All visitors to India other than Nepalese and Bhutanese citizens must have a visa. There is no way to issue a visa on arrival and there are no exceptions, so you must obtain a visa before traveling to India. The type of visa required to enter India depends on the country of origin and the reason for your visit.
An important change that came into effect recently is that the Indian High Commission has begun to outsource the India visa application process to private processing agencies. It states that this outsourcing was done to streamline and make the process more efficient. You can now pay your visa online with your credit card.
The VFS Global portion of the Zurich-based Kuoni Travel Group has won contracts to provide outsourcing services to the Indian embassies in Thailand, China, France, Russia, and Saudi Arabia, and the Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka, Australia, and the United Kingdom. I am. .. Travisa Outsourcing is a company that has a visa issuance contract in the United States.
VFS Global and Travisa Outsourcing privileges apply only to the documentation and selection process. Visa issuance is at the discretion of the Indian High Commission.
In countries where this service is available, it is no longer possible to obtain a visa directly from the High Commissioner or embassy (except for diplomatic passports or official passports). You must use the specified institution.
The downside of this outsourcing to customers is that all visa applications have a service charge. As an example, a tourist visa for a British traveler visiting India still costs £ 30, but a service charge of £ 8 if you apply directly or online. If you apply by mail, the additional charge is £ 15.40 and consists of a service charge and a passport return fee.
In addition to this, VFS Global has introduced a premium rate telephone line for all visa inquiries.
The most convenient and time-efficient way to apply is to fill out an India evisa application form online. You can also pay by credit card online if you wish. Print out the completed form and then submit your application, passport, and required documents at the Visa Application Center or book to mail them. Applications must be made at a London, Birmingham, or Edinburgh center, depending on the jurisdiction.
This can be determined from the list of locations on the website. Alternatively, you can step into the center, queue up and submit your application. Expect a long wait. Please note that you will need to revisit the center to receive your passport or arrange for delivery by mail once your application is complete. If you wish to send it by mail, you will need to prepare or pay for the express delivery envelope.
Direct applications should be processed within 3-4 days. It takes at least 15 days to apply by mail.
You can apply for a visa directly or by mail. Travisa recommends applying by mail to avoid waiting times and for convenience.
Same-day visa applications must be submitted directly to the outsourcing office between 9 am and 11 am. Pick-up times for these same-day applications are typically between 5:30 pm and 6 pm. Visas will be issued the next business day for applications received after 11:00 am.
Travisa states that under no circumstances can we guarantee that visas will be issued on the same day. Non-US citizens and US citizens who need a reference can expect a processing time of 4-6 business days. Applications by mail will be processed approximately 5 business days from the date they are received by the processing department.
India’s visa processing center is located in Washington, DC. New York, San Francisco, Chicago, Houston. Which center you apply for depends on where you live in the United States, also known as your jurisdiction. Details of the jurisdictions you are listed on can be found on the website.