Travel & Visa Experiences for an Indian

Second time USA B1/B2 visa application

2011-11-03T04:56:00.000+11:00

Passport: Indian Passport
Embassy: US Embassy in London, UK
Visa Decision Time: On-the-spot
Visa Appointment Wait time: About 2 weeks
Passport delivery time: About 3 working days
Points to note

No electronics, not even earphones/cables/key-fobs allowed in the embassy
You can take a book and/or a snack, but no bags
Time spent within the embassy: About 1 hour
You need to complete your online application beforehand, and carry the confirmation page & payment receipt
Passport delivery costs about £16, you need a credit/debit card to pay for it. No cash.

Documents that they looked at:

Current passport
Old Passport with old US Visa
Application confirmation

I took a slew of documents, including bank statements, payslips, letter from my employer. They didn't look at any of them.

Questions they asked in the interview:

How long will you be in the US?
Where did you get your last visa?
How long have you lived in the UK?
Where did you live before the UK? What did you do there?
Are you married? Is you wife in the UK?

Hope this helps!

Visa wale Hanuman Ji??

2011-10-09T09:43:00.003+11:00

Just saw this .... this is visa applications taken to the next level ... must visit this as part of my 'visa' pilgrimage ....http://twitpic.com/1ckrjo

Apologies for the Ads

2011-10-05T02:38:00.001+11:00

Hello Loyal ReadersI'm testing out Google AdSense, hence you will see a block of ads on the right hand side. I just want to understand AdSense, and my aim is not to get you to sign-up for advertised services. So feel free to ignore the ads :). If you really don't like them, let me know via comments below.Thanks!

No visa required for Mexico?

2011-10-04T21:22:00.000+11:00

I just read on the website of the Mexican embassy in London that people of ALL nationalities do not require a visa to Mexico, if they hold a valid USA visa. Have you tried entering Mexico on a US visa? Please share your experience in the comments below.

Here is the exact wording from the Embassy of Mexico ...
"According to the new regulations, from the 1st of May 2010 it is not necessary to apply for a tourist, business or transit Mexican visa if you hold a VALID VISA for the United States of America -regardless the nationality- . Immigration authorities in Mexico will ask for your US visa and a valid passport when you arrive. "

"Permanent residents in Canada, Japan, The United Kingdom (Indefinite Leave to Remain in the UK), The United States of America or the Schengen countries wishing to travel to Mexico do not require a visa to enter the country as a tourists and business visitors for a 180-day stay and as a visitors in transit for a 30-day stay."

Where Aryan (Hrithik Roshan in Dhoom2) can go on visa-free crime sprees

2011-09-02T21:13:00.000+10:00

I was watching 'Dhoom 2' yesterday. How the heck is Aryan (the character played by Bollywood super-hunk Hrithik Roshan) such a far-reaching international criminal, when he is clearly an Indian? Doesn't he need a visa for each country he's planning a robbery in?

Here are the top 8 places where Mr. Aryan can go on a visa-free crime spree, and enjoy beautiful vistas too.

Bahrain
This middle-eastern country is known for pearls. Mr. Aryan can steal pearls and enjoy views of a majestic skyline. If travelling for business purposes, visa can be obtained on arrival by Indian passport holders.

Bermuda
Beautiful Island nation, famous for its 'triangle' where ships & aircraft are fabled to go missing. Mr. Aryan can rob one of the wealthy off-shore banks, where rich Brits & Americans stash their dosh. Visa not required for upto 6 months, generally speaking, for Indian passport holders.

Hong Kong
International financial hub with excellent food, nightlife and city views. Mr. Aryan can hold a rich Chinese businessman to ransom and earn millions of Renminbi. Indians don't need a visa for upto 14 days.

Iran
Home to one of the world's oldest civilizations, and owner of large oil reserves. This fascinating country is full of history. Also great views near the Caspian sea and the Azerbaijan border. Mr. Aryan can come to steal one of the WMDs that Iran is allegedly developing (though I'm not aware of any proof of existence). Visa on arrival available for tourist visits of upto 7 days, for Indian passport holders.

Jamaica
Beautiful Caribbean nation, known for reggae music and stunning beaches. Not much for Aryan to steal, but he can come here to relax. No visa required for upto 14 days for Indian passport holders.

Macao
Casino Island off the coast of China, near Hong Kong. Has a charming old Portuguese part of the city. Mr. Aryan can come to pull an Oceans-11 at one of the ginormous casinos here. No visa required for visits upto 30 days for Indian passport holders.

British Virgin Islands
Laid back Caribbean archipelago, famous for being a tax-haven and for local resident Richard Branson. Mr. Aryan can hob-nob with Branson and chill on the beach. 1 month visa-free access for Indian passport holders.

Ecuador
Famous for the Galapagos Islands with all their fauna. Additionally, Mr. Aryan can make vital contacts with local mafia, near the Colombian border. Visa free for 90 days for Indian passport holders.

Domestic Flights in the USA -- always carry your passport

2011-08-19T07:30:00.000+10:00

If you are a foreigner in the USA, intending to fly domestic, ALWAYS carry your passport.

I faced great delays yesterday, while trying to catch flights between New York and Atlanta.
Before security, the TSA checks people's boarding passes and IDs. They accept US Driving Licenses as valid IDs. But they were less than impressed by my UK Driving License.

At NYC La Guardia, I presented my UK License, and the lady immediately gave that back to me and demanded a passport. I was at a loss. I didn't imagine I'd need to carry a passport. She then made me stand aside for 10 mins while she located her supervisor. The supervisor looked at my UK License, my credit card and my business-school alumnus ID. Then she made me go through 'extra screening' -- which meant they swabbed my hands for residue (or something) and did some chemical test on it. But then they let me through OK.

