I did it again! I need a visa for my trip to India in about a week. There are many visa "services" on the web..but does anybody have experiance with a fast and reliable way to get my visa and passport back? I wish I could simply do it in BOM, but I think thats only for groups. Thanks in advance..I am going on a month long trip to India and Nepal and I forgot about this detail. May everybody on the board have a Happy New Year!

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MRKEY

it may not help you but here is my story:

I procured a visa for an employee several years ago by sending the passport to the consulate in San Francisco, California, along with a check and a return FedEx airbill. They promptly stamped the passport, took the check and sent the passport back by overnight FedEx.

Thats was a quick response 30 seconds! I live in Fl. But I can't do anything until Tues A.M. thanks for the idea "cause its cuts out the middle man time and fees! Still requesting other ideas, but this looks good. I will call Tuesday!

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MRKEY

where are you leaving the US from? if it is a city with an Indian consulate you can go a day before your flight and get the visa the same day. you go in the morning and pick it up in the afternoon.

alternatively, send your passport and visa application with a certified check and $15 for the return Fedex (or a prepaid envelope) along with a copy of the itin/tickets and a cover page and you should have it back by the third day. so if you send it on tuesday it should be back on thursday or friday at the latest. just make sure you specifically mention the date you are leaving the US.

as for visas on arrival - it is not possible even for groups. you used to be able to get one at the airport but not anymore.

[This message has been edited by indogulf (edited 12-31-2000).]

Thanks, the closest office is ORD and I will be there for a few hours before my LAX-HK flight..not enough time to run around Chicago in this weather! I'll try your advice..what happens if I don't get it back in time? I loose all my reservations. I'll call Tues. any phone #'s or contact people to ease my little mind?


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MRKEY

the number for the Indian consulate in New York (ask for the visa section) is 212 774 0600. They are open from 9 AM to 1 PM and then from 130 PM to 5 PM.

I cant find the number for the Chicago consulate right now (i live in PA so NY is our consulate) but I should be able to dig it up this afternoon.

I wouldnt worry too much about getting it back in time if you pay the extra fee and make SURE you ask for express delivery and mention the departure dates. don't assume they will figure it out b/c they wont

the basic fees are $60 for six months and $85 for one year and $150 for 5 years. ADD $30 for emergency fee and $15 for Fedex. All payments should be by casheir's check or money order.

The $30 is for the emergency fee which they really dont collect for express service but to make sure I would pay it. Ask the consulate to be certain.

I have found that my US Representative has an aide-de-camp that is very helpful in just these kind of situations! You should call his local office. I believe in your case, it's Congressman Shaw and his office number in Palm Beach is 561-832-3007. I have found my Congressman very helpful in expediting red tape in a variety of problems.

THANKS! Do you think the Congressman will tell the same thing as above? Send it to the consulate in Houston ( I do believe that's the office that handles FL. requests) or can he work some magic on me? Right now I need magic solution... Take care!

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MRKEY

I think you should be fine with the "send passport, certified check/money order, copy of tickets, and return express airbill" strategy. However, I would also call AA/CX and see if alternate flights are available.

I was going to mention on the other thread where you talked about your trip that you should take the visa into account when deciding btw India or Thailand for your point for onward travel to Nepal, but I figured you knew about the visa already If your passport doesn't expire within the next five years and you intend to see more of India, I would consider requesting a five year visa (you probably won't get it, but it is worth a shot). As you know, you can get visas on arrival in Bangkok (and CX has plenty of flights daily out of HKG), so switching your BOM flight to BKK could be another option. You can get your Nepali visa on arrival at the Kathmandu airport.

FWIW, getting an Indian visa at the consulate in Kathmandu takes a full day.

I will be going to BKK for 23.5 hours intransist to BOM, can or should I get it there? I'll e-mail you my itin. You think after all these years of traveling, I should know better!!!!!!

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MRKEY

You probably can get an Indian visa in BKK. The procedure in NY is to drop off in the morning (with $50 fee) and pick up at 4:30 in the afternoon, same day. BKK may be similar. You definitely need an Indian visa in advance.

You can get your Nepal visa at the Kathmandu airport. They want you to have a photograph, but they let me through without one a couple of weeks ago. The fee is $30 in U.S. currency.

Bruce

Bruce, thanks...do you think a 5 P.M. arrival at BKK and a depature at 5 P.M. the next day is enough time to obtain visa for India..I had to wait 2 days in BKK for my visa for Vietnam. I want to make it easy if possible and see BKK again for 1 day before moving on to BOM!


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MRKEY

I do believe I need the visa at LAX before leaving the U.S. for HK..or they (CX) will deny my boarding....and this is a real killer trip I can't miss!

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MRKEY

MRKEY,

You may not be able to get your passport returned in BKK in time to make your flight -- and you have the problem of boarding in the U.S., although you can probably talk your way through that. I would get the Indian visa in the U.S., even if it requires some extra money (for expediting fees and express delivery). The extra fees are de minimis compared to the overall cost of the trip.

Bruce

Thanks Bruce..that's what I will do..since the Baht Run, I want to maxamize my 1 day stop over in BKK anyway! There is just one more time problem, I hope you or a FTer can help me on. My paper tix are being over nighted from AAwards on Tues...so I wouldn't get them until Thurdsay or Friday...can I print out my intinerary and use that as proof of travel for the Indian authorities in the U.S Do they need original or copies of original tix. I just have AA's e-mail confirmation.( which I can print of course, but they are not actual tixs. Money hardly matters at this point, your right! It really slipped my mind as I just go back fom S.E Asia a few weeks ago and was not planning a repeat of my 1975 trip in India and Nepal until last week..I got my visa in NYC at the Afghanisatan consulate for their country, and my Pakistan visa in India and my Nepalise visa in India..I was overlanding NYC-KABUL-Nepal
...Thanks for your help! I really owe this board a lot!

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MRKEY