one hit’ then be there before 7. Anytime after and you’re looking at revisiting in the afternoon or going back around 10days later at an appointed time.
Plus sides are the camaradarie, total elation upon receiving said visa and meeting fellow travellers for great advice,tips and now knowing I need to pack socks!
Its freezing but worth it,
Good luck!
Bell // Oct 22, 2007 at 7:12 pm
P.S Standard tourist visa is for 6 months. We just randomly chose hotels out of guide book for Indaian referee. Take Cash (no cheques/cc’s accepted) Ideally dont have large bags/suitcases with you and although my passport was brand new I was not asked to show old one however its worth taking as someone on this site was asked.
Fiona // Oct 23, 2007 at 11:45 am
My partner has travelled to London today to obtain holiday visa’s for us, arriving at the Indian Embassy quite late - 10.45am - he was then issued a ticket for Friday 26th October - I’m going to have to go on Friday with our tickets - am I going to be ok to get there for 8.30am/9am? I have my tickets for the day, so surely its a case of waiting for my number - or is there a chance i’ll get to told to come back another day? Thanks in advance
Fiona // Oct 23, 2007 at 11:46 am
Correction for above - 9.45am this morning!
Dave // Oct 23, 2007 at 1:21 pm
I started queing today at 4:55 and there were 30 or so people already in front of me. I was applying for 2 visas, the first was completed by 9:15, the second by 10:00 (don’t know why one took longer than the other).
It was not possible for me to get in to London before 7:00, so I decided to arrive late last night and stay in a cheap hotel (cheaper than paying an agent to get my visas). I found a bed in a hostel dorm for £12 right next to piccaddilly station (Piccaddilly backpackers 10-15 minute walk to India House), bit shabby but relatively clean.
James // Oct 23, 2007 at 1:49 pm
I went this morning (23rd Oct). I read this very helpful info and got up at 4! Arrived at the queue at 5.25 am. It had 40 odd people in it but many were getting more than one visa. The queue grew quite a bit after 6:00 am so be careful. I ended up being number 68 and 69. Doors opened at just before 8:30. Handed my papers over by 9:00. Told to come back at 10:00. Collected visas at 10:10. It is possible and good luck.
Dave // Oct 23, 2007 at 2:07 pm
Fiona - when the doors opened at 8:30 this morning there was a second queue of people (maybe only 30 odd people) who already had tickets (white ones rather than the yellow ones we were given) They went in at the same time as us (8:30) but were sent to a different room.
I don’t know if they had a specific time on their ticket as well as a date or not though. Good luck anyway
Fiona // Oct 23, 2007 at 8:17 pm
Dave - thanks - we have yellow tickets too - date and allocated time slot - thinking we should be sorted on Friday - fingers crossed! Wonder if the white tickets are for Indian Passports?
Carolyn // Oct 23, 2007 at 9:19 pm
Does anyone know for sure if Birmingham can issue visa on the day if you queue? May as well Travel the extra 2 hours and queue in london if they dont.
Fiona // Oct 24, 2007 at 10:15 am
Carolyn - I’ve heard the Birmingham office is closed for a refurb - thus helping to contribute to the choas at London -someone correct me if I’m wrong?
Marion // Oct 24, 2007 at 10:44 am
Fiona- Hope you get sorted on friday .I have got a white ticket for 31st Oct for 11am so white tickets def. not for passports Can you let me know how you get on on friday I dont know whether to turn up early even tho Ive got a time on my ticket
I will keep my fingers crossed for you
Fiona // Oct 24, 2007 at 11:07 am
Marion - thanks - need to all the luck we can get! Be interesting to find out the difference between white and yellow tickets. Will definately let you know how we get on - my partner who went yesterday said the people in the queue with the Q Cards dated for yesterday just quickly queued & got to the door and said this is my ticket and time and were allowed in, so going to turn up about 10ish for our 11.30 - 12pm time slot - hopefully this will be sufficient.
Meena // Oct 24, 2007 at 4:52 pm
Hi to all, Excellent article & very useful so well done and thanks very much.
Just one Q
Does anyone know if there is a separate service for disable person? I am wheelchair user and I am now planning to apply for my visa in person. I didn’t know that India Embassy is not accepting postal service any more until this morning when my postal application was returned to me. I’m shocked to find out how much the visa companies are charging for this service! It’s absolutely extortionate as we haven’t got any choice in the matter have we! Either pay or queue. I will appreciate your reply if anyone knows!
