All visa services have been suspended until further notice.Please note that India Consulates are closed for much of early October, from October 2–6. For those of you who have India visa applications ready to go, be sure to submit them as early as possible to avoid this delay.
Please note that India Consulates are closed for much of early October, from October 2–6. For those of you who have India visa applications ready to go, be sure to submit them as early as possible to avoid this delay.
If you require expedited service, due to this delays, Passport Visas Express.com can work around any deadline. Call us at
1-888-596-6028 or email us at
CustomerSupport@passportvisasexpress.com. Chat with our friendly representatives with our speedy chat program, and let’s talk scheduling.
India now requires a copy of your passport information page be submitted along with your passport, supporting documents, and visa application. Visa applicants will need to make a clear and legible copy of the information page (the page with your passport photograph) of the passport.
This requirement does not replace the need to send your physical passport. Your passport must be presented to the Embassy- the Embassy will issue the visa on one of the blank visa pages of the passport. The copy of your passport will be submitted along with your visa application and remain with the Embassy.
Effective May 16, 2014, the India Consulate General has changed the outsourcing company the Indian government employs for all visa applications to India in the United States. BLS International will no longer be the middleman to whom you apply for an India visa. Instead, Cox and Kings will replace BLS, beginning May 21, 2014. If you are applying for a visa to India around this time, please be aware that the Indian government is accepting only new applications for emergency visas between May 16 and May 21.
(India emergency visas are reserved for naturalized US citizens of Indian descent who must return to India swiftly for urgent reasons. If you require an emergency visa to India, please contact us at
1-888-596-6028 or
CustomerSupport@passportvisasexpress.com.)
For new applicants: For new applicants: Any applicant needing a visa must apply before May 16 before the lights go dark at BLS. Cox and Kings does not expect to assume visa responsibilities with the public until May 21 meaning there will be no possibility to obtain a visa during this time.
If this sounds like a headache to you, it certainly is. Transitions between visa outsourcing companies for the embassy can be thorny, especially with BLS, which was known for poor service and stolen visas. Need some clarity on your
visa to India? Choose Passport Visas Express.com. With our fifteen years’ experience of dealing with transitions and different visa entities, we can
guarantee your visa application will be received and responded to in whatever time frame you need.
We offer multiple options for how soon you need your
India visa application per your busy schedule. We review your application thoroughly to ensure maximum chances of visa approval, and then we hand deliver your application in-person to the Embassy of India.
Is there any reason for you to deal with a visa application by yourself while the Indian government transfers visa responsibilities from one company to another? Absolutely not! Feel free to call us at 1-888-596-6028, email us at
CustomerSupport@passportvisasexpress.com, or use our easy chat program to reach a representative! We look forward to hearing from you!
For customers with pending applications: For those of you who have an application for an India visa already submitted, expect delays to your visa process. The transition time could be tricky, especially given BLS’s record of service with its customers (more below on that).
If your India visa application was submitted through Passport Visas Express.com, be assured that we are on top of the situation and keeping track of your visa application status. You will receive your visa response within the expected time frame, per our visa guaranteed accuracy and security. If you have any questions, our excellent customer service is ready to answer them. Please call us at
1-888-596-6028, email us at
CustomerSupport@passportvisasexpress.com, or use our easy chat program to reach a representative.
Not sure what a visa outsourcing company or middleman does for the Embassy of India? Click here for our quick explanation on
how it all works.
Passport Visas Express.com has been informed that the reason for the change is due to
customer dissatisfaction with BLS International. Numerous complaints, reports of excessive delays, and a recent scandal of stolen visas have all pressured the Indian government to switch companies. There’s reason to believe that Cox and Kings will do a better job, since it has experience processing visas to India in for citizens of Italy and the United Arab Emirates.
Until then, Passport Visas Express.com is happy to take care of your visa needs. There are a ton of ways to reach us: try our easy chat service, or call us at
1-888-596-6028, or email us at
CustomerSupport@passportvisasexpress.com; and be assured that we’ll have your visa application under control!
Planning on traveling to India? Whether you’re a tourist or on business, your schedule will depend on the hours the Indian embassy is open. Please note the Consulate General is closed on all US national holidays as well as Indian holidays. These are all the dates the embassy is closed in 2014:
January 1, 26
April 13, 18
May 14, 26
July 4, 29
August 15, 18
September 1
October 2, 3, 6, 23
November 6, 27
December 25
Please plan your application accordingly. If you have any questions about what you need to attain your visa, feel free to contact our customer service at us
1-888-596-6028, or live chat with our friendly representatives. Passport Visas Express.com has experts ready to answer any question or help you deliver your visa or passport applications!
