Indian eVisa

[rlarosa]

Hi All

Just wondering if anyone has used the relatively new service to get an eVisa online for India? In the past I've lodged my applications at the Indian Visa office in Sydney. I'm tepmted to use the eVisa service this time but not if it is going to mean having to fuss around on arrival. The websites aren't the greatest so wondering if anyone here has had any experience.

Thank you

 

[SeatBackForward]

Hi All

Just wondering if anyone has used the relatively new service to get an eVisa online for India? In the past I've lodged my applications at the Indian Visa office in Sydney. I'm tepmted to use the eVisa service this time but not if it is going to mean having to fuss around on arrival. The websites aren't the greatest so wondering if anyone here has had any experience.

Thank you

I used it a couple of years ago for visa's for the family. As long as you provide them everything they need, the process was pretty good, and returned fairly efficiently. MUCH better than having to go to the consulate in person, between their specific hours on specific days etc.

I assume this is the website you're referring to: India Visa Information - Australia - Frequently Asked Questions ?

Citizens of certain countries (However not Australia) can also get a Tourist Visa on Arrival at Indian Airports: Encouraging Inbound Tourism - Tourist Visa on Arrival (TVOA) Scheme | National Portal of India

TripAdvisor has a short thread about the experience too, it seems to have improved within the two years since I last used it: India's New TVoA (Tourist Visa On Arrival) for Australians... - India Forum - TripAdvisor

(thankfully, I personally have an OCI and will never need to deal with Indian Visa's ever again)

 

[albatross710]

I used it a couple of years ago for visa's for the family. As long as you provide them everything they need, the process was pretty good, and returned fairly efficiently. )

Can you recall the timeframe, was it a couple of days or a couple of weeks? Hoping to need one for next February.

 

[SeatBackForward]

Can you recall the timeframe, was it a couple of days or a couple of weeks? Hoping to need one for next February.

From my recollection, I had to fill out online forms, and also submit hard copy forms along with Passports and a registered express post parcel to return?

I must've filled out the online forms around the 12th Sept 2013, and then posted it the next day or two
The application was received by India Visa Information - Australia - Home Page on 17th Sept and then dispatched back to me on the 18th September

Mind you the above was two years ago, I think the process has changed since then,and the price has reduced also.

 

[Pug1]

Hi All

Just wondering if anyone has used the relatively new service to get an eVisa online for India? In the past I've lodged my applications at the Indian Visa office in Sydney. I'm tepmted to use the eVisa service this time but not if it is going to mean having to fuss around on arrival. The websites aren't the greatest so wondering if anyone here has had any experience.

Thank you

We used the on-line process for a trip in March 15 and found it OK. You have to be very patient and if you make any changes it seems to revert to default responses to some questions so you have to “start again”. We did not want to risk posting our original documents and took the whole package into the consulate office in Sydney after receiving acknowledgement for the on-line application. It was pretty quick and painless in the consulate but make sure you take absolutely every document including proof of payment for your return flights. Have to say getting the visa was less painful than getting through Indian immigration and customs at each of our cruise ports!

 

[SeatBackForward]

We used the on-line process for a trip in March 15 and found it OK. You have to be very patient and if you make any changes it seems to revert to default responses to some questions so you have to “start again”. We did not want to risk posting our original documents and took the whole package into the consulate office in Sydney after receiving acknowledgement for the on-line application. It was pretty quick and painless in the consulate but make sure you take absolutely every document including proof of payment for your return flights. Have to say getting the visa was less painful than getting through Indian immigration and customs at each of our cruise ports!

In 2013 we flew in and out of Bangalore and the immigration/customs there was amazing, couldn't believe it was India. It did help that the MH flights we took were the only international flights at that time of day.

In the same year I also flew into Mumbai and that was as it could be expected for India, a complete shambles.

 

[Pug1]

In 2013 we flew in and out of Bangalore and the immigration/customs there was amazing, couldn't believe it was India. It did help that the MH flights we took were the only international flights at that time of day.

In the same year I also flew into Mumbai and that was as it could be expected for India, a complete shambles.

yes Mumbai port was our worst experience, a 3 hour wait to get out

 

[SeatBackForward]

yes Mumbai port was our worst experience, a 3 hour wait to get out

I particularly liked the complete disregard to the families Queue at immigration, as with the flight crew queue, diplomats queue, priority queue and foreigners queue. As typical for India, there were plenty of supervisors in the background doing nothing.

 

[Digger11]

yes Mumbai port was our worst experience, a 3 hour wait to get out

YES, same experience here. And it wasnt just the Airport that was a horrible third world experience. Never, ever again.

 

[SeatBackForward]

YES, same experience here. And it wasnt just the Airport that was a horrible third world experience. Never, ever again.

That's India. You either love it or hate it. No in betweens.

 

[RB]

Hi All

Just wondering if anyone has used the relatively new service to get an eVisa online for India? In the past I've lodged my applications at the Indian Visa office in Sydney. I'm tepmted to use the eVisa service this time but not if it is going to mean having to fuss around on arrival. The websites aren't the greatest so wondering if anyone here has had any experience.