Many thanks
Meena
Chris K // Oct 25, 2007 at 11:22 am
I’ve just got back from the HC in London, so I’ll do another update.
I went along yesterday around 10am, and queued briefly before being given a Q ticket for the 31st October. This wasn’t really a good date for me (and I’ve still got the ticket now as there was no-one outside to donate it to when I left this morning), so I decided to head down early this morning. Arrived at 6:05, about 70 people ahead of me in the queue.
As people have said, the queue was actually not bad, as you chat to your neighbours. Best to chat anyway, as it stops people being able to sneak into the queue! You might want to bring a cushion and flask of tea though!!
(Note: There ARE 2 queues which tend to overlap. The queue for Indian Nationals was smaller than the visa q, so people joining it at the back appeared to be pushing in…but weren’t. You need to watch though, as it could be used to sneak ahead. People were all pretty good natured tho)
As you look at the building, the Visa Q window is the window on the left..the one on the right near the steps is the Indian Nationals’ window.
Once the queue got going it went pretty quick. I was inside by 8:50ish, and at the window presenting my passport by 9:15. Took 2 minutes before getting my receipt.
You then need to wait until they call out the number on your receipt which means your passport is ready to pick up. I was upstairs (yellow Q tickets) and the window #1 was for passport collection. Downstairs (white Q tickets) has its own window for passport collections. Ask if unsure!!
They said it would take an hour, but my number was called in 15mins! Job done and out of the building by 9:30.
When I left the queue had entirely gone for visas, but the Indian Q was pretty big. I did see some visa people in the wrong queue, so look out as you are leaving and let them know if they’re in the wrong queue. I’m sure they’ll appreciate not having to wait for no reason!!
Chris K // Oct 25, 2007 at 11:25 am
Sorry….just realised I got my right and left the wrong way around!!! To confirm…. as you look at the building the Visa Q window is on the right, just in front of the statue. The Indian Nationals window is on the left, by the steps!
Sanj // Oct 25, 2007 at 7:34 pm
Got there at 6am, there seemed to be about 40 people ahead of me, all done by 9:40. Note don’t go there with 7 or 8 passports (per person) they might turn you away.
Posy // Oct 25, 2007 at 11:01 pm
Does anyone know if you actually have to go in person. Want to get mine and my boyfriends visas, does he have to come as well?? ?I’m guessing he does but if its poss he doesn’t it makes everything alot cheaper. Anyone know?
Fiona // Oct 26, 2007 at 11:00 am
Hi Posy - no, as long as the visa form is complete and signed and you have their passport and photo’s than you can go on behalf of the other person - my boyfriends there right now with mine and his! Its his second trip down - I’m nervous!
CBS // Oct 26, 2007 at 2:12 pm
I turned up yesterday at 9.30 and got a yellow ticket straight away, to come back on Nov 1st.
I was given a 11.30 to 12 time slot. Does anybody know if turning up at like 11am on the day would be enough or if I should plan a lot more time for queuing beforehand?
Avril // Oct 26, 2007 at 4:56 pm
Well, after waiting a week to go back with my tickets I have our visas. I had tickets for 10.00am I managed to get in at 9.30am. It was like being crammed into a cattle truck inside. The Q outside was just as long as the previous week. I waited about 40 minutes for my number to come up and handed in the forms. It took another hour and then we were all crammed round window 7 trying to hear for our numbers to be called for collection. It was bedlam. I got the first visa and then had to wait for the second. We sail on a world cruise in January and we have one day in Mumbai. I had to go through all this for one day. I will make sure that I never ever have to go to India again by ship or any other way. It is disgusting in this day and age in England that we are treated like cattle in London. Good luck everbody.
Fiona // Oct 27, 2007 at 8:58 am
We have our Visa’s! Very happy - but my boyfriend agrees with Avril’s comment - it is like a cattle market - rather stressful and have to look after number one a bit - but it is possible! We are glad Goa is cheap after having to buy all these train tickets to get the Visa’s! CBS - regarding your timeslot - you should be fine, our timeslot yesterday was 11.30 - 12pm but my boyfriend turned up at 10.30 and was at the counter handing in the documents at 11am - Visa’s by 12pm. Good luck everyone - it will be worth it!