Since the Indian Government employed middleman BLS to “streamline” the Indian visa applications submission process, it’s no secret that applying has become much harder, more expensive, and that
your chances of being rejected are far higher. A missing piece of information, poor choice of words, or simply attaching your passport photo incorrectly or using the wrong size passport photo can cause your visa application to be rejected—what’s worse you lose time and money spent on consular fees in the process—from $70 to $160!
If you are unlucky enough to have had your Indian visa application rejected you know what an inconvenience and expense this is—rejected visa applicants must reapply and pay the same consular fees all over again.
Here at
Passport Visas Express.com, we offer an exclusive, premium service called the
Visa Pre-Check Service. If you are having trouble or are pressed for time, we can help. Place an order and contact us—we can complete the India visa application on your behalf. This will save you the time, money, and aggravation of completing the electronic India visa application form, and give you
peace of mind.
Let our fifteen years’ of experience serve you! Contact us today. You can email us at
CustomerSupport@passportvisasexpress.com, call us at
1-888-596-6028, or chat with our friendly online representatives today!
If you’re looking for a visa to India, you may have noticed a change to how the Embassy of India conducts its visa processing. The India Consulate General previously used Travisa Outsourcing as its middleman for all visa applications, but due to a new Indian law and legislation, New Dehli company BLS International is now taking over for all Indian visas.
The bottom line: BLS International is the middleman that all persons and entities seeking visas to India must go through.
This change took place recently, in July 1, 2013, and is applicable to all visa applications.
Tourists and other travelers should take note that potential delays are in order during this time. Business travelers especially should notify their contacts and employers of the change in procedure.
If you’re unsure of how this could impact your plans and seek visa assistance, help is at your fingertips. Call us at
1-888-596-6028, or email us at
CustomerSupport@passportvisasexpress.com. Regardless of changes to India’s visa applying process, Passport Visas Express.com has been working with the Indian consulate for over fifteen years and delivering visas to satisfied customers. We offer rush rates and are happy to work with your schedule.
If you are a US passport holder and wish to travel to India, you must have a visa. Visas are issued by the Consulate General of India, and some visa types even require approval by various ministries in the Indian government before a visa can be issued.
To apply for your visa click on the name.
This visa is for tourists or those traveling to India for any personal reasons, and is valid for up to 6 months. For those who wish to visit India multiple times, there is generally a 2-month waiting period required between visits. If you are of Indian descent or are family members with an employee, businessperson, or student in India, you may be eligible for the Entry visa—see details below.
This visa is for those working in companies
outside of the India, intending to conduct any kind of business in India. A maximum stay of 5 years with multiple entries is possible.
Employment Visa
Distinct from the business visa, this visa is intended for those working
for Indian entities, such as foreign nationals hired by a company in India. This is valid for up to one year, and extensions may be granted.
Student Visa
This visa is for current students attending universities or other institutions in India. Those studying aspects of traditional Indian culture, such as yoga or dance, should also apply for this visa. The student visa may be valid for up to five years and extended.
Research Visa
Intended for researchers, scholars, participants of conferences, this visa requires more time to be cleared by the government of India. Six weeks of lead time is recommended.
The official visa is the only type issued directly by the Consulate General of India, intended for those involved in US-India diplomacy.
Journalist Visa
Good for three months, this visa is for professional journalists and photographers.
Conference Visa
This visa is issued for only specific cases in which the government of India holds an international conference and foreign nationals are invited.
Missionary Visa
Good for a single entry, this visa is intended for those visiting India for religious reasons.
Sports Visa
This visa is intended for professional and amateur athletes, judges, and referees.
This is a special visa for those of Indian descent or those who are family members with someone with a Business, Employment, Research, or Student visa in India (proof of kinship or marriage, and visa are required). This visa permits multiple entries without a 2-month gap.
The transit visa is for those passing through India to another final destination, for a maximum stay of 3 days.
