This is a page citing some info useful for travellers coming from India with Indian passports. Some info may be valid for other passport holders as well.
Tourist Visas
Schengen Zone- link- A Schengen visa has to be issued in advance to travel within the Schengen zone. A visa thus issued is valid for the whole zone, and not just for the country which issued it. Therefore, if your visa says "valid for 15 days", you can spend 15 days in the whole Schengen zone. Theoretically, a Schengen visa must be issued from the country where maximum time is spent or arrival into the zone is from that country.
The validity length of a Schengen visa depends on your itinerary.
For people applying in a French embassy look here.
For people applying in a German embassy look here.
For people applying in an Italian embassy look here.
For people applying in an Austrian embassy look here .
And so on...
UK- Indian passport holders must apply for a UK visa in advance. Look here.
USA- Indian passport holders must apply for a USA visa in advance. Look here. My experience with my latest US tourism/business (B1/B2) visa.
9/10 Feb 2013: Made an account at the website mentioned above. Filled the DS 160 application form. Paid fees.
11 Feb 2013: Got confirmation of payment.
12 Feb 2013: Made appointment for OFC and consulate (Chennai), for 4/5 Mar 2013, respectively.
Meanwhile, we prepared for supporting documents- school letter, company letter, bank statements, flight tickets, hotel reservations, photos and printed the documents required to enter the OFC/consulate: application confirmation, appointment letter, payment confirmation, photo etc.
04 Mar 2013: went to Chennai OFC. There is no queue per se, they will call as per appointment time. So, if you're early, you can just hang about, but as your time approaches, just get to the front, where the batch is accumulating. No worries. Went to the OFC where fingerprints and a digital photo were taken. Hassle free process.
05 Mar 2013: Went for interview at consulate. Queuing pattern as for OFC. There is a counter to deposit mobile phones (INR 10) but keep your headphones, CDS, pen drives at home. First, your fingerprints will be verified, then you'll be sent through, you'll have to wait though, for your interview with the consul officer. Your status will be told: whether your visa has been approved, rejected or needs administrative processing. Mine was approved. I had a 9 am appointment; was out by 10:30. Later that evening, passport status : "Your passport is still with the post."
06/07 Mar 2013: Status changed to "Origination Scan."
08 Mar 2013: Status changed to "Ready for pick up."
11 Mar 2013 Went to Prestige Atrium, Bangalore to pick up passport. The pick up is with the application centres for Australia, Canada, Thailand and Malaysia so expect a small queue, waiting. Got it and visa details were correct.
UAE- Good news for Indians flying Emirates, entering and leaving UAE from Dubai. They can apply for their UAE visa here. Others will have to find a sponsor. Hotels can do this job.
Hong Kong- Indian citizens travelling to Hong Kong don't need a visa in advance. At HK immigration, they will get a stamp allowing them to stay for 14 days in Hong Kong.
Macau- Indian citizens travelling to Macau don't need a visa in advance. At Macau immigration, they will get a stamp allowing them to stay for 30 days in Macau.
Thailand- Check for a pre-issued visa here. You can also get the visa on arrival (VOA) at certain airports and checkpoints. A VOA is valid for 15 days and is only single-entry. You will need to show photos (4X6 cm), proof of sufficient funds and an airline ticket out of Thailand within 15 days of entry. Here is the process of obtaining VOA at Suvarnabhumi Airport, Bangkok:
Upon arrival, follow signs for Visa On Arrival. Outside the door leading to the room of VOA, collect your VOA form and fill it out at the nearby table. Fill out your arrival card and keep your documents handy. You can then join either the Fast-track service or Documents-check. If you use the latter, you will stand in a queue and then once you reach the counter, you will show your documents. If they're all fine, the person will give you a slip with a number- this is your wait number. You can then sit in the room and wait for your turn. This would give you the VOA and passport control at the same time and will open up to the baggage carousels.
(Please cross-check information with official sources before travelling.)
This website is not responsible for any liability arising from its use.