Fiona // Oct 27, 2007 at 9:00 am
Just like to say as well - this site has been a great help - i get stressed travelling as it is so the rigmarole of getting visa’s has sent my blood pressure soaring! Thanks for all the advice and good luck messages - it was great to know it wasnt just us having a nightmare!
Bob // Oct 27, 2007 at 12:23 pm
Just noticed on the High Commission website that postal applications are being restarted from 5th November.
SKK // Oct 27, 2007 at 4:46 pm
Postal applications resume from 5th November!
http://www.hcilondon.net/visa/restoration-of-postal-visa-app.html
Grace // Oct 28, 2007 at 3:33 pm
Me and the friends i’m travelling with are going to get our visas on thursday (1st nov). Got our train tickets, before i found this site, which means we wont arrive in london till 10am.
Is it worth trying, or should we arrange it for another time and just have a good day out? Bearing in mind we don’t go till Jan.
Tony // Oct 29, 2007 at 12:31 am
Looks like they’ve bowed to popular opinion and decided to restore the postal service w.e.f. 5th November.
http://www.hcilondon.net/visa/restoration-of-postal-visa-app.html
You have to pay for Royal Mail Special Delivery (2@£4.30) but that’s considerably cheaper than using an agency and certainly less stressful than standing in a long queue on a cold November morning!
Dave // Oct 29, 2007 at 2:47 pm
After visiting India for the last 25years this sounds as if they are going back t othe dark ages. Guess we have upset them again. I think I will holiday in Dubai instead
Phil // Oct 30, 2007 at 6:07 pm
Just wanted to say a big thank you to everyone for their advice. My girlfriend and I were planning to turn up at 8 this morning until we read all your comments last night. We arrived at 6.30 instead and had about 50-60 people in front of us, by 7 there were about 100 behind us and by half 7 that had doubled. The queue was massive by 8.30 and I doubt we’d have got in today if we’d arrived at 8. One thing to note is that there was a sign in the window of the embassy which seemed to be saying postal applications would be accepted from 5th November. Please contact the embassy before you post anything though as I could have got this wrong! But it’d be worth checking with them in case they’ve changed their policy again. Might also help get those queues down. Good luck!
Julie // Oct 31, 2007 at 10:38 pm
Didn’t want to spend 4 hours queuing used Prince Visa to get ours. Amazingly efficient got visa in less than a week well worth the £35
Rashmika // Nov 1, 2007 at 1:49 pm
I would like to thank everyone who has provided such useful information on this site.
I went to collect my visa yesterday. I got there just after 6am and there were about 50 to 60 people ahead of me. The queue grew quite rapidly after 7am and by 8am it was really big. I got chatting to a couple of people next to me and the time went really quickly. The office opened up at 8.30 promptly and we were in before 9am, called to the counter at 9.15 am and visas issued before 10am. The service is very quick once you get in there.
I think it is advisable to get there before 7am if you want visas on the same day as I think they still only process the first 300 and the rest are given tickets for other days, up to a week or 10 days later.
I also saw a sign saying that a postal service would be starting from 5th November but best to check with them to confirmthe procedure and timescale before sending anything off.
I was fully prepared on what to expect after information from this site and it made the whole process less painful and I met some great people on the day.
Marion // Nov 2, 2007 at 9:36 am
I aarrived at Embassy at 9.45am as we had Q cards for 11-1130 No queue! Where was everyone ? unlike last time on 18th Oct when it was stretched way past Bush house
We were in and out in about 45minutes .So easy My husband wouldnt believe all the hastle I had last time I think things have settled down now and I would say Turn up early if you want them the same day otherwise after 9am everyone has gone but you will be given a card to come back another day
It was great to hear about others experience
Good luck to you all
vc // Nov 4, 2007 at 3:08 am
I heard that they hold visa surgeries around the country. One is on the first of december in liverpool but they only hold them every three months. Best to phone and check when they are held and where.
