Ever tried to get an Indian visa...

[Habana Mike]

...in one day?

Not an easy thing to do, but not impossible

Just got back from Vegas very early Thursday morning after launching our company's new product at the IBM IOD conference - that's also not a trivial thing to do by the way .

So, I am going through my itinerary and details on my trip to India next Monday when I realize you actually need to apply for and obtain a visa in advance.

Was under the mistaken impression that, just like about 40 other countries I've visited with the exception of Brazil, they would issue an entry visa upon landing - which is apparently something India is planning to do but not in place yet.

At any rate I start to stress a little and do a lot of research. Turns out that these can't be expedited like many and 3-5 business days is best case, 7-10 in general.

Since I need to be in Hyderabad for a board meeting of our Indian subsidiary on Wednesday and in Mumbai to deliver a keynote at a CIO forum the following week, along with a wedding in Rajasthan over the weekend, things were looking pretty bleak.

I discover that the local Consulate which opened a couple of years back just began issuing visas this past July, thus averting a quick trip to Houston. Head down yesterday morning and speak with the consular aides and am informed I need to go to the visa processing agency. Run over there and am told no way they can process one faster than 3 days unless a death in the family or medical emergency.

They suggest I go speak to the consulate again so I do. The aide is a little more understanding this time around and suggests I return in the morning with letters from our US and Indian companies describing the importance of my being there.

So, back to the Consulate this morning with the appropriate letters stressing the urgency of the trip, where I meet with the assistant Consular officer and explain the situation. He reviews my documentation and marks 'URGENT - bring today' with his green pen.

Off to the servicing agency, go through the process and find I need to speak with the director to ensure the application is turned around same day. They ask me to return after 5pm to collect my passport/visa.

Finally, around 6:30pm the last courier from the Consulate returns and thankfully has my documents in order. Off to India on Monday after all, whew.....

I did manage to enjoy a '98 Charlotte on the morning drive and an '08 Fundadores during the rush hour trip back this evening!

[Hiroshiro]

...in one day?

Not an easy thing to do, but not impossible

Just got back from Vegas very early Thursday morning after launching our company's new product at the IBM IOD conference - that's also not a trivial thing to do by the way .

So, I am going through my itinerary and details on my trip to India next Monday when I realize you actually need to apply for and obtain a visa in advance.

Was under the mistaken impression that, just like about 40 other countries I've visited with the exception of Brazil, they would issue an entry visa upon landing - which is apparently something India is planning to do but not in place yet.

At any rate I start to stress a little and do a lot of research. Turns out that these can't be expedited like many and 3-5 business days is best case, 7-10 in general.

Since I need to be in Hyderabad for a board meeting of our Indian subsidiary on Wednesday and in Mumbai to deliver a keynote at a CIO forum the following week, along with a wedding in Rajasthan over the weekend, things were looking pretty bleak.

I discover that the local Consulate which opened a couple of years back just began issuing visas this past July, thus averting a quick trip to Houston. Head down yesterday morning and speak with the consular aides and am informed I need to go to the visa processing agency. Run over there and am told no way they can process one faster than 3 days unless a death in the family or medical emergency.

They suggest I go speak to the consulate again so I do. The aide is a little more understanding this time around and suggests I return in the morning with letters from our US and Indian companies describing the importance of my being there.

So, back to the Consulate this morning with the appropriate letters stressing the urgency of the trip, where I meet with the assistant Consular officer and explain the situation. He reviews my documentation and marks 'URGENT - bring today' with his green pen.

Off to the servicing agency, go through the process and find I need to speak with the director to ensure the application is turned around same day. They ask me to return after 5pm to collect my passport/visa.

Finally, around 6:30pm the last courier from the Consulate returns and thankfully has my documents in order. Off to India on Monday after all, whew.....

I did manage to enjoy a '98 Charlotte on the morning drive and an '08 Fundadores during the rush hour trip back this evening!

Pretty epic there. I'd stress like crazy if something similar happened to me. Have fun and stay safe!

[oliverdst]

Most of the countries have the reciprocity agreement.

So if one asks for the visa the other is its right to ask it too (this is waht happens between Brazil/USA).

I went to India 2 years ago and I could obtain my visa by mail. Just sent to the consulate my passport, photocopy of my air ticket and the receipt of the visa fee payment.

I guess from day one to the end took less than 10 days (they send your passport back to you by mail).

