getting a visa for India while in Thailand

The Indian embassy in Bangkok contacts the Indian embassy or consulate in your home country for "clearance" before issuing you a visa. If they haven't heard back within a week they take that as clearance and issue you the visa. Thus, many Indian missions don't actually reply to requests for clearance unless there's a problem.

One approach is to call or fax the appropriate Indian mission in your home country today and ask them to reply ASAP to Bangkok's request. Once Bangkok receives clearance they MAY issue you the visa even though the five days aren't up. Without clearance in hand, I think they'll be reluctant to issue the visa before a week is out.

This morning, I went to the India embassy (here in Bangkok). Here's the latest should anyone else find themselves in this pickle:

The standard processing time is indeed 5 days. After asking if there was anyway to speed up the process, pay more, etc, the agent said "sorry no" & pushed my passport/application back to me. As suggested by sistaslim, I showed my ticket & pleaded with lots of smiles. The agent said "okay, pick up in 4 days". Yay! The agent was not going to make it shorted despite my offers to pay more cash!

Make sure you bring:
- your passport
- one photocopy of your passport
- two passport photos
- 2100 baht for most farang (1700 + 400 extra charge for whatever) I think US citizens are more, sorry I forgot how much.
- fill out one of the application forms when you arrive

The embassy opens at 9am but get there earlier to get a number ticket.
*While waiting, make sure you stay alert for when your number's called (they move onto the next number really quick if you're not ready).

This may seem like an obvious question, but I want to make sure-

Can Windaisy or anyone else tell me if during the 5 days of waiting for an Indian Visa, one does not need to Leave your passport with the embassy, (maybe just the copy)? I only ask because I was under the assumption that in the states, it is same day service and you drop off all items (incl passport) in morning and pick all up in afternoon. Thats fine when in my home country, but just want to make sure its not the case in a foreign country.

And does anyone know the price for Indian Visa for Americans in Thailand.

Thanks much

As I remember you do have to leave your passport there, seems a bit dodgy I know.....
This is just your first encounter with the joys of Indian red tape.........

Thanks for the info Steve.

I was not planning on waiting around BKK for 5 days, was just going to pick the visa up later on my way back through BKK from Chang Mai. But maybe I will make a last minute drive (4 hrs RT) to the embassy near me in the US and just get it before I leave.

Thanks!

Is there anyone out there who has left their passport with the embassy and travelled outside of Bangkok. Is this advisable?

Is there anyone who has applied for a Visa at the Embassy in Chang Mai? (or does this embassy offer visa services, I assume it does)

I am running out of time to make the above trip to the embassy here in the states and would prefer to do it in Thailand.

Thanks

if you have to leave your passport with them, they should give you a receipt for it

photocopy your passport first (plus the TM card) and carry the copies with you together with the receipt

confirmation:<blockquote>Quote
<hr>they [Indian embassy] don't hold on to your passport during the waiting time.<hr></blockquote>

Confirming this (and not).

Day one they photocopy the info page of your passport.

Day last you drop your passport off in the morning and pick it up in the afternoon.

This was what was happening in January 2005.