Mike // Nov 6, 2007 at 10:55 am
The High Commission, LONDON are now accepting Postal Applications (from 5th Nov) does anyone know how long it takes?
owen // Nov 7, 2007 at 1:28 pm
i used a travel agent astro global travel in bolton http://www.astrotravel.co.uk.tel 01204 599701 sent on 15 th oct 3 passport one was ready last week and the others come back today 7th nov charges an extra 10 pounds on top of the 30 pounds for the administration well worth it no hassle +recorded delivery fee .i paid 60 pounds last year for an express service and that took 2 weeks!!!
owen // Nov 7, 2007 at 1:35 pm
i used a travel agent astro global travel in bolton http://www.astrotravel.co.uk .tel 01204 599701 sent on 15 th oct 3 passport one was ready last week and the others come back today 7th nov charges an extra 10 pounds on top of the 30 pounds for the administration well worth it no hassle +recorded delivery fee .i paid 60 pounds last year for an express service and that took 2 weeks!!!
Cooky // Nov 9, 2007 at 11:20 am
I have sent my passports to London on the 6th November via Special Delievery, my travel date is 24th November. I have put in the £50 emergency fee as it is now 2 weeks tomorrow before I travel.
My problem is I have been trying to contact the Embassy to ask if it will be possible to process in time, or if I should make other travel arrangements?
I would go to London myself but I live in Jersey! Which is a £100 flight (at least) + hotel..
Does anyone have a contact numbers that actually works, or any ideas?
Derek // Nov 9, 2007 at 2:35 pm
What a releif that postal applications are to resume, after quotes of £120 for the two visas we need by an agent l was ready to apply in person, then a look at this site woke me up !!! people arriving at 4am. l think that the contry needs to wake up we are in 2007 and this queing lottery needs to stop, just look at the australian system of apply on line and it takes no time. £30 is also a rip off, l know the country is poor but l bet none of the fee arrives there. Love India but as with a freind of mine if the air tickets were not booked l may not have returned again.
sunny // Nov 13, 2007 at 2:49 pm
Went the morning with some trepidation after reading all these reports. My holiday is in December but my husband barely spends two days in the UK together to get a visa - so it was now or never. Arrived at the Embassy at 6.20 am, already a huge line. I later found out I was about 200th in line. The only upside to the whole experience was the camaraderie of the other fellow applicants (and getting my visa!). Very cold so wear moon boots/warm shoes and really thick socks.You have to feel really well and fit to do this which is so unjust, if you are old or infirm you will just get pushed about. I wore a mink coat - even that was nt warm enough. Two hours 20 minutes shivering wait until I got in and a further 3 hours until I got both visas. But I did it!! Dont bother turning up past 7am. It was quite amusing seeing cabs turn up at 7.30am with incredulous looking people getting out of them . The queue was that huge. Inside the HCI is filthy and smelly - I hope I have nt caught anything and the service is slow and none too pleasant. Given the amount of money they take in visa applications it is fairly inexcusable. I heard many stories of people missng flights, holidays and business trips because of this mess. Sad for India really, shame this beautiful democracy can’t get it act together. Thailand next Christmas for me.
Mira // Nov 13, 2007 at 4:41 pm
Hello there, I just wanted some advice. I gave mine and my husband’s passports for th eIndian visas to an agency. There seems to be huge problems with the agencies at the moment as I have been waiting 3 weeks and there seems to be one issue after another and the hhigh commission keeps deciding not to accept any of their visa applications. I am travelling to Goa in two days time and not sure I will get my visas! There seems to be some sort of an emergency list and I have been told that they will go in tomorrow, but I’ll have to wait and see. If anyone has any other suggestions then please let me know! I was thinking of going on Thursday myself to get them, but I’ve heard horror stories of people lining up in queues as early as 5.30am!
Sarah // Nov 13, 2007 at 6:51 pm
Mink coats aside, if you’re looking for a get rich quick scheme, just go and hang out round Aldwych around 7am.
Today I would have quite happily handed my passport over to anyone (and pay them anything!) to sort out a visa for me.
I arrived at 7am, hit the front of the queue around 9am, to be given a ticket with a number on it and told to come back at 2pm. Incidentally, these tickets seem to be handed out totally randomly, so make sure you try and pick a bloke with the low numbers.
Finally got my visa around 4pm …. and felt a strange sense of achievement. Is this weird? However, it is a six month visa with multiple entries. I think as well as my two week holiday in Kerala, I might just start going to India for long weekends - just to get the most use out of my visa.
Andrew // Nov 14, 2007 at 11:53 am
I went this morning, and its still quite busy. I arrived at 5:15am and there were around 50-100 people in front of me.
The embassy opened 8:30 prompt, and you picked up a ticket and entered the building as you got to the front of the queue.