When I tried to get on my return flight at Atlanta airport, the process was repeated -- except they were adamant that NY security shouldn't have allowed me to fly without a passport. I was made to sign some disclaimer giving them the right to dig up my personal data, they noted down my addresses, looked at my license, my business school ID, my office security pass and finally let me go with a stern warning.

So, in short, when in the USA, always carry your passport.

An Indian in Luxembourg

2011-08-11T04:20:00.000+10:00

Hello Travellers & Visa Lovers :)

The better-half and I recently spent a weekend in Luxembourg. I know! Who goes to Luxembourg!! But it was totally worth it. An affordable luxury holiday in beautiful surroundings.

Highlights of the trip were:
1. Excellent Hotel -- we stayed at the Sofitel Grand Ducal, which Tripadvisor ranks as the best hotel in Luxembourg. And it was surprisingly affordable! Service was impeccable and location was great too.

2. Beautiful Country -- Luxembourg City itself is quite striking in appearance. Its full of beautiful valleys and via ducts. Think of it as Edinburgh without the grunge and drunk teenagers. Echternach and Remich were beautiful too!

3. Chilli Red Mini Convertible -- From SixT rental. Was a pleasure to drive. The scenery was excellent too.

4. Very few tourists! -- On the whole there were hardly any tourists. Only one group of Chinese school children and some pensioners.

5. Surprisingly Cheap -- food, tourist attractions (or what few there were), public transport are all quite cheap for Western Europe standards!

6. Schengen --- Visa lovers will love this :) ... we actually went to Schengen. The town where the agreement of the same name was signed, forming the Schengen zone and the ever elusive Schengen Visa. It was like a pilgrimage.

This is a pic of the scenery near Schengen ...

7. City tours that can only be described as 'cute'. They had the offices of Arcelor Mittal on the tour. Awww ... Luxembourg has a multinational.

The Downside ...

1. Lack of decent vegetarian food ... but we found a nice french style cafe (can't remember the name for the life of me) near the main town square.
2. Bit dead overall --- not much to do after Day 1 (we hoofed it to Brugge on Day 2).
3. Hard to get there from London, unless you fly.

Overall, I would recommend going there. But for no longer than 2 days.
If you have questions, message me on Twitter -- @villdre

Ireland visa waiver for Indian Passport Holders

2011-08-09T03:54:00.000+10:00

There's been some buzz on the internet about being able to travel to the Republic of Ireland if you have a UK Visa in your Indian passport. For a while my Wife and I have been quite excited about this, since we both want to see Ireland.

But I checked up the exact wording of the visa waiver programme. It seems that you can only visit Ireland on a UK visa if you have a Tourist or Short term business visa. Bit of a bummer for us. I am here on a work visa and my wife on a dependant visa. Looks like we will need to get an Irish visa!

Here is the link to the exact wording on the Irish embassy website:
http://www.irelandinindia.com/home/index.aspx?id=86830

Update
Three of my friends have recently entered The Republic of Ireland under the visa-waiver programme, on a UK tourist visa. Also, my wife, who is on a UK resident visa (Tier-1 Dependant), had to apply for a tourist visa to Ireland (they gave her a single-entry visa). Note: The visa was issued to her FREE of cost and took 1 week to process.

New process for French Schengen Visa (guest post)

2011-06-20T21:10:00.000+10:00

Guest post by Kunal. He is a US resident, currently in the UK on a short-term visa (6 to 9 months).
-----------------------------------------------------

Visa Type: Schengen Visa (tourist)
Issuing Country: France
Application Centre: TLS Contact Center, near Olympia Tube station, London

Duration of Visa Granted: 6 months
Number of days stay granted: 90 days
Time taken for processing: 2 days

Requirements:
All the standard Schengen visa documents -- hotel bookings, flight bookings, photo, passport, application form, travel insurance, letter from employer, covering letter, bank statements, paychecks.

Experience:
We were able to make an appointment for one week later. There was a queue at the center and we were issued a number. Our number was not called and we saw people who came in after us being processed. When we brought that to the supervisor’s attention, she blamed it on a glitch and immediately asked us to proceed to the next available counter. The lady at the counter was nice and courteous and confirmed that we had submitted everything on the check list. The process took about 10 minutes.
We had submitted one confirmed itinerary and multiple travel plans over the next 4 months. We also had a one-year travel insurance policy. Our travel plans were for 10-12 days after the appointment. While they did not promise that we would receive the visa by that date, we received it on the third day.
Got an SMS e Email from VFS telling us that the application was sent to the French Embassy, and another SMS and Email when the Embassy returned our passports. Passport collection was painless as well.

Special Circumstances:
Since we are in London for a short-term (6-9 months) only, all our paychecks, bank statements were American. That did not seem to be a problem in obtaining the visa. There was also no problem with submitting printed copies of our paychecks and bank statements. We did have an employment verification letter from my employer in the UK.

Key points to keep in mind:
1. Book an appointment for applying. Plan ahead because appointments fill up fast.
2. Have all documents in order based on the checklist. They follow that checklist very strictly and having your documents in order will mean you spend less time on the counter.
3. List multiple travel plans over the duration that you wish to request visa for. This ensures that your need for a longer-term visa is explicit.
4. Make sure your travel insurance is valid across all planned trips otherwise you might end up with a shorter duration visa.

Tip about France: Get off the beaten path. Skip Paris and go south to the Alps. The pics below show a peak near Chamonix and sunset over Lac Leman.

