Applying for an Indian visa is NEVER straight forward, no matter where you are. And now that the entire visa application process has been outsourced to IVS (India Visa Services), there is even more confusion.
So here are some things I wish I knew about the whole process beforehand.
So here are some things I wish I knew about the whole process beforehand.
1. The first step is to complete the online application form.
https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/visa/
The form itself is pretty confusing in parts. I called to confirm a few things. The photo that you need to upload I was able to adjust using this free photo editor.
http://www.picresize.com/
2. After completing the form, you need to chose and "interview date." We had no choice but to choose a day 2 days away, when in actual fact, they don't care what date your "interview date" is, and we could have gone in the next day, or any other day to complete the application if we had have wanted.
3. You need to print your completed application, and take it, along with a copy of your passport and Sri Lankan visa (and visa extension if you have one) with you.
4. The IVS page says that there is an extra page that foreign nationals need to complete. This page has since changed. Don't waste your time printing it and filling it out like we did.
5. You need 2 (or sometimes 3) passport photos 2"x2". We got these done in town, BUT when we arrived at the office to lodge our form, discovered we could get the photos done there aswell for half the price!! So just wait and get them done at the office. They also have photocopying and printing facilities too!!!
6. When you arrive, a guy at the information counter will check your form, and, most likely, he will find errors. For us, because we applied for a multiple entry visa, we needed to select "all ports" for our port of entry and exit. Even just this simple mistake cost us abut 3 hours.
We were sent to a net cafe just next door to correct it. In actual fact, it is some ladies sitting in front of computers whose job it is to do the actual application for you or make amendments. For 250 LKR each, in hindsight, I would have just come here first thing in the morning and got them to do the whole thing for us. (If they do it for you, you can't upload a pic, so need an extra picture, hence 3)
7. IF you have CHILDREN, you also need to write a letter of "non-objection of taking your child to India" which must be signed by both parents, regardless of whether both of you are going or only one of you is. You also need to include photocopies of both parents passports.
As for job, you need to select "minor-child" and under place of employment, you have to write "child of father" and complete the details with the employment details of the father.
In conclusion - If we had our time again, we would have saved ourselves the time and effort and gone straight to the ladies in the internet cafe to fill the form in for us. IVS opens at 8:30, so if you go to the ladies first, you can have it checked by the guy at information, and take it back to the ladies to make any necessary changes, and still have plenty of time to lodge the application before the office closes at 2pm. We would have also done all of our photos and photocopying at the office, where prices were much cheaper.
It is still a very confusing process, but I think IVS has done the best they can to make it as easy as possible.
https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/visa/
The form itself is pretty confusing in parts. I called to confirm a few things. The photo that you need to upload I was able to adjust using this free photo editor.
http://www.picresize.com/
2. After completing the form, you need to chose and "interview date." We had no choice but to choose a day 2 days away, when in actual fact, they don't care what date your "interview date" is, and we could have gone in the next day, or any other day to complete the application if we had have wanted.
3. You need to print your completed application, and take it, along with a copy of your passport and Sri Lankan visa (and visa extension if you have one) with you.
4. The IVS page says that there is an extra page that foreign nationals need to complete. This page has since changed. Don't waste your time printing it and filling it out like we did.
5. You need 2 (or sometimes 3) passport photos 2"x2". We got these done in town, BUT when we arrived at the office to lodge our form, discovered we could get the photos done there aswell for half the price!! So just wait and get them done at the office. They also have photocopying and printing facilities too!!!
6. When you arrive, a guy at the information counter will check your form, and, most likely, he will find errors. For us, because we applied for a multiple entry visa, we needed to select "all ports" for our port of entry and exit. Even just this simple mistake cost us abut 3 hours.
We were sent to a net cafe just next door to correct it. In actual fact, it is some ladies sitting in front of computers whose job it is to do the actual application for you or make amendments. For 250 LKR each, in hindsight, I would have just come here first thing in the morning and got them to do the whole thing for us. (If they do it for you, you can't upload a pic, so need an extra picture, hence 3)
7. IF you have CHILDREN, you also need to write a letter of "non-objection of taking your child to India" which must be signed by both parents, regardless of whether both of you are going or only one of you is. You also need to include photocopies of both parents passports.
As for job, you need to select "minor-child" and under place of employment, you have to write "child of father" and complete the details with the employment details of the father.
In conclusion - If we had our time again, we would have saved ourselves the time and effort and gone straight to the ladies in the internet cafe to fill the form in for us. IVS opens at 8:30, so if you go to the ladies first, you can have it checked by the guy at information, and take it back to the ladies to make any necessary changes, and still have plenty of time to lodge the application before the office closes at 2pm. We would have also done all of our photos and photocopying at the office, where prices were much cheaper.
It is still a very confusing process, but I think IVS has done the best they can to make it as easy as possible.
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