Inside its much like a post office, in that there are six functioning counters and your ticket number will flash up on a display with the counter number underneath. Its important that you watch this continuously when it gets near your range as they will quickly go through several ticket numbers for the same counter number, so that a group goes to the counter at the same time.
After that you must wait to recieve your visa, they give you a time (e.g. 1 hour) and open counter 7 for giving passports back with the visa stapled inside. There is a large notice saying that counter 7 is only open between the hours of 3pm-5pm: ignore this as its only there to screw with your mind.
Its not the best system, but the staff are very efficient within it.
Dorian // Nov 17, 2007 at 5:47 pm
Like many of you on this forum, I found myself having to bite the bullet and get down to London. The information here has been most useful, wouldn’t have stood a chance otherwise.
Having studied the form, I decided to aim for 04:00 in the Q. I travelled the day before (Sunday 4th), stayed in a local hotel and had an early night. I woke up before the alarm and found myself in the Q by 03:35 – crazy.
At this point, there were 10 or so ahead of me. A slow build-up to about 150 or so by 05:00; by 06:00 halfway to Bush House and by 08:00, between Bush House and the Aussie High Commission! If you’re gonna make the trip, make it count and rule out returning at a later date.
Best tip on this page is to talk to your neighbours; this helps in two ways. Firstly, the time flies by and you start to enjoy the experience. Secondly, because you’ll need to be united later on when the Q jumpers swarm like vultures.
As opening time looms, many crafty people try it on by striking up moronic conversation with you. Questions like ‘is this the back of the Q?’ made me laugh. Another manoeuvre would be the ‘place someone else in the Q and pay them to freeze their minerals off’’ manoeuvre; actual visa applicants would then turn up, pay off the stooge and assume Q position after a nice night tucked up in bed. Got a bit heated when two new faces tried this with multiple applications in their hands. They didn’t succeed to get in front of our group, and left fearing a good hiding.
Remember, an application = a ticket. Visa agents have had their slots cancelled till 12th November (I’m told) to curb multiple applications and get things running smoother.
Today, the ticket window opened at 08:15; I got A8. The wooden door opened at 08:20 and I was off upstairs to the cashier; my receipt from her says 07:23 (should be 08:23 – clock not right). Was told my passport would be ready within the hour, and it was. Out by 09:25; job done – time for a fry up.
When I left, they were up to B33 on the machine and being told to come back another day for collection. Outside was bloody chaos; glad I came early. Met some great people whilst in Q, it really is a small world.
Mukesh // Nov 17, 2007 at 9:28 pm
BOYCOTT, BOYCOTT, India as a tourist
destination until and unless the visa chaos is sorted out immediately.
I do feel sorry for all the hundreds who are suffering from undue stress as a result of this mega incomptence of the Indian High Commission in the UK.
However, lets not lose sight of ONE important principle which people who are rushing to join the long queues for Visas, appear to have forgotten is;
“I’ts their job to sell you a visa , i’ts NOT your job to buy”.
So think on !!!!!, imagine, the financial loss to indian airline and airports, and hotels etc.
Not sure how many of you will agree with me !!
Mike // Nov 18, 2007 at 1:27 am
Have been looking at Indian High Commission building on Aldwych every morning the past week. The queues are dense before 8.30, but by 10 o’clock there are no queues. Are people posting comments on this site actually going there, or repeating eyewitness stories from a month ago? Spoke to people near the building. Seems they are issuing visas same day, and have crossed 3000 a day!! Incredible India!!
sowan // Nov 18, 2007 at 3:58 pm
i went to the high commission last wednesday (Nov 14) at about 8:30am and i was shocked by the length of the queue (well into wellington street). too bad that i wasn’t actually aware of the indian visa chaotic situation. i got a yellow card after having waited for an hour and it says i should go back on 22nd.
it is not a good day for me to go, so i’ve decided to do postal. yet, now i’m a bit worried when i will get my passport back. it says a min of 10 days in the website, not the most helpful information.
anyone tried postal and got their passport back already? it’s exactly 10 days after the embassy resumes postal!
wish me luck that i can go for my trip in early/mid december!
Dorian // Nov 18, 2007 at 6:47 pm
Mike - I can assure you, I was there on 5th November; my account above is FACT and supplied to assist people.