Belgium Schengen Visa experience in London

2011-06-16T22:51:00.000+10:00

Visa Type: Schengen Visa (tourist)
Issuing Country: Belgium
Application Centre: VFS, Soho Square, London

Duration of Visa Granted: 3 months
Number of days stay granted: 14 days
Time taken for processing: 2 days

Requirements:
All the standard Schengen visa documents -- hotel bookings, flight bookings, photo, passport, application form, travel insurance, letter from employer, covering letter.

Experience:
There was a long queue at the VFS centre, but it moved quickly. Once inside the centre, we were issued a number. Our number was called within 10 minutes. We spent another 10 mins with the lady at the counter.

Got an SMS and Email from VFS telling us when the application was sent to the Belgian Embassy, and another SMS and Email when the Embassy returned our passports.

There was another queue to collect the passports. No appointment system for collection.

Overall very smooth experience.

Key points to keep in mind:
1. Book an appointment for applying.
2. Arrive 10-15 mins before appointment time (no earlier than that).
3. Arrive 15 mins early for collecting passport
4. Be prepared to stand in line (in the open-air) for 15-20 minutes at application and collection.
5. Costs an extra £26 per head to apply at VFS.

More on Turkey Visa on Arrival for Indians

2011-06-03T19:04:00.000+10:00

I have been getting questions about visa on arrivals for Indians in Turkey. While I don't have personal experience in this matter, I can only quote official sources.

Here is what CIBT have to say:

The traveller must:
* Hold a valid UK, Schengen or USA visa
* Hold the minimum of US$50.00 in cash on entry, per day of stay
* Hold a passport valid at least six months on entry with one blank visa page
* Hold proof of sufficient funds
* Hold proof of onward/return flights
* Hold all documents required for the next destination

Here is what the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs has to say:

India: Diplomatic passport holders are exempt from visa for their travels to Turkey up to 90 days. Ordinary, Special and Service passport holders are required to have visa to enter Turkey. Ordinary, Special and Service passport holders with a valid Schengen, UK or US visas may get their one month single entry visas at the Turkish border gates upon their arrival.

I hope this helps!

If you have personal experience with VOA in Turkey, please comment on this post

Entering Schengen Area before Visa Start date - not possible :)

2011-06-02T04:12:00.000+10:00

Well that is not surprising, now is it?

Someone I know closely recently planned to visit Paris. When they had checked in on the Eurostar at St. Pancras Station, and were at the immigration window, did they they realize there was a problem. The officer pointed out that they visa started 2 weeks later.

The officer then called a policeman, who escorted them out of the Eurostar area, and gave them a 'refused entry' paper. Not sure if this will affect their future visa applications.

But the lesson is, be sure that you don't try to travel to the Schengen area before the visa start date.

Lack of Polish - visa application mess at embassy of Poland

2011-05-22T22:49:00.000+10:00

Note: This is a description of my experience. I do not guarantee this will work for you. Please check with the relevant Poland consulate before applying. If you have further questions about the process, please comment on this post and ask.

Target Country: Poland / Schengen Area
Passport: India
Purpose: Tourism
Processing Office: Polish Consulate, London
Processing time: 2 weeks (10 working days)

Documents submitted:
1. Filled out form

2. Letter from Employer saying that I'm employed

3. Bank statements from last 3 months

4. One passport sized photograph, as per their specifications. Any regular photographer in London should be able to give you these.

5. Current passport

6. £58 processing fee per person. My wife and I applied together, so we paid £106

7. Flight bookings to and from the Schengen area, where the first/main destination is Poland.

8. Hotel bookings for each night in the Schengen area.

9. Travel insurance covering your entire stay.

Top Tips:
1. Get an appointment online before going

2. Appointment time doesn't mean anything. It will let you in through the door. Besides that, arrive at your convenience while the embassy is open.

3.Plan to spend at least 1 hour in queues, even with appointment.

4. If you want multiple entries, make sure you submit hotel and flight bookings for multiple journeys.

5. Don't get fooled by the long line outside the consulate. That is for people coming for passport renewals. With a visa appointment letter, you can go straight to the door.

Process & Experience:
First we got fooled by the long line outside the consulate. We stood there for 10 minutes, before someone suggested that we go to the door straight away, since we have an appointment letter. That was a huge time saver.

After entering the consulate, there was another queue. They have only 1 visa window, and typically take 10-15 mins to accept each application. We had about 6 applicants in front of us - so had to wait over an hour.

The lady at the window took photocopies of all our documents herself. So we didn't really have to take photocopies ourselves.

We submitted a copy of our marriage certificate too - but not sure that was necessary.

They took full 2 weeks to process the application. No plea for a quick processing made any difference to them. But the real Shock came when my wife went and picked up the passports.

They had given us a 2-week Mutliple entry visa!!!! How useless is that!! So we can only go on one trip!! This puts us in a difficult situation, since we were planning 2 trips to Europe about 3 weeks apart.

Complete mess. The lady at the counter then graciously (sarcasm!!) says that we should have submitted bookings for future travel as well. No where on their website did it say so. And my previous experience with Schengen visas from other countries taught me that you don't really need to show bookings for future trips, when applying for the visa. Just for the first trip!! Clearly the Polish consulate does not have well defined or well documented processes. They don't follow what other embassies do, and they don't make their own requirements clear up front.

This was overall a disappointing experience for us. I see no reason for applying to the Polish embassy again. The only reason we applied now was because we got a quick appointment. But obviously that was because of f***ed up processes at the embassy.