Tourist Visas
Schengen Zone- link- A Schengen visa has to be issued in advance to travel within the Schengen zone. A visa thus issued is valid for the whole zone, and not just for the country which issued it. Therefore, if your visa says "valid for 15 days", you can spend 15 days in the whole Schengen zone. Theoretically, a Schengen visa must be issued from the country where maximum time is spent or arrival into the zone is from that country.
The validity length of a Schengen visa depends on your itinerary.
For people applying in a French embassy look here.
For people applying in a German embassy look here.
For people applying in an Italian embassy look here.
For people applying in an Austrian embassy look here .
And so on...
UK- Indian passport holders must apply for a UK visa in advance. Look here.
USA- Indian passport holders must apply for a USA visa in advance. Look here. My experience with my latest US tourism/business (B1/B2) visa.
9/10 Feb 2013: Made an account at the website mentioned above. Filled the DS 160 application form. Paid fees.
11 Feb 2013: Got confirmation of payment.
12 Feb 2013: Made appointment for OFC and consulate (Chennai), for 4/5 Mar 2013, respectively.
Meanwhile, we prepared for supporting documents- school letter, company letter, bank statements, flight tickets, hotel reservations, photos and printed the documents required to enter the OFC/consulate: application confirmation, appointment letter, payment confirmation, photo etc.
04 Mar 2013: went to Chennai OFC. There is no queue per se, they will call as per appointment time. So, if you're early, you can just hang about, but as your time approaches, just get to the front, where the batch is accumulating. No worries. Went to the OFC where fingerprints and a digital photo were taken. Hassle free process.
05 Mar 2013: Went for interview at consulate. Queuing pattern as for OFC. There is a counter to deposit mobile phones (INR 10) but keep your headphones, CDS, pen drives at home. First, your fingerprints will be verified, then you'll be sent through, you'll have to wait though, for your interview with the consul officer. Your status will be told: whether your visa has been approved, rejected or needs administrative processing. Mine was approved. I had a 9 am appointment; was out by 10:30. Later that evening, passport status : "Your passport is still with the post."
06/07 Mar 2013: Status changed to "Origination Scan."
08 Mar 2013: Status changed to "Ready for pick up."
11 Mar 2013 Went to Prestige Atrium, Bangalore to pick up passport. The pick up is with the application centres for Australia, Canada, Thailand and Malaysia so expect a small queue, waiting. Got it and visa details were correct.
UAE- Good news for Indians flying Emirates, entering and leaving UAE from Dubai. They can apply for their UAE visa here. Others will have to find a sponsor. Hotels can do this job.
Hong Kong- Indian citizens travelling to Hong Kong don't need a visa in advance. At HK immigration, they will get a stamp allowing them to stay for 14 days in Hong Kong.
Macau- Indian citizens travelling to Macau don't need a visa in advance. At Macau immigration, they will get a stamp allowing them to stay for 30 days in Macau.
Thailand- Check for a pre-issued visa here. You can also get the visa on arrival (VOA) at certain airports and checkpoints. A VOA is valid for 15 days and is only single-entry. You will need to show photos (4X6 cm), proof of sufficient funds and an airline ticket out of Thailand within 15 days of entry. Here is the process of obtaining VOA at Suvarnabhumi Airport, Bangkok:
Upon arrival, follow signs for Visa On Arrival. Outside the door leading to the room of VOA, collect your VOA form and fill it out at the nearby table. Fill out your arrival card and keep your documents handy. You can then join either the Fast-track service or Documents-check. If you use the latter, you will stand in a queue and then once you reach the counter, you will show your documents. If they're all fine, the person will give you a slip with a number- this is your wait number. You can then sit in the room and wait for your turn. This would give you the VOA and passport control at the same time and will open up to the baggage carousels.
(Please cross-check information with official sources before travelling.)
This website is not responsible for any liability arising from its use.
1 comment:
Wow nice blog u have in here, I love traveling anywhere and I hope I could visit India one day and see the nice architecture there and learn more the culture:). Keep it up ur nice blog! thumbs up! Anyhow, when u got a chance just check my travel blog too. take care and have a great weekend!
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