I had initially engaged the services of a Visa Agency who failed to deliver - I then decided to do the job myself. Many others in the Q were in the same position due to the suspension of this service by HCI.
The Queues vanish at 10:00 because tickets are issued for a future return time. Limited numbers are guaranteed turnaround on the day, depending on backlog loads - it really is a lottery….
George // Nov 18, 2007 at 10:31 pm
Thanks for maintaining this blog. The information here is just what is needed.
My contribution - Do not bother calling the High Commission’s premium rate information (sic) number. All the information on it is available on the HC website. The only ‘extra’ is a phone number for an emergency out of hours service. This number is ‘not recognised’ and the emergency service, as far as I can ascertain, does not exist.
For those about to run the gauntlet - be strong and enjoy the cameraderie of the early queuers!
Richard // Nov 19, 2007 at 3:20 pm
Just to say that I went to the High Commission this morning, arriving at about 6:15. There was a queue of 50 people along Aldwych by that point, which went around the corner towards the entrance. By 7:00 that small(ish) queue had just about trebled in size into a monster.
I wouldn’t recommend pitching up later than 7:00 if you want your visa same day.
Thanks to everyone for posting; absolutely invaluable in deciding what time to pitch up.
Kirsten // Nov 19, 2007 at 4:44 pm
I will be queing tomorrow morning and have been trawling through these comments…is it still really this bad? I have to get my visa the same day, no choice so is 3.30 too early or…more like 4.30am… Slightly anxious to turn up and find I am the only one!!
Another Hon // Nov 19, 2007 at 7:27 pm
If you don’t want to queue at unsocial hours in the twilight zone, you could think about getting your visa from the Birmingham office. My friend in Birmingham told me today that you could get your visa on the same day if you turn up at 9. Could anyone confirm this with recent experience?
Ballinger Belle // Nov 19, 2007 at 10:32 pm
Many thanks to all contributing to this site. I adore India and have gone there regularly over the past few years. I have always got my visa done by an agent (WorldMark Visa). They have normally turned it round for me in less than 3 days - Brilliant - but when I called last Thursday, they told me they had over 300 passports and no slots for lodging until 29th Nov!! As I fly on 30th this is too risky. For anyone thinking about using an agent - make sure you check status with them first. I will be queuing this week and I hope I get “processed” in time. For a country specialising in IT/High tech, the visa process really lets them down. India should join the Aussies and set up an electronic visa system.
karan // Nov 20, 2007 at 2:31 pm
I went in today i.e. 20/11 and reached about 7:30am. The queue was long with 250 people ahead of me but once the counter opens it moves fast. I was in the consulate by 9 and things are slightly chaotic but I managed to complete all the visa formalities by 11am.
neil // Nov 20, 2007 at 3:59 pm
hi all (deep breath) going to get my visa from one the visa surgeries - cost is £30 + £10 processing fee Q) do i have to pay in postal order £40 or pay £30 cash & £10 postal order - dont want to cock it up!help……..
Ballinger Belle // Nov 20, 2007 at 7:58 pm
Quick update. I went in today and joined the queue at 6am (I know, I know but if you’re going to do it then do it right !!) They started to issue queue tickets from the window at 8:20am and being number 42, I was actually out on the Aldwych with my visa in my hand at 9:05am. Result ;o) All I can say is, just like India itself, it may look like chaos but there is a process and it works pretty well. The staff are efficient and very polite considering what I can only guess they have to go through. By the way, why do people turn up, stand in the queue and then have to fill out a visa app. form at the window ?? Duhhhh.. The staff were even polite to these.
Vicky // Nov 21, 2007 at 11:24 am
Just a FYI.
I sent my postal application on the 7th November, I received it back yesterday. 10 working days, and I live in Jersey!
To get updates on how long it will take, dont use the phone numbers on the website. Fax the below number and ask them to call you, they would normally call the same day and let you know the status of your application.
0906 844 4543
I was very impressed with the postal service, dont queue if you have 10 working days before your holiday.
M Jay // Nov 21, 2007 at 11:41 am
MESSAGE FOR NEIL
My Brother when to get his Visa at a surgery in Manchester. He took with him £30 Postal Order for the Visa. Also the hall where he went charged a ” processing fee” plus £10 CASH.
Good Luck to you.