First Time Cruising - Indian in the Caribbean

2011-05-18T23:53:00.000+10:00

Being Indian, two things struck me soon after I boarded the Celebrity Summit in Puerto Rico:
1. My wife and I were part of a small minority among the passengers (under 45 years old, non-white, childless couples).
2. The staff on the Ship was predominantly Hindi speaking.

This was unsurprising. Indians tend to put up with a lot of hardship, to make a living. But we, as a nation, are not as happy to spend our hard earned money on luxuries. The staff on the ship typically spends 6 months at sea, at a stretch. Living in cramped quarters, getting shore leave once every 2 or 3 weeks for half a day. Not an ideal life.

It was easy to feel out of place, but at the same time completely ignore everyone else on the ship. The population was predominantly white republican Americans, aged over 45. We couldn't really find anything in common with them, and after the first day, stopped going to 'social events' on the ship. It was funny when the ship's stand-up comedian asked "who here likes Obama". The theatre echoed with "boos".

The ship was luxurious though. A bit excessive even. The service was impeccable and we were made to feel very welcome and well looked after. But we also had to cough up $25 a day in tips, in addition to the cost of the cruise. They had an excellent Gym & Spa. The pool was boring and small. The food was good, but not so good if you are vegetarian like us.

Top tips for first time cruisers (especially Indians):
1. No need for visas (or even passports) in Caribbean ports. But carry photocopies of your passport anyway.
2. Bad idea carrying passports to shore excursions -- it can get wet or stolen. I managed to drench my drivers license and about $20 cash.
3. Carry a photo ID other than your passport -- will need that to get back on the ship.
4. No need to buy a 'drinks package' in advance, unless you plan on heavy drinking.
5. All food was included, at least on this ship. Except for one fancy restaurant.
6. Avoid ship organised shore excursions when you can -- crowded and generally not worth the price. Explore on your own.
7. Plan a budget before going, and then double it. Your holiday is guaranteed to turn out to be VERY expensive.

French Polynesia Visa for Indian Citizens

2011-04-14T23:29:00.001+10:00

Updated - see the end of this postMy wife has Bora Bora at the top of her list of 'dream destinations'. I have been trying to figure out if we need a visa, and how to get the visa. Turns out the French embassies issue a 'Dom Tom' visa applicable to some of its overseas territories.

The 'Dom Tom' visa is applicable to the following overseas regions of France: Guadeloupe, Martinique, Reunion Island, Guyana, New Caledonia, French Polynesia, French Southern Territories, St. Pierre and Miquelon or Mayotte. The application for this should be made at your nearest French embassy.

The more travel-savvy reader would know that Bora Bora is part of French Polynesia, along with Tahiti and a bunch of other islands and atolls.

If you hold a Schengen visa, you can not use it for French Polynesia (or any other Dom Tom territories). Similarly, a Dom Tom visa will not get you into main land France or the Schengen zone.

See this link for more details: http://www.ambafrance-uk.org/Different-types-of-visa.html

We received the following information from the TLS contact centre in London, where the France Visa applications are made

The French Polynesia visa process is exactly the same as a Schengan visa, except that in the registration one has to mention 'French Overseas territory' as the destination.The visa appointment can be made online: www.tlscontact.com/gb2frIndian passport holders have to apply in person.The list of required documents will be revealed when the application is filled in online (I will share this in a couple of days).Here is much more information on the Dom-Tom visas:https://www.tlscontact.com/gb2fr/help.php?id=def_DOM_TOM_CTOM Update Just applied and got this visa. It is as explained above. Process is identical to Schengen, but the cost is lower (around £7.5 + TLS contact centre fees). In London, the French embassy has outsourced visa applications to TLS. Hence one needs to apply through them. Validity of visa starts on my intended date of arrival in Tahiti and ends about 2 weeks after my intended date of departure.

Pirating the Caribbean - Visas on the high seas

2011-03-23T23:39:00.004+11:00

My wife and I had planned to honeymoon in the Caribbean, but had some rather funny visa problems ( see old post ). So we ended up going to Hawaii instead.

Now we plan to pirate the Caribbean sea once again. We have signed up for a cruise on Celebrity Solstice, departing Puerto Rico (USA) and returning to Puerto Rico. The table below lists destinations the ship is visiting, and the visa situation.

Destination	Visa on Cruise	Visa Otherwise	Motivation to go
Puerto Rico (USA)	Need a valid US visa to enter Puerto Rico. The cruise starts from here, and we arrive here by air.	Valid US visa needed
St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands	Valid US visa needed. The cruise company has advised us that we require a US visa for the US Virgin Islands, despite going there for 1 day on a cruise.	Valid US Visa Needed
Sint Maarten / Saint Martin	Cruise Ship passengers do not require a visa for stays of less than 48 hours.	The Dutch embassy in London (and I assume other cities around the world) issues visas to Sint Maarten. Not sure if the French Embassy issues visas for Saint Martin. FYI, the island is shared by Netherlands and France.
Antigua	Cruise Ship Passengers do not require a visa to Antigua & Barbuda	Tourist visa required by Indian passport holders. There is no Antiguan embassy in India. However, their High Commission in London will accept applications from Indian nationals.
St. Lucia	Cruise Ship Passengers do not require a visa to St. Lucia	I have written to the High Commission to find out. I have read somewhere that Commonwealth citizens do not require a visa
Barbados	Cruise Ship Passengers do not require a visa to Barbados	Tourist visa required by Indian passport holders. There is no Barbados embassy in India. However, their High Commission in London will accept applications from Indian nationals.

Hope this helps you plan your travels to the region!

Update:
I am just finishing up this trip. I had no trouble at all with visas. My US B1/B2 visa was perfectly valid for Puerto Rico (this was my 3rd entry to the USA on this visa). I have had no trouble using the B1/B2 visa for business and tourism. No other country on this trip demanded a visa (or even a passport).