Thank you

To me it seems there are now 2 different online options. In Nov 2013 we applied online & that required us to send our passports to Sydney-the time frames were as outlined on the website-ie we had a visa in passport before we left Aust.
From our reading for a visit in Feb 2016 there is also an additional/different e-TV system-seems cheaper, quoted in $US and involves scanning your passport & visa photo & upload to India (no involvement in Aust)- apparently on arrival you line up at a different gate for a "visa on arrival type procedure". This is a link Travel Advice for India - Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

 

[SeatBackForward]

To me it seems there are now 2 different online options. In Nov 2013 we applied online & that required us to send our passports to Sydney-the time frames were as outlined on the website-ie we had a visa in passport before we left Aust.
From our reading for a visit in Feb 2016 there is also an additional/different e-TV system-seems cheaper, quoted in $US and involves scanning your passport & visa photo & upload to India (no involvement in Aust)- apparently on arrival you line up at a different gate for a "visa on arrival type procedure". This is a link Travel Advice for India - Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

Yep the e-TV is the new system..there were hopes that Australia would be listed for visa on arrival, but the e-TV was given instead.

 

[SeatBackForward]

Here's a funny anecdote about the Indian visa system. I am an overseas citizen of India, as I was born there despite only having lived there less years than fingers on one hand. It's not quite a dual citizenship arrangement, but let's me travel and hold assets in India. I just can't vote, own a farm or run for elections.

My kids all born here in Aus, are entitled to be OCIs by virtue of me being one. My wife however isn't. She (despite having no Indian heritage or history) can be a "Person of Indian Origin" (POI visa) through marriage....

 

[dairyfloss]

I travel to India every few months, and have used the e-TV twice... though within a much shorter time period than I had ever intended.

What happened with me the first time was that I completed the application as soon as the system would allow, which was about 34 days out from travel (the site specifically stated the time period). I competed the intended/actual travel dates, filled in all the other nonsense, and then submitted. The next day I got a response saying something along the lines of 'Congratulations, your e-TV has been approved - see you soon'.

Fast forward to the travel date, and arrival into into Bangalore... meet the immigration guys with a smile on my face, which is almost immediately wiped off when they tell me my visa is expired by 2 days, and they are sending me back to KL (where I had connected)... oh, and if they can't get me back on the same flight I arrived on, I'll be put into immigration detention! Turns out that the dates were indeed passed... silly me for trusting that a visa system would look at the date you entered as your arrival date into their application would be considered in granting the visa! My bad, I know.

So, the second time I created an e-TV... the next morning in my hotel in KL after being denied entry into India the night before. They fast tracked approval and I flew back the following day. Great fun!

I've since gone for the 1 year multi-entry visa, again.

Cheers,
Matt.

p.s. The best part - I made a successful mileage claim on the flight deporting me from Bangalore. How's that for frequent flyer!

 

[coles525]

Is the 1 year multi entry visa completed online (same site as e-visa)?

What would be the cost, as I dont dare risk our points booking with the denied entry like you experienced!

... I've since gone for the 1 year multi-entry visa, again.

Cheers,
Matt.

p.s. The best part - I made a successful mileage claim on the flight deporting me from Bangalore. How's that for frequent flyer!

 

[RB]

Fast forward to the travel date, and arrival into into Bangalore... meet the immigration guys with a smile on my face, which is almost immediately wiped off when they tell me my visa is expired by 2 days, and they are sending me back to KL (where I had connected)... oh, and if they can't get me back on the same flight I arrived on, I'll be put into immigration detention! Turns out that the dates were indeed passed... silly me for trusting that a visa system would look at the date you entered as your arrival date into their application would be considered in granting the visa! My bad, I know.


Matt.

p.s. The best part - I made a successful mileage claim on the flight deporting me from Bangalore. How's that for frequent flyer!

I don't understand your explanation. Are you saying that the date you applied somehow became the start date of the e-TV?

 

[dairyfloss]

I don't understand your explanation. Are you saying that the date you applied somehow became the start date of the e-TV?

The date of e-TV approval/issue, plus 30 days, is the period you can arrive into India. I competed it 34 days ahead of arrival, when the online form opened up, and it was approved the next day.

I should have checked the dates that were on the approved e-TV, but what irritated me was that the form captures the arrival date, so it knew it would not work, but ignored that in determining / granting the visa, without any warning to say that my arrival date was after the date of the visa.

 

[Mal]

Going through this process now - it's a horrible form to fill out online, but I'm confident it will work out.

 

[dairyfloss]

Is the 1 year multi entry visa completed online (same site as e-visa)?

What would be the cost, as I dont dare risk our points booking with the denied entry like you experienced!

You'd have to be pretty 'special' to experience what I did. Just check the dates on the approved e-TV and you'll be fine!

The personal paperwork for the 1 year multi-entry visa is basically the same, but there are also letters and company invitations required, as well as proof of income, for the one year version. 6 months is a little easier.

EDIT: Plus, with the multiple-entry visa, of course there is the added joy of heading into a VFS office for a portion of your day, and sending your passport off.

Cheers,
Matt.

 

[RB]

Just providing a fresh experience. We applied online for a eTV yesterday. Used 28 degrees card for payment.
1/ Received an email from them pretty well straight away- it indicated it had been partially received & outlined how to pay-it said to ignore the email if payment had been made (we had paid)
2/ The 2nd email from them was 2 minutes later-it gave an application number and my passport number. It indicated the processing would take 72hrs and provided a link for tracking the status. There was also a email address for support and a key if I wanted to make a telephone enquiry
3/ 22hrs later another email was received that stated the single entry eTV had been granted. The valid arrival date started from yesterday (day of application) & ranges to 35 days from yesterdays date. The visa is valid for 30 days from entry and they advise you must have a copy on you when you arrive