Rachel // Nov 21, 2007 at 3:32 pm
Went to London today, arrived 5.40am, no 45 in q, got through 1st phase by 9am, went back at 10am to collect, all finished approx 10.20am. Strongly recommend to arrive early, the q by 6.30am was very long.
jules // Nov 21, 2007 at 5:40 pm
I also went today, arrived at 7.15,not sure the exact amount of people in front of me. i was out by 11.15 with Visa. A bit mad inside, but it seems to work. wrap up also, two hours outside is not fun if cold, i also told a fold up seat…
Tammy // Nov 21, 2007 at 9:39 pm
Just a quick note to let you know that they are now accepting postal applications again, so, if you are not travelling in the next week or so, I would recommend this as opposed to standing in the queue..
Duncan // Nov 21, 2007 at 10:37 pm
Despite the return of postal applications the problems continue in London. Monday 19th November queue started forming just before 4am. Within one hour it had climbed the steps and I lost sight of the end. By 9am it was back as far as the BBC building and more people were joining still.
A big thank you to everyone who’s posted here.
sowan // Nov 22, 2007 at 11:08 am
thanks Vicky for her message! i feel much better now that i know that she’s got her passport+visa via the postal service.
though i’m not sure if the fax line works, cuz i tried all day yesterday (during different times of the day), but it didn’t get through at all.
anyone knows anyway that we can contact the high commission to check the process of the application?
really appreciate everyone who shares the info!
Question // Nov 22, 2007 at 6:31 pm
A quick question:
For a tourist visa, do i need to book the flight first and show them the tickets when applying visa?
Thanks very much.
Adrian Hon // Nov 22, 2007 at 6:33 pm
Answer: No.
Vivien // Nov 23, 2007 at 11:19 am
Hi, I went to India House on thursday 22nd November. I arrived at 5 am and was 15th in the queue, which is not too bad.
For people living in the South of London, the information below can be quite useful: I left from the South of London by train - yes there are night trains down here, leaving east Croydon at 3.47 on the brigthon - bedford line. Stopped at Blackfriars and took a night bus on fleet street, arrived at 5 am at House of India. The place were you have to queue is between Bush House and the building that’s been renovated into a block of flats. It’s actually some sort of a very dark alleyway that is not illuminated at night and it is hard to find early morning.
In terms of queue, I think 5am is a good time to arrive. You can do a multitude of visas per person (I had people doing 5 and I did mine and my girlfriend’s and wasn’t asked anything about living together etc….). I was pleased that one information from the House of India website was correct: Mauritian Visas are free! That was one free visas out of the two.
The queue was more than 500 metres (one house past Bush House, that’s well over 700 people) long at 7 am, so think carefully about when you arrive, it DOES matter. We had to expell a few people making a go a queue busting - don’t worry about the rude asian guy with fishy eyes who pretends to come from birmimgham and says his father died in the night in India, if you’re really hard with him he’ll set off to work at 8am pretending someone sorted him out - funny…
Got my ticket at 8.25, entered the embassy at 8.30, handed both application forms and passports at 8.35 am- if you have foreign passports (non UK), bring a bank statement or whatever justifies one year of residency - and got out at 9.15 am with two visas!!! superb service. Don’t forget that your passport must be valid at least 6 month, otherwise you’ll have to get another one issued ASAP. Happened to the very nice guy in front of me (5 months and 2 weeks left on his visas) who had a plane ticket for the day after…
Overall the service is good provided you come early (as in very early) - there was no need to come before 5 on this particular day, even 5.30 was still ok (60-80 people queuing already), but as soon as the tube and train line opened (that is around 6 am), the queue went up in number exponentially.
From someone who’s done the French embassy in Kensington, I can tell you that House of India is an easy one: you just need your passport, application form filled and if required proof of residency and that’s it! deliverance waiting time is nothing. For the same arrival time at the French embassy, even prebooked you get in at 11am, submit at one and won’t be out until 4.30 pm with a visa. On top of that you’ll get a pretty humiliating discussion about your finances or right to go to france, medical insurance etc… and cheaters bribing the guards at the entrance or queuing the chinese way (one in the queue at 4am, 50 turn up and take the place at 8am…).
Overall, House of India was really a pleasure if you’re used to embassies and I had a wonderful time having discussions with the other people queuing. If you were 9 to 18 in the queue, please get in touch! and good trip!
Vivien
Question // Nov 23, 2007 at 2:59 pm