Sources:
St. Maarten: http://www.dutchembassyuk.org/consular/index.php?i=538
Antigua & Barbuda: http://www.antigua-barbuda.org/Agtip01.htm
St. Lucia: http://www.stlucia.gov.lc/faq/do_i_need_a_visa_to_enter_saint_lucia.htm#Visa_Fees_And_Exemptions

USA - Second Entry on a B1/B2 Visa

2010-12-20T21:49:00.000+11:00

I recently visited the USA on a B1/B2 visa. I had got this visa 4 years ago for a business trip as a 'Business Visa'. This year I visited as a Tourist. Had no trouble at all. The immigration officer at Honolulu airport was really nice too - he recommended restaurants around town and had a nice chat with us. Probably the most pleasant immigration experience I have had anywhere in the World so far.

However, flying within the USA remains as painful as ever. Long queues, inflexible officials, cumbersome security checks, crap service in American Airlines First Class - the usual. Seriously, the economy-class on most Asian airlines (Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Japan Airlines, Jet Airways, Etihad - to name a few) is way better than First Class on American Airlines. We were simply and rudely told by an stewardess 'We do not carry vegetarian food on Domestic flights' - and this was a 5 hour flight from Hawaii to LA.

Another annoying thing about US airports - the car rental agencies seem to be located a fair distance from the terminal. On two occasions, I had to drop off my wife and the luggage at the terminal (left her standing there with the bags) and then had to drive off to the rental place to return the car. Wife had to wait around for nearly 30 mins while I returned the car and took the shuttle back to the terminal. Lesson -- if you have a rental car -- plan for an extra 30 mins of delays.

But - Hawaii was beautiful. See attached photos.

Barbados, Antigua & Barbuda Visa Experience - Indian Passport

2010-10-12T00:29:00.000+11:00

Problem: Antigua & Barbuda and Barbados, both don't have embassies or consulates in India.

So I could not find a legal way to apply for a visa to these countries for my fiancee, who is currently in India, without getting her to fly to London.

The High Commissions of Antigua & Barbuda and Barbados both recommended applying for a visa in London. But Indian passport authorities clearly warned against sending a passport abroad with someone else. The penalty for such an action could be Jail for the person carrying the passport, and a 10 year ban for getting a new passport (I don't have a link/reference to support this. But this is the response my fiancee got from a senior passport officer).

Result: No trip to Antigua & Barbuda or Barbados this winter!

UK Tier-1 Post Study Visa - Welsh Hospitality!

2010-08-31T02:59:00.001+10:00

Note: This is a description of my experience. I do not guarantee this will work for you. Please check with the UK Border Agency before applying. If you have further questions about the process, please comment on this post and ask.

Target Country: UK
Passport: India
Purpose: Work (Post Study)
Processing Office: Cardiff, UK
Documents submitted:
1. Filled out form (See UK Border Agency Website). It is important that the applicant has enough points - this is a point based system.

2. Letter from University stating that I have successfully completed the course (It has to be an approved course from an approved institution). This letter can only be issued once you have graduated. My college had the option of graduating early -- those who graduated early, were able to apply for their visas early.

3. Bank statements from last 3 months - showing that I had at least £800 in my account for the last 3 months before applying. A printout with the bank's stamp on it sufficed. (Note: If applying from outside the UK, you have to show £2800 for a single applicant for 3 months. The amount is higher if you have dependants).

4. Two passport sized photographs, as per the specifications of the Border Agency. Any regular photographer in London should be able to give you these.

5. Current passport

6. My older passport (this had my student visa, but the passport had expired).

7. £800 processing fee (I made a premium application in person for fast processing. Normal postal applications within the UK cost £550 at present).

Process & Experience:
It is possible to get the Tier-1 visa in 1 day. For this you need a premium appointment at one of the UK Border Agency's offices. These appointments are very difficult to get. You must book one a month in advance. It also helps to ring everyday and hope someone cancels (this is what I did!).

After ringing for 3 days in a row (ringing a premium number, set me back by £20 in total), I got an appointment at the Cardiff office. The catch was that Cardiff cannot print visa labels. While they can approve/reject your application on the same day, they normally send your passport by courier to Sheffield (or another office) for pasting the visa in your passport. I got my passport back 3 days after I applied.

The people on the phone were very friendly and helpful. I have never spoken with more helpful, efficient and polite government employees. After confirming my appointment, an officer from the Cardiff office rang me, and made sure I understood all requirements. He was extremely polite too.

Upon reaching the Cardiff office, I was let in by the security guards (who held on to my phone and other electronics). I recommend carrying a good book, since you may have to sit around for some time. After a 5 min wait, the officer called me, checked my application and asked me to pay. After paying, I went out and sat in a cafe for 1.5 hours. Then I had to return to the office and wait for another 30 mins. Then the lady came and gave me a letter saying that my visa had been approved. And I was free to go.

The passport came 3 days later by courier.

Overall - a very pleasant experience. The people at the Cardiff office were very helpful and friendly. A little more expensive than the normal postal route, but you save almost 6 weeks! So totally worth it.

