Visa For Travel To India

[tjansen]

I have a US passport with a retirement extension in Thailand. I plan to travel to India for about three weeks in February-March 2011. Does anyone know the simplest way to get a visa. I saw mention somewhere that they were experimenting with a visa on arrival. I will be flying into Mumbai (BOM).

My brother, who holds an Australian passport, is also going. Any difference in requirements for him?

Thank you for any help.

[Crossy]

Applications are now made online although you still have to go to VFS (in the Glashaus building near Asoke BTS).

Start here http://www.ivac-th.com/

You will only be able to get a Tourist Visa, requirements are simple so you should have no problems but it will take 5 working days.

NOTE It seems that India don't really want tourists to explore the region, once you leave the country you are not permitted to return for 60 days, so side trips to Sri Lanka etc. are out.

I hope you enjoy yourself, for a tourist India is an amazing place, working there is a totally different kettle of fish.

[tjansen]

Applications are now made online although you still have to go to VFS (in the Glashaus building near Asoke BTS).

Start here http://www.ivac-th.com/

You will only be able to get a Tourist Visa, requirements are simple so you should have no problems but it will take 5 working days.

NOTE It seems that India don't really want tourists, once you leave the country you are not permitted to return for 60 days, so side trips to Sri Lanka etc. are out.

I hope you enjoy yourself, for a tourist India is an amazing place, working there is a totally different kettle of fish.

Thanks for the help. I am going to observe a meeting of Immortals, so 60 days should be rather trivial, at least for them.

[brownknees]

I visited India in November coming from Egypt,my wife (thai)and I filled in the application from the embassy and waited about 4 days then picked them up.I did the same in Bangkok about 3 years ago and was told basically if you are not a residant of the country you are applying from they need to send your details to your home country for verification ,thatstakes approx 5 days.Dont know about visa on arrival though?

[tjansen]

Thank you. I was wondering about the five days. That seems to explain it.

Tom

I visited India in November coming from Egypt,my wife (thai)and I filled in the application from the embassy and waited about 4 days then picked them up.I did the same in Bangkok about 3 years ago and was told basically if you are not a residant of the country you are applying from they need to send your details to your home country for verification ,thatstakes approx 5 days.Dont know about visa on arrival though?

[phuketrichard]

Don't know if ur in Thailand or the states BUT i have friends that have obtained 10 year mutiple entry visa quite easily thru the embassy in dc.

. It has come to the notice of the Government that there has been abuse/misuse of the Tourist Visa. With a view to curb the abuse/misuse of the Tourist Visa, instructions have been issued by the Government imposing the following restrictions:-

(a) In respect of foreign nationals holding Tourist Visas with multiple entry facility, there should be a gap of at least 2 months between two visits to the country on such a Tourist Visa.

India Visa

[cooperspale]

Visa took me 4 days to get in Bangkok. Just got back from India 3 days ago. If you have not already organized one I would highly recommend hiring a driver for the time you are over there. I sorted a driver out for 6 days and once there realized that we could not have gone without one. It definitely not like driving in Thailand.13200 rupee( about 10000 baht) included everything, driver, gas, air con car, toll fee's etc. If you want the details for the driver I used please email me on email removed per forum rules, please PM

[Crossy]

Sorry, had to remove the email from the last post, but I agree, you will need a driver.

One of the things I hate about working in India is not being allowed to drive myself. Not that I would in Mumbai, Bangalore however is much less frenetic and would be do-able with a GPS installed (my regular driver knows every little side road in the city).

[HerbalEd]

I simply go to my travel agent and they take care of my visas for India. I do nothing, and my agent takes care of everything.

[rwhoov]

I'm from the U.S. also and have been contemplating a trip to India for years. I checked out the web site given, and have a question on the price of visas. They list only one price for U.S. people, 5400 baht and then says additional 1,000 baht. Does this mean that a 60 day visa, which is all I'll need, will cost 6,400 baht as opposed to 1,700 baht for a Thai national?

[tjansen]

Thanks for all of the replies and information. I was wondering about that cost myself. That is quite a bit to pay for 60 days. Interesting advice on the driver. I will keep that in mind about the driver.

I'm from the U.S. also and have been contemplating a trip to India for years. I checked out the web site given, and have a question on the price of visas. They list only one price for U.S. people, 5400 baht and then says additional 1,000 baht. Does this mean that a 60 day visa, which is all I'll need, will cost 6,400 baht as opposed to 1,700 baht for a Thai national?

[somchai69]

The rules have been tightened a great deal in 2010

To get even a Tourist Visa for India you must be able show you are

resident where you are applying.

The last time I asked in Bangkok, the Indian embassy did not consider a Non Imm O visa as residence........

For a business visa it is even worse.

You must show

1. A letter of invitation from India

2. Residence where you are applying

3. A local company where you are applying

I needed a business visa and although I have a residence permit I do not have

a company here, in the middle east, where I am applying.

I had to travel to London to get a business visa.

A real pain costing me time and money.

I expect Crossy will have the same problem.

I big thank you to the terrorists who created these problems.

PS Would you really want to drive in India??

Drivers are cheap enough.

[Crossy]

Thanks for the update somchai, last year I had to go to the UK but could still apply by post / online.

My current business visa expires in August so we'll see what occurs then, but I really don't relish having to jet half way round the world just to get a visa.

EDIT One thing I REALLY hate is being driven. We tend to use up drivers rather rapidly, can't drive, drive too fast (or too slow), don't know where anything is, too many accidents, etc etc. I have a regular chap who's not too bad, but if he's not available

[bangkokburning]

OK, I have breezed thru the coments but can offer the following.

As a resident in Thailand, you MAY be able to apply for the ten year here. If not, do apply in US when possible. It will save future hassles, not much money if you blow thru passports like I do. If you do not qualify for ten year here - you can aply as mentioned above. Do not go to the embassy in Thailand (or anywhere), its VFS. My dealings with VFS (on visa transf - fast/great in US). ANything you can do online is preferable as this is India. You may want to front up.

[astral]

10 year visas are only available to US citizens

and are still subject to the 2 month gap, if they are for tourism.

See https://indiavisa.travisaoutsourcing.com/guidelines