Indian High Commission - London ... - Thorn Tree travel forum

Indian High Commission - London

Replies: 45 - Last Post: 11-Jan-2008 23:58 Last Post By: GlenRoyd

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Posted
16-Oct-2007 00:35
by: Miss_Crazy_frog

Posts: 20
Registered: 07/09/07

Indian High Commission - London

Does anyone have the very latest information on the chaos that is obtaining a tourist visa from the Indian High Commission in London? I will be going on thursday, aiming to get there at 5.30am. Will i be guaranteed a visa that day? I need information from anyone who has done it very recently. I am panicking now as my flight is soon and I don't have time to use any of the agencies. Thanks

Posted
16-Oct-2007 00:51
by: NewIslander

Posts: 5,924
Registered: 07/02/06

1

Seems like the SMART thing to do is use an agent. if you use the search engine you will find all the other threads on this topic in recent days.

365 Photoblog Wag more, Bark less.

Posted
16-Oct-2007 00:52
by: NewIslander

Posts: 5,924
Registered: 07/02/06

2

Sorry, i didn't read you whole post properly.

365 Photoblog Wag more, Bark less.

Guest Posted: 16-Oct-2007 01:01

3

Been many times: they are usually very friendly and efficient (I once was in and out in 15 minutes, & collected the visa an hour later, though an hour's wait is about average: there's a queue ticket system - get the queue ticket from the second kiosk - the one nearer the entry door - outside). No need to get there so early though! I think they open at 8.30 (??). If you get there half an hour before, that is ample. Even if there are queues to get in waiting along Aldwych, you will get in with no problem at that time.

Yes, you will get the visa the same day, if it's a tourist visa. I've had at least a dozen visas for India and never had any problems. Remember to take cash for payment - no cheques or credit cards allowed.

Went to the British High Commission in Chennai a while back to get a visa for an Indian friend visiting UK - took us almost two full days of waiting and interviews! Horrendous!! :-) Indian HC in London is heaven in comparison..

Have a great trip. (To India, I mean, not to the Indian HC!).

Martin

Posted
16-Oct-2007 02:07
by: jimsnapper

Posts: 5
Registered: 16/10/07

4

I went to get my visa last Friday. Got there at 8am with my filled in application (downloaded online), passport, 2 photos and £30 cash. Queued for 2.5 hours outside, then I got a ticket from the man at the booth telling me to return at 2pm. If you get there earlier, you may be able to get an earlier ticket, or if youre unlucky, you may be asked to return on another day!

Around 2pm, everyone milled around outside until they opened the main doors, then once I was inside I waited til my ticket number was displayed on the LCD screen (another 45 mins), handed over my bits and bobs. Then one final wait whilst they processed the application and put the visa in my passport. Wait for some dude to yell out your ticket number, then hey presto - you're done!

So for me - got there at 8am, had the visa in my hand at 3:30pm. Whew!! Apparently the delay has gotton worse over time, esp. now as they have stopped accepting postal applications. My advice - get there as early as you can, pack a snack or two and something to read and good luck!

Jim

Guest Posted: 16-Oct-2007 02:15

5

Never ever had such a long wait - but as you say you fly out soon, best prepare for the worst (i.e. a full day hanging around), and then be pleasantly surprised when you're done by late morning. Hopefully..

Posted
16-Oct-2007 02:18
by: NewIslander

Posts: 5,924
Registered: 07/02/06

6

Things have obviously deteriorated since you were there martin. Many people have reported something more like Jim's lately and OP seems to have been warned of this also. As i said, just do a search on here to see the recent discussions.

365 Photoblog Wag more, Bark less.

Posted
16-Oct-2007 04:22
by: idlychutney

Posts: 185
Registered: 14/10/03

7

my friend got there at 7am last week. was number 139 in the queue. was out with visa in hand at 10.30 am.

Posted
16-Oct-2007 04:58
by: richsurby

Posts: 2
Registered: 16/10/07

8

I was at the IHC last week - BIG NIGHTMARE!!!!

My advice is to get there as early as you can - on my 1st visit I arrived at 7:30 am on a Friday and the queue was so long that I reached the window only minutes before the 1pm closure time. All I got in return for 5.5 hrs of queuing was a ticket to queue up again (this time inside the IHC) on the following Wednesday - this was the earliest and only slot!!!

Beware - the ticket for the Wednesday stated queue position no 186 and to arrive at 11:30 am. At 11:15 I entered the IHC only to find that the queue position no was now 300 (!) so I had missed my queue slot!!!! After a bit of shouting (I was not alone as others were facing exactly the same problem) I eventually got my visa.

Tops tips - get there early. If you don't get your visa on your first day of queuing get there early when you come back for your follow up visit. Just to put this in perspective the visa rep for a well known travel agency (specialises in fining paths) gets to the IHC at midnight each day (ahem night) to start queuing!!!!

Am going back to Costa Rica next yr!!! :-)

Posted
16-Oct-2007 05:06
by: oldenoughtonobetter

Posts: 202
Registered: 05/08/03

9

I always go up to London to get mine but this time i am posting mine to a agency . They only charge £10 + £30 for visa .

http://www.darjeelingtours.co.uk/html/indian_visas.html

Posted
16-Oct-2007 05:43
by: lucyl

Posts: 57
Registered: 03/09/02

10

Darjeeling tours are no longer sorting out visas. This is just for the time being I think due to the chaos.

Posted
16-Oct-2007 06:39
by: oldenoughtonobetter

Posts: 202
Registered: 05/08/03

11

lucyl Thanks for that info . i have another address some where to send a visa to .

Guest Posted: 16-Oct-2007 07:32

12

I was last there just a couple of months ago. Could be that it's much 'higher' season now of course.

M

Posted
16-Oct-2007 08:23
by: Britishraj

Posts: 208
Registered: 24/10/03

13

I was there LAST WEEK. I arrived at 5.45 AM, there was a queque of 60 people already in line ! I eventually got away at 12 Noon. By this time the queque must have been around 400 +

Elvis has left the building

Posted
16-Oct-2007 09:04
by: Miss_Crazy_frog

Posts: 20
Registered: 07/09/07

14

ok guys thanks for your help.... i have already tried once.. got there at 8.30am one day last week and didnt even get inside the building when they closed the doors. Cause i unable to take days off work and my company has recently sacked people who have taken suspicious day off sick (probably against employment law but that's another issue for another posting)... i am unable to try attempt number 2 until thursday this week.
It seems that it is still possible for the early bird to get visa on same day. I will be catching the last train and last underground (about 00.30 i believe) on wednesday night and camping out for the night in my sleeping bag/roll mat outside the doors. The info given here indicates that i will get my visa on Thursday if i do the radical step of camping for the night. Hmpph this is like those people who camp out in order to get into Wimbledon (Tennis).. except thats in summer.. i will be doing it in October :-(

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