However, less helpful was the fact that I had neglected to bring a Proof of Residence in the UK (bank statement or bill) – having permanent landing for 2+ years I assumed it was not necessary and didn’t see it on any checklist – so was sent packing in about 5 minutes and my appointment rescheduled to next week.

I was born in Karachi, I am a British national and has been living in the UK for 30 years. How can I get a multiple-entry visa for India?

Please let me know the best options or suggest firms who do this.

Regards,
Rose

60-62 Wilton Road,
Victoria, London, SW1V 1DE

Or

142-148 Goswell Road,
London, EC1V 7DU

I went to the Goswell Rd office (above) and it is wheelchair accessible, with disabled toilets, cold drinks machine, photo machine, computer and printing facilities at a charge.

Or in Hayes:
1-3 Canalside,
Uxbridge Road,
Hayes, Middlesex, UB4 0JN.

There are also centres in Birmingham and Edinburgh

20-21 Pemberton Street
Birmingham, B18 6NY

66 Handover Buildings,
Rose Street,
Edinburgh, EH2 2NN

Its best to make an appointment if you are going to go in person, otherwise you have to wait for your number to be called before you can make an application. Make sure you have the correct application form available online at the web address below, 2 passport sized photographs, and passport. PS Very important: You can’t get your visa issued the same day anymore as you could at India House. It now takes 2-3 working days! But you can have it couriered to you for £7.40 up to a max of 2 passports.

You can make more than one application if youre applying for your partner, husband, wife,etc. They do not need to go in person as long as you have all the relevant documents, signed.

As the visa process has been outsourced to VF Services, you also have to pay a service charge to VF Services UK Ltd, VAT and Admin charges so its not the straight £30 for a Tourist Visa.

But you can pay by debit card if you go in person, a real bonus.

Visit http://in.vfsglobal.co.uk for more information and to track your application.

Info valid as of 16 March 2009

I was asked to explain why I did not have a birth certificate for which I explained that I was brought here on my mother’s passport at infancy and have never seen or had access to my birth certificate.

Changes in father’s name- I have been brought up fatherless and have had step and foster fathers. I have suffered physical and verbal abuse as a child and it was the most painful part of my life which I do not like to refer to. This is the reason when asked to write the father’s name I either say unknown, or I always write one of the foster parents who were kind to me. When I presented my application myself last year I was told why I did not know my Pakistani father’s name and the chap insisted I wrote a Pakistani name otherwise my application will not be accepted, therefore I changed it and wrote my step father’s name on it there and then, to simplify things. The latest application I made I wrote my biological father’s name as I was not certain whose name I had put down in the last application, which I was asked to change in the visa office.

During my visa application interview by 2 visa officers, I was made to feel like a criminal or a terrorist and was interrogated and told that I was deliberately trying to mislead the authority. Which is totally untrue, I tried to explain it was a genuine mistake and was not intended to mislead in any way. I have produced all the documents that would verify me. My company accounts, marriage certificate, bank statements letter from my accountants and so on. I was left waiting for over 2 hours, when I enquired where every one was I was told they had gone home, and I was shown the way out which was rather humiliating and distressing, especially after having to discuss the most horrific and sick part of my life. It has taken years of help and therapy to overcome the pain and lead a normal life. I am now happily married and have 3 children.

Lastly I was interrogated about why I keep going to the same place in India every year i.e. Jaipur, Udaipur and Aggatti.

I explained I have good friends in both Jaipur and Udaipur who I like to visit, and I have provided their names and numbers. I have sponsored a little girl called Sabreena in the SOS Village in Jaipur, who is now nearly 9 and like to visit her yearly and keep in touch. I also pay for group of children’s schooling in Jaipur and pay for destitute children’s requirements personally and visit them and spend time with children in a disable children’s orphanage in Udaipur. There is no sinister agenda on my part. Bangaram which is in Lakshwadweep, it is a safe and beautiful island and we all enjoy scuba diving and like the staff and service and this is why we keep going to the same place.

I am sad to inform you of the absolutely appalling way the Indian Visa Office are dealing with
British Citizens. I have been a regular visitor to India for the last 9 years and have many friends there and love the country.

I am a British Citizen and have lived here since infancy. My birth place was Karachi which I have no control over. Both of my parents are dead. I knew my mother but have no knowledge of my father. I am married to an Englishman, have 3 children, and run my own business, no criminal record, or any other suspicious behaviour.

I travel to Lakshwadweep islands every year with my 3 children husband and two other friends for our Easter break. We have made our travel plans and paid for our flights, I was not expecting such carry on and felt I had sufficient time to sort the visa out because I sent my passport in on the 13th January. It is only now I have been able to get any response from any one, because I kept calling until someone responded. My family would be terribly disappointed if they all had to curtail their holiday if my visa was not granted.

I am at a loss of what to do we are all suppose to travel on the 16 March to India for our Easter break, and I am travelling around the whole world for a year with my husband and 3 children for a family Gap Year, India is included in our travel plans. I do not want to go through this ordeal again in a couple of months.
I strongly feel this behaviour should be exposed to press and general, maybe that may force them to be more helpful.
Any suggesstion.