Can’t decide which visa you need? Need support on your application? Help yourself by letting us help you! Here at Passport Visas Express.com, we do our best to free up your schedule. Give us a call or a chat, and we can walk you through your application, review it, and deliver it to the necessary offices. We represent
you and all your visa needs—to India, and the world.
Since October 2007, the Indian Consulate(s) General as well as the Indian Embassy in Washington, DC has employed a courier service, Travisa Outsourcing. The firms responsibility is solely to intake and return passports- they do not act as a customer service agent. For more information on this, click
here.
Passport Visas Express.com will cheerfully help you figure out what visa type you need, assist you in the application preparation process itself, and hand deliver your application for processing. Our experts have been working with the Consulate General of India for the last fifteen years
and with Travisa Outsourcing for as long as it’s been in existence, so we know what you’ll need.
A few countries use visa management companies to assist them in coordinating the visa application process. India is one of these. India employs Travisa Outsourcing as the middleman to collect and return all passport and visas. If you’re looking to visit India, your passport will pass through their hands.
However, Travisa Outsourcing is not a visa service company, the way Passport Visas Express.com is. It is the agency who has been tasked with the role of courier by the Indian government. Applications are collected at the Travisa Outsourcing office and then courier to the Embassy for processing. Once the visas are completed they are picked up by Travisa Outsourcing and can be collected by you (or us!).
The bottom line: Travisa Outsourcing is the middleman that all persons seeking India visas must pass through.
What does this mean for you?
Travisa is in charge of collecting visa applications from applicants, passing them on to the India Embassy for processing, and then returning the passport (hopefully with visa) to the applicant. The idea is to streamline the visa application process but the method has its own difficulties, not to mention an added charge to the applicant.
Since Travisa Outsourcing is not a visa service it does not provide customer service. Therefore, it does not provide the following:
-
Travisa Outsourcing does not review applications to insure they are correctly completed and that the appropriate documents have been submitted.
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If an application is incorrectly completed or there are problems with the supporting documents, the application is returned to the applicant and the consular fees are not refunded. Keep in mind consular fees for US passport holders start at $76.
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Much customer dissatisfaction with Travisa Outsourcing has been reported—check out Yelp reviews for some dismaying stories
(http://www.yelp.com/biz/india-visa-center-san-francisco)
On the other hand,
PassportVisasExpress.com is a service that acts as
your visarepresentative.
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Approval: We preview your applications prior to submission to ensure their correctness. We work with you make sure your application is perfect.
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Expertise: Our experts deliver your paperwork to Travisa Outsourcing and represent your needs and interests during the processing of your application.
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Convenience: When the Indian Embassy approves your application, we send your visa to you via Fedex.
Basically, we do the grunt work so you don’t have to: standing in line and speaking on your behalf. These are all good reasons to use Passport Visas Express.com —and here are two more:
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Travisa Outsourcing does not offer rush processing for mail service, but because Passport Visas Express.com hand delivers your application we are able to offer rush processing for all visa types.
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And finally, the Travisa Outsourcing offices are jurisdictional—this means you must mail your application to the office that services the state you reside in. Passport Visas Express.com submits applications by hand to the Travisa Outsourcing offices keeping your sensitive documents secure at all times.
For a list of India visa types and which you will need, check back to our page for more information. Traveling to India has its complications—don’t let Travisa Outsourcing be another one! Passport Visas Express.com combines expert customer service and an affordable cost to get you what you need to take you where you need to go. Our fifteen years of experience means we’re ready, knowledgeable, and fast! Call us at
1-888-695-6028, or chat with one of our friendly representatives!
New Indian Business Visa Requirements
The Indian Government has added two additional requirements to all business visa applications. You will now need to supply the following:
Sponsor Letter from U.S. Company: A letter from your U.S. company on company letterhead indicating nature of applicant's business, probable duration of stay, state the validity of visa applied for (1 Year, 5 Year or 10 Year), places and organizations to be visited and also a guarantee to meet maintenance expenses etc. should accompany the application; AND
Sponsor Letter From Organization in India: A letter from the sponsoring organization in India on company letterhead indicating nature of applicant's business, probable duration of stay, state the validity of visa applied for (1 Year, 5 Year or 10 Year), places and organizations to be visited and also a guarantee to meet maintenance expenses etc. should accompany the application.
Apply for your Indian Business Visa
The Embassy of India and its Consulates will be closed on Friday, August 15th, 2008 for an official holiday. Please choose your processing times accordingly.