Manchester & Birmingham

2010-08-30T11:18:00.000+10:00

I spent the day yesterday traveling to Manchester and Birmingham. Its always interesting to see the lives of Indian expats in the British Midlands. The most striking experience was a conversation I had with a middle-aged Gujarati gentleman who had emigrated to Britain in the 60s. He, and others like him, have lived a tough life. He spent his early childhood in rural Gujarat. Then one day his father, who was a farmer, decided to take him away to Mombasa (Kenya) - where he received his high-school education. Then to avoid persecution during the nationalist movements of Central Africa in the 60s, this gentleman moved to the Midlands without a penny to his name. He struggled through labour-jobs in racist factories. He became an electrician, though he wasn't qualified. Through holding many such jobs, he got a house, brought his parents over to England, and raised a happy family, giving his kids all the opportunities and comforts he could only have dreamt of in his childhood. His is an inspiring life. And such are the stories of many immigrants in Britain.

In Manchester, I went to see a premier league football match - my first.

I even met Denis Irwin and got the chance to hold the Carling cup in my hand. I wish I knew who Denis was and what the Carling cup was. I had to explain to my friends later (after I did my research) that Denis was like the Kapil Dev of football, and the Carling Cup was like the Ranji Trophy. And like a true Indian, I wasn't satisfied with seeing the Old Trafford football ground. I went and paid homage to the Lancashire County Cricket Club (or the Old Trafford Cricket Ground). I even wanted to end the night at the "Curry Mile" of Manchester, but the horrendous post-match traffic, moving at 5 miles an hour, made sure I didn't make it :)

But it was a fun trip. Went to a nice pub called the Britons Protection. This was rated as one of the best places for a pint in my Lonely Planet guide - and Lonely Planet is always right. If you are ever in Manchester, ensure you go there and try the "Witches Cauldron" (I think I got the name right) beer. And Gay-pride parade is quite a spectacle too!

Where can I travel on a UK visa?

2010-08-28T02:33:00.002+10:00

Having a UK visa in your Indian passport can get you easier entry into some other countries too. I will try to keep this post updated as I get new information.

Please note, the information below is current as of the date of posting, and in general is only applicable for Indian passport holders.

Type of UK Visa	Country of visit	Notes	Link
Any valid UK visa	Turkey	Ordinary, Special and Service passport holders with a valid Schengen, UK or US visas may get their one month single entry visas at the Turkish border gates upon their arrival.	http://www.mfa.gov.tr/visa-information-for-foreigners.en.mfa
Any valid UK visa	Taiwan	Passport holders of India, Thailand, Philippines, Viet Nam, Indonesia, who also possess a valid visa or permanent residence certificate issued by U.S.A., Canada, Japan, U.K., Schengen Convention countries, Australia or New Zealand. Travelers meeting the above qualifications and having never been employed in Taiwan as blue-collar workers, have to first register information concerning their documents and personal data into the “Advance Online Registration System for the Visitors of Nationals from Five Southeast Asian Countries to Taiwan”. Upon completion, the printed confirmation is used to validate the traveler during the boarding and the immigration check. During the immigration check, travelers who can not show a valid visa or permanent resident visa issued by one of the aforementioned developed countries will not be admitted into the country.	http://www.boca.gov.tw/ct.asp?xItem=1443&ctNode=536&mp=2
Permanent Residence of the UK or Any valid USA visa	Mexico	According to the new regulations, from the 1st of May 2010 it is not necessary to apply for a Mexican visa if you hold a valid visa from the United States of America -regardless the nationality- . Immigration authorities in Mexico will ask for your US visa and a valid passport when you arrive Permanent residents in Canada, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States of America or the Schengen countries wishing to travel to Mexico do not require visa to enter the country as tourists and business visitors for a 180-day stay and as visitors in transit up to a 30-day stay. They must obtain a blue tourist card (FMTTV migration form) from the airlines on direct flights to Mexico and ports of entry into Mexico	Link to Embassy of Mexico in London

Countries where Indians do not need a visa

2010-08-28T00:28:00.001+10:00

Apparently there are places we Indians can travel to without visas. There are surprisingly more than 50 of these, if we are to believe Wikipedia (click here for list of countries).

Most interesting one is Turkey. I think this is a recent change in their law. The Turkish Ministry of Foreign affairs website states that Indian passport holders with a UK/Schengen or US visa can get a 1-month visa upon arrival. I wanted to visit Turkey back in April 2010, and then I was advised by the embassy, the travel agent and the Turkey MFA website that I do need to apply for a visa, despite having a UK resident visa.

Here are some interesting excerpts from the Wikipedia list ....

Egypt (Sinai resorts area)
Seychelles
British Virgin Islands
Ecuador
Jamaica
Trinidad & Tobago
Bhutan
Hong Kong
Macau
Nepal
Sri Lanka
Ireland -- special case -- only if you have a valid UK tourist/business (short term) visa.
Fiji
Vanuatu

All the above are fascinating tourist destinations. If they are not on your bucket-list already, put them on there. They definitely are on mine!

Visa Barometer

2010-08-27T18:24:00.003+10:00

This economist article compares a number of countries based on freedom of international travel. Doesn't add any new insight, but still interesting to see how citizens of the leading new economies of the World are not welcome anywhere!

http://economist.com/node/16885221

Malaysia - Bureaucratic Jumble! (Malaysian Visa Application Experience)

2010-03-21T19:14:00.003+11:00

Visa Status -- DENIED!
Target Country: Malaysia
Passport: Indian Passport
Visa Type: Business Visa
Processing Consulate/Embassy: Malaysian High Commission, New Delhi, India
Documents submitted:
1. Signed form
2. Photocopy of international credit card
3. Two passport sized photos (see below for details).
4. Covering letter from company saying they are sponsoring me
5. Ticket & Hotel information from company
6. Financial information from company

Experience:
Talk about stupidity. The embassy asked for 2 photographs, 4.5 x 3.5 cms, with my face on a WHITE background. The photos I submitted, apparently did not have the exact shade of white they wanted.