I went there because of a wedding.

If you will go to a traditional wedding it will take 5 days. 2-3 parties and the wedding itself, which takes like 6 hours of ceremony.

The pre-wedding party with the elephant and the "band" are unique.

Oh, and if you see a girl/woman with a red dot in the forehead do not talk to her unless you know her husband. She is already married.

If some Indian is reading this my apologies for something wrong I wrote. That was my impression after 2 weeks there just with native Indians and a some brazilians.

[kwsaw63]

Sounds like you got lucky and ran into some nice people. The Indian Civil Service has a reputation for being very bureaucratic.

[sengjc]

Didn't recall it being difficult before, mine was a company sponsored business visa for work purposes.

[kwsaw63]

Difficult to do in just one day Seng.

[sengjc]

Yeah I remember it was a few weeks, you had to post your passport in too but it was quite straightforward.

It is the US visa that was onerous - interviews, security checks, etc.

[markmurase]

...in one day?

Not an easy thing to do, but not impossible

Just got back from Vegas very early Thursday morning after launching our company's new product at the IBM IOD conference - that's also not a trivial thing to do by the way .

So, I am going through my itinerary and details on my trip to India next Monday when I realize you actually need to apply for and obtain a visa in advance.

Was under the mistaken impression that, just like about 40 other countries I've visited with the exception of Brazil, they would issue an entry visa upon landing - which is apparently something India is planning to do but not in place yet.

At any rate I start to stress a little and do a lot of research. Turns out that these can't be expedited like many and 3-5 business days is best case, 7-10 in general.

Since I need to be in Hyderabad for a board meeting of our Indian subsidiary on Wednesday and in Mumbai to deliver a keynote at a CIO forum the following week, along with a wedding in Rajasthan over the weekend, things were looking pretty bleak.

I discover that the local Consulate which opened a couple of years back just began issuing visas this past July, thus averting a quick trip to Houston. Head down yesterday morning and speak with the consular aides and am informed I need to go to the visa processing agency. Run over there and am told no way they can process one faster than 3 days unless a death in the family or medical emergency.

They suggest I go speak to the consulate again so I do. The aide is a little more understanding this time around and suggests I return in the morning with letters from our US and Indian companies describing the importance of my being there.

So, back to the Consulate this morning with the appropriate letters stressing the urgency of the trip, where I meet with the assistant Consular officer and explain the situation. He reviews my documentation and marks 'URGENT - bring today' with his green pen.

Off to the servicing agency, go through the process and find I need to speak with the director to ensure the application is turned around same day. They ask me to return after 5pm to collect my passport/visa.

Finally, around 6:30pm the last courier from the Consulate returns and thankfully has my documents in order. Off to India on Monday after all, whew.....

I did manage to enjoy a '98 Charlotte on the morning drive and an '08 Fundadores during the rush hour trip back this evening!

Habana Mike, congratulations on getting the Visa. Bureaucracy is alive and well in India

[Guest rob]

The most time consuming visa I ever had to get was a US visa.

It's a changed a little since my first vist, in that now it can be obtained online.

[Duxnutz]

Wish the Fiancé/ partner visa for Australia was a 1 day event!

[Fuzz AI]

The most time consuming visa I ever had to get was a US visa.

It's a changed a little since my first vist, in that now it can be obtained online.

Yeah, really annoying to get one in the old days. The visa office was in the old Amex Building in the CBD and was only open between 10am and 12pm.

[ZinZan]

Mine took 2 weeks. US has a lot of procedure but its quite fast. Saudi is pretty tough and they change the requirements ever so often.

[Stoyan]

i applied for a US visa 3 years ago. I had to get a ton of different docs, filled at least 3 online, had to wait 3 weeks for an appointment, and finally I was denied one. Lat summer I tried again. Same thing happened . I guess i won't be applying anytime soon.

[Orion21]

This happened to my sister and her husband. They planned a trip to India and found out when they got to the airport they needed an entry visa. Needless to say they had to cancel their trip, and eat quite a bit of cost. It thought them a lesson about properly researching international travel. I am glad your issue worked itself out. Cheers!

[Fshaw]

Sounds to me like you need to have a good gripe at your corporate travel department for not giving you the heads up. Our sends a detailed email and follows up with a phone call in those types of instances so that exactly this type of situation doesn't happen.