Loading ...
India is one of about half of the countries in the world which require a visa for US citizens. Some of those countries you can purchase a visa upon arrival at the airport, some you must get your visa or arrange for your visa in advance. India is a country that requires a visa in advance.
I always begin my visa research by going to the country’s embassy website here: http://www.indianembassy.org/newsite/default.asp
India has outsourced its visa processing to a company, Travisa outsourcing at https://indiavisa.travisaoutsourcing.com/homepage
The excellent website has very clear instructions and details all of the items you need to send with your visa application. I must say that while I have applied for a number of visas from embassies or consulates, I’ve never had to mail in a copy of my birth certificate or provide proof of my address via a driver’s license or a utility bill. Each country has different requirements.
The visa application is filled out online. The format gives you instructions for each line or box you have to fill in. You then print out your application and send it in with your passport and the required documentation.
India has the option for US citizens of a 6 month ($60), 5 year ($150) or 10 year ($150) visa. All visas have a $13 service fee added to the cost. We felt the 10 year visa was a good idea, as this is only our first trip to India – we know there will be others. As you can see, it’s also a good deal, price-wise.
We sent our visa applications, documentation and passports via Federal Express so it can be tracked. The Travisa website also has tracking information online, so once our applications have been received, we can track its progress.
|