I have used the same set of photos before. Infact my passport has the same photo! I don't see what's wrong with it.

Anyway, they wanted me to fly to Delhi again (already did once to submit the application) and go to the embassy for a face-to-face "interview" and bring new photos.

Are they serious?? Do they really think that someone who is backed by strong bank accounts and excellent education will want to stay in Malaysia illegally? In Malaysia?? A third world country? Really? If my fellow Indians have done that in the past, I feel sorry for them.

Anyway I didn't have time to fly back to the embassy. So bad luck!

French Efficiency (Schengen visa application experience - France)

2009-09-04T22:54:00.003+10:00

Target Country: France (Schengen Zone)
Passport: Indian Passport
Visa Type: Tourist Visa (Schengen Visa)
Processing Consulate/Embassy: French Embassy, London, UK
Documents submitted:

Tickets to and from France (electronic itinerary was acceptable).
Hotel bookings for every night spent in Schengen Zone (must be direct email/fax from the hotel, not from a travel agency).
As I applied for a multiple entry visa, I submitted supporting documents for 2 trips (to the Schengen zone), but they only took the documents for France and ignored the rest. So, I bought air tickets and accommodation for Germany in a hurry for nothing!

GBP £52 (approx) fee in Cash or Card (credit & debit accepted).
Filled application form
2 additional filled forms

Valid passport (at least 3 months validity)
Letter from my School saying that I'm a student (less than 1 month old!!)
Bank statements for the last 1 month (online printout acceptable).
1 Photo
Proof of Travel Insurance for the entire period you wish to have a visa for(Certificate stating my name and details of policy).

Experience:
Quite smooth. Appointment was made online. They release new appointments every Thursday at 3 PM. By 3.30 PM all slots are taken. So be quick!

There was a long queue to enter the embassy. Despite an "appointment" I had to wait 30 mins to enter the embassy. Then it took about 1.5 hours further to pay the fee and submit the application. After submitting, I got my passport with the visa in 45 mins. The whole process from Queuing to getting the visa took under 3 hours. Very impressive!! Compare this to Czech republic and Finland.

They gave me only a 2 month multiple entry Schengen visa - despite my having insurance for the next 18 months!
The staff were very nice enough. I did not try contacting them before the appointment, so I can't comment on their responsiveness.

Croatia Visa (Experience applying for a Croatian Visa)

2009-03-19T22:16:00.004+11:00

Target Country: Croatia
Passport: Indian Passport
Visa Type: Tourist Visa
Processing Consulate/Embassy: Croatian Embassy, London, UK
Documents submitted:

Tickets to and from Croatia.
Hotel bookings for every night spent in Croatia.

GBP £35 (approx) fee payable at HSBC bank.
Filled application form
Valid passport
Letter from my School saying that I'm a student
Bank statements for the last 6 months (online printout acceptable).
1 Photo
Proof of Travel Insurance (Certificate stating my name and details of policy).

Experience:
Very smooth. I didn't need an appointment. There was literally no queue here either. Took me 45 mins to submit the application (had to step out in the middle to find an HSBC and pay the fee). The visa was processed in 3 days and it was easy enough to pick my passport up.

They refused to issue a multiple entry visa. Only single entry.
The staff were very nice and willing to accommodate requests such as quicker processing.

All in Czech (Czech Republic Schengen Visa experience)

2009-03-19T22:11:00.005+11:00

Target Country: Czech Republic (Schengen Zone)
Passport: Indian Passport
Visa Type: Tourist Schengen Visa
Processing Consulate/Embassy: Czech Embassy, London, UK
Documents submitted:

Tickets to and from Schengen Zone (electronic itinerary was acceptable).
Hotel bookings for every night spent in Schengen Zone.
As I applied for a multiple entry visa, I submitted supporting documents for 3 trips.

GBP £54 (approx) fee in CASH.
Filled application form
Valid passport
Letter from my School saying that I'm a student
Bank statements for the last 6 months (online printout acceptable).
1 Photo
Proof of Travel Insurance (Certificate stating my name and details of policy).
(Travel insurance should be valid for multiple entries for 6 months).

Experience:
Quite smooth. I needed an appointment. Cost me £10 in phone costs to make the appointment. There is a waiting time of about 10 days in getting an appointment.

Took me 10 mins to submit the application. The visa was processed in 10 days and it was easy enough to pick my passport up. Note: there were special times for submitting and picking up passports. I could only pick it up between 1.15pm and 3pm on weekdays. This was an inconvenience.

They gave me a 6 month multiple entry Schengen visa.
The staff were very nice and were responsive via email.

A smooth Finnish (Finland Schengen Visa experience)

2009-03-19T22:05:00.005+11:00

Target Country: Finland (Schengen Zone)
Passport: Indian Passport
Visa Type: Tourist Schengen Visa
Processing Consulate/Embassy: London, UK
Documents submitted:

Tickets to and from Finland (electronic itinerary was acceptable).
Hotel bookings for every night spent in Schengen Zone.

GBP £50 (approx) fee in CASH.
Filled application form
Valid passport
Letter from my School saying that I'm a student
Bank statements for the last 6 months (online printout acceptable).
1 Photo
Proof of Travel Insurance (Certificate stating my name and details of policy).

Experience:
Very smooth. I didn't need an appointment. There was literally no queue. Took me 10 mins to submit the application (had to step out in the middle to find an ATM for the fee). The visa was processed in 1 week and it was easy enough to pick my passport up.

They refused to issue a multiple entry Schengen visa. Only single entry.
The staff were very nice and were responsive via email.

