India - They didn't stamp my visa... Says a rule change doesn't require it?

My company hired another company (Universal Passports and Visas) to process my 1 year multi-entry India Visa. Upon reciept of my passport (with the visa), I noticed that the white box on the right is NOT stamped. UE claims they called the Indian Consulate and they confirmed that this is a policy change and is not necessary anymore.

I'm hugely skeptical.

Anybody heard of this? US Passport, US Citizen if it matters. I leave for India next week, so I have time to get this fixed but getting accurate info seems difficult.

My company hired another company (Universal Passports and Visas) to process my 1 year multi-entry India Visa. Upon reciept of my passport (with the visa), I noticed that the white box on the right is NOT stamped. UE claims they called the Indian Consulate and they confirmed that this is a policy change and is not necessary anymore.

I'm hugely skeptical.

Anybody heard of this? US Passport, US Citizen if it matters. I leave for India next week, so I have time to get this fixed but getting accurate info seems difficult.

My visa doesnt have a white box :confused:, but a stamp.

However, why you dont try to call the embassy yourself to confirm?

They changed the visa format recently... I have to check, but the visa my kids got in February doesn't seem to have any stamps (which I know is unusual for India :))

Most Indian visas issued this week in OECD countries are now done under a format that includes a digitized photo of the visa applicant on it (left side white box) along with a stamp from the embassy/consulate on the right side white box.

However, why you dont try to call the embassy yourself to confirm?

i agree....don't rely on the visa company, its best to check for yourself....

[QUOTE=Keyser;18841225]i agree....don't rely on the visa company, its best to check for yourself....
Better yet, go to the Indian consulate if possible and show them your passport in person.

Most Indian visas issued this week in OECD countries are now done under a format that includes a digitized photo of the visa applicant on it (left side white box) along with a stamp from the embassy/consulate on the right side white box.

That's what mine looks like, but no stamp.

Better yet, go to the Indian consulate if possible and show them your passport in person.

It's in Houston, so thats not an easy option.

Turns out there's an alert on the Travisa web page, so all is good.

https://indiavisa.travisaoutsourcing.com/homepage

Turns out there's an alert on the Travisa web page, so all is good.

https://indiavisa.travisaoutsourcing.com/homepage
You should print out a copy of this webpage, just in case.

You should print out a copy of this webpage, just in case.

And bring some cash... just in case :D

You should print out a copy of this webpage, just in case.
Yep- Already done. Not that it'll matter. If the guy at immigration doesn't know the rule, you think he's gonna believe some random webpage?

Perhaps you should cancel your trip to be on the safe side.

Perhaps you should cancel your trip to be on the safe side.
I think that might be a bit drastic. :)

Yep- Already done. Not that it'll matter. If the guy at immigration doesn't know the rule, you think he's gonna believe some random webpage?
The immigration guy might not believe you. But if you show him a printout, he is less likely to give you a hard time and more likely to escalate your case to a supervisor (who is hopefully more knowledgeable or smart enough to go to the website himself).

The immigration guy might not believe you. But if you show him a printout, he is less likely to give you a hard time and more likely to escalate your case to a supervisor (who is hopefully more knowledgeable or smart enough to go to the website himself).
Agreed.

SO this just came from the company's travel director... Will let you folks know what happens tomorrow.



Some Consular Posts Issuing Visas Without a Stamped Seal or Signature
July 3, 2012
In an unpublicized change in policy, certain Indian consular posts in Germany, Japan, and the United States have stopped issuing visas bearing either a stamped consular seal or a visa officer’s signature, or both. The change may delay or complicate entry or in-country registration procedures for foreign travelers to India.

The new practice already applies to visas issued by posts in Germany, Japan and Houston, Texas. Other posts in the United States and around the world are expected to implement the practice in the near future. The change is thought to be the result of a recent internal governmental directive related to the new Immigration, Visa and Foreigners Registration & Tracking (IVFRT) Central Processing Office (http://www.fragomen.com/newsresources/xprNewsDetailFrag.aspx?xpST=GlobalAlerts&news=1622).

Travisa, the outsourcing firm that processes Indian visas in the United States, has stated on its website that the unstamped or unsigned visas are valid for travel and will be accepted at all Indian ports of entry.

However, foreign travelers and their employers should be prepared for delays on entry and during the foreign registration process. Indian ports of entry and in-country immigration offices may be unaware of the new practice of issuing unstamped and unsigned visas. There have been some reports of travelers with the unstamped or unsigned visas encountering close scrutiny at ports of entry, and at least one report of an in-country immigration office refusing to accept these visas.

Will let you folks know what happens tomorrow.

That assumes you will still be free to post. I wish you all the luck. You are a very brave person.

I know a coworker with a lifetime Indian visa issued 4 years ago (he came here in 2005) and it has a stamp.

I know a coworker with a lifetime Indian visa issued 4 years ago (he came here in 2005) and it has a stamp.
What is the point of this post? :confused:

And by lifetime Indian visa, do you mean OCI? :confused:

SO this just came from the company's travel director... Will let you folks know what happens tomorrow.

Any delay at entry? Which entry point?

regards,

kinghw

What is the point of this post? :confused:

And by lifetime Indian visa, do you mean OCI? :confused:

OCI is the only lifetime visa which I know of...

For anyone still perusing this thread for useful information, my passport came back this week from the Houston consulate of India with a stamp.

kinghw

For anyone still perusing this thread for useful information, my passport came back this week from the Houston consulate of India with a stamp.

kinghw

Same here. 1 year business visa, stamped and signed. Picked it up on Friday.

Same here. 1 year business visa, stamped and signed. Picked it up on Friday.

My 5 year multi entry business visa that was done in Houston 2 weeks ago also came back with a stamp.