ENTRY/EXIT REQUIREMENTS: U.S. citizens require a valid passport and valid Indian visa to enter and exit India for any purpose. Visitors, including those on official U.S. Government business, must obtain visas at an Indian Embassy or Consulate abroad prior to entering the country, as there are no provisions for visas upon arrival. Those arriving without a valid passport and valid visa are subject to immediate deportation. The U.S. Embassy and Consulates in India are unable to assist when U.S. citizens arrive without proper documentation. Each visitor should carry photocopies of the bio-data page of the traveler's U.S. passport and the page containing the Indian visa in order to facilitate obtaining an exit visa from the Indian government in the event of theft or loss of the passport. Replacing a lost visa in order to exit the country takes up to three business days.
Americans wishing to visit India are responsible for requesting the correct type of visa from the Indian Embassy or Consulate, as there generally are no provisions for changing one's immigration category (e.g., from tourist to work visa) once admitted. Diplomatic and Official visa applications, are accepted by Passport Visas Expresss.com and then submited to the Indian Embassy and Consulates in the USA. Foreign citizens whose primary purpose of travel is to participate in religious activities should obtain a missionary visa rather than a tourist visa. Indian immigration authorities have deported American citizens who entered India with a tourist visa and conducted religious activities.
American travelers to India who work in "designated institutes and technology areas" will be subject to a two week waiting period in the visa application process and will be required to submit supplemental information with their visa application. Scholars planning to conduct research in India often need research clearances in addition to their visas. Specific information is available at the Indian Embassy and Consulates.
Foreign citizens who visit India to study, do research, work or act as missionaries, as well as all travelers planning to stay more than 180 days are required to register, generally within 14 days of arrival, with the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) closest to where they will be staying. The FRRO maintains offices in New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai (known as the "Chennai Immigration Office"), Kolkata and Amritsar. In smaller cities and towns, the local police headquarters will normally perform this function. General information regarding Indian visa and immigration rules, including the addresses and telephone numbers for the FRRO offices, can be found at the Indian Ministry of Home Affairs web site for its Bureau of Immigration at http://www.immigrationindia.nic.in.
If a foreign citizen (e.g., an American) overstays his or her Indian visa, or otherwise violates Indian visa regulations, the traveler may require a clearance from the Ministry of Home Affairs in order to leave the country. Such travelers generally must pay a fine, and in some cases, may be jailed until their deportation can be arranged. Visa violators seeking an exit clearance can visit the following office any weekday from 10 a.m. - 12 noon: Ministry of Home Affairs, Foreigners Division, Jaisalmer House, 26 Man Singh Road, New Delhi 110 011 (tel. +91-11-2338-5748).
COUNTRY DESCRIPTION: India, the world's largest democracy, has a very diverse population, geography and climate. India is the world's second most populous country, and the world's seventh largest country in area. Tourist facilities have varying degrees of comfort, and amenities are widely available in the major population centers and main tourist areas.
REGISTRATION/EMBASSY AND CONSULATE LOCATIONS: Americans living or traveling in India are encouraged to register with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate through the State Department's travel registration web site and to obtain updated information on travel and security in India. Americans without Internet access may register in person with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. By registering, American citizens make it easier for the Embassy or Consulate to contact them in case of emergency.
The U.S. Embassy in New Delhi is located at Shanti Path, Chanakya Puri 110021; telephone +91-11-2419-8000; fax +91-11-2419-8407. The Embassy's web site is http://newdelhi.usembassy.gov. (Note that the "+" sign indicates your international access code, which in the United States is 011-, but which is 00- in most other countries.)
The U.S. Consulate General in Mumbai (Bombay) is located at Lincoln House, 78 Bhulabhai Desai Road, 400026, telephone +91-22-2363-3611; fax +91-22-2368-5483. The web site is http://mumbai.usconsulate.gov.
The U.S. Consulate General in Kolkata (Calcutta) is at 5/1 Ho Chi Minh Sarani, 700071; telephone +91-33-3984-2400; fax +91-33-2282-2335. The web site is http://kolkata.usconsulate.gov.
The U.S. Consulate General in Chennai (Madras) is at 220 Anna Salai, Gemini Circle, 600006; telephone +91-44-2857-4000; fax +91-44-2857-4443. The web site is http://chennai.usconsulate.gov
Here's How to Apply:
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