New Zealand - (No visa required)

2008-10-13T11:45:00.003+11:00

Target Country: New Zealand
Passport: Indian Passport

I have a 'Permanent Resident' visa of Australia.
This is recognized in New Zealand as well.
I was able to enter New Zealand without an additional visa.
As an Australian Permanent Resident, I am allowed to remain indefinitely in New Zealand.
I am allowed to work in New Zealand too.

Viva Britannia (UK Student Visa experience)

2008-08-06T15:44:00.004+10:00

Target Country: United Kingdom (UK) or Great Britain
Passport: Indian Passport
Visa Type: Student Visa
Processing Consulate/Embassy: British High Commission, New Delhi, India
Documents submitted:

GBP 100 fee (Bank draft of Indian Rupee equivalent) made out to "British High Commission" (UK High Commission was not acceptable)
Filled application form
Valid passport
Original Bank statements for the last 6 months
Original passbooks for Indian bank accounts
Original passbooks of parents (sponsors)
Financial statements (certified by chartered accountants) detailing stock holdings
Original letter from the University saying that I have gained admission and paid part of the fee
Original letter from bank confirming student loan
Passport Sized Picture (taken on the spot, when submitting application)
Email trail discussing and confirming admissions interview with an alumnus.
Email of Visa Appointment confirmation
IELTS Certificate
Graduation certificate and transcript from Undergraduate studies
Transcripts from Class X and Class XII examinations
Income Tax Returns (photocopies) for me and my sponsors

Experience:
Relatively pain less. The application was made through VFS Global - a third party that acts as the front end to the visa offices of various consulates in India. They were very helpful and responsive. The only thing lacking was a complete list of instructions on what to bring. Once I reached, I was told that my passport sized photo was inadequate and that I needed a whole bunch of photocopies. But on the whole, it was a very smooth process.

Recommendation: Make sure you have originals AND photocopies of all documents (including passport).

Time frame: 6 working days
Number of embassy visits: 2 (well, 2 visits to the VFS office, not the embassy.)

Most painful visa process ever! (Chile Visa Experience)

2008-05-16T12:15:00.003+10:00

Target Country: Chile
Passport: Indian Passport
Visa Type: Tourist Visa
Processing Consulate/Embassy: Melbourne, Australia
Documents submitted:

Onwards tickets (electronic itinerary was acceptable).
Letter from a friend in Chile inviting me to stay. (luckily I knew someone there).
AUD$48 fee.
Filled application form
Valid passport
Letter from my employer saying that I'm employed
A letter from me explaining why I want to visit Chile
Bank statements (certified by the bank) for the last 6 months

Experience:
Very painful. Obviously no one at the consulate knew what they were doing. It took me 1 week to get a list of required documents and the application process from them (at least 5 phone calls, and emails). Even then, they gave me an incomplete list of documents. Wasted another week because I needed an appointment to go submit my application. Then they tell me I need more documents. So another week wasted to make another appointment. Then they had to seek approval from their ministry in Chile. That took 10 days or so. I had to go in again to submit my passport and payment. Then I had to go again a week later to get my passport with the visa back from them.

All this for a 6 day transit in Chile.

Recommendation: If you need a visa for Chile, you better have lots of spare time on your hands, and you better have a friend in Chile.

Time frame: 6 weeks.
Number of embassy visits: 4

Land of Smiles ... (Thailand Visa Experience)

2008-04-29T17:04:00.003+10:00

Target Country: Thailand
Passport: Indian Passport
Visa Purpose: Tourist Visa
Processing Consulate/Embassy: Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport
Documents submitted:

Onwards tickets (electronic itinerary was acceptable).
Address in Thailand.
Baht 1000 fee (cash was OK).
Filled application form (available at Bangkok Airport)
1 passport-sized photos
Valid passport

Experience:
Too easy! You just turn up at Bangkok Airport (or most other ports of entry in Thailand) and you apply for the visa at a dedicated desk before the immigrations area. There was no queues.

Time frame: 5 minutes.

In Llama land ...(Peru visa experience)

2008-04-24T11:34:00.005+10:00

Target Country: Peru
Passport: Indian Passport
Visa Type: Tourist Visa
Visa Processing Consulate/Embassy: Sydney, Australia
Documents submitted:

Signed letter from current employer stating employment status and salary
Return tickets (electronic itinerary was acceptable).
Detailed itinerary of travel plans within Peru (including transportation and accommodation).
AUD $45 fee (money order or bank draft).
Filled application form (http://www.embaperu.org.au/embassy/visas.html#tourist)
Two passport-sized photos
Valid passport

Experience:
Don't take the information posted on the embassy website for granted. Double check! Always!
My travel agent asked me for documents listed on the website. But then I had to later supply 1 more photo and that letter from my employer. This delayed the process by 1 week. So the total time to get the visa was 2 weeks.

Time frame: 2 weeks.

Intro

2008-04-21T17:12:00.000+10:00

Let me first introduce myself. I am a 26 year old male Indian citizen (on an Indian Passport) living in Australia as a permanent resident. I refuse to take up Australian Citizenship because I hate the thought of standing in the 'foreigner' queue at Delhi Airport with the huge parties of Sardar-jis from Canada. No offence to the Sardar-jis, but I just hate to be a foreigner in my own land!

So, the price I pay is putting up with being treated suspiciously by every country on Earth (except, notably Hong Kong and Nepal). I am yet to find a country that doesn't need me to prove that I won't deplete their precious resources before they let me in. In this blog I will describe my visa and travel related experiences - one country at a time.

The information presented here should not be believed completely, and you should still contact the embassies/consulates of the concerned countries for up-to-date and complete travel info.